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CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers held their annual Wine & Gold scrimmage in front of season ticket holders at Public Auditorium on Saturday morning.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson has mentioned throughout preseason that he was treating this event as the fourth exhibition game, and he was true to his word. The Cavs split into two teams, played a 36-minute game, and had regular NBA refs.

So while this wasn’t an official preseason game, it was their final dress rehearsal before the season tips off on Thursday.

The starters for each team are below. It’s worth pointing out that Sam Merrill, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, and Khalifa Diop did not participate.

Gold dominated this game from start to finish, winning 96-82. They jumped out to an early lead thanks to strong showings from Harden and Mobley. Wine couldn’t contain the Harden and Mobley pick-and-roll, which led to easy paint touches for Mobley and his teammates.

Wine’s perimeter defense struggled throughout. And while Mitchell did his part offensively, it wasn’t enough to make the game competitive down the stretch.

“I felt like they were giving up layup after layup after layup and then paint points and it’s like, at a certain point, you gotta him them and make them aware that’s not acceptable,” Atkinson said afterward.

There were no official stats, but the consensus was that Mobley was the leading scorer. He hit a few threes, attacked the basket continually, and overall had a strong all-around game.

“Evan was elite,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson singled out Harden and Mitchell for having good games, but he was quick to point out that Mitchell was part of Wine’s defense, which was a problem. Tyson also got a mention from Atkinson afterwards for his offensive production.

The game wasn’t the only noteworthy thing that took place at Public Auditorium on Saturday. At halftime, several fans and some members of the Cavs participated in a half-court conference. Porter and Allen missed their attempts, but Atkinson nailed a half-court shot as the final contestant.

After the game, rookies Thomas and Ernest Udeh Jr. were forced to sing karaoke.

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You don’t want to take too much from a scrimmage that some guys wore sweatpants in, but there were a few observations worth pointing out.

First, this was the best Mobley has played this preseason. Offensively, he effectively attacked off the dribble by pushing the ball off live rebounds and operating at the top of the arc in isolation. This was on top of doing a good job defensively of keeping Wine from getting to the rim.

Most importantly, Mobley looked comfortable paired with Harden.

“I like it,” Mobley said when asked about playing alongside Harden more. “I think we’re trying to build a lot of two-man games and more camaraderie. I like the play that we had, and I think the more that we play together, we’re just going to have more and more chemistry.”

Mobley’s two-man game with Harden was impressive. Mobley did a good job making contact on the screen and rolling hard in the pick-and-roll. Both of which are necessary to create space when paired with Harden. The duo also ran a few inverted pick-and-rolls with Harden as the screener that produced good results.

“James has been great in pick-and-rolls and setting up big men for a long time,” Mobley said.

“I love what I’m seeing from Evan and James,” Atkinson echoed. “[They’re] really starting to get on the same page. I think that’s part of Evan being in the paint more. James missed him a few times at the rim today, but the intent is there.”

Atkinson has hinted throughout preseason that he’ll start the season pairing Harden and Mobley together. Figuring out the right other three guys to play around them is important as well to that group’s success.

“Because Evan can stretch [the floor] a little bit, you don’t have to be as intentional about the shooting piece,” Atkinson said when asked what is needed from the other three players in those lineups. “I think you can throw any three guys out there.”

While any three guys might work, Watson is a seamless fit alongside Harden and Mobley. There were several times the defense was able to cut off the pick-and-roll, which forced the ball out to Watson on either the weak-side wing or corner. That set him up for a few catch-and-shoot threes that he knocked down. More importantly, Watson also showed that he can put the ball on the ground and create his own shot. That last part has the potential to be extremely helpful against opponents that sell out to stop the Harden and Mobley pick-and-roll.

Thomas seems much more comfortable creating offense off-ball. The rookie got to his spots on the court when he wasn’t playing alongside Mitchell, but he struggled to have that same impact when he was featured more off-ball.

The Cavs are still trying to figure out what lineups Thomas can be most effective in.

“He’s really good on the ball,” Atkinson said. “We’re just trying to find that right balance.”

Atkinson thinks that Thomas could be a good pairing alongside Mitchell. He wants to see Thomas play more of the role Dennis Schroder did alongside Mitchell last season. In those lineups, Mitchell was able to shift off-ball.

