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The Atlanta Hawks were in action on Monday evening to face the Memphis Grizzlies for their first preseason game. This was the first time that fans were able to see the team in action, and it was also the first time the team would be able to play against another team other than themselves.

CJ McCollum and Lu Dort were out for this game, and the starting lineup consisted of Kingston Flemings, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu.

Alexander-Walker got things started for the Hawks with a 3-pointer.

It was a big moment for the rookie as he got a 3-pointer to score the first points of his NBA career.

The Hawks’ defense was solid with the starters in the game, and they were able to keep the Grizzlies from scoring much. That led to the Hawks gaining an 11-point lead, and they were able to maintain for some time before the Grizzlies started to get some shots to go.

Aaron Wiggins was the first person to come off the bench for the Hawks, followed by Jock Landale. The second unit wasn’t as crisp as the first, but they were still able to keep the lead. Asa Newell worked hard for his first bucket of the game, and got an and-1 to go with it.

Going into the second quarter, the Hawks led 35-32.

Wiggins knocked down the first 3-pointer of his Hawks’ stint in the second quarter.

The Grizzlies started to find a rhythm in the second quarter, and they started pulling away from the Hawks, even with most of the starters in the game.

Alexander-Walker tried to keep the Hawks in it, getting this spin move to go in the lane.

Even that wasn’t enough for the Hawks to get some momentum, as the Grizzlies continued to pile up the points. It wasn’t the best showing for the Hawks, as they gave up 49 points in the second and trailed 81-61 going into halftime.

The Hawks pulled most of their regular starters for the third quarter, and it was only Flemings who remained on the floor. Corey Kispert, Keshon Gilbert, Jock Landale and Newell were the other four players who joined him in the third.

Newell was able to flush this dunk in transition.

Kispert had it going in the quarter, scoring 10 points and shooting perfect from the field. Dorian Finney-Smith saw his first minutes of the game in the third, and made an immediate impact on both sides of the ball.

It was Zuby Ejiofor’s first time on the court in the third, and his rookie partner set him up with the perfect pass for an easy dunk.

It was a way better quarter for the Hawks on defense, only allowing 29 points, and they trailed the Grizzlies 110-98 heading into the fourth.

The Hawks had already found some life in the third, and they continued that in the fourth to cut down their deficit. Jalen Wilson knocked down two 3-pointers and the Hawks were down only single digits.

Newell was relentless in the fourth, especially on the offensive boards, but he continued to put pressure on the rim, getting another dunk.

The Hawks tried to keep cutting into their deficit late in the fourth, but the Grizzlies always had an answer on the other end. It was a strong effort from the Hawks’ third unit, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough.

Kispert finished the game with 19 points, Alexander-Walker finished with 14 points and Newell finished with 12 points and rebounds.

The Hawks will be back in action on Oct. 8 against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Knicks played their first game since winning Game 5 of the NBA Finals, as the starters shook off some rust and the bench fought to earn minutes in a 120-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Here are some takeaways...

-- Mike Brown went with the starting lineup that won the NBA Finals on Monday night: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. The Sixers and Nick Nurse took a different approach as LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid all sat out; leaving him with VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown as the only regular-season starters in the lineup.

-- Former Knick Ariel Hukporti, who signed with Philadelphia over the summer, also started for his new team. Unfortunately for Hukporti, the big man took an awkward fall in the first quarter and grabbed for his ankle. Knicks and Sixers players gathered around him and helped him to the locker room. He did not return to the game.

-- Andre Drummond, Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, and Tyler Kolek were the first four players off the bench for Brown's group. Shamet picked up where he left off in the playoffs, making two threes right away.

Philadelphia led 33-32 after the first quarter as Brown led the way with a game-high 13 points. Anunoby played the most minutes out of the New York starters (10) and was second in points (six) behind Brunson (eight). 

