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NBA News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Monday

Evan Mobley Role Dialed In by Cavaliers Head Coach Kenny Atkinson

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Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson believes he has solved how to maximize 24-year-old Evan Mobley entering his sixth season. Dialing back static isolation plays, Atkinson plans to utilize Mobley primarily within the flow of the offense, leaning into inverted pick-and-rolls, dunks, and play-finishing opportunities. Using Kevin Garnett as a stylistic prototype, the staff aims to expand Mobley's game alongside Donovan Mitchell.

Sunday, October 11

Leonard Miller Explodes for 26 Points in Preseason Loss to Nuggets

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Leonard Miller logged 26 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 22 minutes off the bench during Sunday's 133-128 preseason loss to the Nuggets. The 22-year-old forward shot an efficient 11-14 from the floor, including 4-6 from beyond the arc. Miller continues a strong preseason, averaging 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals across three contests, building on momentum from the end of the previous season where he reached double figures in 17 of 18 games.

Brandon Miller Returns With 18 Points in Preseason Win Over Bucks

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Brandon Miller returned from a shin contusion to make his preseason debut, recording 18 points, four assists, three rebounds, and a block in 22 minutes during a 105-90 win over the Bucks. The 23-year-old swingman shot 6-15 from the field and connected on a game-high four three-pointers. Having missed Tuesday's opener against Brooklyn, Miller's active return stabilizes the Hornets' rotation as teammates navigate ongoing lineup adjustments and injuries.

Jaylen Brown Ignores Jayson Tatum and Celtics During Preseason Return

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Philadelphia 76ers guard Jaylen Brown returned to Boston for a preseason matchup, visibly ignoring former teammate Jayson Tatum during warmups following his offseason trade. Brown spent most of the 144-106 loss to the Celtics in the locker room rather than sitting courtside. Last season, Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, keeping Boston at the top of the East while Tatum recovered from an Achilles injury before their playoff collapse against Philadelphia.

Jayson Tatum Shines as Celtics Rout 76ers Amid Awkward Jaylen Brown Return

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Jayson Tatum posted 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in Boston's 144-106 preseason win over Philadelphia. Tatum expressed awe at playing alongside idol Paul George, calling it surreal after modeling his game after him. Meanwhile, tension highlighted the night as Tatum and former teammate Jaylen Brown completely ignored each other during warmups following Brown's blockbuster offseason trade to the 76ers, where Brown spent most of the game in the locker room.

Evan Mobley Scores 14 Points in Preseason Victory

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Evan Mobley finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks across 27 minutes in Sunday's 119-105 preseason win over the Magic. Although his shooting remained shaky at 3-for-10 from the field, his scoring output improved from an eight-point showing against the Celtics. The 25-year-old big man is looking to build on a previous season where he averaged 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds while striving for better overall health.

Donovan Mitchell Records 11 Points in Preseason Win

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Donovan Mitchell finished with 11 points, five rebounds, six assists, and one steal across 26 minutes in Sunday's 119-105 preseason victory over Orlando. While productive overall, Mitchell was inefficient from the field and has now shot a combined 1-for-6 from deep through his first two preseason appearances. Coming off a campaign where he averaged 27.9 points per game, he remains positioned as a top fantasy option if he maintains his health.

James Harden Shines In Preseason Return With 24 Points Against Magic

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James Harden returned from right ankle soreness to lead all scorers with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 26 minutes during the Cleveland Cavaliers' 119-105 preseason win over the Orlando Magic. Making his first exhibition appearance of the 2026-27 campaign, the veteran guard shot 7-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, showing complete control of the offense and proving he hasn't missed a step entering his age-37 season.

Karl-Anthony Towns Disappointed as Knicks Pause Contract Extension Talks

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Karl-Anthony Towns expressed disappointment after the New York Knicks abruptly paused contract extension talks until later in the season, calling the news surprising. New York reportedly offered a four-year, $200 million deal—well below his max eligibility of four years, $276 million. Towns, who has until Oct. 19 to decline a $61 million player option for 2027-28, remains focused on winning back-to-back titles after helping lead the franchise to its first championship in 53 years.

Franz Wagner Reaches Double Figures With 10 Points Against Cavs

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Franz Wagner finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists over 15 minutes in the Orlando Magic's 119-105 preseason loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After scoring six points in his previous preseason outing, Wagner reached double digits by shooting 4-of-7 from the floor and hitting a three-pointer, though he did commit four turnovers. The 25-year-old forward is looking to stay healthy this year after being limited to 34 regular-season games during the previous campaign.