Grouping Mitchell and Thomas together might also work due to how they’ve connected off the court.

“Donovan has taken a special liking to Maleek,” Atkinson said. “He almost feels like ‘I have to build that relationship, build that trust, and then coach them up.’ I always say, player development coaches get way too much credit. It’s having really good, smart vets that elevate guys. We do our little part, and I think we put them in the right places, but it’s really the coaching from your best players that elevates younger players.”

The Philadelphia 76ers have officially filled all three of their two-way contract spots. Joining Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert, Tacko Fall will occupy the third and final slot.

The 7-foot-6 center gives Philadelphia another option in a frontcourt that has already been hit by injuries. Ariel Hukporti suffered a torn Achilles early in the preseason, while Adem Bona missed the entire preseason as he continues to recover from a foot injury suffered over the summer. Dominick Barlow has also been sidelined with a back issue. In their absence, Jabari Walker has seen extended minutes and has responded well when called upon. Now, Fall adds much-needed size, rebounding and rim protection to the reserve unit behind Joel Embiid.

So why did Philadelphia use its final two-way spot on Fall when he’s missed all of the preseason with a hip injury? Beyond the obvious need for frontcourt depth, there are already several connections between him and members of the organization.

Fall began his NBA career with the Boston Celtics, where he developed a close relationship with Jaylen Brown, a friendship that remains strong today. After his time in Boston, he spent part of the 2021-22 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers while Mike Gansey was a member of the team’s front office. Those existing relationships likely helped keep Fall on Philadelphia’s radar.

Since arriving in Philadelphia, Fall has also built relationships with several players in the locker room. Combined with the team’s need for frontcourt depth, the move makes sense. He brings a unique combination of size and rim protection, while also adding a personality and presence that appears to fit well within the group’s culture.

Fall is 30 years old and has logged fewer than 40 NBA games in his career. While his massive frame makes him an intriguing addition, his role will likely be matchup-dependent. The Sixers aren’t bringing him in to play heavy minutes every night, but rather to provide size, rebounding and rim protection when the situation calls for it. Against bigger frontcourts and physical centers, Fall gives Philadelphia another option off the bench.

For now, the move is more about adding depth than making a splash. With injuries already testing the team’s frontcourt, Fall provides insurance, experience and a unique skill set as the Sixers round out their roster heading into the regular season.

The Brooklyn Nets ranked 30th in both offensive and defensive ratings last season and that was a good thing if you’re tanking to get a high pick. But if you’re trying to win some games in the next stage of the multi-year rebuild, one or the other will have to improve dramatically.

So far, based on Summer League and preseason, the offense looks improved. The addition of Julius Randle, a bona fide NBA scorer, looks like a big get. Playing next to Michael Porter Jr. both will their get shots. Two members of the Flatbush 5, Egor Demin and Nolan Traore, have grown in a number of ways as well. And even though he’s a rookie, Mikel Brown Jr. looks like he’ll be able to contribute. Here’s some data…

Now let’s talk about defense. Judging by what we saw vs. the Miami Heat in the final preseason game, it is, to be most kind, a work in progress. Or as Brian Lewis described it Saturday, “sieve like.” MPJ had this to say.

“Yeah, that’ll be the most important thing. Offensively we’ll be able to score with the best of them,” Porter Jr. said. “I think offensively is not a problem. [But] if we want to be good, then defensively we’ll have to lock in.”

Jordi Fernandez, who prides himself as a defensive coach, agrees.

“There’s been two games that we were an aggressive and ball-pressure defensive team where I thought we were pretty good,” the head coach said. “And then two games where we were a poor defensive team with our transition, our rim protection. 

“We’ve got to decide who we want to be, and the things that we can control … and do it every game. Don’t rely on shot-making, on things that don’t really matter. Rely on things that are going to make you a winning team.” 

Indeed, if the Nets plan on shocking the world, matching last year is not the way to do it.

Although Fernandez noted there were positives in a couple of games, Lewis writes that that doesn’t tell the whole story about the preseason.

The Nets finished the preseason second worst in the league in opponent field goal percentage (.498) and effective field goal percentage (.588).