-- Brown played more of the bench in the second quarter, with Mohamed Diawara and Jordan Clarkson entering for the first time. The back-and-forth game continued as Brown and Caleb Love scored eight straight to put the Sixers up 58-51 and force a New York timeout with 4:29 left in the half. Philly's young guards continued to attack with Edgecombe converting the and-one layup over James Wiseman to go up double digits.

The Knicks were outscored 39-26 in the second quarter as Love nailed a buzzer-beating three-pointer, taking a 72-58 lead into the half. New York allowed Philadelphia to shoot 53 percent from the field and 46 percent from three (11-for-24). Brunson and Anunoby were tied for the team-high with 12 points each, while Brown had 22 points for his new team.

-- The bench started the second half as Brunson and Co.'s night was done early, as was Brown's for Philly. New York's shooting struggles continued without their starters, failing to score a field goal for five-plus minutes toward the end of the third quarter and trailing, 93-79, heading into the fourth.

-- Overall, NY shot 38 percent from the field and 20 percent from three (8-for-41). Shamet led the bench with 10 points, while Diawara had eight points in 17 minutes. Fighting for a backup center role, Wiseman had eight points and five rebounds in nine minutes while Tony Bradley had two points in six minutes. Drummond scored six points with five rebounds and three blocks against his old team.

Highlights

Jalen Brunson is back https://t.co/19wqbueT2s

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 5, 2026

Landry Shamet 👌👌 https://t.co/Mb40ulgkPn

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 5, 2026

Drummond defense 💪 https://t.co/CbJeyEEwFo

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 6, 2026

What's next

The Knicks play another preseason game on Thursday against the Washington Wizards at MSG. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

It was unlikely the Lakers were going to be at full strength in their preseason opener — or in any exhibition game — on Monday.

In the first contest of a back-to-back and three games in four nights, head coach JJ Redick announced pregame that Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler would both be out. Joining them on the sidelines are Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma.

With two projected starters out, the Lakers’ starting lineup included Luka Dončić, likely starter Quentin Grimes and Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Kevon Looney.

During training camp, Redick noted that some players had modified participation in practice. He did not reveal names, but also noted that they weren’t considered serious injuries.

It’s unclear how many, if any, of these players were among those modified participants in practice. We’ll get a better idea of how serious these injuries are as well come Tuesday when the Lakers play again against the Warriors.

Ideally, Kessler’s injury, in particular, is short-term so he can build as much chemistry as possible with Luka and Reaves. In that same vein, Reaves getting back as soon as possible is the best-case scenario.

For the devoted fans who caught Summer League, not getting a chance to see Kaluma will be a bummer. He has a skillset that, in theory, could really complement the team’s stars.

Again, though, players were always going to sit out during this opening stretch of preseason games. We’ll have to wait to see how serious, if at all, the injuries are.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

We are so back.

The Sixers tipped off their preseason with a 120-97 win over the defending champion New York Knicks Monday night.

In his first game as a Sixer, Jaylen Brown put up 22 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the floor along with two rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes of action. VJ Edgecombe played 19 minutes and put up 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting with four rebounds and seven assists.

Out tonight for the Sixers was LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Anfernee Simons, Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona. Before the game, Nick Nurse said he’s aiming to get the starters in two of their four preseason games, and that he isn’t concerned about the minor injuries picked up by Simons and Barlow.

The Sixers did suffer a potential costly injury early with big man Ariel Hukporti leaving the game with an injury.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

• As expected, the offense early was centered around Brown. He got to his spots to pull up, but missed his first two attempts and split his first pair of free throws as well. He had a layup roll out on him but fought for the offensive rebound, putting it back and getting fouled in the process.

