LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 13: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on January 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers (9-2) will continue their current five-game road trip in Atlanta where they will take on the Hawks (7-4) on Monday. This is the first matchup between the teams this season.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Atlanta Hawks
When: 4 p.m. PT, Nov. 6
Where: State Farm Arena
Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet
After taking down the league’s top-ranked defense in the Pistons on Sunday, the Lakers have little time to celebrate as they’re back on the court less than 24 hours later for a matchup in Atlanta. Both teams enter this meeting in good form with each looking to extend their win streaks.
The Lakers have strung together five in a row while the Hawks are not too far behind with four. One streak will end on Monday.
Los Angeles will have the rest disadvantage in this one after going down the wire with the Pistons today. But in fairness to the purple and gold, they’ve been doing well on the second leg of their back-to-back games this young season, winning two so far.
The biggest question mark entering this is whether Luka Dončić will suit up after he was sidelined with back tightness on Sunday. If the current MVP favorite does, then that would obviously be huge for the Lakers. Dončić can give the Hawks’ defense trouble like no other and that pressure will help free up the Lakers’ offense.
Speaking of the Lakers’ offense, it would really help if they knock down their shots in this one. The Hawks are a mediocre 3-point shooting team and have struggled to contain opposing shooters. They have Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to create havoc and disrupt passing lanes which is why it’ll be ideal if the team can contribute all-around instead of rallying on Dončić and Austin Reaves, who is coming off a 43-point game.
The Hawks have two dynamic and pesky guards in CJ McCollum and Alexander-Walker, so expect the Lakers’ perimeter defense to have its hands full. Remember, this isn’t the same Atlanta team since Trae Young departed. They’re a confident squad that plays commendable team basketball and at a much faster pace than the Lakers. Jalen Johnson might just be a matchup problem for the Lakers. Look for Atlanta to double down on that on Monday.
The Lakers’ grit has been one of the many enjoyable aspects of watching this team so far this season. It’s become a defining trait and hopefully we see it again versus the Hawks on Monday. Let’s see if the Lakers will be the team that walks away with their winning streak still intact.
Notes and Updates
Since the Lakers played on Sunday, the injury report for this game will only be released hours before tipoff.
It’s worth noting, though, that Quentin Grimes hurt his finger against the Pistons, so his status might be questionable for this one.
For the Hawks’ injury report, Keshon Gilbert (left knee inflammation), Mouhamed Gueye (left foot fracture), Asa Newell (left great toe hyperextension), Henri Veesaar (right ACL tear) are out.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 8: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz on November 8, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It wasn’t always pretty, but the Minnesota Timberwolves found a way to push through and defeat the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.
Every time the Wolves would go on a bit of a run, the Jazz would claw their way right back into the game. It was not until late in the third quarter that Minnesota would comfortably pull away. This allowed the Wolves to salvage their showing against a team that came into the game at 1-8.
I’ve mentioned this in my recaps before, but in the past, a game like this could be considered a trap game. Playing against a team that is languishing in the standings is usually a recipe for disaster. Early on in the season, it would seem that Minnesota is doing a great job of rewriting that narrative.
The Wolves did what they were supposed to do by beating a team at the bottom of the standings. We shouldn’t take that for granted. I doubt any long-term fans will.
The victory over Utah was on-brand for the 2026-27 Timberwolves, featuring a slew of highlights and standout performances from many of the players who have been ascending in the absence of Anthony Edwards and Donte Divincenzo. Here are a few game notes that stood out to me.
Trey Lyles might be legit
I’ve been apprehensive about saying that Trey Lyles is going to be a meaningful part of this team. I mean, the guy was overseas last year. Yet, as is becoming tradition, Minnesota is looking like the premier rehabilitation hub for players who are looking for newfound life in their careers. Lyles is fitting right in.
The counting stats don’t jump off the page tonight with just nine points (3/6 shooting, 1/3 from deep), six boards, two assists, and a steal across 21 minutes of play. What jumps out instead is his +29 across those limited minutes in what amounted to a 15-point win. The guy can play, and it’s fair to wonder at this point why he wasn’t in the NBA last year.
Many folks I have talked to have branded Lyles as the team’s new Kyle Anderson, and even that comparison may be underselling his impact at this point in the season. Lyles is connecting lineup combinations in a way that we never saw with Anderson. He fits into any scheme at any point of the game, and he is rarely a negative on the floor, whereas Slow Mo needed a very specific set of circumstances to succeed.
On nights like tonight, when Jonathan Kuminga has an off performance (four points, three turnovers, and a team-worst -10), having a consistent presence like Lyles proves to be invaluable. Tim Connelly can apparently do no wrong with his roster construction, and Lyles is further emblematic of his prowess as a team builder.
Stars Shine as They Should
Against a (lowly) team like the Jazz, you need your bona fide contributors to not drop the ball. The quartet of Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, Ayo Dosunmu, and LaMelo Ball were all up to the task, keeping the Wolves afloat against a Jazz team that showcased more fight than their record would suggest.
What more can we say about Dosunmu? He’s been revelatory in the starting lineup and, much like Lyles, seems to fit in and produce wherever he’s deployed. Scoring 26 points on just 13 shots is wildly efficient and, while his five turnovers were tied for the most on the team, he seemed to be unstoppable for most of the night.