But their Defensive Rating wasn’t horrid, mainly because they were top 10 in opponent turnovers, turnover percentage and points off turnovers.

The Nets forced 47 through the first two games, allowing an average of just 99 points. And they harassed Washington into another 15 in the second half of Monday’s win, holding the Wizards to 50 points.

But when foes held onto the ball? Trouble.

The Nets forced just eight turnovers in that first half at Washington, and allowed 72 points. And when they only forced 15 in Miami, they allowed 144 points and 58.5 percent shooting.

The biggest defensive deficit in the Miami game was the lack of rim protection which has been pointed out since the Nets traded Nic Claxton in the deal that brought Randle to New York. Making it worse the other night was that Day’Ron Sharpe got into early trouble against Giannis Antetokounmpo, exposing a lack of bench in that area.

“[Fernández preaches] just executing our staples on defense, controlling that, controlling what needs to be controlled, and doing everything with a purpose, but doing it also hard,” Sharpe said. “So that’s the main thing he preaches. If we could do that for four quarters, we’d give ourselves a good chance to win.”

Is there a solution somewhere on the Nets current roster, somebody who could help in the short term? There’s been suggestions that Noah Clowney who once blocked 11 shots in two games over a four-day stretch could play small ball 5 in some situations. Two-way Grant Nelson also had some success blocking shots at Alabama. He is an athletic 7-footer. But neither seems likely to have much of an effect and there’s no indication Sean Marks & co. are working the phones looking for help.

Overall, Brown Jr. told the media that he believes there are fixes.

“Coach always preaches that we can play hard, but we’ve also got to play smart and attention to detail. That’s something that we’ve been inconsistent at, but we’re going to continue to work at it every single day and fix it,” Brown Jr. said. 

“It’s just little mistakes we could correct. Just being clean in our shifts, being early and often. It’s not that we’re just completely blowing up on coverages; it’s just about having the right mindset, staying consistent throughout the game for all 48 minutes and keep applying that same pressure, that physicality that coach is talking about. It’s just the little things when it comes to that point. We clean those things up, we’ll be fine.”

Of course, Brown has yet to play his first real NBA game and what’s the definition of “fine,” anyway? If it’s only improvement over last season’s worst-in-the-league numbers, that’s not fine or encouraging. So we will see.

• Nets still have defensive woes to address despite positive preseason – Brian Lewis – New York Post

The Lakers have to trade or waive a player before Opening Night.

Coach JJ Redick discussed the roster shuffle as the Lakers look to trim the team from 16 to 15 players and specifically referenced third-year wing Dalton Knecht.

“I think the biggest thing is the team changed,” Redick said. “The team changed. Needs changed, the fit changed. I think he’s gotten better as a player the last two years.

“I think, particularly last year, each guy got plenty of opportunities with the injuries we had. I just think coming into this year, we added a lot of wings, and he’s in a tough spot right now.”

The Lakers have an abundance of wings, including Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr and Jake LaRavia. Jarred Vanderbilt is also an option, but his name has been floated in trade rumors long before the offseason.

But as the Lakers begin the season in only a few days, Knecht seems like the most likely option to get cut.

Knecht was traded by the Lakers in February 2025 to the Hornets, but the deal was rescinded when center Mark Williams failed his physical. Since the trade, Knecht has never played with quite the same confidence for the Purple-and-Gold.

A change of scenery would be beneficial for the 25-year-old, but there’s no guarantee the Lakers will be able to trade Knecht before Opening Night. Thus, the only alternative is waiving Knecht.

Longtime NBA center and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins takes a shot at Q&A before the season tips off this week.

Q: Who are the biggest threats to the Knicks?

A: The East has caught up with the West. You have the 76ers, obviously, you have the Toronto Raptors, you have Giannis [Antetokounmpo] with Miami, I think they’re still a few pieces away. But to me, if I had to pick one, it would be the 76ers. Nick Nurse won a championship [as coach of the Raptors in 2019]. Nick Nurse had to figure how pieces worked when he was in Toronto. And when you have guys that have high IQs — Jaylen Brown is a Finals MVP, LeBron James is [not just] arguably the greatest player but one of the smartest players to play the game of basketball. That’s not going to be a hard adjustment. … Offensively I see them getting out and running. I could see them being probably the best transition team offensively in the league. But I also could see them figuring things out on the fly while they’re still winning games during the regular season. And I also see LeBron James bringing out the best in Joel Embiid.

