Basketball News · LatestYesterday, Oct 21, 2026

Riley Gaines has a question for the WNBA, and she isn’t letting the league’s latest response to Enes Kanter Freedom go without a fight. The former collegiate swimmer took aim at the league after Commissioner Cathy Engelbert confirmed that Freedom and former NBA player Royce White are ineligible to play in the WNBA, describing both […]

The scrap early in the second quarter of Tuesday night's season opener offered some symbolism for Chet Holmgren and his Thunder teammates. Holmgren landed with a thud. As he got back to his feet, his teammates had his back.

A red-hot Thunder and ice-cold Spurs first half proves too much to overcome on opening night.

Walker Kessler is preparing to make his regular-season debut with the Los Angeles Lakers after a lengthy absence from NBA action, embracing the opportunity to play for one of the league’s most storied franchises. Speaking to reporters Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors, the new Lakers center acknowledged that nerves […] The post Walker Kessler on Lakers debut: “I’m just looking forward to the opportunity” appeared first on TalkBasket.net.

The Thunder smothered Victor Wembanyama and overwhelmed the Spurs, offering an early reminder of why their championship-tested core remains a force to be reckoned with.

Once again into the breach…

The Houston Rockets have not won an opening game since 2017. That game came against the Golden State Warriors. Kevin Durant hit a shot that was correctly ruled just a beat too late, and Houston escaped with a 122-121 win. Houston is 0-8 in openers since then, and haven’t won a home opener since 2013, […]

Knicks coach Mike Brown would've taken the win against the 76ers -- but wouldn't have been happy with it, acknowledging that relying on late-game magic or the feel-good vibes of ring night wouldn't be enough to start the season on a positive note.

The Sixers’ season got off to a roaring success with a tight win in a playoff-like atmosphere at the Garden.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse praised Joel Embiid’s decision-making, the team’s second-half defense and its ability to respond under pressure after a 106-100 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday. Nurse highlighted Embiid’s willingness to make the right play rather than force his own shot in Philadelphia’s season opener, which also marked LeBron […] The post Nick Nurse: “Joel was magnificent tonight” in 76ers win appeared first on TalkBasket.net.

A revamped Lakers roster will take the floor at Crypto.com Arena. The post-LeBron era is officially here in LA.

Josh Hart said the New York Knicks were ready to move on from their championship celebrations and focus on the new season after opening their title defense with a 106-100 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. The Knicks raised their championship banner and received their rings at Madison Square Garden before the game, […] The post Josh Hart on Knicks’ loss to 76ers: “Now we can turn the page” appeared first on TalkBasket.net.

Aday Mara needed just one game to suddenly make the Thunder seem much better suited to handle Victor Wembanyama this season.

Victor Wembanyama didn't record his first bucket until the end of the third quarter and would finish the night shooting a career-worst 8% from the field as the Thunder got their revenge on the Spurs in Tuesday's Western Conference finals rematch.

The San Antonio Spurs rolled out a bold new starting lineup for their Western Conference Finals rematch with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Mitch Johnson was not about to sugarcoat how it went. The Thunder beat the Spurs 116-104 on Tuesday night at Frost Bank Center, spoiling San Antonio’s season opener. Afterward, Johnson was asked […] The post Spurs HC Mitch Johnson gets brutally honest on San Antonio’s lineup in loss to Thunder appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Aday Mara did not play much in his NBA debut, but Mark Daigneault made it clear that the rookie’s minutes told only part of the story as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 116-104 on Tuesday night at Frost Bank Center in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals. Mara logged […] The post Thunder rookie Aday Mara’s NBA debut gets an honest assessment from Mark Daigneault appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Oklahoma City Thunder HC Mark Daigneault praised the team’s collective defensive performance after holding San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama to one field goal in Tuesday night’s 116-104 season-opening road victory. Wembanyama scored 12 points on 1-for-13 shooting, including 0-for-4 from deep, despite grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking six shots. The Thunder built a 21-point […] The post Thunder HC Mark Daigneault speaks up on defense that Victor Wembanyama couldn’t solve appeared f...

It's just one of 82, but that had to feel cathartic for the Thunder.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their 2026-27 NBA season with a 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, earning a measure of revenge against the team that ended their title defense in last season’s Western Conference Finals. Jared McCain added 20 points, shooting 6-for-8 from three-point range, […] The post Gilgeous-Alexander powers Thunder past Spurs in WCF rematch appeared first on TalkBasket.net.

The Lakers haven’t played their opener, and JJ Redick is already anticipating the reaction when something goes wrong. “It could be [Wednesday] night, you’re going to come to me and tell me that the world is ending and the sky is falling,” Redick told reporters Tuesday, via Ben Golliver of ESPN. “We’ve got to work […] The post JJ Redick knows Lakers’ first loss will bring ‘sky is falling’ reaction appeared first on Hoops Wire.

The Lakers look to start their season with a win against the Warriors on Wednesday.

The Utah Jazz released their injury report, and it looks like there’s at least one small surprise on it. First injury report of the season for the Jazz: OUT – Trey Alexander (left knee; contusion) OUT – Tony Bradley (left quadriceps; strain) OUT – Blake Hinson (left hamstring; strain) OUT – Jusuf Nurkic (right foot; 2nd plantar plate tear) — Eric Spyropoulos (@EricSpyroNBA) October 20, 2026 It looks like the Jazz will be without Tony Bradley for their opener, which means they’ll be with...

Jordan Ott has his 10-man rotation all but locked in at this point.

The San Antonio Spurs were outplayed on both ends of the court against the OKC Thunder in their Western Conference Finals rematch from last season due to four major reasons.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 20: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | ...

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander demonstrated in the NBA season opener why he has been crowned the league’s MVP in back-to-back seasons. SGA dominated Stephon Castle and the San Antonio Spurs, leading the Thunder to a 116-104 win to begin the season. Castle was also candid about the difficulty of defending the Oklahoma City […] The post Spurs’ Stephon Castle opens up on ‘hardest part’ of defending Sha Gilgeous-Alexander appeared first on ClutchPoints.

They say that having the memory of a goldfish is helpful when it comes to professional sports. Forgetting about losses and focusing on what’s ahead is important to keeping an even-keeled demeanor. But there are some who thrive off of remembering, and Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse certainly seems to be one of those […] The post Nick Nurse still thinks 76ers ‘should have won’ vs. Knicks in 2026 playoffs appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Egor Demin’s development was the talk of the Brooklyn Nets’ offseason. The former No. 8 pick’s physical improvement has left many confident that he’ll make a sophomore leap. How much has Demin grown physically since his rookie campaign? “Maybe you ask performance about his weight and how much bigger his biceps are. Maybe that’s a […] The post Nets’ Egor Demin reveals mental shift in key area that could drive sophomore leap appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Philadelphia 76ers spoiled the New York Knicks’ ring night on Tuesday, and Nick Nurse pointed to one defensive switch involving LeBron James as a big reason why. After the 76ers’ 106-100 win at Madison Square Garden, Nurse was asked about his decision to put James on Karl-Anthony Towns in the second half. The 76ers […] The post Which LeBron James adjustment helped 76ers stop Karl-Anthony Towns-Jalen Brunson pick-and-roll appeared first on ClutchPoints.

It’s the start of the 2026-27 NBA Season, and San Antonio Spurs fans are starting to get worried. They are currently facing off against their new rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder. What makes fans worried isn’t exactly the score, but the performance of their biggest weapon. Victor Wembanyama is expected to take a big leap […] The post Quiet Victor Wembanyama Opening Night 1st half vs. Thunder has Spurs fans worried appeared first on ClutchPoints.