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Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Jonathan Kuminga taking a leap to begin fifth season

Welcome back to “Stock Up Stock Down.” Now into November, we’ve got a still-small, but larger sample size of games to react to with Week 2 officially in the books. There have been some pleasant surprises, and also more than a few worrisome trends that are worth discussing.

Let’s talk about them.

NBA: Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Ryan Rollins is ready to roll
Milwaukee has found its answer at point guard, and Rollins is a must-add after a monstrously productive week.

→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock:The Magic take on the Hawks at 8pm ET, followed by the undefeated Thunder at the Clippers at 11 pm ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.

STOCK UP

Ryan Rollins, PG, Bucks

Ryan Rollins is one of the hottest names in the NBA, and deservingly so. In his six starts following the Kevin Porter Jr. opening-night injury, he’s scored in double figures each time, including two games with 25 or more points. He’s also tallied at least seven assists in four of the starts, while draining 11 three-pointers over the past four games. Porter Jr.’s Game 1 ankle injury preceded a recent knee injury suffered during a team workout that led to surgery and will sideline him for around another month. Rollins will keep his spot in the lineup for at least the time being, which could make him one of the trendier roster additions in fantasy leagues.

Jonathan Kuminga, SF, PF, Warriors

While we've only reached November, about two weeks of basketball is enough for me to feel confident that this version of Jonathan Kuminga the Warriors are currently getting is not a fluke. The three-point shooting appears to be a real improvement, while the rebounding and slight step forward as a playmaker are nice additions to his game that have provided slight boosts to his fantasy production. More importantly, however, is that it appears his fit with the Warriors is there, which was rarely the case a season ago. He’s one of the younger players in Golden State’s rotation, which is valuable alone when considering the ages and wear on the bodies of a lot of the Warriors’ main guys. I like the path Kuminga has started on and am looking forward to seeing where it can take him. Stock up.

Jrue Holiday, PG, Trail Blazers

Given the age and the usage over the past two seasons in Boston in a complementary role, it was likely very easy (and understandable) for fantasy players to close the book on Jrue Holiday’s time as a productive point guard. But instead of closing the book, he’s turned back the pages and transformed back into a true lead guard with the potential to stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis. Up until Monday’s loss to the Lakers, the 17-year veteran had tallied the most threes (2.5) and assists per game (8.7) of his career, while averaging his most points per game (18.2) since his time in Milwaukee. He had one of his least productive games of the season on Monday, but the Trail Blazers have been good to start the season, with Holiday’s contributions on the court playing a massive role. If they remain good, there’s a high likelihood he continues functioning as a high-usage guard.

NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls
Fantasy Basketball Week 3 Schedule Primer: Hawks continue without Trae Young
“Ice Trae” will be sidelined for at least four weeks after spraining his MCL last week.

STOCK DOWN

Trey Murphy, SF, PF, Pelicans

If we’re looking solely at the two most recent Pelicans games, Murphy might not make a ton of sense as a “stock down” player. But even with a slight upward trend of late, those two recent performances aren’t coming close to the type of lines many expected the versatile two-way forward to consistently put forth in his fifth NBA season. His current scoring averages are at their lowest since his sophomore season, while the shooting splits from the field and from beyond the arc are career lows at the moment. Given how the 2024-25 campaign went for Murphy and him still being a young player, it doesn’t seem likely that his production will remain insignificant for an extended period of time. However, the Pelicans are 0-6 as I write this, with negative discourse surrounding the state of the organization and its outlook. Murphy rounding back into form isn’t an inevitability.

Jakob Poeltl, C, Raptors

The start to Poeltl’s 2025-26 season has been an unideal one. He’s dealt with a back injury that’s kept him in street clothes for Toronto’s last three games, but even before the injury, he’d been significantly less productive statistically than he had been a season ago. He’s currently down 8.0 points and over 4.0 rebounds per game while playing fewer than half of the possible 48.0 minutes per game across his four appearances. The good news for those fantasy managers who may have Poeltl rostered is that the four-game sample size is incredibly small for a proven veteran, and he’s remained Toronto’s starting center despite seeing fewer minutes. Still, what to expect moving forward feels hard to predict.

Domantas Sabonis, C, Kings

It’s been a rough start to the season over in Sacramento. The Kings own a 2-5 record, one of the worst defenses in the league, and their best players are failing to make a substantial impact. More specifically, Sabonis is struggling to make land his usual production on offense. He’s scoring his fewest points (14.5) and tallying his lowest amount of assists per game (4.0) since his third NBA season, back when he had yet to become a full-time starter in this league. If it weren’t for his sustained dominance on the glass, the concerns from a fantasy basketball standpoint would be even greater. The season is still young, however, a pessimistic view going forward for a player on a team that doesn’t seem to have a great plan of action moving forward seems fair.

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NHL Rumor Roundup: Struggling Wild Seeking Help, Sabres' Levi Might Need A Change Of Scenery

The Minnesota Wild began this season looking to take the next step toward Stanley Cup contention.

That hope was buoyed by their pre-season re-signing of superstar left winger Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year contract extension.

Entering November, however, the Wild find themselves near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. They still have enough time to regain their footing, but GM Bill Guerin has reportedly turned to the trade market to find some help for his struggling roster.

On Oct. 31, Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco reported a team source claimed Guerin was shopping for a forward to add some scoring punch among the Wild's middle six forwards. Di Marco suggested Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri and Boston Bruins forwards Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt as trade targets.

All three have surfaced in recent trade speculation, especially Kadri and Zacha. However, the Flames and Bruins haven't gone into sell mode yet as they hope to salvage the season.

Zacha and Mittelstadt would be the more affordable in terms of salary. They're also younger than Kadri, making them better potential long-term fits than the Flames center. If any of them become available, it'll likely be in the second half of the season. However, that could be too late to help the Wild.

The Athletic's Joe Smith and Michael Russo expressed doubt that Guerin will find a suitable impact trade that can provide immediate help to the Wild. Given the limited talent available, they feel that this club has little choice but to look within to improve their performance.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Bruins' Zacha, Blue Jackets' Chinahkov And BluesNHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Bruins' Zacha, Blue Jackets' Chinahkov And BluesThe Bruins' struggles continue to make Pavel Zacha the subject of trade speculation, along with Blue Jackets winger Yegor Chinakhov. The Blues, meanwhile, remain patient with their core players.

