The first few weeks of the season always see dramatic moves in the NBA Power Rankings. Some teams are better than we thought, others are worse, but mostly it's small sample size theater — if the Knicks dropped three straight games in January, the NBA would just shrug.
Still, we have a fair amount of ground to cover in our first edition of Stock Up, Stock Down, looking at the teams that are the most dramatic risers and fallers in the NBC Sports NBA Power Rankings. Here are the teams to keep an eye on.
Stock up
• The Oklahoma City Thunder move up two spots to take over No. 1, although the gruesome leg injury to Jalen Williams has put a dark cloud over any celebrations of the team's fast start.
• The Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets each move up four spots to take over the No. 2 and No. 3 spots in the power rankings.
• The Minnesota Timberwolves jumped up seven spots from outside the top-10 to No. 4. We knew their LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards offense would be good, but the defense has been near the league's best to start the season.
• The Toronto Raptors jumped up seven spots to be No. 7 in this week's rankings, another team with an elite defense — when Kawhi Leonard is healthy.
• The Memphis Grizzlies jumped up eight spots to No. 17 after an unexpected 3-0 start, behind the equally surprising but unstoppable Ty Jerome, who is averaging 34.7 points a game so far.
• Shout out to the Charlotte Hornets, which climbed seven spots up to No. 19 behind a fast start from Brandon Miller, while still missing some key players (such as Kon Knueppel).
Stock Down
• Nobody's stock fell faster than the New York Knicks, who fell a dozen spots from No. 1 all the way down to 13th. Losing to East contenders such as Philadelphia and Boston is one thing, but losing to a Banchero-less Orlando is another. Physicality and shooting seem to have gone missing in NYC, but nobody there is panicking. Yet.
• The winless Miami Heat fell 10 spots down to 23rd in the latest power rankings. The Heat have trailed by at least 20 points in every game, and the defense that was supposed to anchor them is bottom-five in the league. There might be a little panic in South Beach.
• The San Antonio Spurs fell six spots to No. 8, and Victor Wembanyama has looked almost human to start the season. Expect that to change.
It’s been an excellent weekend for the Montreal Canadiens. They picked up four points in their first two games without captain Nick Suzuki and stayed focused, even as an outdoor game brought its fair share of challenges and distractions.
Still, it wasn’t all work and no play for the Canadiens, and after Saturday’s practice, they held a family skate with friends and families. Kaiden Guhle skated with his parents on the outdoor rink; the Xhekaj brothers did the same, and other players brought their wives and kids.
Paoloa Anderson and Daryanne Montembeault showed off the custom winter clothes the kids received, and both wore the special jackets the players’ wives and girlfriends received. As always, the Canadiens organization takes care of its own, and they made sure everyone got mementos from the event.
Credit: Paola Anderson InstagramCredit: Daryanne Montembeault InstagramCredit: Paola Anderson InstagramCredit: Marie-Pierre Danault Instagram
The most impressive looks, though, were the goalie gear worn by both Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler. Their masks were once again very well done and painted by the talented Sylvie Marsolais from Sylabrush. Unfortunately, only one goalie got to show off his gear in-game, but that’s how it goes. Still, Dobes’ mask, a tribute to both Ken Dryden and Jose Theodore, the first netminder to wear a toque over his mask at an outdoor game, was spectacular and matched his red, beige, and blue gear. You could really tell the top part was a toque. As for Fowler, his featured his nickname in the same stitching used on the Heritage Classic jerseys, along with the Canadiens’ logo for the event and the team’s nickname.
Meanwhile, the coaches wore some very nice vintage attire, jackets and hats that looked like someone had gone back in time to grab them. Overall, some great looks were on display, but nobody lost sight of what mattered, and St-Louis’ quote about being 100% in the moment from Saturday clearly resonated with his crew. They were all in when it was time to have fun with friends and family on Saturday night, but by the time the puck dropped, they were focused on winning an important game and had forgotten the unusual setting.
Full quote from St. Louis: “My favourite people are the people that are 100 percenters. In anything you do in life, you’re only going to be the best if you give it 100 per cent. You want to be a good dad? It’s not about being 100 per-cent present, but when you’re present you have… https://t.co/sWl13XVzX4
The Canucks are at the bottom of the NHL standings again amid a 10-game losing streak. The latest was to the Wild in former captain Quinn Hughes' return to Vancouver. He got a goal and his 500th career point in the game. The league's worst penalty kill gave up two more goals.
The Kings were the last NHL team to pick up their first win of the season. Scoring (2.33 goals per game) and penalty killing (65.5 percent) have both been a problem. Mats Zuccarello will miss the Oct. 26 game.
They finally won in their 10th game, ending a team-record worst start, and are now on a 3-1 run. Matvei Michkov has led the way with six goals and two assists in his last five games.
The Flames are turning things around with a 4-1 run after an 0-5 start in which they were often blown out. That includes wins against Anaheim, Carolina and Minnesota.
Coach Rick Bowness called out players again after a 7-3 loss to Florida. "If they're not embarrassed, we don't want them on the team," he said. The Blue Jackets played a couple stronger games afterward before a 6-2 loss to Toronto.
26. Anaheim Ducks (-20)
The Ducks rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Flyers and end a five-game losing streak. Leo Carlsson, whom the Flyers signed to an offer sheet (the Ducks matched), had a goal and an assist in the game.
25. Detroit Red Wings (+4)
With Hellebuyck traded, will fellow U.S. Olympic goal medalist Dylan Larkin be next? The Red Wings center and former captain reportedly has expanded the number of places where he'd accept a trade to 10 teams. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned.
24. Pittsburgh Penguins (-2)
Forward Ben Kindel is on the injured list after he collapsed on an Oct. 22 flight. General manager Kyle Dubas described the incident as a "vasovagal episode." According to the Mayo Clinic, that occurs "when you faint because your body overreacts to certain triggers."
23. Buffalo Sabres (+3)
Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had been mentioned in trade rumors involving Hellebuyck but is staying. He has given up at least three goals in every game, including two to former Sabre Alex Tuch in a loss to the Capitals.
