MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 28: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball against Nate Ament #15 of the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 28, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks tried to build on their win over Indiana, but the Houston Rockets proved too much, winning 132-100 in a blowout. Tyler Herro led the Bucks with 23 points in 27 minutes, while Fred VanVleet led a balanced Houston attack with 24 points.
The Bucks started off looking solid, matching the Rockets shot for shot and keeping them from putting together a run; still, the game was choppy. Late in the first quarter, though, the Milwaukee finally found a rhythm, piecing together a neat little 7-0 run to take its first lead; Tyler Herro hit a finger roll lay-up and a sweet mid-range floater, then AJ Green nailed a three to give the home side a 19-16 edge. The play of the first quarter, though, belonged to Nate Ament, who rose and blocked Jabari Smith Jr. on a baseline jumper. This kind of defensive effort kept the Bucks in the game after they went cold to close out the quarter, finding themselves down 23-21 to end the first.
Unfortunately, that defense would fade a little as the second quarter began, as the Rockets opened on an 8-0 run, extending their lead to double digits. However, as Milwaukee’s starters cycled back in, the defense began to shore up… the only issue was that the offense did not! AJ Green hit a three around the 10-minute mark, and then the Bucks went four minutes without scoring, with Tyler Herro breaking the seal at the six-minute mark. Oof. With two minutes to go, the Bucks had shot just 4/21 in the quarter as the Rockets built a 22-point lead. Offensively, it was very unremarkable: the Bucks couldn’t get comfortable or find their stroke all quarter as the Rockets’ defence tightened. The lone silver lining was the strong team defence the Bucks played, which (somewhat) matched Houston’s pressure and energy.
The third quarter saw the Bucks get out to a faster start as they whittled away the deficit ever so slightly. Ryan Rollins logged four quick assists and a bucket as he pushed the pace and found the open man. Look, Milwaukee actually scored the ball decently in this perioid; the issue was they couldn’t get any stops, which allowed Houston to still win the quarter 38-34. In any event, the home side’s energy was paying off. Amen Thompson would end the quarter leading the Rockets in scoring with an impressive 23 points, showing off his versatility as scorer and looking much more comfortable with VanVleet back from injury. H-Town led bigly after three: 95-69.
Down 26, the Bucks would start the fourth with Brayden Burries, AJ Green, Ousmane Dieng, Nate Ament, and Jericho Sims. The Rockets, meanwhile, kept many of their starters in. For what it’s worth, Milwaukee actually held their own and out-shot Houston 15-10 in the first half of the final perioid. At the 6:55 mark, down 21, Gary Trent Jr. checked in for his first minutes of the season, and boy, was he spectacular, proceeding to score three points on 1/3 shooting. On a real dud of an offensive night, it felt like a fitting end to a clunker of a game.
Stat That Stood Out
18, 19: That is the current NBA season of Kevin Durant and Nate Ament’s age, respectively. KD was Ament’s assignment when he checked in, and it was a trip down Feel Old Lane, realising Ament was 10 months old when Durant made his debut in Seattle.
Obscene Overreaction
Jenkins has been quite effective at instilling culture. No, there are no moral victories, but even in an ugly loss, the Bucks kept their motor high all game and showed they believe in the process. Jenkins was also very encouraging even as players struggled, which will be necessary as the young Bucks continue to grow. They may be 1-4, but they also seem to be taking the right steps under Jenkins’ guidance.
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 28: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 28, 2026 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The league has done the world champion Knicks (2-3) no favors to start the new campaign. Their first four games were matches against playoff teams, and when they finally faced an easier opponent, it was a road game on the second night of a back-to-back.
Tonight’s opponent, the Chicago Bulls (1-4), came into the game as the NBA’s worst perimeter shooting team, but you wouldn’t believe it as they hit 43% from deep and took the Knicks to the wire. If New York was fatigued after beating Detroit last night, they benefited from huge minutes by reserves Tyler Kolek (9 PTS, 9 AST, 0 TO, 18 MIN), Jordan Clarkson (18 PTS, +15, 17 MIN), and Landry Shamet (14 PTS, 5 AST, 32 MIN).
With the second unit cooking, and double-digit points from three starters—Jalen Brunson (38 PTS, 7 AST), Karl-Anthony Towns (19 PTS, 13 REB), and OG Anunoby (23 PTS, 6 REB)—the Knicks overcame a 19-point deficit in the third quarter to win in the fourth, 133-127.
This summer’s fourth draft pick, Caleb Wilson (20 PTS, 6 RBS, 2 STL, 1 BLK), is a fixture of the rebuilding Bulls. He showed his pop when dunking over OG Anunoby in the first quarter and thefting two steals. Should he add any muscle, the kid might live up to his confidence.
Last night, Mikal Bridges got back on track against Detroit. He continued it tonight with an early corner bomb, but got a quick hook and played just nine first-half minutes.
The eleventh pick two years ago, Matas Buzelis (17 PTS), mixed in a three-pointer and a couple of free throws. Chicago came into the night ranked 30th in the league for long-range shooting. Their play supported that rotten rating, as they converted just 2-of-10 from deep in the first 12 minutes, while the visitors shot 5-of-9 from the yard.
Midway through the period, Chicago’s Noa Essengue was knocked into Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT appeared to injure his wrist when he fell to the floor and went to the locker room for treatment. With two minutes remaining in the quarter, Towns returned with a taped left wrist and was accompanied by Anunoby, Bridges, and Tyler Kolek. The latter made his first trey of the season with a minute to go in the period. After six lead changes, New York sat on top at the break, 34-33.
The second quarter saw five more lead changes, as the teams took turns leaping ahead. Kolek continued to dish, hitting Anunoby for an alley-oop and a three. Chicago had an answer for every score, with New York playing less enthusiastic defense than they did 24 hours earlier against Detroit. Blame fatigue. Jordan Clarkson gave them six points in support, and the team was generating second looks (10 offensive rebounds in the half), but they failed to give themselves breathing room. Miles McBride went scoreless on six shots, and Bridges missed his only attempt of the quarter and committed a turnover before being yanked again.
Chicago closed the half on a 13–3 run, thanks to timely baskets from Buzelis and Normal Norman Powell (30 PTS, 10-15 FG), and Tre Jones’ last-second buzzer-beater gave the hosts a 62-56 lead, their largest of the night.