Turning to the Buffalo Sabres, their goaltending logjam had Daily Faceoff's Carter Hutton and Jeff Marek recently pondering the future of Devon Levi. The 23-year-old was considered the Sabres' goalie of the future, but he's had difficulty cracking the lineup.

The Sabres podcast After The Whistle (hosted by former NHLers Craig Rivet and Andrew Peters) claimed that Levi was rumored to have asked to be moved before he was returned to the Sabres' AHL affiliate in Rochester.

Since then, there's been no additional reports claiming Levi wants a trade, or any indication that the Sabres are entering trade offers for the young netminder. Nevertheless, this could be a situation worth watching given the limited depth of available goalies in this season's trade market.

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Alex Bregman, Lucas Giolito, Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz and Cody Bellinger become free agents

NEW YORK — Boston third baseman Alex Bregman and right-hander Lucas Giolito, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Díaz and New York Yankees outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger were among the players who turned down player options or exercised opt outs and become free agents.

San Diego pitcher Robert Suarez also turned down his option and went free on the third day of the five-day free agent window.

A total of 153 players have become free agents following the end of the World Series and several dozen more potentially can go free depending on whether team, player and mutual options are exercised.

Bregman and the Red Sox agreed to a three-year, $120 million contract in February and he gave up $80 million for 2026 and ’27, of which half each year would have been deferred and payable through 2026. He gets $40 million for his one year with Boston, of which he received $20 million this year. He also gets a $5 million signing bonus payable on Jan. 15, 2028, and $20 million payable in annual $2 million installments each June 15 starting in 2035.

He hit .273 with 18 homers and 62 RBIs in 114 games. A 31-year-old three-time All-Star third baseman, Bregman was sidelined between May 23 and July 11 by a strained right quadriceps.

Giolito, a right-hander, declined a $19 million mutual option with a $1.5 million buyout, ending a contract that paid him $38.5 million for two seasons. The 31-year-old returned on April 30 from elbow surgery in March 2024 and was 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts and 145 innings.

Alonso received $30 million for one season under his two-year, $54 million deal and declined a $24 million salary for 2026. The five-time All-Star first baseman, who turns 31, batted .272 with 38 homers, 41 doubles and 126 RBIs.

Díaz earned $64 million for three seasons in the five-year, $102 million contract he agreed to in November 2022, including $7.35 million in deferred payments due through 2039. The three-time All-Star gave up salaries of $18.5 million in both 2026 and 2027 that were in his player option. If he had exercised his option, the Mets would have had a $17.25 million team option for 2028 with a $1 million buyout.

A 31-year-old right-hander, Díaz had 28 saves in 31 chances and was 6-3 with a 1.63 ERA. He missed the 2023 season after tearing his right patellar tendon while celebrating a Puerto Rico win at the World Baseball Classic.

Bellinger, acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs last December, earned $57.5 million from the three-year, $80 million contract he reached in February 2024. He declined a $25 million option for 2026 and instead will receive a $5 million buyout payable in equal installments on Jan. 15 in 2026 and 2027. A 30-year-old outfielder and first baseman, he batted .272 with 29 homers and 98 RBIs — including .302 with 18 homers and 55 RBIs at Yankee Stadium.

Suarez gave up $16 million from his five-year, $46 million contract, declining $8 million player options for 2026 and 2027. The 34-year-old right-hander, a two-time All-Star, was 4-6 with a 2.97 ERA and an NL-high 40 saves in 45 chances.

Atlanta infielder Ha-Seong Kim declined a $16 million player option from the two-year, $29 million contract he agreed to in February with Tampa Bay, a deal that paid him $13 million. The 30-year-old batted .234 with five homers and 17 RBIs for the Rays and Braves, who claimed him off waivers on Sept. 1. Kim didn’t make his season debut until July 4 because of right shoulder surgery in late 2024.

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Mets decline Drew Smith's option for 2026 season

The Mets have declined their $2 million option on right-handed reliever Drew Smith for the 2026 season.

Smith, 32, had inked a one-year deal with the aforementioned team option in February of 2025 after having his second Tommy John surgery the summer prior.

In 17.2 innings over 19 games for the Mets in 2024, Smith had a 3.06 ERA and 1.52 WHIP while striking out 23 batters -- a rate of 11.7 per nine.

His season ended after an appearance on June 23, and he underwent Tommy John surgery with an internal brace procedure on July 13.

Smith, who has spent his entire big league career with the Mets, debuted with the club and 2018 and has posted a 3.48 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 196.1 innings over 191 appearances.

The Mets have lots of work to do this offseason when it comes to putting the bullpen together.

Aside from A.J. Minter (who exercised his player option for 2026 on Monday) and Brooks Raley (whose club option for 2026 was picked up on Tuesday) there are no 2025 bullpen members who are a lock to be back.

Edwin Diazopted out of his contract on Monday to become a free agent, though it stands to reason that the Mets will make a strong push to re-sign him.

Trade deadline acquisitions Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto are all free agents.

Members of the Mets' 40-man roster who could be relief options next season include Huascar Brazoban (who is arbitration-eligible), Jonathan Pintaro, and Dylan Ross.

Reed Garrett, who has been a mainstay the last two seasons, is expected to miss the entire 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery.

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Red Wings Wrap Up Western Swing With Tough Test vs. Golden Knights

The Detroit Red Wings wrap up their Western road trip on Tuesday with one of their toughest matchups of the season against the Vegas Golden Knights. With star power across the ice including Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, breakout winger Pavel Dorofeyev, and several others, Detroit will have a major challenge on its hands. The Red Wings will look to stay hot and build on their recent surge, having won four of their last five games, a stretch that began with their dramatic comeback from a 4-0 deficit to defeat the St. Louis Blues two weeks ago.

During that run, winger Alex DeBrincat has been one of the NHL’s hottest players, tallying four goals and four assists for eight points in five games. His strong play has also helped sophomore center Marco Kasper snap out of an early-season slump, highlighted by his two-goal performance against the LA Kings last Thursday. The duo will aim to keep their momentum going as they adjust to playing alongside Mason Appleton while veteran Patrick Kane remains sidelined.