22. Winnipeg Jets (-8)
The Jets received goalie Nico Daws, forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, prospect Alexander Command and two draft picks in the Hellebuyck trade. They lost the Heritage Classic in their first game after the trade. Mercer had two shots and no points in his Jets debut.
21. St. Louis Blues (0)
Offseason acquisitions Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael are playing on the second line. McTavish is tied for the team lead with six goals and 10 points.
20. New York Islanders (+5)
Coach Peter DeBoer's Islanders lost 6-3 in his return to Dallas, where he led the Stars to three consecutive Western Conference finals berths before being fired. Everyone kept focus on the game, not the return. "I think what's important is the way we won the game, not who we were playing," said Stars forward Jason Robertson, who scored two goals.
19. Nashville Predators (+4)
The Predators scored four power-play goals on Oct. 25 against the Avalanche, their most in a game since 2012. That 4-for-7 performance moved them to the league's third-best power play at 33.3 percent.
18. San Jose Sharks (-2)
No. 2 overall pick Ivar Stenberg is tied for the rookie scoring lead with 12 points. He has a rookie-best seven of those on the power play.
17. Washington Capitals (-8)
With Vincent Desharnais expected to be out four to six weeks after an emergency appendectomy, the Capitals claimed defenseman Jack St. Ivany off waivers from the Jets.
The Rangers signed veteran goalie James Reimer as they cope with a season-ending injury to Igor Shesterkin. He's scheduled to start on Oct. 26. Dylan Garand, handed the No. 1 role, has lost three of his last four games, though one was a 1-0 shootout loss.
The Avalanche dealt away some depth during the offseason and it's showing. They have fallen to a 6-5-1 record after losing three of their last four. Colorado was 7-1-4 last season after 12 games.
14. Florida Panthers (+1)
The Panthers became the first team in NHL history to record three consecutive natural hat tricks. Brady Tkachuk had the first two and Carter Verhaeghe had the third. But they have been dealt another injury blow when goalie Jacob Markstrom was hurt in practice.
13. Montreal Canadiens (+7)
Playoff hero goalie Jakub Dobes continues to struggle while Jacob Fowler continues to shine. That includes the Heritage Classic, where Fowler made 33 saves for a 2-1 win against the Jets.
12. Seattle Kraken (+1)
The Kraken's depth will be tested after Jared McCann suffered a lower-body injury. He will miss 10 weeks and has been placed on the injured list.
11. Toronto Maple Leafs (+7)
Auston Matthews has rebounded nicely from his injury-filled 2025-26 season. He's among the league leaders with 19 points in 13 games.
The Devils get a bump because they won the Hellebuyck trade sweepstakes. They were off to a solid start even before acquiring the three-time Vezina Trophy winner.
9. Ottawa Senators (+3)
Senators fans booed Brady Tkachuk on his return to Ottawa and got the win. However, goalie Linus Ullmark left the game with an injury and was placed on injured reserve.
The Stars have signed veteran forward David Perron as insurance after injuries to Matt Duchene and Oskar Back. He'll be playing in his 20th NHL season once he suits up.
7. Tampa Bay Lightning (-2)
Nikita Kucherov became the Lightning's all-time scorer, passing Steven Stamkos with an assist on Oct. 24. The 2025-26 MVP has 1,138 career points.
6. Utah Mammoth (+4)
The Mammoth lead the league in power play percentage at 38.1 percent, slightly above the Oilers. Clayton Keller leads the way with 10 power play points. The team also had been linked to Hellebuyck rumors.
Defenseman Quinn Hughes gave an update on his mindset as he's eligible for an extension. "My two feet are planted in Minnesota and, you know, something could happen soon. I'm not really too sure," he told reporters on Oct. 24. "I'm really enjoying playing here."
3. Boston Bruins (+4)
Rookie James Hagens has had a strong start with nine points in 12 games despite playing a little less than 13 minutes a game.
2. Edmonton Oilers (0)
Connor McDavid is having an otherworldly start, averaging three points a game during his season-opening 11-game point streak. The Oilers have the top three scorers in the league in McDavid (33), Leon Draisaitl (23) and Evan Bouchard (tied for third at 21).
1. Carolina Hurricanes (0)
They lead the league in points and that's without defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract on Oct. 25. Stanley Cup-clinching goalie Brandon Bussi still hasn't reclaimed his form (yielding a five-point game to McDavid) but Pyotr Kochetkov is 6-0 with a 1.70 goals-against average.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 25: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on before the game against the Utah Jazz on October 25, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While every win hasn’t been pretty, the Lakers have racked them up to start this season. A blowout of the Warriors, a sloppy win against the Clippers and a comeback over the Jazz has them a perfect 3-0 to open the campaign.
It’s unlikely they’ll go 82-0, though you can’t rule it out yet. Even still, the undefeated start has still brought with it some questions. So, let’s hear yours after a wild first week of the season.
Whether it’s about the Lakers or the NBA in general, or even something else, fire away with any questions.
Peacock NBA Monday returns tonight, as the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets take center stage. Live coverage begins at 9:30 PM ET on NBCSN and Peacock.
See below to find out how to watch tonight's Warriors vs. Nuggets game as well as additional information on how to live stream NBA games on Peacock.
Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets Game Preview:
Golden State Warriors:
The Golden State Warriors are 0-3 following yesterday's 131-122 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg, the 11th overall pick out of Michigan, led Golden State with 26 points. De'Anthony Melton added 25, and Brandon Williams finished with 20.
With an average age of 29.4, the Warriors have the oldest roster in the NBA, and questions about their depth have surfaced early this season.
Stephen Curry, 38, was limited to just 43 games last season. Although he has appeared in two of three games this season, he tweaked his right ankle in practice before the Warriors' opener.
Golden State is looking to avoid missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2020-2021.
The Denver Nuggets rallied from a 23-point deficit, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 in their first win of the season.
Jamal Murray dropped a game-high 42 points. Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.