Through the half, the Knicks were outshot 45% to 37%, and their 10 turnovers gifted the Bulls 12 points. The home team had a 28-20 advantage in the paint, despite the guests winning the boards 31-26. New York had shot better from deep (33% to 26%), but the Chi-Guys were capitalizing on easier baskets. Brunson led all scorers with 16 points, while Buzelis had nine.
KAT scored five quick points and dished to Anunoby for a dunk, but then the big fella’s fourth foul banished him to the pine at 9:03. While he sat, Chicago hit the gas. Powell drove to the cup, while Josh Giddey (10 PTS, 11 RBS) doled out three dimes and added a jumper. In a blink, the halftime lead had jumped from six to 13. Our heroes continued to squander their chances: Bridges missed twice before Shamet replaced him, and Anunoby blanked on two threes and was blocked by Buzelis at the rim. The Bulls scored nine unanswered to push their lead to 19 halfway through the frame.
From there, Captain Brunson ignited a 22-7 run. Jalen scored six of those, Kolek added his second and third triples of the night, and Drummond had some nifty cleanups at the rim. In the final second, Anunoby fouled Powell, who made two freebies. Chicago’s once-formidable lead was just 96-90.
Onto the fourth we went. Towns and Clarkson hit threes, as did Isaac Okoro for the villains, and Kolek added a steal. The third-year man has had at least one steal in each game he’s played this season. With a sprained ankle keeping Jose Alvarado out, Kolek is certainly making the most of his minutes. He distributed five assists while Brunson rested, and New York’s 14-8 run tied the score at 104 with just over eight minutes left.
Clarkson gave New York its biggest lift off the bench, scoring 12 fourth-quarter points and stealing consecutive Chicago passes to set up a Shamet three and his own layup.
That steady vet Powell kept answering for Chicago, but the Knicks were getting contributions throughout the lineup. Brunson scored 13 points after checking in at 7:04, hitting three triples as New York’s lead reached 11. His last three, following Hart’s offensive rebound, made it 130–122 with 1:39 remaining.
Jalen Smith (17 PTS, 11 RBS, 5 AST) buried a corner three to pull Chicago within three with 46 seconds left. Powell missed a potential tying triple, leaving New York ahead 130–127 with nine seconds on the clock. Cap and OG made their free throws. Ballgame.
Up Next
My notes say that Mo has a recap coming your way. The Knicks host Philly at home on Friday for a Cup game. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 24: Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns and LJ Cryer #18 of the Golden State Warriors battle for a loose ball during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 24, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 131-122. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Unfortunately for the Suns, the season has not panned out as much as anticipated. With a 1-2 start and their next game not until Friday, the team’s pulse has been off, and everyone has expressed frustration. Whether it’s the early injuries that have hurt the roster or the starting lineup not meshing well, the discussion surrounding the Suns hasn’t been positive in the first few games. Even with all that negativity, though, the Suns have shown some positives, including a major offseason re-signing.
This has been Jordan Goodwin, someone who blossomed on the team last year and is still finding ways to make an impact this year. In just these three games, he has made himself feel present with the squad and has made his presence felt in all three contests. His hustle and ambition to become a better player show in his relentlessness on the court.
Because of the injuries the Suns have already dealt with early on, Goodwin’s role has grown. With no Oso Ighodaro for the Suns, Khaman Maluach has started, but with Mark Williams also out, the center room is thin. The Suns have used two-way player Duop Reath for some of those minutes, but a lot of them have been put into small-ball lineups. This was one of the Suns’ strong suits last season, and again, it can be said to be led by the same player both years: Goodwin.
To start the season, the Suns have struggled in two main areas: rebounding and three-point shooting. For the Suns, though, Goodwin has at least shone by not letting them get completely obliterated in those categories any more than they already have. The 6’3” guard, even though he is undersized, proves that it is heart over height in any scenario, as he makes his impact known within the roster. He’s made that impact known, and the fans have noticed it, too.
The Suns are currently shooting 31.9% from three, ranking 20th in the NBA.
Despite this, they rank 10th in three-point attempts per game. 🤨
That is why, to me, he’s truly been one of the bright spots on this Suns team and deserves recognition for his hard work, even if the results haven’t always been what everyone wants. That said, the Suns should look at what Goodwin has accomplished over the last few games and incorporate his skill set into the roster build. As we know, the starting lineup has not panned out at all. With Ighodaro out with an injury, we haven’t been able to switch him and Maluach, but even without that, others haven’t performed.
Finally watching last night's win and wow does Jordan Goodwin need to be playing 30 MPG expeditiously
He's attacking gaps in the defense to create 3-point assists, hitting reverse up-and-unders, all while rebounding like a PF and pressuring 94 feet. IMPACT.
— Sam Cooper #GetOffMyMeaterson (@scooperhoops) October 25, 2026
Jalen Green has been inconsistent; Devin Booker had one dominant performance but then went silent; Dillon Brooks just hasn’t looked like the same player, and Miles Bridges, well, what is there positive to say about him? Truly, the cohesion has been terrible, and the roster build, with no one to make those Goodwin-like plays, has set them back. Everyone is looking for their own bucket and a way to win for the team, rather than playing as a unit. That is why the bench looks so much better: everyone has their role, and they try to execute it.
Among 326 players averaging 30+ minutes this season, here’s where three Suns starters rank in defensive rating:
Even early in the season, the starters’ lineup issues are glaring, and with the squad’s build, this could persist as the season goes on. With no clear playmaker, true rebounder, or even a solid three-point scorer, the solution seems to be working through this together for now, but if it sticks, bigger issues could arise near the trade deadline. This is where I think the Suns, in this scenario, would still need to reevaluate all avenues to build around their star.
Sadly, three points isn’t something anyone can support, but fans can still cling to the 43-point game from before. That is the Booker fans all know and grew up supporting, the one they saw on Saturday night, and even if it was against a depleted Warriors team, that star is still there. He needs the right pieces around him to get back to his true self, and that is where the front office needs to look. They need to find guys who can replicate what Goodwin brings to the starting lineup: connectivity. Someone willing to do the dirty work and be the glue guy for the starters. As many liked to taunt Royce O’Neale last year for being in the lineup, that is what his role was, and he did it perfectly.