Red Wings Could Target Familiar Face From Stanley Cup Contender To Bolster Blue LineRed Wings Could Target Familiar Face From Stanley Cup Contender To Bolster Blue LineDetroit eyes a reunion with a dependable defenseman from a Stanley Cup contender to shore up their struggling blue line.

Lineup Storylines

It's been impressive to see the Red Wings continue to edge their way out of tough spots and earn much needed wins. Their offense has done most of the heavy lifting with the defense struggling to keep the puck out of their net. Over their five-game hot streak, they've battled to stay on top of their goal differential with 18 goals scored but also 16 goals allowed. Their recent performances against the Blues and Sharks where they allowed just two goals need to be more consistent as it's difficult to ask the offense to continually get four or five goals a night. 

The loss of Patrick Kane hasn't been evident just yet but as they are continue to battle their way through games, once the offense starts to cool down in certain areas, they'll need a player like Kane that can come in and keep them in a game with clutch scoring. His current replacement in a guy like Mason Appleton, isn't necessarily built to score goals but to be impactful in other areas of the ice. 

Other players in the lineup have also started to slow down, putting more pressure on DeBrincat, captain Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond to continue producing. Veteran winger James van Riemsdyk was brought in for his sharp consistency at producing 40 or more points a season, yet so far he has just one goal and an assist. After four standout games, J.T. Compher is now without a point in five games despite being a 40-50 point player and Andrew Copp has gone 11 games without a goal. 

The Red Wings will need a balanced attack on Tuesday if they hope to defeat a Golden Knights team that ranks among the league’s top seven offenses, averaging 3.55 goals per game. That number climbs even higher at home, where Vegas scores an impressive 4.60 goals per game. The Golden Knights have been one of the NHL’s toughest home teams, posting a 59-22-6 record with the fifth-best home offense since the start of the 2023-24 season, averaging 3.51 goals per game in that span.

Vegas distributes its scoring as well as any team in the league, with Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner leading separate lines, while veteran Brandon Saad and former 43-goal scorer William Karlsson provide firepower deeper in the lineup. Colton Sissons and Keegan Kolesar anchor one of the NHL’s best fourth lines, giving the Golden Knights a dangerous scoring threat on every shift. Detroit’s defense will need to tighten up considerably after allowing 27 goals over its last seven games, the second-most in the league during that stretch.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (+) | VGK ML (-)

DET +1.5 (-) | VGK -1.5 (+)

O/U 6.0 Goals

The Red Wings and Golden Knights have squared off just 13 times with Detroit surprisingly holding the upper hand historically with a 7-6-0 record, including wins in three of their last five matchups. Vegas has struggled to maintain their home ice advantage in this matchup with just a 3-3-0 record in home matchups versus Detroit. These matchups have waivered from low- to high-scoring with just seven of their 13 matchups totaling six or more goals so we can't pin down a trend for how this matchup will go. 

Patrick Kane is someone the Red Wings would've loved to have in this spot as he performs well against the Golden Knights like his three-point performance in Detroit's last matchup versus Vegas where he was involved in all three of the Red Wings' goals in a 6-3 loss. They will instead turn to Dylan Larkin, who has also put up solid numbers versus the Golden Knights with a pair of goals and ten assists for 12 points over his 12 career games versus Vegas, including points in eight of their last ten matchups with three multi-point games. 

The Golden Knights will bring plenty of offensive firepower into this matchup, but one player the Red Wings won’t be thrilled to face again is a familiar name from their Atlantic Division days, Mitch Marner. The 28-year-old winger, formerly with the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been a consistent thorn in Detroit’s side, racking up 18 goals and 19 assists for 37 points in just 28 career games against them. That includes 11 multi-point performances and a current streak of five straight heading into Tuesday’s contest. Over his last 12 games versus the Red Wings alone, Marner has tallied 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points, making him a player Detroit’s defense must key in on to avoid getting burned yet again. 

Goalie Matchup:

Detroit: John Gibson Expected (Season: 4-3-0 record, 3.32 GAA, .875 SV% | VS VGK: 6-18-5 record, 3.37 GAA, .905 SV% in 30 Starts)

Vegas: Akira Schmid Expected (Season: 5-1-0 record, 2.73 GAA, .892 SV% | VS DET: 0-1-0 record, 5.00 GAA, .833 SV% in One Start)

Detroit’s AHL Griffins Break Record Not Seen in 24 YearsDetroit’s AHL Griffins Break Record Not Seen in 24 YearsGrand Rapids win on Sunday marks the first time since the 2000–01 IHL season that the Griffins are the league’s last remaining undefeated team.

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Predicting where the Top 10 MLB free agents will sign, including Mets and Yankees hauls

We may long for anotherJuan Soto-like sweepstakes to crank up the baseball hot stove, but there’s really no player of that level available in free agency this winter. Still, there’s plenty of talented help on the market. And several players who will get big money. 

Where will they go? What franchise-shaping moves await? So exciting. 

We’re here to stoke the coals with our annual predictions of where 10 of the top MLB free agents land. Here’s our list: 

Dylan Cease - Orioles

After consecutive playoff appearances, Baltimore cratered last season, finishing last in the AL East at 75-87. Starting pitching was certainly one of the culprits – the O’s 4.65 rotation ERA was 24th in MLB. Enter Cease, who will be 30 next month. He’s got five straight seasons of 32-plus starts and at least 214 strikeouts on his resume. He’s not perfect, as a 4.55 ERA and career-high 21 homers allowed in 2025 shows. But he can deliver plenty of quality innings to a team looking to get back in the AL East mix.

Eugenio Suárez - Tigers

If the Tigers keep ace Tarik Skubal, the hottest name on the trade market, expect them to take some free-agency swings to fuel a run in what could be Skubal’s last season in Detroit. It’s only natural to think third base, since the Kitties got some of the worst production in MLB at the position. Their hot corner produced 11 home runs – only three teams, all bad, had fewer – and a .628 OPS, which ranked 27th. Suárez cranks tanks. His 49 homers last year between Arizona and Seattle matched his career high. 