JAMAL MURRAY GOES OFF FOR 42 POINTS AND 8 THREES AS DENVER RALLIES FROM 23 DOWN
The @nuggets' comeback ties for their THIRD-LARGEST in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) and is the biggest in franchise history at home! pic.twitter.com/3QBVT4E6b5
How to watch 2026-27 NBA games on NBC and Peacock?
The NBA is back on NBC and Peacock for the 2026-27 season with 100 regular-season games across its three marquee nights of the week: Peacock NBA Monday, Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, and Sunday Night Basketball, beginning Jan. 24, 2027.
All NBA games presented by NBC Sports will stream live on Peacock and all Peacock-exclusive games on Monday nights will also be presented on NBCSN. Telemundo, NBCUniversal’s Spanish-language broadcast network, will present 10 Sunday Night Basketballgames as well as the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 21, 2027.
What is the full 2026-27 NBA on NBC and Peacock schedule?
You can see the full schedule of 2026-27 NBA games airing on NBC, Peacock, NBCSN, and Telemundo here.
How do I sign up for Peacock to watch NBA games?
Peacock is available across a variety of devices. To get started, find or download the Peacock application on your device or head directly to PeacockTV.com to create a Peacock account. Then, you’re ready to watch!
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 03: Egor Chinakhov #59 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates during the game against the Montréal Canadiens at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Given the way the four-game Western road trip went, and given the number of players that missed games this week due to illness or injury, it is really easy to be impressed with the way the Penguins handled this past week’s worth of games.
It did not have a great start in Utah.
But then the Penguins returned home for Thursday’s game against the Florida Panthers, and Saturday’s game against the Nashville Predators, and played what might have been their two best back-to-back games of the season. I know, Florida presented a scheduling advantage due to the Panthers’ travel and a back-to-back situation, and Nashville isn’t really a contender. But the Penguins had been in Florida’s shoes multiple times this season and nobody felt sympathy for them, and while Nashville isn’t a contender, the Predators came back on Sunday and absolutely steamrolled the Colorado Avalanche.
So, what I’m saying is, take the points where you get them.
Even better than the wins is just the reality that the Penguins played two really good, really clean games. They were the better team in both games, even if they trailed for a good portion of the Nashville game. Given the way they played it would have been incredibly frustrating to not get at least a point out of that game.
They ended up getting two.
Now they have a four-day break before their next game on Thursday night when they get a quick rematch with Utah, this time at home.
We already know what Utah is capable of, and that’s a really good hockey team that is, again, going to present a formidable challenge. They are fast, deep, and one of the best offensive teams in the league. They enter the week sixth in the NHL in goals per game (3.83) and still have the No. 1 power play unit in the league (38.1 percent). For as much as the Penguins struggled in the first meeting, they still put together a strong third period that put them into a position where they were a highlight reel, last-second save away from actually tying the game. It did not produce a point, but it did at least set some wheels in motion to maybe build some momentum for the two games that followed.
After hosting Utah on Thursday, the Penguins travel to Montreal on Saturday to play the Canadiens for the second time this season.
The Penguins won the first meeting in a wild overtime game in the second game of the season. It was a game that saw the Penguins dominate early, and then experience one of their biggest flaws from 2025-26 and let a three-goal third period lead slip away. They were able to salvage it with a Tommy Novak overtime goal.
After losing three of their first four games of the season, Montreal has responded by going 5-1-1 in the past seven games.
Saturday’s game will be its first game back home after a long road trip, while the Canadiens are also currently without top center Nick Suzuki, who will be sidelined for several weeks. That takes a big player away from them (arguably their best player), and puts a big dent in their already questionable center depth, but the rest of the roster has enough talent that will still make Montreal a tough, tough opponent.
In terms of opponents, the Penguins are still in the middle of a brutal stretch, which not only continues this week, but also into next week with home games against the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins.
While the opponents are still tough, the days off this week come at a great time. Not only due to the injuries, but also the fact the Penguins have played a lot of hockey with a lot of travel in a short period of time.
What is going to be really interesting to watch this week is what the Penguins do when some of these players start coming back.
Ben Kindel could be back at practice.
Justin Brazeau is getting closer.
Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov are probably going to be returning.
That is going to force some people back out of the lineup. Probably Rutger McGroarty. Perhaps Avery Hayes. I would not be opposed to taking Andrei Kuzmenko out of the lineup right now.
The two players I do NOT want to see come out of the lineup are Ville Koivunen and Hendrix Lapierre. Koivunen looks like a player that is starting to figure things out and get the confidence he had been lacking a year ago. He is not only producing more, he just looks like a different player. He does not look as perpetually frustrated as he did a year ago. The puck is coming off his stick quicker. The playmaking and passing has been sensational. He and Lapierre also seem to have something cooking with one another. In 45 minutes of 5-on-5 ice-time together the Penguins are outscoring teams 5-0 with them on the ice, while also having a better than 80 percent expected goal and scoring chance share. It is a small sample size, and it has come with some favorable offensive zone starts, but they are feasting on it right now. I want to see what they can keep doing.
That is going to be the big dilemma for Dan Muse, because not only are they playing well, the “fourth” line of Connor Dewar, Elmer Soderblom and Nick Robertson has also been really, really good. I also put “fourth” line in quotes because even though they are listed as fourth on the depth chart, the Penguins are balancing their ice-time so much that it does not really matter what anybody’s designation is. They also played the third-most minutes on Saturday.
The other big question: Will we see Sergei Murashov in goal this week?
Arturs Silovs has started three games in a row, and played quite well in the past two games, while Murashov has struggled early on. We should not be surprised that Murashov is having some growing pains, and he did not respond well in his most recent start after the game in Chicago. He is going to get back in there at some point, and there is still good reason to believe he will play better than he has, but I wonder how long Muse will keep riding the hot hand (such as it is after two games). You want to see Murashov play, but after the past two games Silovs played it would be tough to take him out right now. At least as it relates to Thursday’s game.