It’s wild to think that Connelly acquired Dosunmu for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and a few second-round picks. Peanuts.
Ball was his usual self on the evening, providing plenty of highlight-worthy plays, some dazzling shot-making, and even throwing in a breakaway dunk for good measure. He shot 50% from the field on 20 shots, which is always a plus for a player who tends to struggle with efficiency. Not much to complain about on his end.
McDaniels was also efficient and filled the stat sheet on a small shot diet: 16 points (5/9 in general, 2/3 from deep), six boards, three assists, a steal, and a block, and a +17 across 33 minutes. Jaden did what he does, which is contribute in all facets of the game. Gobert had a whopping 15 rebounds, 10 points, and only missed two free throws. All around, it was a solid showing from the gang.
TJ Shannon Jr. also returned from his injury absence with a modest five-point performance. He may need some time to reacclimate himself to game speed. Fortunately, the Wolves have a bit of a break before their next matchup (Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks), so he can continue to rest his injured hip.
Michael Grady
In an otherwise uneventful game, it was refreshing to hear Michael Grady back on the call.
Obviously, Grady has increasing commitments that take him away from doing Wolves games. That’s all good, and nobody deserves it more than he does. However, it is always nice to hear his chemistry with Jim Petersen shine during the home broadcasts.
The joy was palpable early on in this game, and it is easy to tell how much Grady still loves calling Wolves games. His national broadcasts are similarly fantastic, though the degree to which he feels at home with Minnesota brings a warm feeling to the game-watching experience that we, as fans, shouldn’t take for granted.
None of this is a knock on Kevin Calabro, who has been able to provide a different angle to the watching experience that will only improve the more that his chemistry grows with Petersen. Calabro is good and is exactly as advertised. Yet, Grady is, and will always be, our dude. While he’s still with us, we need to soak this up while we can.
Game Highlights
Up Next
The Timberwolves get a bit of a break after a torrid start to the season, taking on the Mavericks on Thursday, November 12th at 7:00 PMCT. Catch the game on DAZN-MIN and NBA TV.
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 8: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates with teammates during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at American Airlines Center on November 8, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cooper Flagg has been playing angry in the Dallas Mavericks’ last two wins. But at least the team has prevented the second-year star from getting hangry. You wouldn’t like Flagg when he’s hangry.
Late in both Friday’s 112-100 win over the Utah Jazz and in Sunday’s 130-93 blowout over the Brooklyn Nets, Flagg could be seen on the bench as things wound down, snacking on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
And leave it to the intrepid Dallas sports media apparatus — when they spot a trend, they pounce with all the aggression of a rabid dog. No angle goes unnoticed around here.
So, naturally, Flagg answered questions about his emotional support PB&J after Sunday’s win. He gave an enthusiastic nod as the question was being asked about a “second straight in-game PB&J.”
“Listen, I want to give a shoutout to our strength staff, our medical staff,” Flagg said. “They’re the best in the business. I’m trying to put on some weight — keep gaining muscle, so there are some requirements I’ve got to meet, so I’m just trying to stay ahead of it. We’ve got another game [on Monday], so just trying to get my calories, stay ahead of it and be ready for another one tomorrow.”
Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has had in-game PB&J’s in back-to-back games.
He also confirmed that the jelly in question was grape flavored, and the peanut butter was of the smooth variety. Let’s get real. He’s not a savage.
So let’s break this down. Depending on weight, minutes played and how aggressively they move on the court, an NBA player can burn 900-1,800 calories over the course of a single game. Larger, heavier players (like Flagg, despite your opinion of the second-year star’s frame at 6’10”, 228lbs) burn toward the higher end of that range.
As such, sports dietitians generally advise heavier full-time athletes to consume anywhere from 4,000 to more than 7,000 calories per day. One peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread can account for somewhere in the neighborhood of 350 to 500 calories.
Flagg was listed at 205lbs entering his rookie season. He’s now listed at 228lbs. Considering all the full-court basketball he’s played in the meantime, that’s one hell of a lot of PB&Js along the way.
So, what does Flagg’s effort to make weight say about the Mavericks’ chances in a suddenly wide open Western Conference? That he sees an opening, and even in the early part of a breakout second season, he’s actively adding to his game because he doesn’t see himself as a finished product.
Fans may be looking for Flagg to take the next step with his outside shot, and for the record, he made 3-of-5 from 3-point range on Sunday against the Nets, but he’s working on those GAINS. Flagg has increased his scoring (in an admittedly small sample size) so far this year from just over 21 points per game to just over 23 points per game. He’s largely accomplished that by getting to the free-throw line a ton more.
Last season, he shot just over four free throws per game. This year, he’s getting to the free-throw line more than seven times per game. In one of the Mavericks’ first games of the year, color commentator Devin Harris said he’d like to see Flagg increase his free-throw rate to somewhere in the neighborhood of 8.5 per game, which would put him near the top of the league, if you’re looking at last year’s leaders in that category.
Getting stronger is always a great idea, especially when you’re 6’10.” Flagg has already shown an increased ability to bang inside through the first 10 games of the year. Being able to go both over and through defenders in the lane will increase Flagg’s ability to finish inside, which will, in turn, improve the team’s efficiency in the lane.
In a Western Conference that looks more wide open this season, every little advantage gained becomes a bigger deal.
