Will the Suns shock the Rockets?
Game Thread: Suns vs. Rockets
Cavs vs. Knicks game thread
The Cleveland Cavaliers will welcome the New York Knicks to town for the second end of a brutal back-to-back.
Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!
Open Thread: Detroit Red Wings @ Colorado Avalanche 7:00 P.M. MST)
New look, old rival: the Colorado Avalanche debut their Hometown Remix jersey collection as their two game home stand wraps up against the visiting Detroit Red Wings.
The new threads may be a fresh coat of paint for the Avs, but perhaps revisiting a decades-old rivalry could bring them some new life to go with them.
Colorado Avalanche (9-6-2)
The Opponent: Detroit Red Wings (7-7-3)
Time: 7:00 P.M. MST/9:00 P.M. EST
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), DSN (Detroit Local Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Area – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are coming off of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators as they head into tonight’s contest. Former Avs forward Ross Colton put the Avs down early, but Jaden Schwartz responded to tie things up. After trailing 2-1 to start the second period, Parker Kelly scored to tie things up again. Minutes after overtime began, Devon Toews would be called for a questionable hooking penalty, leading to the eventual game-winner. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped twenty-two of twenty-five shots in the game.
Over the course of the week, the Avs been forced to play catch-up to the opposition. While they were able to overcome an early two-goal deficit to Chicago on Monday, they couldn’t duplicate the same results against Columbus or Nashville. The entire first line of Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Nečas have not scored a goal since Halloween. Even a slight bump in production from any of these players could have meant the difference in a close game like Thursday’s against Nashville.
In speaking to reporters yesterday, head coach Jared Bednar emphasized the importance of better defensive play over offensive output. “I would give up some [offensive] production over the first sixteen games for a better defensive effort,” he said. “That’s where I’m at. I think the offense will take care of itself.
Bednar didn’t have much of an update regarding the injured Zachary L’Heureux, other than that it was a long-term injury and there isn’t a timeline for his return.
Blackwood returns to the crease tonight to wrap up the home stand.
MacKinnon still leads all skaters in points (27) and assists (18). Lehkonen leads the team in goals (12).
The Avs split the season series against Detroit last year, winning by a 5-0 margin on the road on January 31.
Projected Lineup
Forwards:
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas
Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nicolas Roy
Jaden Schwartz – Nazem Kadri – T.J. Hughes
Parker Kelly – Fedor Svechkov – Logan O’Connor
Defense:
Cale Makar – Brett Kulak
Devon Toews – Sam Malinski
Noah Juulsen – Brent Burns
Between the Pipes:
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Detroit Red Wings
Even with the moves made in the offseason, Detroit has struggled to find its footing. They sit in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 7-7-3 record and having lost three of their last four games, their most recent coming this past Thursday at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights at Little Caesars Arena by a 2-1 decision. Neither team scored until Anton Johansson scored early in the third period, but Vegas countered with two goals of their own to secure the win. Tarasov, playing in the place of the injured John Gibson, stopped thirty-one of thirty three shots on goal.
Gibson, who sustained a lower body injury during Detroit’s 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning this past Tuesday, returned to practice yesterday. His status is currently unknown. Barring any updates as the day progresses, Tarasov will likely get the start again tonight against Colorado.
Tonight marks the beginning of a four game road trip for Detroit before hosting Boston at home on November 18.
DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond lead all Detroit skaters in points (16). Arvidsson leads the team in goals (8), while Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider lead the team in assists (10). Defenseman Ben Chiarot leads all Detroit skaters in penalty minutes (21), with Kolesar a close second (20).
Detroit defeated Colorado by a 2-0 decision during their previous visit to Denver on February 02.
Projected Lineup
Forwards:
Alex DeBrincat – Emmitt Finnie – Viktor Arvidsson
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård – Andrew Copp – Lucas Raymond
Michael Rasmussen – J.T. Compher – Nate Danielson
Carter Mazur – Sheldon Dries – Keegan Kolesar
Defense:
Ben Chiarot – Moritz Seider
William Wallinder – Justin Faulk
Andreas Englund – Anton Johansson
Between the Pipes:
Daniil Tarasov
Michal Postava
NOTE: Don’t forget to download the new SB Nation app for a more mobile-friendly way to follow tonight’s action and engage with Mile High Hockey’s match threads. Commenting and interacting with your communities is easier than ever before with the Game Chat feature. The app is currently available in the U.S. and Canada on iOS and Android devices.
Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson clarifies his infamous quote vs Knicks: ‘they dominated us’
Kenny Atkinson found himself trending for all the wrong reasons during the Cleveland Cavaliers matchup with the New York Knicks in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.
In case you missed it, here’s what Atkinson told reporters after the Cavs were already trailing the series 0-3.
“I think analytically, I think we’ve won the — I said three out of three [games in the series], we’re two out of three in the expected wins, I don’t know if you guys follow that — the expected score. We’ve won two out of three.”
Yeah… Cavs fans weren’t happy about that.
Jokes have followed Atkinson into the current season. Every loss is followed with a sarcastic rendition of ‘analytically, we actually won.’
Atkinson finally had a chance to clear the air before Cleveland’s rematch with the New York Knicks on Saturday night.
“I answered the question of ‘you’re down 3-o, what hope do you guys have?’ and I wasn’t lying, but in no sense was it like ‘oh, we deserve to be winning’; there was zero thought of that,” said Atkinson.
It’s not easy to give an optimistic spin when your team is trailing 0-3 in a series. Atkinson learned that the hard way.
“I think when you look back on it and take the context of the question, I’m not sure that was taken into account, which was a little bit of a lesson for me,” said Atkinson. “I would just say, there was no coach more complimentary of the Knicks and honest about our performance and how they dominated us.”
The Cavs were winning in some key expected margins during the series. Particularly in the first two games, where it felt like Cleveland was taking quality shots but just weren’t making them. All of that might help you sleep at night — but it doesn’t change the end result. Atkinson understands that.
“As coaches, we have to check our process, like, are we getting the right shots?” said Atkinson. “But it kind of doesn’t matter, right? Because there’s more than that. There is the mental toughness and physical toughness. The flow of the game, how aggressive you are, there’s all these other intangibles that go in with that.”
‘Absolute freak’ open to bombshell code switch as reports of possible $800k move emerge
Sydney Roosters premiership player Sam Walker is reportedly open to a code switch with an eye on representing the Wallabies at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Could Luka Doncic average 40 points for season? ‘You never know’
The 2026-27 NBA season may still be in its early stages, but Luka Dončić’s historic start is putting his name in the history books.
And while the Lakers still have 72 regular-season games left, the Slovenian superstar is on the trajectory to achieve a feat none of the league’s great scorers have accomplished over the last 64 years.
Not even Michael Jordan.
Or James Harden.
Or Kobe Bryant.
With his season-high 53 points in Friday’s home win over the Trail Blazers, Dončić has scored 361 points through his first nine games of the season, which is the most by a player through their first nine games since Wilt Chamberlain (472 points) in 1962-63. Chamberlain also scored 455 points to open the 1961-62 season.
Chamberlain ended those seasons with scoring averages of 50.4 (1961-62) and 44.8 (1962-63), which are the highest marks in NBA history.
Dončić enters Sunday’s road game against the Pistons, which he’s questionable for because of low back tightness, averaging a league-best 40.1 points.
Chamberlain is the only player in league history to average at least 40 points for a season.
The closest anyone else has gotten was Jordan at 37.1 points in 1986-87. Harden (36.1 in 2018-19), Rick Barry (35.6 in 1966-67) and Bryant (35.4 in 2005-06) are the only other players in league history to average at least 35 points for a season.
Dončić’s career-high scoring average for a season is 33.9 points, which he set in 2023-24 while with the Mavericks. He averaged 33.5 points in 2025-26 in his first full season with the Lakers.
But with the start to the season he’s gotten off to, it begged the question: Could he join Chamberlain as the lone players to average at least 40 points for a season?
“It’s obviously a long season,” Dončić said. “We’re just 10 games in. We got 72 left. But as long as we win, I’m good. Hopefully it continues, but you never know.”
The answer to that question won’t be known until the season is over.
But with Dončić being one of the most prolific scorers in league history, the possibility can’t be ruled out.
Cavs have ‘level of concern’ for Sam Merrill’s injury
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without the services of sharpshooter Sam Merrill in their matchup against the defending champion New York Knicks on Saturday evening. Merrill suffered a right elbow injury that caused him to miss the second half of Friday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers. As of now, the severity of the injury is unknown.
“I noticed it (the injury) during the game last night, there’s something not right,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said on Saturday. “Of course, Sam said ‘I’m fine, I’m fine,’ and then he wasn’t fine.”
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This has been a difficult start to the season for Merrill. He’s struggled to find his three-point shot as he’s connecting on 32.6% from distance so far. How much of that slump is due to an injured shoulder is unknown. What the Cavs do know now, is that missing Merrill for an extended period would be an issue for the Cavs.