Q: So do you think the Sixers are the biggest threat to the Knicks?

A: I do.

Q: Do you think they could overtake the Knicks?

A: I do.

Q: Is there another threat in the East?

A: I’m ready to see what Indiana looks like with their new center Ivica Zubac, I believe he’s a top 10 big in the league. Can they pick up where they left off two years ago?

Q: How about the Raptors?

A: I feel like Kawhi Leonard is the most feared, most dangerous player in the East. He’s a guy that’s going to bring out a different version of Scottie Barnes. They’re well-coached. They’re going to play with an edge defensively. They’re going to play nasty defensively. They’re going to play with a lot of physicality. And now he’s back home where he won a championship and where he wants to be at. They’re my darkhorse to come out of the East and win it all.

Q: The Cavaliers?

A: We saw the Knicks snatch their souls in a conference finals and they never recovered. I got to see that they have the heart to get it done.

Q: What advice would you give Mike Brown dealing with the Karl Anthony-Towns contract issue?

A: KAT is an emotional guy. And if I’m Mike Brown, the biggest thing is from a personal side, I would just want Towns to know that he’s loved on a day-to-day basis. That don’t mean that there’s not going to be times where you have to call him out in film, but if I’m Mike Brown, I’d go the extra mile to extend my love, whether that’s on the road, him meeting him for breakfast before shootaround, maybe dinners, just to let him know his value. And to let him know that he’s a huge and the most important part of this team. … It would be through actions and less through words.

Q: KAT as the hub again?

A: I think it’s going to be a mixture. But I know he will be highlighted even more, and KAT is going to want to be highlighted even more. Because you could hear through his frustrations about his contract extension that he’s like, “Hey what else do I have to do?” And so when a player gets to that type of mindset, the next thing is, “I’m going to show you what I’m going to go do, and I’m going to do it between the lines.”

Q: You won the 2008 NBA championship with the Celtics. What are the challenges of defending an NBA championship?

A: The first thing is health, obviously. The second thing is getting through the regular season knowing that everywhere in every game that you play, you’re going to get everyone’s best shot. But last but not least is having everyone continue to lose themselves in the team and play agenda-free basketball. Because what ends up happening is when you win a championship, because of the praise that you get in the offseason, everyone starts to believe that they were the reason and guys come back and want a bigger role, instead of staying and playing and being a star of that role that helped them win the championship.

Q: What did you like best about the Knicks last year?

A: I just love how they were able to adjust in different series. We saw at times where in the Atlanta series, they adjusted their style of play offensively, that’s No. 1. We saw Karl Anthony-Towns running more of their point center position. In Atlanta he was dishing out the rock and dropping dimes. Getting to the NBA Finals, we saw Jalen Brunson become more ball-dominant, and they went back to what they were accustomed to. Karl Anthony-Towns, not being in foul trouble, guys stepping up, guys not having egos. We saw at one point, Josh Hart, he was benched for a game and then all of a sudden he came back and lit it up. That’s what I saw last year, was their ability to adjust, to pay attention to details, and their ability to lose themselves in the team and do what’s best for the team and be coached. The one thing we witnessed and we saw was that Mike Brown had the ears of their locker room throughout the their entire postseason.

Q: How did you think Mike Brown would do in the New York spotlight replacing Tom Thibodeau?

A: One thing about Mike Brown is he grew up under that Greg Popovich tree. Mike Brown was a champion with Golden State as an assistant coach. If you look at the direction of the league, all the old-school coaches — whether it’s Rick Carlisle, Greg Popovich before he had to step down because of his health — they all had to make adjustments to this new generation. And the one thing that we see and witness, when listening to Mike Brown in his postgame interviews, is he had the personality that resonates with this generation of players. Cool coaches are getting the job done.

Q: Describe Jalen Brunson’s evolution.