Continuity works in different ways. For the Knicks, it’s been a positive for their defense.
Three weeks into their title defense, the Knicks are among the NBA’s stingiest teams while allowing 104.2 points per game. That was third best in the league heading into Sunday’s games. It’s partially a product of New York playing at the slowest pace in the NBA, resulting in fewer points for both teams.
But the Knicks were also ranked seventh in defensive rating — calculated by points allowed per 100 possessions — which is the same position they finished last season.
Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots over Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Cleveland. Getty Images
The difference this time around? It took the Knicks three months of terrible defense last season to start climbing to No. 7. They were 19th in the NBA through Jan. 19, then caught fire and were No. 2 in defense for the final 43 games.
Already in this campaign, they’re thwarting opponents at a top-tier rate. They obviously have OG Anunoby, a premier and versatile individual defender. But in today’s NBA — where ball handlers hunt switches and favorable matchups through screens — a defense is often only as good as its weakest link.
And Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been criticized throughout his career for lazy defense, has been far from weak. Much like during his strong playoff run, KAT has been active off the ball, committed and clearly in shape after cutting weight in the summer.
During Saturday’s win over the Cavs, Towns grabbed 13 rebounds and had two steals — including a strip of Donovan Mitchell on the perimeter late in the third quarter. Towns stepped into Mitchell’s driving lane on a screen, established position and didn’t let the All-Star split the two defenders. Mitchell coughed up the ball as he fell to the court, which led to a Towns assist on Landry Shamet’s 3-pointer to cap the game-breaking 25-12 Knicks run.
Towns said his experience defending Mitchell — they were Western Conference opponents for five years — provided him the foresight to see the split attempt coming.
“That comes with familiarity. That just comes with playing each other so much,” Towns said. “You know how great he is when he splits. If he gets that split over, he’s most likely dunking on somebody.
“So you don’t want to be the cause of that. So just having that experience and just knowing them very well … With a lot of experience and time in this league, you see a lot of different offensive sets and things. So just utilizing that experience and being in the right spot and putting yourself in the right position for your teammates.”
Knicks coach Mike Brown lauded Towns’ basketball IQ and credited his two defensive coordinators — assistants Darren Erman and Brendan O’Connor — for putting the center in the right positions.
New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns (32) grabs a rebound against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. AP Photo/Phil Long
“KAT’s got a tremendous feel. He’s a smart dude when it comes to a lot of things, but especially when it comes to the game of basketball,” Brown said. “His feel is at a high level, and so you couple that with the job that [O’Connor] and Erman are doing, it’s easy to see where he is because everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s tried to do.
“So if you’re extremely coachable, you got a great feel and you got two guys in Brendan O’Connor and Darren Erman that are teaching you the game defensively at a really high level, you’ll see the results we’re seeing now.”
Brown had challenged KAT on defense, with the positive results really kicking in during the playoffs.
“It’s [Towns]. It’s his willingness to do what’s best for the team to continue to get better,” Jalen Brunson said. “I think we’ve all been challenged by Mike in some way, shape or form. And he’s stepped up to the plate with that. And he’s been great.”
Not coincidentally, so has the Knicks’ overall defense. They’ve held opponents to 105 points or fewer in five of the past six games. They’ve also won five of their last six. Also not a coincidence.
Lakers Austin Reaves confronted a courtside fan during the first half of Sunday’s win over the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Khobi Price
And it ended with the Lakers star getting the last laugh, waving and pointing at the fan to make sure he knew the goodbye gesture was for him after hitting the dagger 3-pointer that secured the Lakers’ 121-116 victory to put them at 9-2 on the season.
“I mean, the AR dagger three — that one hit ‘em right in the chest, boy,” Ziaire Williams said of his favorite moment of the game. “You could just hear the crowd like, ‘Ahhhh.’”
Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a 3-pointer against the Detroit Pistons in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. Getty Images
And it also quieted one fan in the crowd in particular, at least momentarily, after he was apparently trash talking the Lakers star guard who scored a season-high 43 points while Luka Dončić was sidelined because of back tightness.
Reaves and the heckler, who was wearing a white t-shirt, dark pants and gold chains around his neck, exchanged more words in the game’s final moments after the dagger 3, with it being clear the Lakers were going to maintain their spot at the top of the Western Conference.
But the Lakers star guard chose not to give the fan anymore attention once the final buzzer ended.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Reaves responded when asked about the game-long interactions with the crowd.
Ultimately, Reaves and the Lakers came out on top Sunday night before they head to Atlanta for a matchup with the Hawks for the second game of their back-to-back set.
And while the fan may have had a lot to say, Reaves let his game do the talking.
In their first game following a successful Western Canada road trip, in which they notched six of a possible six points to bring their winning streak to four games, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins at Honda Center on Sunday evening.
The Ducks entered play just two points out of the second wild card spot, with a game in hand on the Utah Mammoth, which was somewhat surprising, given that prior to their win streak, they had only won one of their previous eight.