Sometimes it is not about the biggest names on the roster; it is about how they work, and that is how last season’s Suns thrived. This year, the opposite is true, and the outcomes aren’t looking great. It’s still early in the season, and things can change once Ighodaro gets back or their team gels more, but if the issues persist, the only way out may be to sell some of these starters, especially ones looking for a long-term extension.
TORONTO, ON- OCTOBER 28 - RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors worked around Tristan da Silva #23 of the Orlando Magic as the Toronto Raptors play the Orlando Magic at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. October 28, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 129-99 on Wednesday.
With the victory, the team improved to 3-1 on the season and 1-1 in games without Kawhi Leonard.
Here are four takeaways and quotes after the win:
Where would the Raptors be without RJ?
“We can do an even better job of providing him those angles…but he’s very crafty and he plays in tight spaces…I thought he did a really good job tonight.” – Darko Rajakovic on RJ Barrett
There’s something about RJ Barrett’s game that can’t escape the relentless criticism from a specific portion of the Raptors fanbase. Even after hitting a Kawhi-like bounce that foreshadowed the return of his newest teammate, Barrett’s name is often included in hypothetical trades.
Contract and financials aside, no one on the team can replicate what Barrett does best: provide relentless pressure and pursuit that even Michael Myers would be jealous of.
When Toronto’s offence was stuck in molasses, it was Barrett who supercharged his play. After hitting a triple to cut the Magic lead to 19-13, he followed that up with an offensive putback on the next possession.
Barrett led all scorers with 21 points at halftime, matching his second-highest output through two quarters in his eight seasons in the league. Barrett’s career-high for points at the half remains at 30, which was recorded while playing for the New York Knicks on Feb. 25 in 2022.
Barrett proved himself as a playoff riser against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It makes sense that he elevates his game while Leonard is out of action. Barrett finished with 25 points on 50 per cent shooting.
No trick, all treat
“Today was the first day I was looking for my shot more…Offensively, I’m a liability when I don’t look for my shot.” – Jamal Shead on whether he needs to be more aggressive on offence
With the Raptors trailing 21-15 with just over four minutes left in the opening quarter, head coach Darko Rajakovic looked to his bench for answers, or at the very least, for a group capable of keeping them in the game until their offence recovered.
What emerged was the unique combination of Immanuel Quickley, Jamal Shead, Jamison Battle, Scottie Barnes and Trayce Jackson-Davis. The group was the jump scare Toronto needed to wake up from its slumber. An 11-2 run pushed the home team to a two-point lead and invigorated the Scotiabank Arena.
The most encouraging part was that production came from all five players and not just the known quantities. Jackson-Davis was an excellent screener and capitalized on his scoop shot after Shead dropped it off to him in the paint. The veteran was also a stabilizing force on the glass. Battle bounced back after his performance in Minnesota, finishing with seven points, while knocking down a left-corner three during this particular stretch. Defensively, Battle was playing with an infectious effort and hit the floor for loose balls. Shead had his best game of the young season and was a force on both ends. The backup point guard scored a season-high 13 points.
Orlando ultimately went 1-for-4 from the field and committed three turnovers before Rajakovic brought Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett back into the game.
Scottie returns to form
“I thought we just played our brand of basketball…we’re trying to play to our standards.” – Scottie Barnes on whether the team played a different way due to Leonard’s absence
After Barnes faced criticism for finishing with zero points for the second time in his career, there was understandably increased curiosity surrounding how the All-Star would approach this game, especially with Leonard out of action.
Whether it was by design or a product of what was available on the court, Barnes and the Raptors had an obsession with getting into the paint to begin the game. Barnes generated five consecutive paint touches, with one of them leading to a Quickley three-pointer. He didn’t take his first jump shot until the 7:23 mark. In total, the Raptors as a team attacked the paint on seven straight possessions.
Barnes was an absolute force once again, finishing with 28 points, six rebounds, four assists and five stocks (steals and blocks). For the Raptors to author a sequel to 2019, Barnes needs to be an automatic 20-point scorer while doing enough to cement his reputation as an All-Defensive mainstay.
Part of the sophomore experience
“For all of our guys, they come off the bench and are ready to go… they have something to prove and do well for the team, and they’re very much ready to do that.” – Rajakovic on the team’s depth
We’ve seen the Photoshop gems on X and the addictive edits on TikTok. Along with Leonard and Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles is often viewed as an integral part of the three-headed defensive monster. While it’s a compliment to be typecast as the “Dennis Rodman” of the group, Toronto can renovate its ceiling to impressive heights should Murray-Boyles grow as an offensive weapon.
Unfortunately, Murray-Boyles couldn’t get into a rhythm, particularly due to foul trouble. The defensive demon picked up two fouls in his first three minutes of action. He also committed three turnovers during this stretch. Early in the fourth quarter, Murray-Boyles picked up his fifth foul. At this point, he had seven points, two rebounds and three turnovers.
Thankfully, the Magic didn’t pose a permanent threat and Jackson-Davis was solid as a fill-in at the centre position.
Offensively, Murray-Boyles’ highlight of the night came in the form of a three-pointer from the top of the arc. Moments later, he attempted a second triple from nearly the same spot. The ball touched every part of the rim before bouncing out. During Raptors Media Day, Rajakovic expressed his preference for players to be more willing to take shots. Murray-Boyles finished 2-for-3 from the perimeter. It was the first time Murray-Boyles had attempted more than two three-pointers since Dec. 31 in 2025.
The Knicks looked lost at sea in the third quarter on Wednesday night in Chicago, but overturned a 19-point deficit to grab a 133-127 win over the Bulls.
Sequences looked incredibly familiar for those fans who labored through watching the first few games of New York’s title defense: stagnant offense, turnovers, missed shots, and periods when the other side just looks fresher.
And in the middle quarters, it was the young Bulls who rampaged past the older Knicks with a 33-13 run to take an 87-68 lead with under five left in the third. That is when a Jalen Brunson-led charge saw the Knicks use a 22-7 run to enter the fourth down by just six.
