Edwards and McDaniels bomb the Garden as Wolves rout the Knicks
Minnesota beat New York 122-104 at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 26 points on 5-of-8 from three in 25 minutes, and Jaden McDaniels added 22 on 8-of-12 shooting (4-of-5 from deep). Jalen Brunson led the defending champions with 20, but the Knicks shot 25% from three, were outrebounded 39-28 and are still looking for their first preseason win. The Wolves are 3-1.
Latest · Tue, Oct 13
Porziņģis returns after two weeks away, and the Warriors still have no update
Kristaps Porziņģis has been away from Golden State for about two weeks with an undisclosed health issue and is expected back with the team on Tuesday. Steve Kerr isn't sure he'll play in the opener against the Lakers. Porziņģis has dealt with POTS over the past two seasons, but nobody has said whether this is related. Without him, Kerr has started Gui Santos, Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green, and is "leaning toward" keeping that group.
Kawhi Leonard is cleared for his first Raptors game since the 2019 title
Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said Kawhi Leonard went through practice on Monday and will be available against the Clippers on Tuesday. The Raptors have eased him in, sitting him for the first two preseason games. It will be his first game in a Toronto uniform since Game 6 of the 2019 Finals.
Injury watch: Raynaud dodges the worst, Haliburton back at practice
The Kings' fears for Maxime Raynaud eased when his MRI showed a right patellar subluxation (a partial kneecap dislocation); he'll be re-evaluated in two weeks and miss the start of the season. Tyrese Haliburton, who tweaked his right ankle in his preseason debut, was a full participant in Monday's practice; it's unclear if he plays Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Kristaps Porziņģis rejoins the Warriors on Tuesday after two weeks away with an undisclosed health issue.
Jokić needs only 12 shots for a triple-double as Denver outlasts Chicago
Nikola Jokić posted 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists on 8-of-12 shooting as the Nuggets beat the Bulls 133-128 on Sunday. Aaron Gordon led Denver with 25 points. Chicago led 68-59 at halftime after a Caleb Wilson buzzer-beater, but Denver won the third quarter 40-26. Leonard Miller scored 26 for the Bulls.
Harden scores 20 in a half as the Cavs handle Orlando
James Harden scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half of Cleveland's 119-105 win over Orlando on Sunday. Evan Mobley had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks, and Mario Hezonja, back in the NBA after six seasons in Europe, had 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 17 minutes. New arrival Peyton Watson drew the Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner assignments.
Towns 'very disappointed' after the Knicks pause extension talks
Karl-Anthony Towns said the Knicks' decision to pause all extension talks until later in the season was "news to me." Reports put New York's offer at about four years and $200 million; Towns is eligible for a max extension projected at $276 million over four years. He earns $57.1 million this season and has a $61 million player option for 2027-28.
Clippers waive fan favorite Yuki Kawamura
The Clippers waived the 5'7" Japanese point guard on Monday night, cutting their preseason roster to 20. Kawamura, 25, had 10 points and four assists in 14 minutes against Toronto on Saturday. He has played 40 NBA games for Memphis and Chicago and was the B.League MVP in 2022-23. He'd get a $91K bonus if he spends at least 60 days with the G League San Diego Clippers.
Finch: the Wolves have "traded moodiness for giddiness"
Chris Finch says LaMelo Ball's impact in the Minnesota locker room shouldn't be understated, calling Ball "always in a great mood" and saying he and Anthony Edwards are "really hard to stay mad at." Finch admitted the team's mood had "probably gotten in our way" in recent seasons, after two straight West finals trips and a second-round exit in 2026.
Daigneault on the Dort and Wiggins trades: "the roster decisions are Sam's"
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault spoke about the pride OKC takes in homegrown players like Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins, both traded this offseason. He said he isn't "totally separated" from those calls and is one of several sources Sam Presti listens to, but the final word belongs to the front office.
Sun, Oct 11
Kings fear the worst for Maxime Raynaud's knee
Second-year center Maxime Raynaud left Saturday's preseason game at Golden State in a wheelchair after taking contact on the outside of his right knee while setting a screen late in the first half. The Kings ruled him out early in the third quarter, and team sources told ESPN there is "growing fear they've lost their young center for the foreseeable future." An MRI was expected late Saturday night.
Podziemski gets paid: 5 years, $110 million
The Warriors and Brandin Podziemski agreed to a fully guaranteed five-year, $110 million rookie-scale extension with a trade kicker and a mutual option in 2031-32. The 23-year-old played all 82 games last season and set career highs with 13.8 points per game. Golden State kept the first-year salary at $18.9 million to protect cap space for 2027.
Kyrie Irving set for his first game in 19 months
Kyrie Irving is set to play Sunday in China against Houston, his first game since tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025. He said a Grade 2 calf strain in December slowed his rehab. Mavericks coach Dusty May says he has practiced without issue since camp opened.
Tatum is all the way back
Jayson Tatum missed nearly a full season with a ruptured Achilles, and the Boston Globe reports that his recovery is complete and his explosiveness to the rim has returned. With Jaylen Brown gone, he is ready to be the primary scorer again. On Saturday he scored 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting in 27 minutes as Boston routed Philadelphia 144-106.