The Pens entered play on the second half of a back-to-back, as they snapped their own four-game winless streak against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. In the standings, they were just two points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers, who sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Following a first period benching that lasted the remainder of the Ducks’ 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Friday, Sam Colangelo was replaced in the depth chart by Frank Vatrano. That represented the only line/pair change for head coach Joel Quenneville.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game:
Killorn-Carlsson-Caulfield
Gauthier-Granlund-Sennecke
Myatovic-Washe-Vatrano
Malott-McQueen-Nesterenko
LaCombe-Helleson
Mitchell-Luneau
Mintyukov-Warren
For the fourth time in five games, Laurent Brossoit got the start for the Ducks, with Ville Husso serving as backup. Lukas Dostal was scratched and given the night off. Brossoit stopped 31 of the 33 shots he faced. Arturs Silovs got the start for Pittsburgh and saved 20 of 24.
“Overall, some positive things: the power play, killed some penalties, that five-on-three early. They got some power plays at the end, but LB (Laurent Brossoit) was pretty good today,” Quenneville said after the game.
Game Notes
Over 15 minutes of this game was played on special teams, which is how Anaheim’s been generating the majority of their offense, and this game was no different, as they tallied three goals on four opportunities. Discipline at key moments (like at the end of a game or while already down a man) will be important to iron out, as power plays can only bail a team out so often.
Laurent Brossoit: The Ducks have been struggling to get timely, important saves from their expected No. 1 starter, Lukas Dostal, to this point in the season. Brossoit has now won all four games he’s started for the Ducks since he was recalled from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, and in this game, when the Pens were pressing to climb back into the game at various points, he was there to meet every challenge.
Notably, he was efficient with his puck tracking, found perimeter shots through and around traffic directly in front of him, and swallowed the vast majority of shots, getting freezes as opposed to fighting those shots off and putting potential rebounds back in play.
Cutter Gauthier: After his third hat trick in five games, Gauthier is now on pace to finish the season with 73 goals. That’s obviously unlikely to happen, but his ability to provide the Ducks with needed instant offense is undeniable, and next to Mikael Granlund, who can find him with deceptive passes from throughout the offensive zone and on the rush, they represent one of the more deadly setup/finishing duos in the NHL.
In this game, Gauthier attacked downhill, found soft ice, scored on a no-look power play goal, and each seemed more effortless than the last. His release is as deadly and heavy as anyone’s in NHL history, and he’s remarkably deceptive with it.
Top Four Defensemen: According to TOI, the Ducks’ top four defensemen, as it stands, are Jackson LaCombe, Drew Helleson, Pavel Mintyukov, and Tristan Luneau. All four were counted on to provide offense when the team needed to get out to a lead and defend a late lead while fending off a pressing Pens attack.
LaCombe played his third consecutive game of logging over 30:00 TOI. Over 11 of those minutes came on special teams, and at 5v5, he was tasked with taking on the challenge of matching up against Pittsburgh’s top line of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Rickard Rakell. He notched three assists, and provided a safety net as a reliable breakout option, provided smart pinches, and blocked several shots at key times in the game.
Helleson, LaCombe’s partner, played one of the better games of his career, as he was difficult to compete against in tight areas, boxed out the front of the net, and made simple, effective decisions with the puck. Tristan Luneau was creative and dynamic with the puck on his stick at the point. His activations and mobility at the blueline were a consistent threat that opened up several other opportunities for his teammates.
Pavel Mintyukov has seen a confidence boost since his three-point performance against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Notably, he’s less frantic during retrieval sequences, and rather than losing a battle or sending a weak rim up the wall, he’s skating pucks out of danger, changing the angles on outlets, and/or leading exit sequences.
For the second game of their four-game homestand, the Ducks will host the Nashville Predators on Wednesday at 7 pm PST.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 11: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball while defended by Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets during the game on March 11, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Denver Nuggets played in Mexico two nights ago. They beat the Indiana Pacers 114-102. With the extra level of travel, Denver has listed their entire rotation as a game-time decision. More than likely, some of them will have to play. However, if they do sit everyone, the Houston Rockets will owe them a huge debt of gratitude.
Houston has looked poor, to stay the least, over the past two games. Against Minnesota at home and in Phoenix, the Rockets got off to sluggish starts and it cost them in the fourth quarters when they couldn’t score. Turnovers have also plagued the team in those losses. It was a stark reminder of last season’s struggles, and casts Houston’s hot start in doubt. Further, it brings into question the perceived importance of Fred VanVleet. If the team is making the same mistakes it made last season (sans FVV), how helpful is he?
The sky isn’t falling, but boy do the Rockets need to prove that they aren’t the exact same team as last season. Because if they are, what are we even doing here? I’m not arguing for a full teardown and I’m certainly not saying that a loss tonight should start that process, but if Denver doesn’t play their stars and Houston still finds a way to lose, well…it’s going to get loud.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: A New York Yankees hat sits during batting practice prior to Game One of the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sports Hochi: The Yankees are reportedly setting their sights on 21-year-old Japanese right-hander Hironari Hiroike, who pitched at Keio University in Tokyo. The site called the Bombers ‘the most likely destination’ for the young and talented hurler, who had a 2.88 ERA and a strikeout rate of 11.52 in six games in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League. With a mid-90s fastball that can reach 97 mph and multiple promising breaking balls, Hiroike wasn’t drafted in the NPB and is expected to sign a minor league deal with an MLB squad.