Three minutes into the fourth, the Knicks had a lead, as the three-point shooting, which had been rather poor earlier, arrived. It was Karl-Anthony Towns, who poured in another double-double, and a trio of bench players who shined as Tyler Kolek, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson
And after the Knicks got the lead in the fourth, Brunson regained his familiar role as the closer, taking over with 13 points down the stretch, stretching the Knicks’ lead to 10 points with a big crossover and three. The game tightened to just a three-point lead, but Josh Hart’s defensive rebound with under 10 seconds to play kept the game secure.
Here are the takeaways...
- Brunson was quiet for much of the game, but then took over midway through the second, knocking in seven straight for the Knicks to give him 11 points on 5-for-10 from the floor in the first. He added another five points in the second. The fourth quarter was all his as he put in his best performance of the season so far.
The best closer in basketball put on a show to finish with 38 points on 13-for-25 shooting (6-for-10 from three) with seven assists and a plus-3 in 35 minutes.
- Towns was in an awkward collision with Bulls forward Noa Essengue and stayed down in pain early in the first quarter. Towns got up holding his left wrist and was soon seen walking into the locker room. KAT would return just under four minutes later with tape around his left hand. The injury didn’t appear to hamper him as he added an old-fashioned three-point play to finish the opening quarter with six points and five rebounds.
But then the foul trouble happened and limited his contribution for some time. In a span of just a few minutes late in the first and early in the second, he picked up his third personal just over four minutes into the quarter, and he had nine points and 11 rebounds at the half. After five fast points and an assist early in the third, he picked up his fourth and had to spend some more time on the bench.
But the fourth quarter was fine as he finished with 19 points (7-for-14 shooting, 3-for-6 from deep) with 13 rebounds and five assists and was a plus-5 in 28 minutes.
- Shamet sustained an unfortunate turn of the ankle early in the second, and that saw him head to the Knicks' locker room. He finished a dunk, started backing up the court, but got the back of his foot caught on a Bulls player's shoe and turned his right ankle. But, like Towns before him, he was back in the game a few minutes later.
When the Knicks needed him, he was there, turning it on in the second half as he poured in 14 points (4-for-7 from deep) with five assists to finish a plus-13 in 32 minutes.
- Clarkson, who did not play Tuesday against the Pistons, had six points in five first-half minutes. He added another big three early in the fourth and then added a pair of steals, setting up a Shamet three and a layup of his own to give the Knicks a five-point edge midway through the fourth.
- Kolek, getting minutes with Jose Alvarado sidelined with an ankle injury, took full advantage, leading several charges down the floor to score nine points (3-for-4 from deep) with nine assists, two rebounds, and was a plus-13 in 18 minutes.
- OG Anunoby started making his imprint early, with five fast points to start the second to give him 11. He finished with 23 points (7-for-16 shooting) and six rebounds, but was a minus-10 in 31 minutes.
- Offense isn't coming to Hart much again, and he had just two points in 17 first-half minutes with three rebounds, two assists, but was a minus-10. And he finished with just the two points on 1-for-6 shooting, but had eight rebounds (three offensive) and three assists and was a minus-2 in 36 minutes.
- Mikal Bridges picked up two fouls early and played just nine first-half minutes with three points on two shots. He was a minus-5 and played just 13 minutes in the game.
- Miles McBride had a terrible time in the first half with just three points on 1-for-9 shooting (1-for-7 from deep) with three personal fouls and a turnover. He did have five rebounds, a steal, and a block, but was a minus-5 in 14 minutes. He did not feature after the half.
Game MVP: Jordan Clarkson
Yes, this probably should go to Brunson. But the shine should go to a guy who played sparingly in the first four games of the season and was ready to light it up when his name was called. Clarkson finished with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting (2-for-3 from deep) with three rebounds, two steals, an assist, and was a team-high plus-15 in 17 minutes, which was the same number of minutes he had played on the year entering the game.
The Brewers ace had a trainer visit then walked off under his own power. JoJo Romero replaced him with Milwaukee leading 4-0 but the 24-year-old's night wasn't going to be lasting much longer with his pitch count near 90.
Misiorowski's line: 5 ⅔, two hits, one walk and two strikeouts. He did not give up a run on 86 pitches.
Misiorowski is likely to win the NL Cy Young award after going 16-5 with a stunning 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 30 starts in the regular season.
Jacob Misiorowski had to exit his scoreless start in the middle of an at-bat after 86 pitches due to a cramp pic.twitter.com/ISKiDGmPDD
He has had trouble with that leg before. He left three starts with right leg cramping: a June 2025 start against St. Louis with right calf and quad cramps, a May 1 start against Washington after 5 ⅓ hitless innings with a right hamstring cramp, and a May 13 start against San Diego with a right quad cramp after seven scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts. After the San Diego start, he said it was the same issue as before and he'd be fine.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 28: Cade Cunningham #2 and Daniss Jenkins #24 of the Detroit Pistons look on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 28, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Pistons recovered after a slow first half to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 97-89. Detroit’s defense was Steady Eddy all night. Their offense came alive with 32 points in the third quarter.
Daniss Jenkins’ 3-point bomb to end the second quarter ignited their offensive run. He came through in crunch time with timely baskets and heads-up defense to offense possessions. Jenkins (14 pts, 60 FG%) keeps the confidence at all times.
Cade Cunningham led the way with 30 points, five boards, seven assists, and one turnover. He shot 4-9 from triple range. While Jalen Duren remains out with a hamstring injury, Paul Reed continues to be dependable. Reed was all over the floor, scoring 16 points and displaying his Barry Allen hands with three steals.
Duncan Robinson will be in the sniper of the year race. He buried three triples and was a +6 for the game. Robinson and Ausar’s dribble handoff game is chef’s kiss.
Teams sag so far off Ausar and are haunted-house scared of Robinson when he’s on the move. Ausar’s man has to come up and cover so much ground when they run a DHO, and Robinson is such a willing passer.
Those two connected on a killer Robinson-to-Ausar sequence leading to a big slam in the fourth. Ausar stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, nine boards, and eight assists. His last dime to Cade for a triple sealed the deal. We all want him to be more aggressive and take certain shots when he’s near the basket, but passes like that are why he plays his brand of basketball.
Brandon Miller attacked Robinson relentlessly on the other end. Whenever the Pistons gave up a switch, Miller looked to put his shoulder in 55’s chest to get a floater off. It’s really not fair to single out Robinson. It got to the point where Miller was getting boogie on whoever. 3s, push shots, tomahawk slams, Miller got off tonight.