• 99% of the preseason is just getting through it healthy. Unfortunately, Ariel Hukporti went down just five minutes into the game, favoring his right ankle in what looked like a non-contact injury. His former Knicks teammates were quick to put an arm around him as he was being helped off the floor. Jabari Walker came in to replace him, now the only healthy backup five on the team.
• Brown did eventually get into a rhythm, making three straight shots to put up 13 in the quarter. Edgecombe made his presence felt as well, consistently getting to the basket successfully, but he couldn’t get a jumper to fall. Labaron Philon Jr. was the first sub of the night but he took a back seat for the first few minutes of his shift as those two were cooking. Philon made his first shot of the night, a pull-up jumper from the midrange.
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope became the latest Sixer to get in on the fun with a quick seven points to end the quarter. He drilled a three that looked like it would keep the Sixers up by three, but a missed boxout allowing OG Anunoby to grab the rebound and get fouled on the putback attempt. He split his pair of free throws, giving the Sixers a two-point lead after a high-scoring first.

Second Quarter

• The concerns about this center rotation were on display as the Sixers gave up three more offensive rebounds early in the second. One was courtesy of our old friend Andre Drummond, but Brown drilled a three in his face a few possessions later as he continued to have the hot hand.
• Walker was really active with six rebounds and a couple of stocks, but being a couple inches shorter than the average center just catches up with him. On top of his strong effort on that end of the floor he knocked down his first two threes of the night, getting them up quickly. The makings of a stretch-five are there for Walker, and it’d be huge if the Sixers could unlock that.

• Brown continued to put on a show for everybody, getting up to 22 points in just under 17 minutes of play. Just as he checked out of the game, Edgecombe came in and went right back to the basket for an and-1 layup. Everything he was doing off the dribble was intriguing. He made a really nice pass to a cutting Dillon Jones, and spun around to find Caleb Love in the corner for a three as the buzzer expired. The only thing he couldn’t do in the half was a get a three-pointer to fall, but he was good enough to help the Sixers get out to a 14-point lead.

Third Quarter

• Neither Brown or Edgecombe were out on the floor to start the second half, officially ending their nights. Walker started the half with another three, but the team cooled down, missing five straight shots. The Knicks got aggressive in where they were picking up the Sixers, forcing them higher up the court and forcing worse passes and shots as a result.
• It was encouraging to see Philon be the one to put his head down and get to the basket to stop some of the bleeding. He also made a nifty behind-the-back dribble to evade a defender, but couldn’t get the floater to fall to complete the highlight play. His attack though remained the only consistent offense for the Sixers in the quarter.

• Like Edgecombe, Philon was also struggling to get his outside jumper to fall, but also like Edgecombe, it was a good quarter for him to showcase his playmaking chops. He found a cutting Jameer Nelson Jr. shortly after he checked into the game for his fourth assist of the night. Nelson finished an and-1 that helped keep the Sixers lead at 14.

Fourth Quarter

• The rest of this recap is going to be random observations about the two-ways and exhibit 10 contracts still playing in this game. Rayan Rupert has the makings of a defender. He seems to know where to be and is always hustling to get there. Nothing he did tonight really showed up in the stat sheet though, and two of his shot attempts were two of the easiest blocks for the Knicks’ defenders.
• Caleb Love is what the kids call a bucket and hooper. If shoots like he did in the first half he’s going to be very fun to watch in the preseason, but he seemed to really run out of gas in the second half. Definitely a situation worth monitoring over the next three games.

SACRAMENTO — The Lakers will be without two of their top three players in their preseason opener.

Star guard Austin Reaves and marquee free agency addition Walker Kessler won’t be available Monday night against the Kings at Golden 1 Center. 

Reaves tweaked his ankle, while Kessler jammed one of his fingers on the backboard.

Coach JJ Redick said both Reaves and Kessler were “fine”. 

Veteran guard Collin Sexton and two-way forward Arthur Kaluma were also sidelined for Monday’s game because of “very light lower-body injuries,” according to Redick. 

Sexton had his right lower leg/calf wrapped during the team’s shootaround on Monday

All four players are deemed day-to-day, per Redick.

In light of their absences, the Lakers started lineup against the Kings was Luka Doncic, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Kevon Looney.