FOX Sports | Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar: The offseason, or at least the first portion of it, is already underway. Kavner and Thosar went through each team’s biggest need and identified an infield bat as the Yankees’ most pressing one. “Outside of first base, there are a lot of questions about the offensive production of this infield. They need another reliable bat,” they said.
Roundtable | Matthew Schmidt: Around the deadline, reports suggested the Yankees were interested in upgrading the catcher position. Ultimately, they chose to stick with Austin Wells as the primary guy behind the plate, but Schmidt wonders if they will revisit trade talks for Colorado Rockies backstop Hunter Goodman, who finished the 2026 campaign with 41 home runs and a 112 wRC+. He also explains why New York would be better off with Wells as the backup and Goodman or Ryan Jeffers starting.
New York Yankees on SI | Jonna Perlinger The Yankees extended a qualifying offer to closer David Bednar, so there’s a good chance he takes it and stays on a one-year deal. He could also reject it and hit the free agent market, and Perlinger identified four potential landing spots for the big righty if he leaves the Bronx.
Scott Boland brushed off Usman Khawaja’s claim that his home state Victoria once perfected the “dark arts” of ball-tampering, while Nic Maddinson has described the former Australian opener’s comments as “disappointing”.
DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 8: Walter Clayton Jr. #1 of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on November 8, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (6-4) took on the Brooklyn Nets (2-8), winning 130-93 on the first night of a back-to-back. This may be a game where one could draw correlations that aren’t really there, or it may be the perfect example of a lesson learned. The Mavs slept on the Kings a few nights ago and got embarrassed, but tonight they came out strong and stayed that way, holding a lead for roughly 47 minutes.
Let’s get to the grades!
Kyrie Irving: 8/10
21 PTS / 3 REB / 4 AST / 1 STL / 29 MIN
Irving displayed his typical veteran poise, recognized his matchup against an inexperienced player and took advantage while staying within himself and doing what was best for the team. His three-ball left a bit to be desired (2-of-7), but there were times it felt like he was literally working on that part of his game in real time, as if to work out a kink. More importantly, he finished well at the rim with no hesitation getting amongst the trees; hopefully that is a sign of building confidence and there will be more of it to come. Despite the misses from downtown, Irving still shot 9-of-15 overall (60%). His circus shot for the and-one to end the third quarter was the cherry on top.
Cooper Flagg: 9/10
25 PTS / 5 REB / 12 AST / 1 STL / 28 MIN
Flagg led all scorers in his double-double effort. He hit 8-of-13 from the floor, 3-of-5 from downtown and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Three turnovers was about the only blemish on his game. In relatively few minutes, he all but dominated every aspect of the game and set a new career high in assists in less than 30 minutes of action.
Caleb Martin: 6/10
2 PTS / 2 REB / 2 AST / 19 MIN
Martin insists on being the most difficult player on the team to grade. Since getting the starting job a few games ago, Martin hasn’t blown up the box score but has done a lot of intangible things. He’s smart, lets the game come to him and finds teammates (even if it comes by way of the hockey-assist or poking a rebound to a teammate that doesn’t register for him on the stat sheet).
P.J. Washington: 6/10
6 PTS / 5 REB / 1 STL / 1 BLK / 25 MIN
This was a tough grade to give, as it’s not especially high despite Washington having a pretty solid night. He was 2-of-3 from the floor, both from deep and did little bits here and there to contribute. It felt like this was a game he could go gang-busters in, especially off a great outing last game, but he was instead quietly effective.
Daniel Gafford: 8/10
18 PTS / 5 REB / 2 AST / 3 BLK / 19 MIN
Gafford was a mixed bag early on, with some strong finishes through contact for the and-one, but some matador defense on the other end. Then all of sudden he locked in and you blinked and realized he put together a very nice game. All said, he scored nearly a point per minute on a highly efficient 7-of-8 shooting from the floor while connecting on 4-of-6 free throws. His presence early on was a big help in the Mavs getting early separation.
Walter Clayton, Jr.: 6/10
5 PTS / 4 REB / 6 AST / 2 STL / 16 MIN
May Clayton go down as a super slick pickup by the front office. The guy is totally in control, makes good plays and seems to be in the right spot all the time. In just 16 minutes he was terrific, boosting his grade given how little time he had to work. He drained 2-of-3 shots including 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. Two turnovers and three fouls hurt him, but he gets the benefit of the doubt relative to his role and minutes played.
Morez Johnson, Jr.: 8/10
4 PTS / 9 REB / 1 AST / 19 MIN
He gets a major grade boost for how he managed himself throughout some chippiness with Noah Clowney. Clowney hit the deck after Johnson boxed him out, then proceeded to jaw with Johnson and bump him on their way back down court. Clowney persisted, bodying up into Johnson for an intentional foul, but literally bounced off Johnson for all the good it did. Johnson never got flustered, never retaliated and even though he was assessed with a technical foul, he showed poise well beyond his years. Also, Johnson made a heads up play that stood out in the first quarter. Instead of hopelessly closing out on an open shooter (he gave it a thought), he instead dropped to the basket to get a body on a cutter and ended up with the rebound. It was a savvy play he wasn’t necessarily making a few weeks ago.