Ranger Suárez - Mets

Did the Mets have a good season in 2025? No, they did not. Disappointment reigned in Queens over the summer, so big moves could rule this winter. The Mets need to enhance a shaky rotation and, while there’s been a lot of oxygen spent on the trade market, a free agency grab like Suárez would be a wonderful supplement. His 3.59 ERA since 2022 ranks 18th among pitchers with at least 550 innings pitched in that span and he’s got a lifetime 1.48 ERA in the postseason over 11 appearances. 

Pete Alonso - Mets

We’ve entered the weird portion of the baseball calendar where too many focus on what a player can’t do and gloss over what he can. Since Alonso’s career started, he’s got the third-most homers in baseball and he’s also played more games than anyone. He posts and he slugs and these are insanely valuable commodities. After a better platform year, his market should improve, but there’s a certain amount of shrugging across the game about over-30 first baseman who aren’t graceful defenders. He doesn’t fit David Stearns’ run prevention edict, but Alonso, beloved by many Met fans, fits in Queens in every other way, from providing power to enhancing club history. This’ll be the fans’ reward for showing up at the ballpark last season. 

Framber Valdez - Giants

The Giants must deal with the Dodgers in the NL West, and LA just won the World Series with a nasty rotation. Perhaps Buster Posey and Co. should build one of their own and tuck Valdez into a rotation that already features ace Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Since 2022, only one pitcher has thrown more innings than Valdez – Webb! – and in that span Valdez has a lower ERA than Webb by a smidge (3.21 to 3.22). The Giants have made some bold moves, from hiring Posey to run the front office to trading for Rafael Devers to tabbing a college coach, Tony Vitello, to manage. Valdez is another.

Bo Bichette - Mets

Bichette, who turns 28 in March, batted .311 for Toronto this season with 44 doubles and 18 home runs. He’s probably not a shortstop anymore, which is ideal, considering the Mets have Francisco Lindor locked in there. But he might make a nifty second sacker or even a third baseman while helping to lengthen the Met lineup. He gets the ball in play effectively – he had a career-best 14.5 percent strikeout rate last year, well below MLB average. 

Jul 29, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Cody Bellinger (35) tosses his bat as he watches his three run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning at Yankee Stadium.
Jul 29, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Cody Bellinger (35) tosses his bat as he watches his three run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Cody Bellinger - Yankees

Enough already with the “takes” of Bellinger fitting here, fitting there. Of course he does! The guy fits everywhere. He’s crazy versatile, with the ability to fix any outfield hole and play a deft first base. He’s a good defensive player, a good baserunner, a glue guy. It’s just too perfect for him in the Bronx, where he enjoyed a terrific first season in 2025 with 29 homers, an .813 OPS and a bushel of clutch hits. Yanks also need guys who aren’t boom-bust homer hunters. Bellinger had a tiny 13.7 percent strikeout rate, by far the best on the roster. He’s not changing cities.

Kyle Schwarber - Phillies

Honestly, anything other than a return to Philly would be overthinking by both parties. Schwarber, who since 2019 has more homers than anyone in baseball other than Aaron Judge, was a dangerous slugger before he got to Philadelphia in 2022 and he’s upped his output since then with seasons of 46, 47, 38 and 56 homers. He’s even trimmed his strikeouts and improved his batting average. No brainer.

Alex Bregman – Red Sox

Bregman, a gritty-gutty third baseman who can hit and defend, opted out of his Red Sox deal, but he goes back to continue his mentorship of all those talented Boston young’uns. The Sox seem ascendant and Bregman’s wide array of talents are too good to pass on. In a world where he bolts Boston, though, watch for Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami at Fenway.

Kyle Tucker - Dodgers

Los Angeles had the second-most productive offense in baseball during the regular season (5.09 runs per game, behind only the Yankees), hit the second-most homers and notched the second-best OPS. Cool, right? Well, the lineup showed pockmarks during the postseason and the Dodgers must make upgrades. Enter Tucker, the best free agent hitter available. In 136 games with the Cubs last season, he had 22 home runs, 25 steals and an .841 OPS while dealing with injuries. He’s an able defender who fits nicely in their lineup next to Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Teoscar Hernandez. Watch out – this is a three-peat kind of move.

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Veteran To Join Blues' AHL Affiliate On PTO

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues are giving Milan Lucic ample opportunities to earn an NHL contract.

They took that next step on Tuesday by assigning the veteran forward to Springfield of the American Hockey League on a professional tryout.

The 37-year-old joined the Blues on a PTO, but not long into training camp, he suffered a groin strain and kept him out a week before resuming skating and playing in the final three preseason games; he had a goal and an assist.

The Blues were on the verge of making a decision to sign him to a contract or not but decided to keep him around to condition and get healthy from the injury and have taken the next step here to see if there's a path to consummate a contract or not.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound veteran will report to Springfield immediately.

If the Blues do in fact sign Lucic, there will have to be a roster decision made, with the likeliest path being a forward getting put on waivers. It's unlikely that Dalibor Dvorsky, a first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, gets sent back to the Thunderbirds considering he's played really well since his recall from Springfield last week. Dvorsky scored his first NHL goal on Monday in a 3-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers and it was a beauty.

The Blues still have Jake Neighbours (right leg) on injured reserve but he is not expected back before the end of November.

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The Bounce: Giannis flips the boo birds. Plus, college basketball is back!

The Bounce Newsletter  | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.

If the Denver Nuggets don’t turn this pass by Nikola Jokić that grazed Domantas Sabonis’ lettuce into some kind of barber gimmick, then what are we even doing here? Jokić just won a game of chicken that Sabonis had no idea he was playing.

About last night

Giannis steps up for Myles Turner

The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers have had bad blood of late. They’ve been involved in a kerfuffle over a game ball during the NBA Cup. They got into each other’s faces in the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo even beefed with Tyrese Haliburton’s dad after Indiana eliminated the Bucks last postseason.

The big storyline on Monday night was Myles Turner coming back to Indy after leaving the Pacers for Milwaukee in free agency this summer.  He still has all the love for Indiana and its fans, but they booed him during the game. Turner didn’t have some big revenge game or anything. He scored nine points, grabbed seven boards and blocked five shots in 32 minutes.