The Lakers’ preseason opener against the Kings was the second night of a back-to-back set in Northern California. They’ll make the quick trip to San Francisco postgame for Tuesday’s matchup against the Warriors.

“The guys that are out [Monday] may play [Tuesday,” Redick said, “but for the most part, they’re all day to day.”

“It’s the hope that kills you.”

It’s a line from the TV show Ted Lasso, of course. And whether you’re a Dallas Mavericks fan, or an FC Richmond fan, you understand.

The Dallas Mavericks were in the Finals just 838 days ago. That season was full of the kind of playoff moments you tell your grandchildren about.

Will you tell your grandchildren about the time Luka Dončić absolutely cooked Rudy Gobert on an isolation 3 to win a playoff game? I will.

Then the Celtics came along and made the Mavs look a little like Rudy Gobert trying to guard on the perimeter.

As a fan, you were likely devastated by the Luka trade. Then Anthony Davis gave two quarters of perfection, and suddenly hope was putting on a Beyoncé concert at the American Airlines Center.

And then… many fans expanded their sports-injury vocabulary.

Next, just when all hope felt lost, the Mavs, with a 1.8 percent chance, won the NBA lottery with a generational stud at the top of the class. Cooper Flagg arrived on a team that, at least in theory, was supposed to be competing for a playoff spot. Hope is all fans had last year — and all Nico Harrison had in his roster construction. It didn’t take long for the positivity to turn to complete darkness. Anthony Davis couldn’t stay healthy, there was continuous turmoil that led to Nico finally getting fired and there were casualties all around.

Now, a new regime has come into power. The Mavs certainly have some new energy. There’s a generational prospect entering his second season with an extra inch at his disposal. And, despite everything fans have been through, that dangerous little feeling is starting to creep back in.

Hope.

Are you ready to buy in again? Because there’s something else we learned from Ted Lasso: It’s not actually the hope that kills you. It’s the lack of hope. However, maybe Mavs fans should reconsider what they’re hoping for.

This is not the year to hope for the Larry O’Brien Trophy — or the NBA Cup — for that matter. That’s not what this season is about. The Mavs are building. The team’s average age is under 25, and there are plenty of players who are still figuring out exactly what they can become. This can be a fun team without being a contender. Maybe it’s about finding reasons to believe that the next great Mavericks team is taking shape right in front of us.

Here are five things that can provide real hope this year, with a meter to show how logical this hope is:

Let’s start with the obvious one.

Cooper Flagg takes a massive leap

Hope Meter:🔥🔥🔥🔥 4/5

Cooper Flagg is a Dallas Mav.

And for a franchise that has spent the last few years making many question the basketball gods, that feels like a pretty good place to start.

Fans get to watch this 19-year-old with extraordinary expectations figure out what kind of NBA player he’s going to become. Now, can he make that second -year jump?

For this hope to become reality, Cooper Flagg needs to, become an above-average 3-point shooter, assert himself as floor general at times and be transcendent at defense.

Kyrie provides nightly highlights

Hope Meter: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥5/5

Let’s not overlook the impact of having a healthy Irving back. This offseason, Masai Ujiri quoted Kevin Durant in says “there’s only one Kyrie Irving walking around in the world.”

That one Kyrie Irving bleeds blue these days, and provides electric energy that all basketball fans know too well.
Even in losses, fans get to see Irving hitting transition 3-pointers, making sick left-handed hook shots at the buzzer, and cooking younger NBA stars that think they can come at the King of Handles. If Irving is the Irving that Mavs fans have come to know and love, then the games are must-watch — win or lose.

Young pieces become a young core

HOPE METER: 🔥🔥🔥 3/5

The Mavs took some swings on reclamation projects this off-season — and it’s not likely all the swings connect, but if a few do, the Mavs could have a real core.