Interesting week ahead with two tough games and some big lineup decisions. Winning Thursday’s game would be a good start, and then see if you can get at least a point out of Montreal. Reasonable goal.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 24: Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators saves a shot by Rickard Rakell #67 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Down 2-1 on Saturday night with the clock ticking away, the Penguins got a signature goal from their three best players on the ice to tie the score. Erik Karlsson and Sidney Crosby assisted on Rickard Rakell’s late score to tie the game. It was a goal the team desperately needed, and the type of play they haven’t made that often early in this year Crosby making a wonderful pass to put a winger in position to score, and then the winger actually scoring.
Unsurprisingly, it was a weight off Rakell’s shoulders to tally just his second goal of the season that is now 12 games old.
“It felt so good. The amount of looks I had – first off, in this game – my teammates setting me up for all these chances, it definitely feels good to put one in,” Rakell said after the game.
Despite the lack of results, Rakell has been generating chances. He’s earned that good feeling and confidence boost from scoring due to all the chances that he’s created. Rakell was stopped on a breakaway earlier in the game, and even before that few players in the league have generated as much as Rakell has at 5v5. This data is before the Nashville game, even then, Rakell didn’t score a 5v5 goal (since the Penguins had pulled their goalie, it was a 6v5 situation).
5V5 EXPECTED GOALS LEADERS · 2026-27 · through Oct 23
1. Mason McTavish — 3.8 xG | 5 goals at 5v5, 10 GP 2. Jack Hughes — 3.7 xG | 0 goals at 5v5, 10 GP 3. Joel Eriksson Ek — 3.6 xG | 1 goal at 5v5, 11 GP 4. Gabe Perreault — 3.4 xG | 4 goals at 5v5, 12 GP 5. Michael… pic.twitter.com/V1GYsMVEnb
Rakell has 30 shots on the year, enough to lead the team by a wide margin (Kris Letang, Ben Kindel and Nick Robertson all have 23 a piece). It’s no secret or deep analysis that the Penguins need Rakell to pitch in. Rakell scored 59 goals in the last two full seasons from 2024-25 to 2025-26, in the ballpark with names like Kirill Marchenko, Brock Nelson, Bo Hovat and not too far off Sidney Crosby (62).
Rakell isn’t a player the team can afford to have in a slump and expect to get good results. The team’s record in first 11 games of the season illustrate that, as did Rakell stepping up to score Saturday in a game the Pens found a way to win in overtime.
The stakes are only raised now that Bryan Rust is on the shelf with injury for at least six weeks, the importance of a player like Rakell only gets magnified when another one of the tried-and-true options is unavailable.
The good news for the Pens may be that Rakell has been generating all those chances, it would be a more difficult conversation to have if this was a player failing to even get in position to score. That hasn’t been the problem to this point. It’s been about finishing those chances, which can be an area that ebbs and flows for even the most consistent and reliable players over stretches to go hot and cold. For someone as skilled as Rakell, enough chances will lead to goals eventually. Such was what happened on Saturday, getting a prime chance sent his way by Crosby, and then finally breaking through to put the puck in the back of the net.
Rakell was cold early in the season, the Penguins could sure benefit from it if the late goal in their last game was a sign that he is coming out of it and about to start filling the net, as he typically will do over the long haul. The Pittsburgh first line needs it, the power play needs it and the team at large would be in for a big boost if some more red lights behind the goalie follow from the chances Rakell has been generating in front of him.
CALGARY — The Toronto Maple Leafs close their final regular-season visit to the Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday before the Calgary Flames move into a new arena next season right across the street. The building’s history produced a range of reactions from the group Sunday, from personal childhood memories to complete indifference.
William Nylander, who was born in Calgary while his father, Michael, played for the Flames, has a long connection.
“It’ll be a fun one,” Nylander said. “This building’s got some character. I mean, I was here when I was born watching my dad play, so it’s been a long time, and I think the new one will be really nice, but it’ll be a fun, exciting last game.”
Coach Jim Hiller played his first NHL game in the Saddledome in 1992. He remembered the era when the Saddledome and Joe Louis Arena were regarded as the league’s nicest buildings.
“It was roughly a new building back then,” he recalled.
“I scored a goal last year, when we were here, but other than that, not too many memories,” Raddysh said about his time while with the Tampa Bay Lightning. “We only came out here once a year but the history of this building is pretty cool and just to see the iconic saddle is really special when you come here. Just driving by the new rink today, it’ll be pretty cool once that’s open.”
There are sure to be a lot of Maple Leafs fans on hand for the final Toronto game. Leafs fans traveled well to Toronto’s 7-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. The Leafs have won a season-high four consecutive games.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The first week of the NBA season has come and gone, and man - it was a good one!
LeBron James and the 76ers rolled to a 3-0 record before suffering their first loss of the season to the Eastern Conference’s only undefeated team - the Pistons.
Six teams remain unbeaten out West, including the new-look Timberwolves featuring the dynamic backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards.
Portland’s new backcourt of Damian Lillard and Ja Morant has won two straight, and the “rebuilding” Memphis Grizzlies have won three straight thanks to strong play from Cameron Boozer and breakout Ty Jerome, who dropped a staggering 45 points in the opener.
For all of the fun and excitement of Week 1, there were unfortunately some major injuries as well.
Paolo Banchero is out 4-6 weeks due to a high ankle sprain, and Jalen Suggs injured his knee. Jalen Duren is out at least two weeks with a hamstring strain. Ivica Zubac is dealing with an ankle sprain, and Cooper Flagg injured his shoulder.
Jalen Williams suffered a gruesome injury on Sunday against the Clippers, and his season is almost assuredly over. It’s a heartbreaking blow for Williams who battled through injuries last year after breaking out during OKC’s title run.
With new opportunities available for injured teammates, I’ve put together my top waiver wire adds heading into Week 2.
Waiver wire adds are based on 8-cat scoring, and roster percentages come from Yahoo! leagues. Only players rostered in 50% or less will be included.
Priority Adds
1. Anthony Black
2. Jaylen Wells
3. Alex Caruso
4. Jay Huff
5. Tristan da Silva
6. Zaccharie Risacher
7. Brook Lopez
8. Kris Dunn
9. Grayson Allen
10. Aaron Wiggins
Others to consider: Quentin Grimes (41%), Jared McCain (30%), Precious Achiuwa (29%), Reed Sheppard (29%), Jaxson Hayes (27%), Dennis Schroder (25%), Obi Toppin (21%), Ziaire Williams (9%), De’Anthony Melton (7%)
Anthony Black, Orlando Magic (46 percent rostered)
Banchero’s extended absence offered Black the opportunity for more playing time, but the recent injury to Suggs all but ensures 30+ minutes per night.