Miller was a one-man army, dropping 31 points and snagging 12 boards. He and Dennis Schröder (14) were the Hornets’ only double-digit scorers. Moussa Diabaté, Grayson Allen, and Royce O’Neale chipped in with nine apiece.
Detroit doubled Charlotte with four double-digit scorers. The Hornets kept it close down the stretch, but Detroit pulled away with an uptick in defensive tenacity and big-time shot-making from their creators, Cade and Jenkins.
That was a gutsy win with the way Detroit came out flat offensively. Hopefully Detroit gets off to a better start Friday versus the Brooklyn Nets. That will be the Pistons’ first in-season tournament group stage game. Get busy and set the point differential right.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 21: Graham Ike #45 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Dwight D. Eisenhower famously had a slogan in his 1952 presidential campaign called “I Like Ike” (pronounced EYEK). While I wasn’t alive in that era, I can say I like a different Ike (pronounced EE-KAY).
Beloved Gonzaga Bulldog and now professional rookie Graham Ike made his first NBA career start on October 23rd for the Golden State Warriors against the Memphis Grizzlies. In 12 minutes, he tallied 10 points on 4-for-6 field goals and a perfect 2-for-2 beyond the three-point line, while grabbing two offensive rebounds.
Ike got the nod to start the next day against the Phoenix Suns. He played 26 minutes, going 5-for-13 and totaling 12 points, which included a sick putback dunk. Not to mention, the Zag grabbed 10 rebounds in what lead to his first double-double in the NBA.
Ike only played less than three minutes in the next matchup on the road against the Denver Nuggets, his home state team.
It’s extraordinary watching Ike, who went undrafted and signed an Exhibit-10 deal with Golden State back on June 26th, get minutes in the big leagues. To not only play, but shine for a Warriors squad that does not have much to look forward to this season.
Let’s not forget the connection between Gonzaga coach Mark Few and Golden State coach Steve Kerr, as they coach together for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics. With the Warriors being the oldest team in the current NBA (their average is 29.39 years), Kerr could give Ike much more playing time than anticipated.
Ike wasn’t the only Gonzaga alum who had some attention through the NBA’s first week.
Jalen Suggs, entering his sixth campaign with the Orlando Magic, dropped 14 points, six rebounds and six assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 23rd. However, on October 25th against the defending champion New York Knicks, Suggs suffered a non-contact injury late in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Suggs is down in serious pain after this play
Anytime a player goes down holding their knee, especially when it’s non-contact, a basketball fan is quick to assume the worst. Luckily, ESPN’s NBA Insider Shams Charania reported that Suggs was diagnosed with a mild bone bruise in his right knee and will be out for at least two weeks.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has been diagnosed with a mild bone bruise in his right knee and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, sources tell ESPN. Suggs avoided any other major structural damage. pic.twitter.com/C3DqyUcuAW
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, in his first two games of his fifth NBA season, has averaged 16.0 points on a 55.2 field goal percentage, 1.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists. The older Nembhard did not play on October 26th against the Milwaukee Bucks, dealing with neck/back issues.
His younger brother, Ryan, had some minutes in his first chance to suit up for his new team, the Denver Nuggets, going 2-for-3 from the field and hitting a three-pointer. Nembhard had a busy offseason, being traded from the Dallas Mavericks, where he spent his rookie season, to the Atlanta Hawks. On September 22nd, he was traded once again to the Charlotte Hornets, and then waived on September 26th.
It’s only been a week into the 2026-2027 NBA season, and it’s already been fantastic seeing these former Zags get some minutes, especially Ike.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 28: Tyrese Maxey #0 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrate a basket by Maxey during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At least they’re piling up wins while figuring out the offense.
The Sixers slugged out a 114-109 win over the banged-up Indiana Pacers Wednesday night.
Tyrese Maxey came alive in the fourth quarter to lead the Sixers with 27 points, adding five rebounds and four assists shooting 8-of-18 from the floor. Joel Embiid put up 21 points and 11 rebounds going 9-of-17 from the field.
LeBron James also dramatically improved in the final period — he finished with 13 points, five rebounds and 10 assists on 5-of-12 shooting. Jaylen Brown shot 7-of-13 for 20 points and 10 rebounds. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 26.
Jabari Walker remained out with knee soreness, along with Dominick Barlow and Tacko Fall. The Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac and T.J. McConnell.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Not a pretty start for either team. The Sixers turned the ball over twice within 30 seconds then blew a switch on an inbounds to concede their first points of the game. Their offense opened the game looking stagnant. Brown, Embiid, and LeBron slowly got them on the board in the midrange.
On their first possession coming out of the game’s first timeout, they had some movement going and got Embiid an easy basket running a pick-and-roll with James. Aside from some disinterest in Larry Nance, the Sixers opened the game fine defensively and benefitted from the Pacers starting cold as well. Indy started the game 3-of-11 from three.
Anfernee Simons checked into the game and knocked down two three-pointers after only hitting two in his last three games. He ended up being the only Sixer to make a three in the quarter, and the only Sixer to take more than one three in the quarter.
Despite a ticky-tacky quarter from the officials that ended with two fouls on both Embiid and Adem Bona, the Sixers closed out another lackluster offensive quarter with a 47.6% effective field goal percentage and were knotted up with this banged-up Pacers team at 25.
Second Quarter
Despite the best efforts of those officials, there was no denying that Pacers’ two-way swingman Jalen Slawson had a LeBron-esque chase down block on James himself in transition. Indiana used an early challenge to overturn the foul originally called. Slawson might have been robbed of a block shortly after, but Brown got the points from the goaltend and drove right to the basket on the following possession.
Kelly Oubre Jr. started the second for Indy with a three, then beat most the Sixers back for a transition layup off an inbound. The Sixers kept feeding their hot hand, Simons, for two more. His fourth three of the night banked off the backboard and rim before falling in. Maxey hit LeBron off a pick-and-roll for another jumper off the glass that capped off an 8-0 Sixers run.
Sometimes when the Sixers have moved the ball this season, they might go one or two passes too many, but that’s a much more welcomed struggle than stagnation. Embiid might passed up a good look at a layup, but the ball eventually was kicked back to Maxey who drew a foul on his layup attempt.