A: Offensively, I believe that Jalen Brunson over the last three years before Giannis was injured, has been consistently the best player in the Eastern Conference. But last year we saw him take that leap of accountability. We saw him doing the little things of fighting to get over screens. We saw him doing things of getting back in transition and getting extra possessions by taking charges. We saw him take over a Game 4 in Madison Square Garden in the second half to direct traffic and get buckets. We just saw leadership, right? We saw a guy in probably the hardest market to play in, have composure, have leadership and be able to perform on the biggest moments. But I think the most important thing is that he accepted the challenge of actually playing defense and playing enough defense where he wasn’t a liability. But also playing defense where the Spurs couldn’t hunt him out on the big stage. … He’s one of if not my favorite players in the NBA, but history tells us that we haven’t had a back-to-back champion in the last 8-9 years.

Q: What role should he play helping Brown deal with the KAT and Hart contract issues?

A: The only thing that he can do is continue to be the guy that he is, and on the floor, I told him the next step for him is empowering guys to reach their individual goals. Empowering a guy like OG Anunoby to become a first-time All-Star. Empowering a guy like Josh Hart to have his best season of his career. Empowering a guy like Karl-Anthony Towns to go out and show why he’s not leaving a total of $76 million on the table. That’s the next step for Jalen Brunson — can you go out there and continue to play at an MVP level? But also when we look up it’s three or four other guys that are headed with you to the All-Star break.

Q: What did OG Anunoby mean to that team last year?

A: OG Anunoby is the best 3-and-D guy in the league. It’s disrespectful at this point if anybody was to call OG Anunoby a role player. He’s not a role player. OG Anunoby is an All-Star-caliber player. His value is higher than a lot of guys that made All-Star games or third-team All-NBA. If the Cleveland Cavaliers were to make Evan Mobley available right now, OG Anunoby’s value is higher than Evan Mobley.

Q: How big of a loss to the Knicks is Mitch Robinson?

A: It’s a huge loss. When you think about Big Mitch, you think about being a force on the glass, offensive rebounder, helluva screen setter, big body, causing havoc — it’s hard to replace a guy like that. The one thing is that the Knicks have established a culture that they have there, and so Big Mitch will be missed tremendously, he helped them a lot throughout the course of their NBA championship run. But I think it’s a void that can be filled, but I also think it’s an opportunity for KAT to say, hey, KAT is one of the top leaders in the NBA as far as minutes played.

Q: What do you think about Andre Drummond?

A: I think Drummond is good, man. … Andre Drummond is a hell of a rebounder. Andre Drummond could be a hell of a rim protector. It’s about him just embracing that and buying into it and being a star in his role. And I believe he has no choice, and I believe that he will.

Q: Would you like to have played with Josh Hart?

A: Oh, for sure. Any guy that has a high motor. Any guy that has the passion. Any guy that has the will to want that Josh brings. I’ve said this time and time again: Jalen Brunson is the best player on the Knicks. Karl Anthony-Towns was the most important player. But Josh Hart is the heart and soul of that team.

Q: What did Mikal Bridges mean to the Knicks?

A: If I’m Mikal Bridges, obviously he’s a champion, but he should want to come back and play better. He should want to perform better. I think we will see a better version of Mikal Bridges. I think we will see a different version of Mikal Bridges. I would love to see the Mikal Bridges that we saw in Phoenix when they made their Finals run. That Mikal Bridges was looked at as one of the best two-way wings in the NBA. I would love for Mikal Bridges to get back to thinking that, “I’m a defender first with the capabilities of getting buckets second.”

Q: What do you think of Oklahoma City and San Antonio in the West?

A: I haven’t picked who I got coming out of the West, but I wouldn’t sleep on Minnesota.

Q: How can Victor Wembanyama get better?

A: I want to look up and see that Wemby is at least one or two in leading the league in points in the paint. This past season he finished 19th, and I believe that’s unacceptable for a guy that was second in the league as far as catching lobs, a guy that’s a generational talent at 7-[foot]-6, a guy that dominated the defensive end. I would love to see Wemby dominate the paint. The conversation that needs to be had come February or March is: Is it Wemby or Giannis who’s the most dominant player in getting to the basket in paint points?