Black logged his first game of the season on Sunday, finishing with a solid 18/3/5/2 line and knocking down five triples.
Across 39 healthy starts last season, Black averaged 16.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.9 triples and 2.2 “stocks.” He’s got stat-stuffing upside and plenty of playing time, making him this week’s top add.
Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Clippers (46 percent rostered)
BroLo averaged 18 points across his first three games of the season, adding 5.3 boards, 1.7 blocks and two triples.
The veteran hasn’t averaged 18+ since his final season in Brooklyn, 10 years ago. He’s shooting a career-best 64.5% from the field and putting up these lofty scoring numbers in just 23.3 minutes off the bench.
Regression is likely coming, but even when it does, Lopez is still worth a look for his three-and-D contributions that are particularly helpful in the world of fantasy hoops.
Grayson Allen, Charlotte Hornets (34 percent rostered)
With injuries to both Kon Knueppel and Coby White, Allen has seen significant playing time in Charlotte’s backcourt, and he’s a Top-75 player through the first week of the season.
Allen is averaging 17.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 triples across 27.3 minutes, doing it all off the bench.
It’s unclear when Knueppel or White will return, but even once they’re back on the floor, Allen should soak up minutes as a spark plug off the bench for a team that loves shooting threes.
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder (24 percent rostered)
With Jalen Williams likely done for the season, Caruso is the priority add out of Oklahoma City. Ajay Mitchell is rostered in 53% of leagues and doesn’t qualify for this article or else he would be featured here.
Jared McCain (30 percent rostered) is a worthwhile pickup too, but he’s a score-first guard with limited peripheral contributions.
Caruso doesn’t offer much in the scoring department, but he rebounds, facilitates and racks up defensive stats that make him a more viable option in category leagues. If you’re playing in a points league, McCain is the better add.
The Grizzlies are one of the most entertaining early-season surprises, and Wells is one of the reasons why the team has been successful.
The Washington State product is averaging 15 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.3 triples across 28.3 minutes.
He’s started all but five games since his rookie season in 2024-25, and Wells is locked into a featured role with a young and ascending Memphis squad. He ranks 69th in per-game fantasy value through three contests.
Aaron Wiggins, Atlanta Hawks (30 percent rostered)
Through three games, Wiggins is averaging 17 points, 3.0 boards, 1.7 steals and 3.3 triples.
Wiggins spent the first five years of his career playing mostly off the bench for OKC in a limited capacity. He’s still coming off the bench in Atlanta, but Wiggins is enjoying a true Sixth Man role for the Hawks thanks to his career-high 27.3 minutes per game.
His shooting is eventually going to cool down, but Wiggins still has plenty of appeal as a microwave scorer who can knock down threes and rack up steals.
Zaccharie Risacher (27 percent rostered)
Don’t look now, but Risacher is a Top-75 player heading into Week 2!
The 2024 No. 1 pick spent two lackluster seasons in Atlanta before getting traded to Dallas, and the new locale is doing wonders for his game and for his fantasy value.
Points, rebounds and assists haven’t been plentiful, but his defensive contributions have been phenomenal, and given his skillset as a long and athletic disruptor, they are mostly sustainable.
Risacher is averaging 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per contest while logging a career-high 30.3 minutes. He’s got a featured role on the rebuilding Mavs regardless of Flagg’s status, but if Flagg misses time, Risacher has the chance to see even more playing time.
Kris Dunn, Los Angeles Clippers (20 percent rostered)
The 11-year veteran has logged a career-high 31 minutes per game over the first week of the season, and based on LA’s roster, Dunn’s role and playing time appear sustainable.
Through three games, Dunn is averaging 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 triples, 3.3 steals and 1.3 blocked shots. Unlike his minutes, Dunn’s defensive contributions are likely to slow down, but even a small drop off there won’t dim Dunn’s overall appeal.
Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic (17 percent rostered)
Just like Anthony Black, da Silva will be called on to step up in the absences of Banchero and Suggs.
Through three games, da Silva is averaging 12.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.3 triples and 1.4 “stocks” across 28 minutes.
Through the first week of play, da Silva ranks 110th in per-game fantasy value, but his role and playing time should grow moving forward, making him a quality add, particularly if you miss out on Black.
Zubac sprained his ankle against the Nets on Sunday, and he’s not expected to play Monday. The big man suffered the injury early in the game, and Huff started the second half, finishing with 14 points, two rebounds, three assists, two triples and three blocked shots.
Huff was a fantasy darling for a large stretch of last season, and he’s worth adding if Zubac is forced to miss time beyond Monday. The Pacers play four games this week, and Huff offers upside in points, three-pointers and blocks.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 18: Steven Adams #12 of the Houston Rockets reacts in the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Toyota Center on January 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A cliché is an overused expression or idea that has lost its originality and impact, while a truism is a statement that is so obviously and self-evidently true that it offers little to no new insight.
Both are pithy, ultimately pointless things to say that we say anyway because something has to be said. There’s a saying in sports: Availability is the best ability.
That’s more of a truism.
Which brings me to the Houston Rockets’ Steven Adams. As of this writing, the Rockets have a rematch with the Atlanta Hawks this evening. Adams is not expected to suit up, which brings him to one game played out of four this season so far.
That’s a problem.
Rockets can’t rely on Steven Adams
Yes, it’s likely that Ime Udoka is intentionally giving Adams some early-season rest. This may not be a massive problem. The team is (again, as of this writing) undefeated.
Only Adams managed just 32 games last year. He played 58 in his 2024-25 debut season with the Rockets, but the year before that he played 0, and 42 in 2022-23.
Durability has been an issue for Adams since that 2022 injury. It’s been four consecutive seasons now. It’s probably fair to drop the caveat:
Durability has been an issue for Adams.