Lendeborg is forcing his way into the Warriors' plans
The No. 11 pick, a 24-year-old 6-foot-9 wing who won a national title at Michigan, started at small forward in camp and says he can win Rookie of the Year. On Saturday he had 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting, 10 rebounds and six assists in 24 minutes against Sacramento.
A smiling Ja and an 'explosive' Dame in Portland
Ja Morant has been "constantly smiling and laughing" with his new Blazers teammates, The Athletic reports, after feuding with Memphis last year. He had 8 points and 5 assists in his Portland debut alongside Damian Lillard, who missed last season with a ruptured Achilles and says he feels great.
Haliburton's ankle tweak: "The Achilles looks great"
Tyrese Haliburton, back from the Achilles tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, tweaked his right ankle in his return game and sat out Saturday against Atlanta. Rick Carlisle says the MRI looks good and the injury is unrelated to the Achilles. He hopes Haliburton practices Monday and plays Tuesday against OKC.
"Where's LeBron?" Sixers crash Abbott Elementary
Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe appeared in the Season 6 premiere of Abbott Elementary. Teacher Jacob Hill didn't recognize them and asked where LeBron James was. Maxey said James was running up the Rocky steps.
Quentin Grimes bet on himself and won
Quentin Grimes turned down a four-year, $39 million offer from Philadelphia and played on an $8.7 million qualifying offer. It paid off with a four-year, $60 million deal with the Lakers, his first long-term NBA contract.
New lottery rules: you can't win by losing anymore
Under the NBA's new lottery rules, the 4th- through 10th-worst teams get flat odds and the three worst teams fall into a "relegation zone" with worse odds. All of the first 16 picks are drawn, and no team can win back-to-back lotteries or pick in the top five in three straight drafts. Last season had a record 281 games decided by 20 or more points.
Sat, Oct 10
Knicks shut down extension talks with Towns and Hart
The champion Knicks told ESPN's Shams Charania they won't negotiate contract extensions with Karl-Anthony Towns or Josh Hart until later in the season. Towns is eligible for a four-year extension worth over $276 million; New York's latest offer was reportedly about $200 million over four years. He is due $57 million this season with a $61.1 million player option for next season, while Hart earns $20.9 million with a $22.3 million team option for 2027-28.
Embiid on the LeBron report: "It feels like I'm an easy target"
Joel Embiid says Mike Breen's on-air story that LeBron James scolded him for walking out late to practice "is not true". LeBron had already called it "lies" and Breen apologized. Embiid then made his preseason debut in a 114-108 loss in Brooklyn: 8 points on 1-of-5 shooting and 8 turnovers in 24 minutes.
Şengün triple-double, VanVleet back as Rockets beat Mavs in Macao
Houston beat Dallas 135-117 in the NBA China Game at Venetian Arena. Alperen Şengün had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 22 minutes, and Fred VanVleet scored 17 with seven assists in his first game since the 2025 playoffs after a torn ACL. Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 19 points, 17 of them in the second quarter; Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II rested.
Haliburton wants to make peace with Lillard over 'Dame Time'
On The Zach Lowe Show, Tyrese Haliburton said he regrets how his relationship with Damian Lillard fell apart after he mocked Lillard's 'Dame Time' celebration during the 2023 in-season tournament. Both missed last season with Achilles tears from the 2025 playoffs and both played in preseason this week. The Pacers host Portland on December 17.
Retired Westbrook wants to carry the torch at LA 2028
Russell Westbrook, who retired in August after 18 seasons as the NBA's all-time triple-double leader, wants to be a torchbearer at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The 2012 gold medallist and 2017 MVP was honoured by the LA City Council for his community work. Kevin Durant said he thought Westbrook still had "five or six more years left".
NBA fires back: the second apron isn't hurting the middle class
After the Knicks' Bruce Brown said the new CBA 'kind of sucks' for middle-tier players, the league posted a statement calling the claim untrue. It says roster counts are unchanged, annual salaries are up nearly $1.3 billion and pay has risen about 30% for all classes of players. Brown, coming off a big bench role in Denver, is on a non-guaranteed deal in New York.
Warriors worth $14.5 billion, top Sportico's valuations again
Golden State leads Sportico's NBA franchise valuations for a sixth straight year at $14.5 billion, ahead of the Knicks ($12.8B), Lakers ($12.5B), Clippers ($8.21B) and Bulls ($8.13B). The average team is worth $6.64 billion, up 21% from 2025, and even last-placed Memphis is valued at $4.2 billion.
Dylan Harper pushes for a Spurs starting job
In his preseason debut against Atlanta, Spurs guard Dylan Harper scored 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting (3-of-5 from three) with four rebounds, four assists, a steal and no turnovers in 19 first-half minutes. He was slated to start before De'Aaron Fox rested; coach Mitch Johnson stayed noncommittal about the lineup.