Santi Aldama: 8/10
12 PTS / 2 REB / 1 STL / 15 MIN
Aldama was 5-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-4 from deep. He barely played a quarter, but came in scorching. In the flow of watching the game live, it was hard to remember him getting so many shots – he was totally within the flow of the offense and got a couple easy ones right at the rim. It’s a small sample size, but Aldama has thus far been everything Mavs’ fans could hope for. Another smart player that doesn’t get ahead of himself and makes the absolute most of his time on the floor.
Zaccharie Risacher: 8/10
11 PTS / 6 REB / 1 AST / 16 MIN
Like Aldama, Risacher did a lot with a little. Aside from an air-balled three that he had to put up after getting the ‘live grenade’ tossed to him, he was on fire, shooting 5-of-8 (1-of-3 from downtown). He didn’t commit a foul and pursued rebounds including two on the offensive end. He joined Aldama as a big reason the starters got a lot of rest.
Final Thoughts
This was a fantastic game all around. One could argue the Mavs played a struggling team. While that is true, we saw what happened against Sacramento just a few nights ago. Sunday night, Dallas got out to a lead, extended it and maintained it. The latter may have been the best part – the Mavs never relented and it seems to be in no small part due to Dusty May’s coaching. May at one point (with a large double-digit lead) was still yelling to his players to box out. Anyone could have mailed it in on the first night of a back-to-back, but no one did.
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Nov 8, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) hugs forward Cooper Flagg (32) during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dallas Mavericks (6-4) defeated the Brooklyn Nets (2-8), 130-93 in a Sunday evening matchup at the American Airlines Center. The win over the Nets marks the Mavericks’ second straight win and follows Friday night’s 112-100 win over the Utah Jazz in NBA Cup Group Play.
Dereck Lively, Tarik Biberovic, and Sergio de Larrea were out for Dallas. Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. were notably absent for Brooklyn.
Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 25 points and 12 assists. Kyrie Irving added 21 points. Michael Porter Jr. contributed 19 points for the Nets.
Here are three numbers to know from Sunday evening’s win.
40%: Dallas’ 3-point shooting
The Mavericks shot efficiently from the floor this evening, making 14-of-35 shots from behind the arc. The Mavericks are a better team when they are hitting their threes and not trying to force them up. Though against a less-talented and less-experienced team, the Mavericks won both the field goal and three-point percentage advantages. Dallas took care of a team that was a scheduled win and will need to carry their efficient night from the field into their next matchup.
18/3: Daniel Gafford points, blocks
Daniel Gafford had an active showing for the Mavericks, finishing with 18 points, three offensive rebounds, and a season-high three blocks. Gafford’s ability to finish at the rim at an efficient rate and his shot-blocking abilities have allowed him to have a nice start to the season as the Mavericks’ starting center. He has improved his efficiency this season and built on-court chemistry with Flagg, scoring on five of his assists for 10 points this evening. Gafford has been able to impact the game in a way he once did for the previous iteration of the Mavericks, allowing the Mavericks to stay afloat at the center position as Lively continues to rehab from his injury.
12: Cooper Flagg career high in assists
After an outing last week that served as a reminder that Flagg is still 19 years old, Flagg finished with an emphatic 25 points, 5 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists. Notably, he shot 8-of-13 from the field in the win over the Nets, an improvement from his 17-of-54 (31.5%) field goals made in the Mavericks’ three games last week. He played more decisively tonight on offense, highlighting his passing abilities and shooting 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Though the Nets are a borderline G League team, Flagg was able to completely dismantle their defense. When Flagg is playing confidently, he is one of the league’s best players, and tonight’s outing will give him the motivation to carry his performance into Monday night’s matchup with Indiana.
Up next
Try not to miss them for too long; the Mavericks will be back in action Monday night as they host the Pacers. Tune in to KFAA-TV and Mavs TV at 7 p.m. CT to catch the matchup.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 08: Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on November 08, 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 started strong but faded in a 117-97 loss to the Boston Celtics. In a rematch of Wednesday’s back-and-forth loss to the Celtics, the Bucks led by as much as 14 in the first quarter, but ceded ground thanks to Boston’s strong shooting and pesky defense. The Celtics retook the lead at the start of the second quarter and never looked back in a comfortable 20-point victory. Kyle Kuzma led Milwaukee with 27 points on 10/17 shooting, followed by Brayden Burries (13 points) and Tyler Herro (13 points). Paul George scored 27 on 18 shots, while Jayson Tatum (21), Neemias Queta (13), Payton Pritchard (12), and Mitchell Robinson (12) all logged double-digit points.
Milwaukee rolled out its new starting lineup of Brayden Burries, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner. Boston started Mike Conley, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta. The story early was Kyle Kuzma, who dropped 16 points on 6/10 shooting in the first quarter alone. The Bucks led 20-6 after five minutes of play, forcing the Celtics to call a timeout as Kuzma had already dropped 14 of those 16—he was hot. But of course, the Celtics remained calm and worked their way back into the game, largely thanks to Tatum’s high-level shooting and aggressive defence that forced turnovers and let Boston score easy points. Tatum finished the quarter with 16 points on 4/9 shooting as Boston strung together a 10-0 run to end the period, with the Bucks leading by just two, 27-25.