“Of course there’s a level of concern there,” Atkinson said. “He’s the ultimate connector for the Cavs. You know our record without him last year was not good. Him and J.A. (Jarrett Allen), those guys connect the game for us so hopefully it won’t be too long.”
Last season, the Cavs did struggle without Merrill. They were just 15-15 in games he didn’t play last season and 37-15 when he did play.
Saturday’s contest against the Knicks will be the first game Merrill has missed this season. Merrill has averaged 7.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on .386/.326/.917 shooting splits in nine games.
Game Discussion Thread: Knicks at Cavaliers, November 7, 2026
The New York Knicks (4-4) visit the Cleveland Cavaliers (5-4) tomorrow at Rocket Arena. The Cavs are playing the second game of a back-to-back, after trouncing the Sixers last night. Josh Hart is out with right ankle soreness for the Knicks. Jarrett Allen is questionable with a knee contusion.
Tip off is at 8 PM EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Fear the Sword. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Behave, you magnificent creatures. And go Knicks!
Wizards at Thunder discussion
The Washington Wizards play the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Watch on Monumental Sports Network. Go Wizards!
Rockets and Kevin Durant head to Phoenix for a reunion
Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns
November 7, 2026
Location: Mortgage Matchup Center – Phoenix, Arizona
Time: 8:00 PM CST
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)
Probable starting lineups
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun
Suns: Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Oso Ighodaro
Kevin Durant, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in a reunion tonight! Tune in tonight and come chat with us at TDS on on the SB Nation App!
LIVE DISCUSSION: Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 PM ET
The Nets are coming off one of their best team performances of the season, a 114-104 win over Charlotte on Wednesday. Danny Wolf made the most of his first real rotation opportunity, Nolan Traoré continued to show improvements, and Terance Mann gave Jordi Fernández another option off the bench.
Now, Brooklyn takes that momentum on the road to Atlanta — their first of four away from home.
Game Information
- Who: Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks
- When: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
- TV: YES Network, DAZN
- Radio: WFAN
Injury Report:
Brooklyn Nets:
- OUT – Egor Demin (right bone bruise)
Atlanta Hawks:
- OUT – Jalen Johnson (left ankle sprain)
- OUT – Jock Landale (left hip strain)
- OUT – Mouhamed Gueye (left foot fracture)
- OUT – Keshon Gilbert (left knee inflammation)
- OUT – Asa Newell (left great toe hyperextension)
- OUT – Henri Veesaar (right ACL tear)
Preview
“It takes time to get used to someone in a new role. We’ve spent so much time with Nickeil Alexander-Walker being a solid bench role player that it’s still somewhat surprising to see him operate as a high(er) usage wing as a starter. Alexander-Walker won the Most Improved Player award last year and he’s carried that success over to this year. He’s averaging a career best 22.3 points per game, and most impressively is getting to the line over four times a game. When Johnson returns, we’ll see how the Hawks look to climb the standings.”
💬Discussion
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Luka Doncic's injury update: Will Lakers star play against Detroit
Luka Dončić has been the talk of the NBA following a strong start with the Los Angeles Lakers this season.
Dončić and the Lakers are currently in first place in the Western Conference with an 8-2 record and lead the league in points scored, averaging 122 per game through the first 10 games this season.
Dončić has positioned himself as the leading candidate for MVP early this season. He's averaged 40.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists in nine games played.
The point guard's health will be something to monitor this weekend after appearing on the latest status report.
He was listed as questionable on Saturday, Nov. 7 for the Lakers' game against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, Nov. 8.
The Pistons have allowed the fewest opponent points per game this season, giving up an average of 101.8 points per game through their first eight games. Detroit is third in the Eastern Conference.
The two-time NBA scoring champion is coming off a 53-point performance in a 124-118 win against the Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Cup action on Friday, Nov. 6.
Luka Dončić injury update
Dončić is listed as questionable with back tightness for the second time this season.
The six-time All-NBA player missed one game this season due to back tightness the day after playing against Portland in late October.
Luka Dončić injury history
Dončić does have a history of back injuries during his career. Before this season, he was most recently listed with a back injury in March 2025. He was also listed with back-related injuries during the 2019, 2021 and 2024 seasons.
Where does Luka Dončić rank among NBA's best?
Dončić enters his third season with the Lakers as the unquestioned star and leader. His accomplishments and achievements are why he was ranked No. 4 on USA TODAY Sports' top 100 player rankings ahead of the 2026-27 season.