VJ Edgecombe started the game with an open three that rimmed out and just missed a big slam earlier in the second. He finally got on the board crashing the glass and putting back a missed Embiid midrange. The Sixers only missed four times from inside the arc in the second and the Sixers scored on second-chance points on two of them. A missed Embiid layup fell right to Brown for an easy 12-footer.
The Sixers began to surrender all that momentum as the Pacers ripped off an 8-0 run, but for the third time this season they nailed an end-of-quarter heave. Edgecombe drilled a pull-up from half court to beat the buzzer, pushing them back up to a 10-point lead at the half.
After the exciting end to the first half, the Sixers opened the second very flat. They went one unsuccessful isolation attempt after another while the Pacers ripped off a 10-0 run. Nick Nurse called a timeout to stop it, but the Pacers hit a three after another missed contested midrange before the Sixers threw it away on the ensuing inbounds.
Indiana ended up scoring 17 before the Sixers scored their first points of the half. While they didn’t just get down and go to the basket, LeBron finally got an open three to go off a drive-and-kick. Maxey, who had five points to this point, nailed another triple off a give-and-go to finally halt Indiana’s momentum.
The first “hold your breath” moment was when LeBron bumped knees with Slawson. Those will hurt a lot more at LeBron’s age than Slawson’s. That didn’t help how much the Pacers were outrunning the Sixers. It’s their bread and butter, and the Sixers gave them plenty of ugly possessions to get out and do it.
Brown got to the basket and drew a foul in another attempt to stop the bleeding, but took a shot to the head that bothered him in the process. It would be their final points of the third. KCP missed an open kickout, Maxey couldn’t get a clean layup off, Dean Wade picked up his fifth foul unable to stop Siakam, and Brown’s pull-up at the buzzer was long. After being outscored 32-13, they trailed by 13.
Fourth Quarter
Oubre tried to sell a foul coming off a Maxey screen and left Simons wide open as a result. LeBron stripped him, allowing Maxey to scream down the court for a fastbreak layup. After finding Simons again in the corner, LeBron was left all alone and drilled the three he took his time for, cutting the lead to five and prompting a Pacers timeout. Simons finished with 20 points on the night.
The Sixers were lucky to have not given up any points despite giving up three offensive rebounds on the first possession coming out of the timeout. As Tim Legler was saying on ESPN’s broadcast that Embiid hadn’t gotten the ball in his sweetspot enough in the half, James hit him at the nail for a layup and the foul. Embiid then threw a great swing pass to Simons who missed the three, but after just checking back in Brown was right there to put back the miss.
Playing off two-man actions with Embiid, Maxey got to the basket then the line to put the Sixers back in front. As the two again got Embiid on the empty side of the floor, Edgecombe cut to the middle of the floor and was fouled on a made floater. He hit Embiid’s celebration as the big fella tried to help him up.
Maxey found Embiid with a pocket pass to answer a pair of free throws, but once Siakam got another post hook to go to cut the Sixers’ lead to three, Nurse decided for another timeout to get LeBron out of the game. After Embiid traveled trying to secure an offensive rebound, Indy got it down to one thanks to Andrew Nembhard. Embiid was able to hit a fadeaway from the nail to quiet the crowd.
After going three-of-four at the line, Maxey finally started to look like himself around the perimeter. He hit a stepback three, taking his time after getting free of Aaron Nesmith. The Pacers got two back at the line, but in the process of trying to get the ball out of LeBron’s hands they left Maxey open for another three.
The Sixers looked to have this one in hand after those threes and Obi Toppin split his pair of free throws. On a scrambled inbounds play Edgecombe threw a poor pass out of bounds with 31 seconds left, plenty of time for Indy down five. They grabbed the offensive rebound off of Nesmith’s first three, but he got it back and airballed his second attempt. It was fitting that it wasn’t pretty, but the Sixers finally handled business.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche scored four third-period goals to defeat the New Jersey Devils 5-2, bouncing back from a 6-2 road loss to Nashville behind goals from Nazem Kadri, Parker Kelly, Nathan MacKinnon, Jaden Schwartz and Gabriel Landeskog.
Colorado’s offense came alive in the final period, with five different players finding the back of the net to secure the win. Connor Brown scored both of New Jersey’s goals, while Brent Burns recorded two assists to bring his career total to 949 points, moving him into 10th place on the all-time points list among defensemen.
Mackenzie Blackwood made 15 saves for Colorado, while Jake Allen stopped 36 shots in a busy night for New Jersey. Despite Allen’s efforts and Brown’s two-goal performance, the Avalanche pulled away in the third period, scoring four times to put the game out of reach and earn a much-needed bounce-back victory.
First Period
Despite holding an advantage in shots on goal, Colorado struggled to capitalize on its chances, while New Jersey made the most of its opportunity. However, the biggest concern for the Avalanche came late in the period, when defenseman Josh Manson went down near the bench and needed assistance from a trainer to leave the ice.
Nazem Kadri's post-game remarks.
New Jersey’s defense delivered the first major hit of the game as Colorado attempted to generate a rush. Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon caught Nazem Kadri with a heavy check into the boards, leaving the Avalanche center visibly shaken as he took a moment to regain his bearings.
With nine minutes remaining in the opening period, Logan O’Connor nearly gave Colorado the breakthrough. The Avalanche forward found a loose puck in the low slot with the net wide open, presenting a golden opportunity to put his team ahead 1-0. However, Devils defenseman Brett Pesce hooked O’Connor at the last moment, sending him tumbling to the ice and preventing a potential goal.
Although Pesce’s intervention thwarted Colorado’s scoring chance, it came at a cost for New Jersey, as the infraction sent the Avalanche to the power play.
Colorado failed to capitalize on the man advantage, and the ensuing sequence quickly turned disastrous. The Avalanche surrendered possession, allowing New Jersey to break the other way on a two-on-one rush. Connor Brown carried the puck forward, sold the passing option with a convincing fake, and then sent a shot toward the net that banked off goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood and crossed the goal line to give the Devils a 1-0 lead.
The goal marked a costly swing in momentum for Colorado, which had been presented with an opportunity to strike first but instead found itself chasing the game.