This is a player who’s meant to be integral to the Rockets’ identity. Preserving his body for the playoffs is smart, but this is still an amber alert.
What do the Rockets do if Adams can’t get on the floor?
Rockets must explore long-term backup big man options
Here’s a simple, elegant solution:
Play Oscar Tshiebwe.
Last season, Adams had an 18.9% offensive rebounding percentage (via NBA.com, because there’s a discrepancy on Basketball Reference, and that bothers me). That was third in the NBA. Tshiebwe’s 15.1% mark ranked 8th. That’s a gap, but it’s not a gulf.
We shouldn’t reduce the entire secondary big man’s role to offensive rebounding. At the same time…it’s a pretty large percentage of the role for these Rockets. If we made a pie chart, it’d be one of those pie charts where over half is one color, and then the rest of the pie is divided between a bunch of other variables.
Adams isn’t an especially good defender. He’s a poor offensive player. Yet, he’s managed to be an incredibly impactful NBA player by being the best in the league at two things for a long time: Offensive rebounding and screening.
Tshiebwe can approximate Adams’ offensive rebounding. I’d be lying if I said I could recall an Oscar Tshiebwe screen off the top of my head, but he’s said to be good there too. He won’t be Adams – nobody will – but he’s probably as close as we’ll get.
This is not a big deal. So far, it’s been an odd start for the Rockets. The team is 3-0, and they aren’t leaning on the extra possession philosophy as they have in years past. The team’s 34.3% Offensive Rebounding percentage is just ninth in the league. The Rockets are winning basketball games by doing good basketball stuff.
So imagine how dominant they’d be if they were controlling the offensive glass again.
What’s being suggested here is that getting Tshiebwe on the floor is a way for the Rockets to preserve that identity for the next half-decade. He may not play well, but at least then the team would know.
Otherwise, relying on Capela for the rest of the year is…fine. He’s got a sterling 22.2% offensive rebounding percentage as well, but he’s only playing 9.4 minutes per game. Capela has become a subpar defender, which limits his value.
Maybe Udoka is done with the double-big lineups. That’s fine, but they still need a reliable backup big. If it isn’t Tshiebwe, that’s fine, but they need to have targets circled in the 2027 NBA Draft.
By now, it seems clear that it won’t be Steven Adams for much longer.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 25: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic tries to control a loose ball against James Wiseman #35 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter of the game at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Remember when the Knicks won the NBA championship?
Yeah, that was more than four months ago, so maybe it’s about time someone starts getting back down to earth and hooping again.
Here’s the latest from the latest embarrassing loss in an early season full of them.
"The biggest thing is to coach them and tell them the truth… If we're trying, and trying the right way, sometimes you've got to fight through stuff like this to get yourself on track. Games like this will tell us like, our crap stinks. It does."
On evaluating the season in five-game segments for his own sanity:
“We break the season into five-game segments. There are marks that we like to hit in those five games and it kind of gives us a good feel of where you were, in a fair amount of games, and to see if you can make progress in the next five.
“Obviously you want to go 5-0, you’ll take 4-1, and then maybe you have to take 3-2. But if you’re doing anything less than that, you know that nobody is reaching their potential.”
On coaching the Knicks through their 0-3 start and holding players accountable:
“The biggest thing is to coach them and to continue to tell them the truth. When I talked to them, I said, ‘Hey, we were great in transition in the second half.’ We were. But now, we have to continue to try and embrace the little things. We have to make sure we’re doing it in practice so that it carries over into the game. I’ll really jump their a– if I see the effort is not there. To me, that’s a whole different thing. If we’re trying, and trying the right way, sometimes you have to fight through stuff like this to get yourself on track.
“But games like this will tell us, and I’ve said it before, our crap stinks. It does. We’re the only ones who can do something about it.”
On the Knicks’ excrement:
“Games like this will tell us, our crap stinks. It does. And we’re the only ones who can do anything about it. There’s no light switch we can just turn on and go and win the ballgame. Nobody’s giving us anything, so we have to be better with the little things until we start shooting the ball.”
On the Knicks allowing a nonsensical fourth-quarter offensive explosion to Orlando:
“Giving up 40 points in the fourth quarter is way too much.”
On benching Andre Drummond for James Wiseman:
“I felt our transition defense wasn’t good during that time, not just because of [Drummond], but I wanted to go with a change. Wiseman’s been playing well in practice. I wanted to give him an opportunity and I thought he was pretty good in his first stint [in the first half]. And so I decided to go with him for a second stint. But Andre will go out there as a backup in the next game.”
On the open competition for minutes among the Knicks’ reserves:
“First thing I wanna make clear is we have our starting five. Other than that, anybody can play. When you’re a backup in this league, that doesn’t mean you’re always gonna be the seventh man or you’re always gonna be the eighth man.
“No, no, no, no, no, no. It’s competitive. And it’s less so with the starting group if your starting group is established, which ours is, but everybody else after that starting five, I can throw in front of the next guy in a heartbeat.”
On the Knicks not yet reaching their expected level of play in the early season:
“We’re not quite there yet.”
On Dalton Knecht’s two-way contract and plans to give him playing time in Westchester:
“Right now he obviously is a two-way [player], and we want him to play as much as he can, so he’s gonna play some games with Westchester. If we need him to play games with us, we’ll do that. I’d rather him play than be around us too much and sit.”
On helping Knecht learn the Knicks’ system and potentially giving him NBA minutes:
“So trying to get him caught up to speed sooner than later with what we like to do would be one of the reasons why we want him around. But with him, we’ll take it day-by-day to see how quickly he picks up on the offense and the defense, and then if there’s a need to throw him out there, I won’t hesitate to throw him out there.”
On waiving Kevin McCullar Jr. to sign Knecht:
“Kevin, first of all, he’s a fantastic young man, and we’re gonna miss him, obviously, but he’s been here two seasons as a two-way. Being able to try to get to know a guy like Dalton Knecht at this point of the year, it’s something that we need to take a look at.