Paul George connected on a corner three to give the Celtics their first lead just seconds into the second quarter. Boston kept clicking from the perimeter and pestered Milwaukee’s ball handlers. The Bucks really hit an offensive wall at this point, connecting on just two threes from 12 attempts. In comparison, Boston looked at ease; White got to his spots at the midrange, Queta consistently beat Turner on the interior, and George splashed three after three. In fact, PG finished with a ridiculous 16 points in the second quarter on 6/9 shooting, helping Boston outscore Milwaukee 33-18 in the period. Tatum found Queta wide open in the paint, who threw down a big jam to put the Celtics up 58-45 at halftime.
Things got uglier for the Bucks in the third, as the Celtics opened with a 7-0 run and stretched their lead to 20. Herro also hobbled off the court with an apparent knee injury after being fouled by Derrick White, but thankfully, returned later in the game. To their credit, the Bucks showed resolve; Turner converted an and-one layup over Queta and Kuzma knocked down a three to trigger a Boston timeout. Ousmane Dieng saw his first minutes in nearly four games and made his cameo count with a pull-up midrange jumper to cut the Celtics’ lead to 16. Ryan Rollins also began to pick up steam from long range, but Boston still held a huge advantage, leading 91-74 entering the final frame.
Pritchard fired a step-back three, and Brayden Burries responded with a midrange jumper to start the fourth quarter. Boston continued to dominate Milwaukee, though they slowed marginally as they brought in their deep rotation to finish the game. That was no matter, though, because they still had Pritchard on the court, who connected on three three-pointers within two minutes. Special hat tip to Dieng, though, who scored eight points in the fourth quarter along to get his year heading back in the right direction. The Celtics coasted to a comfortable 20-point lead, dropping the Bucks to 1-9 in their first 10 games.
Stat That Stood Out
The battle on the glass was one-sided today. Boston grabbed 20 offensive boards to Milwaukee’s nine and led the game in rebounds, 48-36. Boston picked up a lot of second-chance points through the efforts of Queta and Robinson, which ultimately helped the Celtics pull away in the second quarter.
Obscene Overreaction
Ousmane Dieng deserves a permanent spot in the rotation after that fourth quarter. Dieng shined in his limited minutes, scoring 10 points on perfect 3/3 shooting. Dieng has struggled this season, especially finding a rhythm from beyond the arc and competing with wings for playing time, but he certainly took a step forward against Boston. It could translate to more meaningful minutes in Tuesday’s outing against the New York Knicks.
BOSTON (AP) — Elias Lindholm, Mikey Eyssimont and Morgan Geekie each scored a goal in an opening period that started out testy, carrying the Boston Bruins past the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Sunday.
Jeremy Swayman made 40 saves, 17 coming in the first period, for the Bruins, who improved to 7-0-0 at home by winning their fourth straight game a day after placing young star James Hagens on injured reserve.
JJ Peterka added a goal for Boston, which owns a plus-21 goal differential at TD Garden. David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha each added two assists.
Carter Verhaeghe scored a power-play goal for the Panthers, and Jacob Markstrom stopped 32 shots. Florida has lost three of four games.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, SABRES 1
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Tomas Hertl scored two goals and Vegas won their third straight game, over Buffalo.
Hertl scored both of his goals in the third period to help put the game away for the Golden Knights, who finished their road trip 3-0-1.
Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner also scored for Vegas while Adin Hill made 27 saves.
Beck Malenstyn scored and Colten Ellis made 21 saves for Buffalo, which has lost two of its last three games.
Marner opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at 12:17 of the second period following a turnover by Tage Thompson.
Eichel, who was the Sabres first-round draft pick in 2015 and traded to Vegas in 2021, made it 2-0 one minute and 26 seconds later with his eighth goal of the season. He has seven goals and three assists in eight games against Buffalo in his career.
JETS 4, LIGHTNING 3
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Mark Scheifele scored on a 5-on-3 power play with 1.6 seconds left and Winnipeg beat Tampa Bay after blowing a late three-goal lead.
Scheifele scored on a one-timer from the high slot off a feed from Cole Perfetti.
After Brayden Yager gave Winnipeg a 3-0 lead on a power play at 8:10 of the third with his first NHL goal, the Lightning tied it in a 4:07 burst. Brandon Hagel scored with 9:38 to go, and Pontus Holmberg struck twice — with 5:59 left and 5:33 remaining.
Perfetti, Morgan Barron and Brayden Yager also scored for Winnipeg (7-8-3), and Stuart Skinner made 18 saves. The Jets have won three in a row after dropping nine straight.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 21 shots for Tampa Bay (11-4-2) in the opener of a three-game trip The Lightning had won three in a row.
DEVILS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 0
TORONTO (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves for his first shutout with New Jersey and the Devils beat Toronto.
Acquired from the Winnipeg Jets last month after demanding a trade, Hellebuyck became the first goalie in franchise history to win each of his first five games with the club.
The Devils are set to play at Winnipeg on Tuesday night, with general manager Sunny Mehta saying Sunday night that Hellebuyck will not play. Hellebuyck had his first shutout of the season and the 46th of his NHL career.
Timo Meier scored twice for New Jersey (13-5-0), which has won nine of its last 10 games. Nico Hischier, with a goal and an assist, and Connor Brown, into an empty net, provided the rest of the offense. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt each had two assists.
Anthony Stolarz stopped 25 shots for Toronto (8-9-2). The Maple Leafs have lost three straight and five of their last six in regulation.