When do Lakers play next?
The Lakers will travel to play the Pistons on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. ET. It will be the first game of a back-to-back and the first of four straight road games for the Lakers. Los Angeles has won its last four games.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic's injury update: Will Lakers star play against Detroit
Former Blue Jackets Goalie Is Impressing With New Team
Former Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Daniil Tarasov quietly signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings this off-season. This was after he had a 13-15-3 record, a 3.05 goals-against average, and an .895 save percentage in 33 games for the Florida Panthers last season.
Now, Tarasov is impressing during the early stages of his Red Wings tenure.
While Tarasov has a 2-2-2 record, his stats show that he is playing very well for the Red Wings right now. His .929 save percentage is currently the second-best in the NHL for goalies who have played at least five games. He also has an impressive 1.79 goals-against average, which is the third-best in the NHL.
Tarasov has also had a .923 save percentage or better in four of his appearances this season. This included him saving all 30 shots he faced against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 10, excluding the shootout.
With this, there is no question that Tarasov is playing well for the Red Wings early on. If the former Blue Jackets goalie keeps this kind of play up throughout the season, he could land himself a nice raise with his next deal.
Tarasov was selected by the Blue Jackets with the 86th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In 65 games over four seasons with the Blue Jackets, he posted a 19-34-6 record, an .898 save percentage, and a 3.44 goals-against average.
Stamkos Enters All-Time Top-5 for Power-Play Goals, Game-Tying Goals
Steven Stamkos' career has been legendary to say the least. The Nashville Predators forward is continuing to establish himself as one of the NHL's all-time top goal scorers. On Saturday afternoon, he built on that even further as he claimed the fifth spot on both the power-play goal and game-tying goal leaderboards.
Stamkos scored a power-play goal late in the first period to tie things up at 1-1 against the St. Louis Blues after Jimmy Snuggerud gave the visitors' a lead just a few minutes prior. That goal marked the 248th power-play goal of Stamkos's career, pushing him past legendary Los Angeles Kings winger Luc Robitaille for the fifth-most in NHL history. Now, he'll be chasing Teemu Selanne who scored on the man advantage 255 times in his career.
The goal was also Stamkos's 130th career game-tying goal, which moved him past Jaromir Jagr for the fifth-most in NHL history. He currently trails just Alex Ovechkin, Wayne Gretzky, Dave Andreychuk, and Joe Sakic. Sakic is directly ahead of Stamkos, with 132 tying goals according to the NHL Media site.
As the season progresses, Stamkos can continue to move up these leaderboards. The main question remaining though, is how far can he go before he calls it a career? Only time will tell.
How to watch Warriors vs. Magic
The Golden State Warriors return to action Saturday night as they host the Orlando Magic. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 PM PT in San Francisco, with the game airing on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Previously with the Warriors:
Golden State extended its winning streak to six games with Thursday night’s 120-100 victory over the Miami Heat. Steph Curry and Draymond Green led the way in a matchup that featured a reunion with former teammate and Warriors legend Klay Thompson. The Curry-Green chemistry was on full display, with Curry scoring a team-high 29 points while Green orchestrated the offense with a season-high 11 assists. As for Thompson, he finished with 11 points on 2-of-7 shooting from the three-point line in his return to the Bay Area.
What to watch for tonight:
The Warriors will look to keep their winning streak alive Saturday night against the Magic. While Curry has understandably drawn much of the attention during Golden State’s recent surge, the team’s bench has also played a key role in its success, providing a consistent scoring boost alongside the starters.
Georges Niang was among the biggest contributors in Thursday’s win, finishing with 13 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting from the field. His ability to space the floor, make quick decisions, and capitalize on open looks makes him a natural fit in head coach Steve Kerr’s offensive system.
And with Golden State beginning to find its rhythm on both ends of the floor, Niang and the rest of the second unit will have another opportunity to make their presence felt against an Orlando team that has struggled out of the gate with a 2-6 record and will be playing without All-Star big man Paolo Banchero.
Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!!
Projected Starters
Warriors: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard, Yaxel Lendeborg, Draymond Green
Magic: Jase Richardson, Anthony Black, Tristan da Silva, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr.
How to watch Regular Season Game 10
Who: Golden State Warriors (6 – 3) vs. Orlando Magic (2 – 6)
When: Saturday, November 7th, at 5:30 p.m. PT
Where: Chase Center — San Francisco, California
TV and Streaming: NBC Sports Bay Area