“So it wasn’t anything that Kevin didn’t do. He was great, and he is an NBA player. And I think he’s gonna get a shot, someday and it could be with us, who knows down the road? I don’t know. But it was more so having the opportunity to bring a guy like Dalton on just to get to know him a little bit better is why we did it.”
"Poor decision making by me late in the game. Ball's not falling in for us, I think we've gotten some good looks throughout the game but the little things we can control that helps contribute to wins"
On defending Miles McBride’s play against the Celtics:
“[McBride] played great. He’s one of the reasons we were still in the game. Without him doing what he was doing, it might’ve been a worse outcome. He came in ready to go and helped us.”
On the Knicks getting comfortable during strong stretches of play:
“Everyone can say it’s early in the season — we can use that as an excuse — but the one thing I see is that when we get on those runs and look like the team we were in the past, we get a little comfortable. We have to continue to put our foot on the gas and execute things like we did last year.
“We’re not going to be the same. We’re not going to play how we were playing last year; that’s just human nature. But we have to accept this part of the journey, find a way to get better, and hopefully after a couple of games, we can look back and say, ‘We grew from that.’”
On taking responsibility for the Knicks’ offensive struggles on Sunday:
“Organization on my part and making sure we’re in the right place to execute what we need to do. Everything falls on my shoulders. I just got to be a better leader in making sure our guys are ready to go and are in the right spots. There are a lot of little things but that’s the main thing. Organization on my part.”
On the message he delivered to teammates after the Knicks’ 0-3 start:
“Control what you can control; focus on the little details that may seem small but are going to impact winning. Most importantly, let’s do it together.”
On his frustration after the Knicks’ third consecutive loss:
“Not happy. Plain and simple.”
On early-season adversity revealing the Knicks’ character:
“One thing I’ve said during training camp and to this day is we’re going to see who we are within the first couple weeks of the season. And we’re seeing adversity. So how are we going to respond?”
On not wanting championship praise anymore:
“Everyone has been telling us what a great job we did, how fun it was, what we did for the city, the constant praise (for winning the title). So now we need the opposite.”
Andre Drummond was asked if he has any idea about his expected role with the team:
On being benched against the Magic without receiving an explanation:
“Control what I can control. I can’t do s–t about not playing. All I can do is cheer my teammates on and hope for the best.”
On not knowing why Mike Brown removed him from the rotation:
“You can make the guess for me”
On whether or not Brown told him about his expected role with the Knicks:
“Nope. I’m just here to work, when my number’s called I’m prepared to play.”
Dalton Knecht thinks playing in Westchester "is going to be great":
"Learn a new system, learn a new scheme and stuff like that. Just be ready for the new opportunity, I'm excited to start learning from everybody" pic.twitter.com/bebulPJr19
On leaving the Lakers and getting a fresh opportunity with the Knicks:
“I thought [Los Angeles] was a great opportunity. Next thing was coming. So it was kind of exciting [to] get a new opportunity, a new start somewhere. So I think this is gonna be great.”
On what changed between his rookie and sophomore seasons with the Lakers:
“I don’t think nothing changed, I think it’s just — the team got changed, and that was it. I don’t have no hard feelings, but on to better things.”
On learning the Knicks’ system and preparing for his new role:
“I think it’s gonna be great [in New York]. Learn the system, learn the new schemes and stuff like that. And you know, just be ready for the new opportunity. I’m excited to just start learning from everybody.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was completely shattered upon seeing Jalen Williams' injury.
There might not be a better Monday on the sports calendar than Oct. 26.
It's officially the 2026 sports equinox, a rare convergence when the calendars of the biggest leagues in North America overlap to create a sports fan's dream.
This year, the sports equinox features games in all five major professional leagues, plus championship action in two of them. That means the World Series, WNBA Finals, Monday Night Football and regular-season NBA and NHL games are all on the schedule.
Here's a look at everything happening during the 2026 sports equinox and how to watch.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Adem Bona #30 of the Philadelphia 76ers reach for a rebound during a game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers knew they’d have to be a better rebounding team than they have in recent seasons. After finishing in the bottom 10 for the past couple of seasons, it was something that Nick Nurse stressed quite a bit throughout training camp.
They had plenty of problems in their first loss of the season to the Detroit Pistons. Jaylen Brown shot 5-of-20 from the field and the team as a whole came out of the gate slow, very much looking like a group that was playing their third game in four days.
With Joel Embiid resting on the second half of a back-to-back, it showed how dire the situation on the glass can be when he is out of the lineup. Starting a 41-year old LeBron James at center, the Sixers were out rebounded 54-37 by a Pistons team without starting center Jalen Duren in the lineup. They surrendered 15 offensive rebounds which led to 24 second-chance points.
Of course Embiid wasn’t the only missing Sixer in the front court. Jabari Walker missed the game with knee soreness after tweaking it the night before and Dominick Barlow has yet to play this season with a lumbar spine injury. Even Tacko Fall, who was converted to a two-way contract at the end of the preseason, has yet to see any action as he’s dealing with a quad injury.
Tyrese Maxey made note after the game that those reinforcements coming back should help them a lot.
“Some of our tall guys can come back, that would be great,” he said.
“The ball goes up in the air,” James said, “and you go grab it.”
Both Maxey and James know the Sixers need to do more than just that. So does Nick Nurse, who’s trying to find ways for this team to finish possessions with the guys he has available.
“All five guys got to rebound. I just look at the numbers there and the defensive rebounding, just across the board, no matter position, just aren’t good enough,” Nurse said after the game, “so, everybody’s got to chip in with a few more.”
Even when Walker and Barlow are back, the only true center on the roster on nights Embiid will miss is Adem Bona, a springy center who’s struggled as a rebounder. In his best performance of the season, Bona had 13 rebounds in 25 minutes of play, but still let some crucial boards slip through his fingers, including two on one possession that led to Daniss Jenkins hitting the dagger three that put the game away.
Both Bona and Maxey stressed that the Sixers need to do a better job of finding their man and boxing out, regardless of position.
“We just got to hit, box out, try to fight, you got to figure it out,” Maxey said. “The ball comes off the rim, you gotta do whatever you gotta do to get that rebound.”