FLAMES 4, FLYERS 3, OT
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Matt Coronato scored at 4:08 of overtime to give Calgary a victory over Philadelphia.
Zane Parekh, Zach Whitecloud and Joel Farabee, while short-handed, also scored for the Flames (8-9-1). Yegor Sharangovich had two assists.
Flames goalie Devin Cooley, in his first game back after missing five because of a lower-body injury, made 32 saves.
Denver Barkey, Noel Acciari and Owen Tippett scored for Philadelphia (4-10-5), and Sean Couturier added two assists. Dan Vladar stopped 22 shots.
Farabee tied it on a short-handed breakaway midway through the third period.
DUCKS 5, PENGUINS 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Cutter Gauthier continued his scoring rampage with his third hat trick in eight days, and captain Mikael Granlund had a goal and three assists in the Ducks’ fifth consecutive victory, over Pittsburgh.
Gauthier’s empty-net goal in the final minute gave him three goals and an assist for the Ducks, who became the first team since the 1988-89 Los Angeles Kings to score at least five goals in eight consecutive games.
Gauthier extended his goals streak to six games and his points streak to a career best-tying eight games with his fourth multi-goal performance during this electric sequence, including three of his four career hat tricks. He has scored eight of his 13 goals in this six-game stretch on power plays.
Jackson LaCombe had three assists and tied a Ducks record with an assist in his 10th consecutive game. Laurent Brossoit made 32 saves for his fourth victory in four starts in Anaheim’s net.
Kris Letang and Rickard Rakell scored 6-on-4 power-play goals in the third period after Pittsburgh had fallen behind 4-0. Evgeni Malkin had two assists and Arturs Silovs stopped 20 shots for the Penguins, who snapped a four-game skid Saturday night at Los Angeles in the opener of their California trip.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) reacts after a dunk during a game against the Brooklyn Nets in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.
DALLAS — The Nets let go of the rope Sunday. There was a disconnect, bad body language and even worse defense.
And the result was as horrible as it sounds, a 130-93 beating at the hands of the Mavericks before a crowd of 19,184 at American Airlines Center.
Looking sluggish and spent, the Nets got shredded on defense, never led, fell behind by 37 and were noncompetitive the whole night.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) reacts after a dunk during a game against the Brooklyn Nets in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Yeah, obviously defensively we were not connected, and we made a lot of mistakes. And then a team like this, when they’re in rhythm with the players that they have, it’s when you can get hurt,” head coach Jordi Fernández said. “They made some tough ones, and we also allowed some. I thought offensively, we created good shots, but we again turned it over too much — and the nature of the turnovers, 17 turnovers for 24 points. That’s just not acceptable.
“And a lot of them were like we’re trying to run in transition and we give it to the other team, and those are tough. We still created 21 turnovers with 25 points, and I think that that’s the pressure and who we want to be. But overall, a poor defensive game.”
That’s an understatement.
The Nets (2-8) saw Cooper Flagg dominate with 25 points, 12 assists and five rebounds while Kyrie Irving scored 21 against his former team.
Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 19 points and nine boards, but Julius Randle struggled with just 13 and finished a minus-33. This team isn’t capable of winning with that sort of performance from Randle.
The Nets allowed 57.1 percent shooting, including 61.9 percent in a first half that saw them trail 66-46, and unlike the Hawks a day earlier, they never rallied.
Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving (11) drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Getty Images
The Nets had caught Atlanta on the tail end of a back-to-back and built a 17-point cushion. They even led by four with 1:45 to play before coughing up 10 unanswered points, letting the Hawks close the game on a 14-7 run.
Fernández had hoped they could replicate their energy from the night before, but actually sustain it. Instead, apparently they had exhausted it.
“The second quarter, we didn’t make shots, didn’t play defense,” Randle said. “They were giving a lot of stuff off of switching. But credit to them, they executed really well.”
The Nets shot 38.8 percent and 11-for-39 from deep.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., center, tries to score against Dallas Mavericks defenders Daniel Gafford, left, and Cooper Flagg on Nov. 8, 2026. AP Photo/LM Otero
Brooklyn fell behind by 13 in the first quarter, and that deficit doubled to 26 in the even sloppier second.
When Randle threw the ball behind Porter coming upcourt, it was a turnover on the sideline with 1:48 left in the half. The latter banged the ball on his head in frustration.
But the sequence that really typified the evening for Brooklyn?
Noah Clowney got whistled for a foul on Morez Johnson Jr., and the two had to be separated with 3:51 left in the third quarter as the officials went to replay to see whether the Net forward had committed a flagrant. The replay showed that Johnson had actually brazenly knocked Clowney to the court on the other end of the floor moments earlier, so he was assessed a technical.
Then Moritz Wagner clanked the ensuing free throw with the Nets trailing 92-62.
Clowney promptly fouled out to salt the wound.
“We couldn’t make shots, they made a lot of them. And then once adversity hits, it seems to be really difficult for us to kind of get our head out of … whatever it is,” Wagner admitted.
“It’s never all bad, and it’s not all good, you know. It never is as bad as it looks, but our body language does drop. We lack a little maturity there as a group. It’s nobody’s fault; it’s just everybody kind of in new roles, everybody getting used to it, which is an excuse. It’s something we have to look in the mirror for, everybody for himself and kind of figure it out.”