The Avalanche suffered another concerning setback with just over four minutes remaining in the period when Manson went down near the Colorado bench. While on the ice, Manson made several attempts to open the bench gate but struggled to reach it. He eventually managed to get through, where a trainer immediately assisted him down the tunnel.
Manson’s departure cast a shadow over an already frustrating period for Colorado, with his condition unclear as the teams headed toward the intermission.
After 20 minutes, the Avalanche trailed the Devils 1-0 despite holding the edge in shots on goal. Colorado needed a stronger response in the second period, but Manson’s apparent injury added another layer of concern as the team attempted to erase the deficit and get back into the contest.
Second Period
Colorado found its equalizer with 9:02 remaining in the second period, capitalizing on the power play to pull even at 1-1. Jaden Schwartz found Gabriel Landeskog at the doorstep, where the Avalanche captain scored his fifth goal of the season.
The goal came moments after Colorado’s first power-play unit had left the ice. Notably, Nathan MacKinnon did not finish the shift with the rest of the unit, exiting early as Brock Nelson took his place.
MacKinnon’s frustration became more apparent a short time later. Following another difficult shift, the Avalanche star was seen yelling on the bench after slamming his stick against the boards, adding a tense moment to Colorado’s efforts to take control of the game.
The momentum shifted again late in the period when O’Connor was called for cross-checking Jack Hughes into the boards with 1:59 remaining. The penalty sent Colorado to the penalty kill at a critical point in the game.
The situation grew more contentious with 31.4 seconds left, when Brent Burns was called for tripping Luke Evangelista, giving New Jersey a two-man advantage. Boos erupted as the call was announced, and the replay appeared to show Evangelista battling for a loose puck before getting sandwiched between Nicolas Roy and Burns. The sequence appeared to suggest Roy was responsible for knocking Evangelista to the ice, rather than Burns, prompting a strong reaction from the crowd.
The second period ended with the score tied 1-1, but Colorado’s late penalties left the Avalanche in a precarious position. O’Connor had one second remaining on his penalty, while Burns had 1:28 left on his minor, leaving Colorado to begin the third period shorthanded.
The Avalanche also received confirmation between periods that Manson, who had left the game injured in the first, would not return.
Colorado had recovered from its early deficit, but it faced an immediate test to begin the final 20 minutes. With New Jersey holding a 5-on-3 advantage, the Avalanche needed a crucial penalty kill to keep the game even.
Third Period
Colorado passed its first test of the third period, killing off the remaining penalties to neutralize New Jersey’s 5-on-3 advantage and keep the score tied at 1-1.
The successful penalty kill gave the Avalanche an opportunity to seize control, and Kadri wasted little time taking advantage. At 2:45, the Colorado center scored his second goal of the season, burying a rebound off an initial shot from Nicolas Roy to put the Avalanche ahead 2-1.
Just 62 seconds after Kadri’s goal, Parker Kelly struck for his second of the season, firing a shot past Devils goaltender Jake Allen to extend the lead to 3-1. The quick succession of goals transformed a tightly contested game into a two-goal advantage for Colorado and put New Jersey under immediate pressure.
With eight minutes remaining in regulation, MacKinnon delivered another blow to the Devils. Breaking free on a breakaway, the Avalanche star finished the opportunity to make it 4-1, adding to Colorado’s growing lead after a second period in which his frustration had been evident on the bench.
The Avalanche added another goal just 30 seconds later. Schwartz followed up a shot from Sam Malinski by finding the back of the net to push the lead to 5-1, capping a devastating stretch for New Jersey.
The Devils managed to respond with 4:37 remaining, as Brown scored his second goal of the game to cut Colorado’s lead to 5-2. Brown accounted for both New Jersey goals, giving the Devils some late offense after Colorado’s third-period outburst had seemingly put the contest out of reach.
The late goal narrowed the margin, but Colorado maintained its three-goal advantage to secure the victory.
The third period was the difference for Colorado. After surrendering the opening goal and struggling to convert early chances, the Avalanche responded through Landeskog’s second-period power-play goal before breaking the game open in the final frame.
The penalty kill to begin the third was particularly important. Facing a 5-on-3 disadvantage, Colorado prevented New Jersey from reclaiming the lead or building momentum. Kadri’s goal shortly afterward gave the Avalanche their first lead, and Kelly doubled the advantage just over a minute later.
MacKinnon and Schwartz then scored 30 seconds apart to extend the lead to 5-1, completing a four-goal third period for Colorado. Brown’s second goal of the night made the final score 5-2, but it did little to diminish the Avalanche’s decisive response.
The victory provided a strong rebound after Colorado’s 6-2 road loss to Nashville. The Avalanche showed resilience after a difficult opening period and turned a close game into a convincing win with a relentless offensive surge.
Manson’s injury remained a concern, however, after the defenseman left in the first period and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest. His status will be worth monitoring as Colorado moves forward.
For the Avalanche, the win offered a much-needed return to form. Landeskog supplied the equalizer, Kadri and Kelly delivered the go-ahead and insurance goals, and MacKinnon and Schwartz finished the rally in emphatic fashion. Brown provided both goals for New Jersey, but Colorado’s four-goal third period ultimately proved decisive in the 5-2 victory.
The versatile forward from Brigham Young led the Wizards with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting (1-for-3 on 3-pointers) and added two assists and two rebounds in 27 minutes. Dybansta missed the Wizards' first four games after suffering a left ankle sprain in an awkward landing during the Wizards' preseason finale.
The 19-year-old Dybantsa averaged 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 43.9% from the field in four preseason games with the Wizards.
Dybantsa is expected to make his home debut in Washington, D.C., against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Oct. 30.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 28: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Kolin/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards suffered a sour loss Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena, 121-111. It was a game that felt like the Wizards had every opportunity to win, but they never put the Cavs away until their opponents came roaring back late.
Washington’s first quarter was one of the most fun periods the team has had as far as I can remember. AJ Dybantsa came out guns blazing, scoring 9 first-quarter points in his first taste of NBA action. His first basket was an instant highlight.
Alex Sarr also took the court with some added aggression. He accounted for 7 of the Wizards’ first 9 points and scored more points in the period (13) than he has in any full game this season.
The three-ball kept the Cavaliers within striking distance early. Cleveland shot 7-of-8 from deep in the first 12 minutes, as Washington led 42-34 after one.