- Isaiah Stewart
- Matas Buzelis
- Kawhi Leonard
Isaiah Stewart out for the opener, Buzelis says he's fine, Kawhi waits
Memphis's Isaiah Stewart has a moderate left ankle sprain from Monday's game in Atlanta and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, so he misses the rest of preseason and the start of the season (Oct 21). Bulls forward Matas Buzelis rolled his right ankle after a block against Memphis but expects to play Sunday in Denver. Kawhi Leonard isn't expected to make his Raptors re-debut before next week at the earliest.
John Collins grabs Dillon Brooks by the throat
Less than five minutes into the Pistons-Suns preseason opener, Detroit's John Collins went for Dillon Brooks' throat after Brooks pushed and forearmed him and later hit him in the face swiping at the ball. Collins got a flagrant 1 for 'contact around the neck' and Brooks a technical. Detroit won 109-107 on a game-winning layup by rookie Ebuka Okorie.
Fri, Oct 9
LeBron's Sixers debut: 10 points on one shot
LeBron James played 18 first-half minutes in his first game for Philadelphia: 10 points on 1-of-1 shooting and 8-of-8 free throws, 4 rebounds and a team-high 5 assists. The Sixers were +10 with him on the floor but lost 114-108 at Brooklyn. Joel Embiid had 6 points and 8 turnovers.
LeBron: Embiid "ain't been late, so stop the lies"
During the Sixers' preseason opener, ESPN's Mike Breen said on air that LeBron 'let Embiid hear it' for arriving a couple of minutes late to practice. LeBron denied it on Instagram ('ain't been late so stop the lies'), Breen apologized and said he 'feels awful that it put the focus on him', and Embiid called himself an 'easy target' after the 'not true' report.
Kyrie Irving returns in Macao, 19 months after torn ACL
Kyrie Irving will play in one of Dallas's two NBA China preseason games against Houston in Macao (Friday or Sunday). He tore his left ACL on March 3, 2025, and revealed that a Grade 2 calf strain in December 2025, which the Mavericks never disclosed, kept him out about eight more weeks. Coach Dusty May says the call depends on how his body and jet lag feel.
Haliburton is back and bought out Iowa State's student section
Tyrese Haliburton played his first game in more than 400 days after tearing his right Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals: 7 points (3-8), 6 assists, a steal and 2 blocks in 16 minutes as Indiana beat Minnesota 123-112 at Iowa State's Hilton Coliseum. He bought out both student sections at his old college arena. Fans lined up from 11 p.m. the night before and later chanted 'Put your shoes on' when he sat in sandals.
EuroLeague says no to the NBA, and NBA Europe pushes on
EuroLeague owners met at Lake Como and voted to reject the NBA's merger offer, reportedly because they felt it undervalued the league. They also discussed expanding beyond their 13 license holders, which could keep the NBA out of some cities. The NBA and FIBA responded with a joint statement that they remain committed to a 16-team European league, which could start as early as 2027. Barcelona said it would consider an amended offer, and sources say talks remain open.
KAT on a Knicks extension: "It don't look good"
Karl-Anthony Towns does not expect an extension before the season. He is eligible for four years and more than $276 million, while the Knicks' latest offer is reportedly about four years and $200 million (Shams Charania). Towns is due $57 million this season and has a $61.1 million player option for next season. He says he wants a deal that keeps the champions together and also 'values me'.
Buss family war: five siblings take on Jeanie
Jimmy, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss formally opposed their sister Jeanie's bid to block the sale of the family trust's remaining 17.82% of the Lakers. They call her 97-page petition 'legally and factually baseless'. The trust stands to get about $2.2 billion from the sale. The Josh Kushner / Bob Iger group is buying the Lakers from Mark Walter at a $12.5 billion valuation, with an NBA Board of Governors vote expected in November. The court hearing was moved from Nov. 5 to Dec. 8.
SGA calls himself the NBA's best player and buys into Atlético Madrid
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told TIME he is the best player in the NBA and credited Chris Paul for his development. On the same day he became a minority owner of LaLiga club Atlético Madrid, which has been majority owned by Apollo Global Management since last year. The size of his stake wasn't disclosed.
- Ariel Hukporti
- Jusuf Nurkić
- Max Strus
Preseason injury bug: Hukporti done for the year, Nurkić and Strus out a month
Sixers backup center Ariel Hukporti ruptured his right Achilles less than five minutes into the opener against the Knicks and will miss the whole season. Philadelphia is $1.83M under the first apron and can't add a minimum veteran until December. Utah's Jusuf Nurkić has a partial plantar plate tear in his right second toe and is out at least four weeks. The Clippers' Max Strus has a partial plantar fascia tear in his right foot and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, so his debut is early November at the earliest.
Giannis in Heat red: perfect debut, then a night in 'Vice City'
Giannis Antetokounmpo went 3-of-3 for 9 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists in 14 minutes of his Heat debut, a 129-105 preseason win over Toronto in Québec City. Miami got him and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis and five draft picks. His first game against the Bucks is Nov. 18 in Miami, billed as 'A Night in Vice City' with a GTA VI court and uniforms, the day before the game's release.