Turner left all the revenge room for his new teammate, Giannis. The Greek Freak had 33 points, 13 rebounds and five assists while making 14-of-21 from the field. The Pacers put up a great fight in this game, overcoming a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie it on the final possession. Unfortunately for Indiana, the last shot was in the hands of Giannis. And he calmly hit the game-winner.

That classic Giannis post-up from the left elbow into a fadeaway jumper! It was an incredible shot, and Giannis seemed to have a little extra for the Pacers crowd. He didn’t like them booing his new teammate (Turner, not Thanasis, who is most definitely back). He shushed the crowd and then booed them back. 

The Bucks are 5-2, and the Pacers have fallen to just 1-6.

Rockets 110, Mavs 102: Dallas (2-5) put up a great effort without Anthony Davis, but P.J. Washington’s 29 and 12 just weren’t enough. Amen Thompson got to the hoop whenever he wanted on his way to 27 points. The Rockets (4-2) also received 26-11-6 from Alperen Şengün and 21 from Kevin Durant.

Heat 120, Clippers 119: Kawhi Leonard missed the game-winning shot, and the Clippers (3-3) couldn’t overcome their 20 turnovers. Norm Powell had 21 in his return to the Intuit Dome, and Bam Adebayo had 25 points and 10 boards. Miami (4-3) and its fast pace continue to cause chaos.

Jazz 105, Celtics 103: Keyonte George led the Jazz (3-4) with 31 points, and Jusuf Nurkić (11 points and 11 rebounds) had the winning putback with 0.6 seconds. The Celtics (3-5) got 36 points from Jaylen Brown, but they lost a game in which the Jazz turned it over 19 times. Maybe the Utah rebounding advantage of 55-36 had something to do with it. Somehow this was a no-call! 

Lakers 123, Blazers 115: No Luka Dončić. No LeBron James. No Austin Reaves. But the Lakers (6-2) did have a Deandre Ayton revenge game on deck. He had 29 points and 10 rebounds, while Nick Smith Jr. put up 25 off the bench to give the Blazers (4-3) a pretty bad loss. Deni Avdija had 33 for them, though.

Pistons 114, Grizzlies 106: The Grizzlies (3-5) were down 21 in this game and brought it back to a three-point deficit late in the fourth quarter. However, Cade Cunningham had 33 points and eight assists, while Isaiah Stewart complemented him with a monster game. Beef Stew put up 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks for the Pistons (5-2).

Nuggets 130, Kings 124: Russell Westbrook was looking for revenge against his former Nuggets teammates (lots of that going around Monday) and his 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists were a great start to that. And the Kings (2-5) had seven players in double figures. Denver (4-2) had Jokić, though, and his 34 points and 14 assists.

Wolves 125, Nets 109: Julius Randle had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to rack up the triple-double. Donte DiVincenzo led all Wolveswith 25 points. And Minnesota (4-3) climbed back over .500 as it played without Anthony Edwards again. The Nets are now 0-7. Someone asked me if they were going to win before December. I legitimately don’t know.

Knicks 119, Wizards 102: The Wizards (1-6) got off to a great start and led after the first quarter. If I had to put my finger on it, I’d say the Knicks (4-3) outscoring them 76-48 in the second and third quarters combined is probably why Washington lost. Karl-Anthony Towns led everybody with 33 points and 13 rebounds. Alex Sarr had 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The last 24

Are the Rockets the league’s second-best squad?

📈 New Rankings! Law Murray has the latest Power Rankings, and a bit of a shocking team ranked No. 2. The 3-2 Houston Rockets!

🏀 Top prospects. Sam Vecenie covers the NBA Draft better than anybody. He’s got what scouts are saying about the race for the top pick. And a two-round 2026 mock draft. 

📹 This is just a tribute. What is the bar for a tribute video on a returning former player?Was Turner good enough for one in Indy?

💰 Yoink! A former Hawks executive was charged with embezzling $3.8 million from the team. He bought a Porsche and tickets? 

🎧 Tuning in. The latest “NBA Daily” discusses why Bucks-Pacers is the most fun rivalry in the league right now.

Stream the NBA on Fubo (try it for free!) and catch out-of-market games on League Pass.

Back to college

Men’s hoops primer with Brendan Marks

Last night, we had an epic beginning to the men’s college basketball season with incredible talent taking the court all over the country. No. 13 Arizona took down defending champion and No. 3 Florida thanks to 30 points by Koa Peat. We also saw AJ Dybantsa go for 21 points as BYU beat Villanova.

With so much already happening on the men’s side, I needed to call in an expert to prepare us. The Athletic’s Brendan Marks is one of the best in the business and a college fixture when we need answers at The Bounce.

Zach: Who is a team you feel is underrated going into the season, and who is a team you think is overrated?

Brendan: I’m not sure if the No. 11 team in the preseason top 25 truly counts as “underrated,” but most teams with Louisville’s sheer talent would be top 5 (or even top 3) entering the season. The Cardinals are getting dinged because Pat Kelsey has never won an NCAA Tournament game … but neither had Florida’s Todd Golden before last spring. Louisville retained two starters, signed three top-35 transfers and brought in a lottery pick freshman point guard. Why can’t the Cards win it all?

For overrated, wild as it sounds, give me … the defending national champs. Florida brought back its entire frontcourt but lost all three starting guards from last season, including Final Four MOP Walter Clayton Jr. UF should still be good, but I need to see the Gators’ new backcourt perform before seriously entertaining if Golden’s team can go back-to-back.

Zach: In terms of excitement to watch all season, rank Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer and why.

Brendan: Oh, lord. There’s no right answer here, but …

Dybantsa: Narrowly, but his athleticism at 6-foot-9 — plus his arsenal of pro-ready offensive moves — is just mesmerizing. Give him the ball and get out of the way.

Boozer: Possibly controversial, but people 250 pounds are not supposed to move the way Boozer does. His shooting and passing are guard-esque.

Peterson: Putting Peterson third here is like saying Shaq is the third-best center of all time. A stupidly skilled guard with athleticism for days, who should fall somewhere on the scale from Cade Cunningham to Donovan Mitchell.

Zach: Outside of the top prospects, who is a player you think will really surprise people (doesn’t have to be a freshman)?