The Wizards continued their aerial assault in the second quarter, scoring six dunks. Washington scored 40 of their first 56 points in the paint to take a 69-59 lead into the break. Bilal Coulibaly led the way with 14 points at the half, while Dybantsa added 11.
Washington took its largest lead of 13 two minutes into the third quarter on a Dybantsa alley-oop dunk. But the Wiz kids just could not pull away completely as the Cavs crashed the offensive glass repeatedly for second-chance points. The good guys got outscored 25-14 to close the period as the teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 92.
The Wizards’ inexperience showed down the stretch. The formerly free-flowing offense featured in the first half was nowhere to be found, as the team devolved into hero ball against a team much better equipped to score in isolation. The Cavs came away with the 10-point victory.
Dybantsa led Washington in scoring with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting in 27 action-packed minutes. Trae Young scored an inefficient 14 points with 8 assists. Sarr and Anthony Davis each had 18, while Kyshawn George tallied 8 points and 11 assists.
The Wizards begin their NBA Cup campaign on Friday in a rematch against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 28: Peyton Watson #8 celebrates with Mario Hezonja #33 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on October 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers completed another comeback to notch their third straight win.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Player of the game
Evan Mobley
24 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists
Mobley kicked open the game by nailing his first three three-point attempts. He’d go on to hit 5-of-6 in one of the best three-point shooting games of his career.
The outside shot has always been a question mark for Mobley, but it’s been more consistent than ever to start the season.
You’d still like to see him establish himself in the paint. This has been two games in a row where Mobley was forced to rely on the perimeter shot more than his bread-and-butter in the restricted area. That’s partly because he’s matched up against generational defenders in Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis in consecutive games.
I don’t love the idea of Mobley relying too much on three-pointers. But if he shoots it like this, then I don’t have much to complain about.
Grade: A
Grades
Donovan Mitchell
19 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds
Mitchell’s shot wasn’t falling tonight as he started 4-for-11 from the floor. He converted back-to-back shots in the fourth to help close the door.
Credit to Washington, who set the tone early and made it so Mitchell had to work hard on both ends of the floor. His defense left much to be desired tonight.
Grade: C-
James Harden
16 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
It was one of Harden’s poorest defensive efforts to date as the Wizards left him trailing more often than not. In fact, Harden spent most of his time stuck in concrete defensively. An ounce of effort in transition, or simply in the halfcourt, would have saved the Cavs some trouble throughout this one.
Grade: D+
Peyton Watson
22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Watson is getting more comfortable as he has had the best offensive half of his career in Cleveland so far. He scored 16 points in the first two quarters, shooting 7-for-11 from the floor and scoring from all three levels throughout.
The ball went away from him in the second half as the Cavaliers’ offense funneled more through their backcourt. But his energy kept him on the board, with Watson finishing a putback layup during Cleveland’s rally in the fourth quarter.
Grade: A-
Jarrett Allen
8 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks
Allen was one of the only Cavaliers who seemed interested in playing defense tonight. He had three fantastic blocks, each of which saved a bucket at the rim. Allen’s energy doesn’t always get appreciated, but we won’t be overlooking him tonight.
Grade: B
Jaylon Tyson
7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Tyson was a bit helter-skelter tonight. His frantic dribbling slowed down some of Cleveland’s momentum in the fourth quarter before a timeout was needed to steady the ship.
Grade: D+
Mario Hezonja
5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Hezonja hasn’t been as involved recently, but he’s nailed clutch three-pointers in each of his last two games. That speaks to his professionalism and his ability to stay ready at all times.
Grade: C+
Sam Merrill
8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Merrill finally found his touch after a lackluster start to the season. It was only two three-pointers, but there’s nothing quite like watching Merrill hit difficult three-pointers, and Rocket Arena went into a frenzy after his second make.
Grade: C+
Meleek Thomas
16 points, 2 rebounds
I can’t overstate how impressed I’ve been with Meleek’s defensive energy through two games. His attention to detail has been superb, and his active hands have led to numerous forced turnovers.
I especially liked when he jumped an entry pass to the post after helping off the opposite corner.
On offense, Thomas went 0-for-1 from deep, but finished 4-of-5 attempts inside the arc by being a threat to sprint in transition and get downhill.
If he keeps playing like this, we’ll have to adjust our expectations and start grading him on a different curve.
Through the last five games, the Kings managed to steal three wins away from Los Angeles. Was this road trip a success or does it bring up the same flaws with the team?
During this five-game stretch, the Kings showed a fair share of improvements. Especially the goaltenders who played better than they did in the first 6 games.
Darcy Kuemper recorded a .953 save percentage against the Islanders, which was his best game of the season. He also notched a .938 save percentage against the Capitals, which is tied for his second-highest rating.
Anton Forsberg also had an impressive showing in the two games he started. Forsberg recorded a .926 save percentage against the Blackhawks and a .920 save percentage against the Devils.
Both goaltenders had two games with a .920 save percentage or higher, which helped the defense drastically. The Kings had four games where they allowed 2 goals or fewer and only 1 game with 3 goals. The Kings allowed fewer goals in the five road games than their average 3.36 goals allowed per game.
Although Los Angeles had improved their goaltending, there were still issues the team displayed. The Kings showed the same struggles on offense and continued to generate limited shots on goal.
In four of the previous five games, the Kings had fewer shots on goal than their opponents. The other game was against the Rangers where both teams had 26 shots on goal.
So far this season, the Kings have racked up a total of 297 shots in 11 games. This ranks as the sixth-lowest total number of shots in the entire league.
Lack of shots was evident as not once did the Kings record 30 shots on the road trip. The offense is still a question mark the Kings have to answer as they head back to Los Angeles.
While the limited shots on the net is still a concern, the road trip was still something to behold. The Kings actually racked up some wins, something that didn't happen through the first six games.
Questions are still present about the offensive production but the Kings at least improved in protecting the net. As shown on this road trip, that can lead to winning hockey and building momentum.
Not only did the Kings break their win-less streak, but they had a winning record. The three wins showed that Los Angeles can rely on their goaltending.
Before these last five games, the Kings had no signs of hope on offense, defense or goaltending. After those five games, Los Angeles built up some wins and had stable goaltending. Therefore, the Kings showed some progression and had an overall successful road trip.