The core candidates are Zaccharie Risacher, Max Christie, Morez Johnson Jr., Sergio de Larrea, Tarik Biberović, and Marcus Sasser. Maybe a couple of them take a massive leap. Maybe someone surprises us (Jett Howard). Maybe someone we thought would be important turns out not to be part of the long-term picture.

That’s the fun of a building season. Every game and gives us a little more information, and deeper into the season, there could be some real answers here — or more questions.

Dereck Lively II becomes a healthy top 100 NBA player

Hope Meter: 🔥🔥🔥 3/5

Ooooh, this is a dangerous one. And yes, the hope is still high, but don’t get too close to the fire, you might get burned. Fans will always remember who Dereck Lively II was in the finals run, with Lively’s big hair flopping around, creating chaos, grabbing boards and being a master facilitator.

Fans thought the Mavs finally had their forever center, but injury after injury has taken that away. This is a contract year, and it would be hard to question Lively’s dedication and work ethic.

The future is taking shape

Hope Meter: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 5/5

Maybe this is the biggest reason to be hopeful. The Mavericks don’t have to win the championship this year.

They don’t even have to convince that they’re one piece away from winning anything. nThis season can simply be about finding out what they have. What does Flagg become? Who fits alongside him? What does this coaching staff bring out in the roster?

Those questions are worth the hope they bring. It turns out it’s not the hope that kills you. It’s living for too long without any. And maybe this season, it’s about what you hope for.

The Los Angeles Clippers’ preseason injury toll took another blow on Sunday, after veteran forward Max Strus exited Sunday’s preseason 104-101 victory in Hawaii against the Golden State Warriors with a non-contact injury.

On Monday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Strus suffered a partial plantar fasciitis tear in his right foot and will be reevaluated again in four weeks.

Strus’ injury happened just five minutes into the game after he cut across a lane to receive a pass.

After he caught it, he immediately struggled to put any weight on his right foot and came out of the game, limping to Los Angeles’ locker room after head coach Ty Lue called a timeout.

According to beat writer Joey Linn, Lue spoke about the injury during postgame and said, “That’s never good to see when it’s a non-contact.”

The loss of Strus hurts the Clippers as he will miss the start of the regular season, alongside Brandon Ingram, who was acquired from the Toronto Raptors in the Kawhi Leonard trade.

Los Angeles will be without Ingram when the season starts as he is recovering from a partially torn Achilles surgery he had in May.

So far, Ingram has engaged in light work on the basketball court but hasn’t progressed much.

On top of the two’s absence, both Bradley Beal (right knee inflammation) and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (foot) are also out.

Los Angeles landed Strus in August, as he was acquired by the Cavaliers in a multi-team trade that sent Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets to Cleveland.

Both Strus and Ingram were expected to be the key shooters for the Clippers this year, as Strus has averaged 10.4 points and 2.8 three-pointers per game.

DETROIT – Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks didn’t waste any time living up to his villain persona.

He drew a technical foul with 7:23 left in the first quarter of Phoenix’s preseason opener on Monday, Oct. 5, against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.

Brooks led the NBA in technical fouls last season with 17.

In Monday’s game, Brooks was guarding Pistons forward John Collins in the paint with his usual physicality. He extended his forearm and made physical contact with Collins, who reacted in a “you see this” fashion with his hands upward.

On the same possession, Collins got an offensive rebound over Brooks, who started reaching for the ball and making more contact by reaching around Collins from behind.

Collins responded by facing Brooks and putting his hand in Brooks’ face with the ball.

DILLON BROOKS AND JOHN COLLINS GET CHIPPY

5 MINS INTO PRESEASON GAME 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZQQmNF0qYM

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 5, 2026

Referees and security separated the two.

They initially received double technical fouls. After review, Collins was called for a flagrant one penalty. Brooks went to the line and split two free throws.

Brooks is in his second season with the Suns while Collins is in his first with the Pistons.

The Suns had a 68-50 halftime lead.