Paolo Banchero Struggles With Shooting Again In Preseason Loss

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Paolo Banchero finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block over 18 minutes in the Orlando Magic's 119-105 preseason loss to Cleveland. Banchero had trouble shooting the ball once again, going 1-for-10 from the field and bringing his combined preseason shooting mark to 3-for-17 across his first two appearances. Despite the slow start, the 23-year-old is expected to receive the green light for a heavy offensive workload under new head coach Sean Sweeney this season.

Jamir Watkins Ruled Out for Wizards Ahead of Brooklyn Nets Preseason Clash

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Jamir Watkins has been ruled out of the Washington Wizards' injury report for Monday's preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets at Capital One Arena. Watkins will not suit up as Washington aims to extend its 2-0 exhibition start following victories over two Eastern Conference powers. The Wizards are balancing player health and rotation evaluation with just over a week remaining before opening night, leaving Watkins sidelined alongside other members of the team's current injury report.

Tristan Vukcevic Ruled Out for Wizards' Preseason Game Against Nets

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Tristan Vukcevic has been ruled out for the Washington Wizards' upcoming preseason game on Monday night against the Brooklyn Nets. The forward will sit out as Washington looks to build upon its undefeated 2-0 exhibition record following wins against Eastern Conference opponents. The Wizards continue to manage roster health and player availability throughout training camp as opening night approaches, with Vukcevic among multiple players currently sidelined on the team's official injury report.

Khris Middleton Marked Day-to-Day Ahead of Wizards Preseason Matchup

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Khris Middleton carries a day-to-day designation on the Washington Wizards' injury report leading into Monday's preseason contest against the Brooklyn Nets. Washington enters the matchup with a 2-0 record after opening exhibition play with consecutive wins against Eastern Conference foes. Middleton's availability remains to be determined as the Wizards continue to work through health evaluations and fine-tune their starting lineup and depth combinations prior to the regular season opener.

Tre Mann Listed Day-to-Day for Wizards Ahead of Nets Preseason Game

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Tre Mann is listed as day-to-day on the Washington Wizards' injury report ahead of Monday's preseason matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. The guard's status remains uncertain as Washington prepares for its third exhibition game following victories in its first two contests. The Wizards are continuing to refine their rotation and player availability as opening night approaches, with several key roster members dealing with minor physical designations during the final week of the preseason.

Grayson Allen's Production Leaves Big Shoes to Fill

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As Luke Kennard steps into the Phoenix Suns rotation, context highlights the significant production Grayson Allen provided over three seasons, appearing in 190 games and averaging 13.3 points on 41.0% shooting from beyond the arc. Allen led the NBA in three-point shooting three seasons ago at 46.1%, serving as a heavily utilized perimeter threat who attempted 68% of his shots from deep and starting 108 games for the franchise.

Luke Kennard Shines With 20 Points in Preseason Win

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Stepping into a key role for the Phoenix Suns, Luke Kennard showcased his versatility beyond elite three-point shooting by dropping a game-high 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 three-pointers in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. Through three preseason appearances, Kennard is averaging 12.3 points while demonstrating strong ball-handling and playmaking skills, recording 10 assists against just three turnovers to give the second unit a major boost.

Walker Kessler Nears Lakers Debut After Jammed Finger and Lost Season

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Walker Kessler is closing in on his Los Angeles Lakers preseason debut after fully participating in live-action practice drills following a jammed left pinky finger. The marquee acquisition, who signed a four-year, $130 million contract following a sign-and-trade from Utah, missed all of last season with a shoulder injury and sat out the team's first three preseason games. Questionable for Tuesday's matchup against Golden State, Kessler is eager to anchor the Lakers' interior defense.

Desmond Bane Ruled Out For Sunday's Preseason Game Versus Cleveland

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Desmond Bane has been ruled out for Sunday's preseason matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers for rest purposes. The Orlando Magic swingman will sit out the team's second exhibition contest of the preseason. The 28-year-old's next opportunity to take the floor will come during Tuesday's scheduled rematch against the Cavaliers as Orlando continues its preparations for the upcoming regular season.

Zach LaVine Records Three Swipes In Preseason Loss To Warriors

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Zach LaVine posted 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting, two assists, one rebound, and three steals across 23 minutes in Saturday's 111-106 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors. While his offensive production was modest, the veteran guard made a strong impact on the defensive end. LaVine enters the season looking to bounce back following a 2025-26 campaign where he averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists over 31.4 minutes per contest.