Brendan: The Big 3 freshmen have (rightfully) stolen most of the headlines, but two other rookie guards — Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. and Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. — could easily be their respective teams’ best players, too. It wouldn’t be surprising if both emerge as top-10 prospects in their own right. As for older players, casual fans may not know Iowa point guard Bennett Stirtz — who followed new Hawkeyes coach Ben McCollum from Division II to Drake and now to Des Moines — but he’s one of my favorite players to watch. If Iowa is going to make the NCAA Tournament, it’s because Stirtz has an All-America-caliber season.

Back to college, Part 2

Women’s hoops primer with Sabreena Merchant

Sadly, we know we’re not going to see USC’s JuJu Watkins this season. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t poised for an amazing women’s season. Reigning champion UConn return an incredible squad. South Carolina looks to get back to winning it all. And UCLA is loaded.

To break it all down, we turned to The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant, who always drops basketball knowledge for us.

Zach: Who is a team you feel is underrated going into the women’s season and who is a team you think is overrated?

Sabreena: Is it OK to call a top-10 team underrated? I’ll go for it. Maryland looks Final Four-caliber this year with the additions of Yarden Garzon (a top-five shooter in the country) and ACC tournament MVP Oluchi Okananwa. The Terrapins are deep and balanced, and they have an identity (pace, pace, pace), which is sometimes a rarity in the portal era. On the other end, I’m confused about the Iowa State hype. We did this last year with the Cyclones, and they fell all the way from preseason top 10 to a No. 11 seed in the tournament. Until Audi Crooks proves she can defend the paint, there is a limited ceiling on this team, and it isn’t the 12th-ranked team in the country.

Zach: If I give you Azzi Fudd as the best player to watch this season, can you give me a better answer?

Sabreena: Fudd certainly has an aesthetically pleasing game — there is arguably no one with a purer jump shot in all of college basketball, women’s or men’s. But she’s not even the best player on her team. That would be Sarah Strong, the do-it-all combo forward who seems destined to fall in the lineage of Breanna Stewart as a multi-time champion at UConn. Strong is as smooth as can be and has something in her game for everyone. For those fans with specific stylistic preferences: Lauren Betts (UCLA) is the most fundamentally sound post player in America, Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) literally never stops moving, and MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU) has the most ridiculous handle.

Zach: Which incoming freshman are you most excited to watch this season?

Sabreena: The L.A. freshmen lead the list: Jazzy Davidson at USC and Sienna Betts at UCLA. Both starred for Team USA in the U-19 World Cup this summer and have opportunities to play big roles in their first collegiate seasons. If you squint, Davidson is in the mold of Watkins with her playmaking on both ends, and she’ll be assuming a lot of the offensive and defensive responsibilities Watkins took on last season.

Betts is the modern big partner to her older sister Lauren on the Bruins, and she can rack up double-doubles while also stretching the floor, assuming she gets back from a foot injury that will cost her the start of the season.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge going for consecutive MVP awards

NEW YORK — Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge are in the running for consecutive MVP awards.

Ohtani joined Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto as finalists for the NL honor. Judge, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh and Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez are in the mix for AL MVP.

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt and Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy also could be repeat winners when the results are announced next week. Skubal, Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown and Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet are finalists for the AL Cy Young Award.

Brown secured an extra selection for Houston after the first round in next year’s amateur draft under the collective bargaining agreement’s prospect promotion incentive. He earned the pick because he was among the top 100 prospects from at least two of Baseball America, ESPN and MLB.com heading into the 2023 season, accrued a full season of service in his rookie season and had a top three finish in Cy Young voting before he became arbitration eligible.

Ohtani is going for his second MVP award with the Dodgers and his fourth overall. He also won with the Angels in 2021 and 2023. Judge is trying for his third MVP win — all with the Yankees.

The 31-year-old Ohtani hit .282 with 55 homers and 102 RBIs in 158 games this year, helping the Dodgers win a second straight World Series championship. The Japanese right-hander also went 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts in his return to the mound following a second major elbow surgery.

The 33-year-old Judge batted .331 with 53 homers, 114 RBIs and a major league-leading 1.145 OPS in 152 games with New York. He also was voted MVP in 2022.

While Ramírez was terrific once again, the AL MVP race is expected to come down to Judge and Raleigh, a switch-hitting catcher who led the majors with 60 homers for Seattle during the regular season.

The top three finishers in voting for each of the major individual awards presented annually by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America were announced Monday night on MLB Network. Balloting is conducted before the postseason.

World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers is a finalist for the NL Cy Young along with Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes and Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez. Skenes was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2024.

Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton and Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin are competing for top NL rookie this time around.

The finalists for AL Rookie of the Year are Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony and the Athletics duo of Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson. Kurtz hit .290 with 36 homers and 86 RBIs in 117 games for the A’s, and Wilson batted .311 in 125 games.

Vogt was joined by Toronto’s John Schneider and Seattle’s Dan Wilson as finalists for AL Manager of the Year. Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson and Cincinnati’s Terry Francona are in the mix for the NL honor with Murphy.

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Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers already talking about World Series three-peat

LOS ANGELES — The party’s over and now the Los Angeles Dodgers are turning to 2026 with designs on winning a third consecutive World Series.

“What’s better than two?” manager Dave Roberts asked at the team’s rally at Dodger Stadium on Monday. “Three — three-peat! Three-peat!”

Roberts said he’d gotten permission from his friend Pat Riley to use the phrase that the Miami Heat president trademarked in 1988.

Soft-spoken and rarely seen team owner Mark Walter vowed to be “back next year” for another championship celebration.

First baseman Freddie Freeman told a sold out crowd, “Job in 2024, done. Job in 2025, done. Job in 2026 starts now.”

With three titles in the last six years, the Dodgers next will attempt to equal the New York Yankees, who were the last team to win three consecutive championships from 1998-2000.

“I’m already thinking about the third time we’re going to do this,” two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani said.

It certainly seems possible. The team brings back all of its biggest names, alternately striking fear and grudging admiration in the hearts of baseball’s other 29 teams. Los Angeles opened as +350 World Series favorites for 2026, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook.

Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, has already referred to this time as “the golden era of Dodgers baseball.”

Throw in five National League pennants in the last nine years and 12 NL West titles in 13 years and, well, the word dynasty is becoming synonymous with the Dodgers.