On top of the attention to the matchups, Bona believes that more Sixers crashing the glass on the offensive end will help even things out.
“Offensively, we got to rebound as a team. Sometimes we just have one guy going or we have two,” Bona said. “Obviously, we have to worry about fast breaks, getting back, but at the same time we also got to focus a little more on offensive rebounding.”
It’s an area of the game the Sixers will have to put more attention to, but for the time being, they’re in a tough spot to grab boards, personnel wise. They’ve been relying on LeBron to fill in center minutes so far, but they know that’s not a long-term solution.
“I don’t see it being a sustainable role,” James said, “but it’s a role we know that we can tap into if we need it.”
The end of the bench has really been depleted by injuries a week into the season — there’s not much they can do about that.The only legitimate criticism of the roster construction at the moment is the aforementioned use of the two-way on Fall. As tall as he is at 7-foot-6, Fall proved to not be a rotation player in his first stint in the NBA. Relying on a guy who was never a rotation-caliber player, hasn’t played in the NBA in four years, and also missed all of training camp and preseason with an injury to provide the help the team needs feels …. ambitious, to say the least.
The Sixers obviously aren’t going to achieve the goals they desire without Embiid in the lineup when the games matter. They do have to figure out how they’re going to eat those innings in the time it takes getting there.
Quinn Hughes reached one of the biggest milestones of his NHL career Sunday night, and he did it in the building where it all began.
The Minnesota Wild (8-3-2) defenseman scored his 500th career NHL point in his first game back at Rogers Arena since being traded by the Vancouver Canucks in December. Hughes finished with a goal and an assist in Minnesota's 4-2 victory over his former team.
With the milestone, Hughes became the second-fastest American-born defenseman in NHL history to reach 500 career points, accomplishing the feat in just 520 games.
Only Hall of Fame defenseman Brian Leetch reached the mark faster among American-born blueliners, doing so in 496 games.
Hughes also became the seventh-fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach the milestone, further establishing himself among the league's most productive defensemen.
But the circumstances surrounding his historic night made the accomplishment even more memorable.
Hughes spent the first six-plus seasons of his NHL career in Vancouver after the Canucks selected him seventh overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. During that time, he developed into one of the NHL's premier offensive defensemen, won the Norris Trophy in 2023-24 and served as Vancouver's captain.
That chapter ended on Dec. 12, 2025, when the Canucks traded Hughes to Minnesota in exchange for Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, Zeev Buium and a 2026 first-round draft pick.
Sunday marked his first game back in Vancouver since the blockbuster trade. The reception was mixed.
Hughes was booed throughout the night whenever he touched the puck, although the former Canucks captain received cheers during a first-period video tribute recognizing his accomplishments with the organization.
Despite the emotional circumstances, Hughes delivered one of his most memorable performances of the season.
With Minnesota leading 2-0 in the second period, Hughes scored on the power play at 12:55 after moving behind the Vancouver net and finding Joel Eriksson Ek in front.
Eriksson Ek's initial attempt was stopped, but Hughes continued around the net and finished the rebound to extend Minnesota's lead to three goals.
The goal was his third of the season and the 500th point of his NHL career.
Hughes added another point early in the third period when he sent Kirill Kaprizov in alone on a breakaway. Kaprizov converted for his NHL-leading 13th goal of the season, giving Hughes his 501st career point.
The 27-year-old now has 69 goals and 432 assists in 520 career NHL games.
For Hughes, returning to Vancouver also meant revisiting the organization and fanbase that helped shape his career.
"The passion with the fanbase is what makes it special to play here," Hughes told reporters in Vancouver following the game. "So for me, it was cool to be back here, and exciting. And I'm glad we got the win."
Hughes has continued producing at an elite offensive pace since joining Minnesota.
Through the Wild's first 13 games of the 2026-27 season, he has recorded three goals and 13 assists for 16 points. He has registered at least one point in 11 of those 13 contests.
Minnesota improved to 8-3-2 with Sunday's victory, completing a successful back-to-back after defeating the Seattle Kraken 5-1 on Saturday.
Hughes left Vancouver with another milestone to add to his already impressive career.
And while his first return to Rogers Arena came wearing a different sweater, it was another reminder of the offensive talent that made him one of the most accomplished defensemen in Canucks history.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
SGA fights back tears during interview after Jalen Williams' gruesome injury
Thunder star Jalen Williams was taken off the floor on a stretcher Sunday night after apparently suffering a leg injury with under two minutes remaining in Oklahoma City’s 108-101 win over the Clippers.
The gruesome injury had Williams’s left foot bending unnaturally after he awkwardly landed on it while being fouled. Thunder medical personnel quickly covered Williams’s leg with a towel as he and other players on the court reacted in shock.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jalen Williams (8) gives a thumbs up to the crowd while being carted off after an injury during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Getty Images
The injury had such an impact on star teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander that he fought back tears in his postgame interview.
“I don’t even know,” Gilgeous-Alexander said when asked what was going through his mind after the game. “I just feel bad for him. Nothing more than that.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder talks to Nick Gallo after the game against the LA Clippers on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NBAE via Getty ImagesShai Gilgeous-Alexander fights back tears after Jalen Williams’ leg injury. NBA
Gilgeous-Alexander continued and said the team will keep fighting without Williams.
“It’s obviously going to be tough without a player like that,” he admitted. “But he’s not gone forever. He’ll be back better than ever, and we know it. We’ve just got to hold the fort down until he comes back.”
Williams, 25, has already been named an All-Star and All-NBA player since being drafted 12th overall by the Thunder in 2022. He played a big role in the Thunder’s championship run in 2025, but missed 49 games last season due to multiple injuries, including a hamstring and recovery from right wrist surgery.
The Thunder did not immediately diagnose Williams’s injury, and head coach Mark Daigneault said postgame that the team will be updated on Monday morning.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams suffers an injury to his left leg in the second half of the game. NBA
“We’re not doing great,” Daigneault said.
The Thunder play the second half of a back-to-back on Monday night against the Suns at home.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) lays injured on the floor after getting injured during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Kurt Helin
Raphielle Johnson