Q: Where would you rank Kendrick Perkins on the all-time list of enforcers?

A: Top 10.

Q: Who’s No. 1?

A: Is Dennis Rodman labeled an enforcer? I probably would put him No. 1. Draymond [Green] would be high on my list as well.

Q: How devastating was that for you when you tore your knee up in Game 6 of the 2010 Finals against the Lakers?

A: It was the worst, because Game 7 was even harder, when you had to sit on the side, you had to watch your guys go through the battle on the road, knowing that our starting five of Ray Allen, K.G. [Kevin Garnett], Paul [Pierce], [Rajon] Rondo and myself, had never lost a playoff series healthy. And the one thing that goes to your mind is that you never know if you’ll ever get back to that moment again, meaning being in the NBA Finals being able to compete for a championship. And the hardest part of it was that the team that won those games in that series, they won the rebuilding battle.

Q: Do you think your 2009 Celtics would have repeated if Garnett hadn’t wrecked his knee in February?

A: I don’t know. I think to be honest, we were actually set up to win three in a row, but you got to stay healthy is the key part of it.

Q: What was it like playing [2017-18] for the G League Canton Charge?

A: It was one of the best experiences of my basketball career. It was humbling, but I got an opportunity to see how many guys pass up overseas opportunities, six-, seven-figure jobs, just to get a 10-day to get a jersey to say they made it into the NBA.

Q: What was the impact your grandparents had on your life?

A: Without them there’s no me to be honest with you. Words can’t even explain the impact that they had on my life, and the love that I will always have for them. Nothing I’ve ever done for them financially, no words that I’ve ever spoke to them out of my mouth, could ever let them know my real appreciation for them of what they’ve done for me.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Tom Brady.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Sandlot.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Martin Lawrence.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Angela Bassett.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Anything seafood.

Q: What are you most proud of about your career?

A: To be honest with you, you can’t ever take away being a starter on a championship team. You can’t ever take away from being able to share a locker room and share a floor with the amount of Hall of Famers that I did. It was probably an 8-9-year window where I was the starting center on teams that were actually labeled contenders.

After only playing five games last season because of season-ending shoulder surgery, Walker Kessler was expected to have a few cobwebs this preseason. 

They didn’t show in his preseason debut when Kessler shined with 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting, nine rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal in the first half of the Lakers’ 101-89 exhibition loss to the Warriors on Tuesday. 

But Nikola Jokic unearthed them. 

Walker finished with six points on 2-for-8 shooting, six rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and one steal in 31 minutes in the Lakers’ 121-106 exhibition loss to the Nuggets on Friday. 

Meanwhile, Jokic, a three-time MVP and one-time champion with the Nuggets in 2023, poured in 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the field, 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals in 31 minutes. 

“It knocked off a lot of rust,” Kessler said of playing against Jokic, flashing a smile. “Yeah, there was a pile in my locker. There’s a reason why he is who he is. He’s arguably the best big in the league and best player in the league. I would argue Luka’s better, obviously, for obvious reasons. But, yeah, he’s an exceptional player and for a preseason game, getting a regular-season game feel in that first half was really good for me and I think it was good for the team.”

Kessler, who suffered a torn left labrum in November, went 347 days without playing basketball before this preseason. 

The Lakers acquired him this offseason in a sign-and-trade with Utah, giving up two future unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps on top of a four-year, $130 million contract. 

Kessler is considered one of the league’s elite rim protectors and rebounders. In the five games he played last season, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, three assists, 1.8 steals and 1.4 blocks. 

In 2024-2025, Kessler contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim, per NBA.com, which tied him for fifth most in the league.

Against the Warriors, Kessler showed the type of difference he can make for the Lakers, who were 20th in defensive rating last season. 

In the 16 minutes Kessler was on the court? The Lakers outscored the Warriors by 15 points. In the 32 minutes he was on the bench? They were outscored by 27.

The challenge level was dialed up in intensity against Jokic, who finished third last season in MVP voting, ahead of the Lakers’ season opener against the Warriors on Wednesday.  

“It’s been a long time since I’ve really competed against someone like that. I mean since November basically of last year,” Kessler said. “So definitely it was nice to get that in before it actually counts.”