“I think definitionally it’s a dynasty,” Friedman said. “For me, it’s still evolving and growing and we want to add to it and we want to continue it and do everything we can to put it at a level where people after us have a hard time reaching.”

The Dodgers won the title last year mixing and matching their relievers. This season, the starting rotation survived a string of injuries to return in time to pitch the team to its ninth World Series title in franchise history.

“It’s really an exceptional, exceptional staff,” Phillies president Dave Dombrowski said after his team lost to the Dodgers in the NL Division Series. “If you’re going to beat them, you’re really going to have to do everything right.”

Ohtani was brought along slowly in his return to the mound this season after rehabbing from elbow surgery in December 2023. He produced another NL MVP-worthy season at the plate and with no restrictions on the mound next year could do things few think possible.

The Dodgers have seven free agents, although three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw officially retired when the World Series ended.

The two most prominent are Kiké Hernández and Game 7 hero Miguel Rojas, whose home run tied the game in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Dodgers figure to make a push to bring Hernández back. He was a regular starter in the postseason where some of his biggest exploits have occurred. Rojas has been valuable off the bench the last three years and his ability to play all three infield positions helped the team withstand injuries to Max Muncy and Tommy Edman. But he’s 36 and the Dodgers may want to acquire youth off the bench.

The other four free agents are Michael Conforto and pitchers Andrew Heaney, Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates. None of them made any of the team’s postseason rosters.

Conforto hit .199 and never lived up to his $17 million, one-year deal despite spending most of the season as the starting left fielder. Yates, who came in on a $13 million, one-year deal, had a 5.23 ERA in 41 1/3 innings pitched. He had three stints on the injured list and at 38 has hinted he might retire.

Kopech was part of a dominant bullpen that helped carry the Dodgers to their 2024 championship. But he began this season on the injured list and later had knee surgery. He was limited to pitching in 14 games before his season ended in September with another IL stint.

Heaney signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers in August and got called up on the next-to-last day of the regular season. He made one appearance, but more memorably he was the 62nd player used by the team, setting a franchise record.

Kershaw has been offered a job with the team by Friedman, so he may be a continuing presence around Chavez Ravine.

“I know they’re going to get one more next year,” he told the fans, “and I’m going to watch just like all of you.”

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How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Clippers: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight’s game

NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday continues tonight with a doubleheader featuring two conference showdowns.

In the 11 p.m. ET game, the Los Angeles Clippers (3-3), who are coming off their first loss at home, will play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder (7-0), the lone remaining unbeaten team in the NBA. Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose scoring average is slightly up from his 2024-25 MVP season, will face the team that traded him in 2019 to Oklahoma City after his rookie season.

In an 8 p.m. ET tipoff, the Atlanta Hawks (3-4) will begin a three-game homestand by welcoming the Orlando Magic (3-4), which are completing a five-game road trip. It's a rematch of an Oct. 24 game in Orlando, Florida, where the Hawks won 111-107 with a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter after trailing by 12.

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday will begin weekly with a 30-minute studio show leading into the doubleheader.

See below for additional information on how to watch both games and a breakdown of the Clippers-Thunder matchup.

Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season. Click here to sign up and follow all of the NBA excitement.

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Clippers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 4
  • Where: Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California
  • Time: 11 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NBC (check local listings)
  • Live Stream: Peacock

Oklahoma City Thunder storylines

Despite battling through injuries, the defending NBA champions have racked up seven consecutive wins to start the season for the second year in a row — joining the 1963-63 Boston Celtics and 1993-95 Houston Rockets as the third team with back-to-back 7-0 starts. The Thunder rolled to a 137-106 victory Sunday over the New Orleans Pelicans despite the absence of star swingman Jalen Williams (who has yet to play this season while recovering from right wrist surgery), Chet Holmgren (who has missed three consecutive games with a sprained back) and Lu Dort (illness).

It's easier for Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault to juggle the lineup with the presence of league and NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 33.6 points and 5.9 assists per game. Ajay Mitchell (17.3 ppg), Aaron Wiggins (13.4) and Isaiah Hartenstein (10.9) have also provided double-figure scoring while appearing in every game.

Gilgeous-Alexander and his family had a scare Oct. 30 when their home was burglarized during the Thunder's 127-108 victory over the Washington Wizards. "Long story short, everybody's safe, and that's all that really matters in the whole thing," Gilgeous-Alexander said Sunday after the Thunder's win. "Everything else can come and go, but my loved ones are safe, so I'm OK. I'm happy."

Syndication: The Oklahoman
Thunder’s Jalen Williams has follow-up procedure on wrist, out at least a couple more weeks
Williams has yet to play this season, but the Thunder have started 6-0 without him.

Los Angeles Clippers storylines

The Clippers lost 120-119 to the Miami Heat as Kawhi Leonard missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer Monday. While led by the twin scoring attack of James Harden (29 points) and Leonard (27), ball security has been an issue for Los Angeles, which committed 21 turnovers that led to 37 points for Miami and frustration for Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. "It came down to turning the ball over," Lue said. "Same (stuff) over and over. Same stuff."

Leonard also said he tweaked his right ankle against Miami and could be a game-time decision against Oklahoma, and fellow veteran Bradley Beal also might sit on the second game of a back to back. The Clippers have started 1-1 on a stretch with six of seven games at home.

After Leonard (24.3 points per game) and Harden (23 points per game), Los Angeles relies on scoring from Ivica Zubac (14.2 points per game), John Collins (11.8 points per game) and Derrick Jones Jr. (10.7 points per game).

What other NBA game is on Peacock tonight?

How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 4
  • Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NBC (check local listings)
  • Live Stream: Peacock

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits on Peacock for whatever suits your mood.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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Mikal Bridges' renewed aggression an early-season Knicks trend worth watching

We’re still in the early days of this new NBA season, but one trend Knicks fans are hoping sticks around is the renewed aggression from Mikal Bridges. 

Ahead of Monday's win over the Wizards on Monday, Bridges was averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and six assists on 62.2 percent shooting from two and 46.9 percent from three in six games, a healthy start to the year. 

Against Washington, Bridges had a strong game, notching 10 points, four assists, three blocks, three steals, and two rebounds in 29 minutes. 

Beyond the counting stats, we’ve seen a material departure in style and substance from last season’s performance. This is a welcome development after the Knicks invested most of their draft capital to acquire Bridges in the summer of 2024. 

While he came up huge in the playoffs last season, Bridges spent much of the campaign finding his place, and disappointed with his lack of physicality and impact. He seems to have addressed these concerns head on so far in 2025-26, which bodes well for his team.

Bridges’ scoring average may be virtually identical to last season, but he’s getting there on fewer shot attempts thanks to a reworked shot diet. He’s trading inefficient mid-range attempts for more threes and rim attacks, and it’s working.

Thirty-four percent of Bridges' shot attempts came from between ten feet out and the three-point line last season, compared to 22 percent this year as of Monday. His three-point attempt rate has also jumped from 38 percent of his field goal attempts to 46 percent. 

He’s been much more aggressive off the catch and in transition to use his length attacking the cup, resulting in a free throw rate over double what he recorded last season. For context, he’s attempted 16 free throws in six games, and it took him until December to reach that mark in 2024. 

Oct 24, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) goes to the basket during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden.
Oct 24, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) goes to the basket during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

As a result, Bridges’ true-shooting percentage is up to 69 percent -- which would be a career high if it sustains, a full 10 percentage points higher than last season. It helps that he’s knocking everything down, but even if the shooting slows down, the increased rim attacks are a healthy and necessary addition to his game.

Bridges has brought this new aggressiveness not just to his drives but the rest of his game. He’s taken on the role of being more of a secondary playmaker, heavily subscribing to new head coach Mike Brown’s drive-and-dish mentality.

He boasts an assist rate of 23.6 percent, closer in comparison to dribble-heavy guards and by far a career high for Bridges. He’s no elite passer, but is willing, capable, and accurate, historically recording few turnovers.

Leaning on this part of his game has no doubt come at a sacrifice of his scoring, but may be crucial in unlocking this offense for the long haul. The next step will be tightening up his play in pick-and-roll, where he’s got more responsibility.

Bridges is also hitting the boards much harder, with career highs in both offensive and defensive rebounding rates. His length and size at the position has long been a boon to his career, just not in this particular area, a surprising but potentially huge development.

The Knicks have had bigger rebounding questions than in years prior given the roster construction and new identity, but Bridges being more active on that end changes the math. It’s been night and day watching him sprint towards hot spots off a teammate’s shot and use his length to tip the ball out for second opportunities.

Finally, on the defensive end, Bridges has been more active getting his hands into passing lanes and shooting pockets. His steal and block rates are elevated to his “3-and-D” heyday levels, making more use of his frame and IQ.

These returns feel much more aligned to the upfront price the Knicks paid for Bridges. The ultimate Swiss Army Knife next to Jalen Brunson is the type of piece you pay a premium to obtain in hopes it can secure you a championship, and this year feels like Bridges starting to figure out how to be that guy.

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How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight’s game

NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday continues tonight with a doubleheader featuring two conference showdowns.

In an 8 p.m. ET tipoff, the Atlanta Hawks (3-4) will begin a three-game homestand by welcoming the Orlando Magic (3-4), which are completing a five-game road trip. It's a rematch of an Oct. 24 game in Orlando, Florida, where the Hawks won 111-107 with a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter after trailing by 12.

In the 11 p.m. ET game, the Los Angeles Clippers (3-3), who are coming off their first loss at home, will play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder, (7-0) the lone remaining unbeaten team in the NBA. Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose scoring average is slightly up from his 2024-25 MVP season, will face the team that traded him in 2019 to Oklahoma City after his rookie season.

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday will begin weekly with a 30-minute studio show leading into the doubleheader.

See below for additional information on how to watch both games and a breakdown of the Magic-Hawks matchup.

Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season. Click here to sign up and follow all of the NBA excitement.

How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 4
  • Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NBC (check local listings)
  • Live Stream: Peacock

Orlando Magic storylines

The Magic is trying to close the road trip with a third consecutive victory after a 125-94 win Saturday over the Washington Wizards and a 123-107 victory Thursday over the Charlotte Hornets. Forcing 21 turnovers while allowing a season-low opponent points total to Washington, Orlando's defense has improved after allowing more than 135 points in back-to-back losses to Philadelphia and Detroit (the highest scoring totals in consecutive games yielded by the Magic since 1990). Orlando is also picking up the pace on offense, averaging 1303.29 possessions per 48 minutes after an NBA-low 96.5 last season.

The focal point is Paolo Banchero, who signed a franchise-record five-year, $240.7 million extension over the summer and leads the Magic in scoring (23.3 points per game), rebounds (9.3 per game) and blocks (1.3 per game). "He holds so much gravity and weight when he has that ball in his hands," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said of Banchero, who is averaging 4 assists. "He’s got defenses loaded up to him and he’s looking to make the right play."

Desmond Bane, who was acquired from Memphis before the season, has been slumping from the 3-point line, making only five of his past 25 attempts for a team that was last in 3-point percentage (31.8%) last year. Bane is averaging 14.6 points per game, which ranks third behind Franz Wagner (22.6). Anthony Black (12.3), Wendell Carter Jr. (11.3), Tristan Da Silva ( 10.7) and Jalen Suggs also are averaging double figures in scoring.

Atlanta Hawks storylines

The Hawks are navigating life without four-time All-Star point guard Trae Young, who will miss at least four weeks with a sprained right knee suffered in the first quarter of a Nov. 29 win over Brooklyn. In its first game without Young, Atlanta lost 117-109 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, allowing 33 points on 23 turnovers while playing their fourth starting lineup in seven games.

"I think that collectively we need to be more connected, and that’ll help us,” coach Quinn Snyder said. “A lot of guys are in kind of new spots, new positions, new roles, and they need to help each other, and they’re aware of that.”

Jalen Johnson is leading the Hawks in points (21.2 per game) and rebounds (9.0), and Kristaps Porzingis (18.2 points per game) also has been effective in his first season since being acquired in a trade with Boston. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (16.9) and Onyeka Okongwu (13.9) also have double-figure scoring averages for Atlanta.

What other NBA game is on Peacock tonight?

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Clippers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 4
  • Where: Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California
  • Time: 11 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NBC (check local listings)
  • Live Stream: Peacock

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits on Peacock for whatever suits your mood.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.