Darius Garland Exits Monday’s Game With Left Toe Injury
November 11: Garland’s latest injury is affecting his left big toe, the same one he underwent surgery to address during the offeason, Fedor confirms for Cleveland.com (subscription required). According to Fedor, there was “palpable concern” about the setback on Monday night.
Garland will undergo further evaluation on Tuesday to determine the severity of the injury, Fedor adds.
November 10: All-Star point guard Darius Garland has been ruled out for the remainder of Monday’s contest in Miami after sustaining a left toe injury. He will be reevaluated after the game, the Cavaliers announced (Twitter link via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com).
According to Fedor (Twitter links), Garland came up limping in both the first and second halves. While the 25-year-old was able to shake off the discomfort the first time around, he took an intentional foul to leave the game in the second half and went straight back to the locker room.
It’s a worrisome development for the Cavaliers, as Garland just made his season debut last Wednesday after working his way back from offseason surgery on his left big toe. It’s unclear if Garland’s latest injury is on the same toe.
Garland had an excellent regular season in 2024/25, averaging 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 30.7 minutes per game. He posted a .472/.401/.878 shooting line and earned the second All-Star berth of his career.
However, a turf toe injury forced Garland to the sidelines for the final two games of the Cavs’ first-round series vs. Miami and the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Indiana. Surgery was ultimately deemed necessary to address that toe injury, and Garland underwent a procedure in early June.
Prior to Monday’s game, Garland had made two appearances this fall, averaging 14.0 PPG and 6.5 APG in 27.0 MPG.
Sam Merrill, Lonzo Ball, Jaylon Tyson and Craig Porter Jr. are among the Cavs who could receive more minutes if Garland is sidelined beyond Monday’s game.
Pistons Sign Wendell Moore Jr. To Two-Way Deal, Waive Colby Jones
3:22 pm: The Pistons have officially signed Moore and waived Jones, the team announced today (via Twitter).
11:17 am: The Pistons are signing guard Wendell Moore Jr. to a two-way contract, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, who reports that the team is waiving Colby Jones to open up a roster spot for Moore (Twitter links).
Moore has been seeking another NBA opportunity since the Celtics waived him during training camp. Detroit’s coaching staff is quite familiar with Moore — he spent part of last season with the Pistons organization.
A late first-round selection in 2022, Moore played two seasons with the Timberwolves. The Pistons acquired him in an offseason trade and he appeared in 20 games before he was waived at the trade deadline in February. He then joined the Hornets on a two-way contract about a week later, finishing the season in Charlotte. Boston brought him in this offseason on a training camp deal.
Overall, Moore has seen action in 90 NBA games, averaging 2.3 points in 8.1 minutes per contest. Last season, he played in a combined 36 games and averaged 4.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 1.2 APG in 13.9 MPG.
Jones received seven minutes of garbage time in one game this season. An early second-round pick in 2023, Jones appeared in 30 games off the bench for Sacramento as a rookie, then played a combined 39 games for the Kings and Wizards last season.
Jones was traded by Washington to Oklahoma City in June, but the Thunder immediately waived his non-guaranteed $2.22MM contract. The Pistons added him on a two-way deal in late July.
Cade Cunningham, Nikola Jokic Named Players Of Week
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, while Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been chosen as the Western Conference Player of the Week, according to the NBA (Twitter links).
Cunningham led Detroit to four consecutive wins during the week of November 3-9 while averaging 31.0 points and 9.8 assists per game on 54.7% shooting. This marks the second time in his career that Cunningham has received a Player of the Week award.
Jokic also led his team to a 4-0 week, with home victories over Sacramento, Miami, Golden State, and Indiana. The three-time MVP averaged a triple-double, with 31.3 points, 13.3 assists, and 11.3 rebounds per contest. His biggest game of the week came last Wednesday against the Heat, when he racked up 33 points, 16 assists, 15 rebounds, and three steals.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Jalen Duren (Pistons), Kon Knueppel (Hornets), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Norman Powell (Heat) and Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks) were the other Eastern Conference nominees.
Devin Booker (Suns), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Trey Murphy III (Pelicans), Julius Randle (Timberwolves) and Alperen Sengun (Rockets) were also nominated in the West.
Bucks Forward Taurean Prince Out Indefinitely With Neck Injury
Bucks reserve Taurean Prince has a herniated disk in his neck and is expected to miss a significant period of time, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets.
The team released an update via social media (Twitter link), which indicated that Prince underwent an MRI last week that revealed the herniated disk. The veteran forward will be sidelined indefinitely as the team’s medical staff and external specialists determine the best treatment plan.
Prince has appeared in eight games this season but missed Milwaukee’s last two contests after going 0-for-5 from the field against Toronto in 21 minutes of action on Tuesday. He’s averaging 6.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 21.1 minutes per game.
Prince was a starter for most of last season, appearing in 80 games for the Bucks, including 73 starts. He averaged 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.1 minutes per contest. Milwaukee re-signed him on a two-year, veteran’s minimum contract this summer.
Prince’s ability to guard multiple positions on defense and knock down three-pointers on offense makes him a valuable rotation player on the wing. He converted a career-high 43.9% of his attempts from beyond the arc in 2024/25.
Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers has used smaller starting lineups this season with A.J. Green and Gary Trent Jr. manning the wings. The loss of Prince could result in more minutes for Kyle Kuzma and Amir Coffey.
Prince, 31, began his NBA career in 2016 and has had stints with the Hawks, Nets, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, and Lakers.
Timberwolves Contacted Grizzlies About Ja Morant
The Timberwolves have “checked in” with the Grizzlies about a potential Ja Morant trade, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic said in a recent appearance on SiriusXM Radio (Twitter link, hat tip to RealGM).
Krawczynski described the contact as exploratory, saying Minnesota is “testing the waters a little bit” to see if a deal might be available later on. He projects that talks could become more serious if the Wolves haven’t found an answer at point guard by December, saying, “I do think that they could explore at least looking harder at Ja Morant.”
Trade speculation surrounding Morant began to increase nine days ago after he had a disagreement with the coaching staff during a loss to the Lakers. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo reportedly confronted Morant about his effort level and focus during halftime and following the game, and Morant expressed frustration over Iisalo’s unorthodox substitution pattern.
The situation has been calmer since Morant returned from a one-game suspension, but there’s no indication that the dispute has died down. Still, multiple reports indicate the Grizzlies aren’t currently considering a Morant trade and are hoping that any hard feelings can be resolved.
The Timberwolves were cited last week as one of the teams monitoring Morant’s situation in Memphis, and their need for a reliable point guard has been obvious early in the season. Thirty-eight-year-old Mike Conley has been used mainly as a reserve and is averaging career lows with 6.5 points and 3.9 assists per game. Krawczynski points out that Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle have been handling most of the play-making duties.
Tax apron restrictions make it difficult for Minnesota to work out a deal for Morant or any other star player. Because they’re operating above the first apron, the Wolves aren’t permitted to send out more salary than they take back in a trade, and Morant is earning $39.5MM this season.
Mavs Reportedly Not Interested In Trading Daniel Gafford
While the Mavericks have anticipated trade inquiries on Daniel Gafford ever since they signed the veteran center to a three-year, $54MM extension in the offseason, they have shown no interest in moving him to this point, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link).
According to Stein, one primary reason why Dallas’ front office has been reluctant to even entertain the possibility of dealing Gafford is the fact that third-year center Dereck Lively II continues to be plagued by health issues, having played just three games this season due to a knee sprain that has him doubtful to suit up on Monday. Lively was limited to just 36 games last season.
However, the Mavericks’ poor start to the season — they’re currently 3-7 despite having a relatively easy, home-heavy schedule — might force management to rethink the idea of going into tank mode. As Stein observes, the Mavs only control one of their own first-rounders through 2030, and that selection will come in 2026 in what’s viewed as a strong draft class.
Gafford has battled a right ankle sprain himself this fall, making five appearances thus far in 2025/26. He’s averaging 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 19.6 minutes per contest, numbers that are down compared to the past two seasons. Still, Stein refers to the athletic big man as one of Dallas’ “most attractive trade candidates.”
Hall Of Famer Lenny Wilkens Passes Away At 88
Lenny Wilkens died at his home on Sunday, people close to the 88-year-old told Tim Booth of The Seattle Times.
As Booth writes, Wilkens was one of only five people inducted to the Hall of Fame as both a player and coach.
A 6’1″ point guard, Wilkens made nine All-Star appearances in his 15 years as a player, holding career averages of 16.5 points, 6.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 1077 games (35.3 minutes per contest). He finished second in MVP voting during the 1967/68 season, Booth notes.
Wilkens’ illustrious coaching career began while he was still an active player with Seattle, the city he called home for more than 50 years. He led the SuperSonics to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in the late 1970s, claiming the club’s lone championship in 1979.
“It lets people know Seattle has rich history,” Wilkens told the Times in 2022 on what was proclaimed “Lenny Wilkens Day.”
“I’m so happy to be a part of that history. This is basketball country. We should have never lost our team and I hope that this helps in some way get another team back. Everywhere I go, people talk about the Sonics and about that time when we won a championship. I don’t think that team gets the credit that it deserves. Gus (Williams), Fred (Brown), Jack (Sikma) and all of those guys became a part of this community and most of them still live here. It was a wonderful time.”
Wilkens, who also coached Portland, Cleveland, Atlanta, Toronto and New York, compiled a 1,332-1,155 regular season record (.536 winning percentage) over 32 years on the bench. Wilkens holds the third-most coaching victories in league history, as well as the NBA record for most games coached (2,487). Wilkens’ clubs made the playoffs in 20 of his 32 seasons as a head coach, according to Booth.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement after learning of Wilkens’ death (Twitter link).
“Lenny Wilkens represented the very best of the NBA — as a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, and one of the game’s most respected ambassadors,” Silver said. “So much so that, four years ago, Lenny received the unique distinction of being named one of the league’s 75 greatest players and 15 greatest coaches of all time.
“But even more impressive than Lenny’s basketball accomplishments, which included two Olympic gold medals and an NBA championship, was his commitment to service — especially in his beloved community of Seattle where a statue stands in his honor. He influenced the lives of countless young people as well as generations of players and coaches who considered Lenny not only a great teammate or coach but also an extraordinary mentor who led with integrity and true class.
“I send my heartfelt condolences to Lenny’s wife Marilyn; their children, Leesha, Randy and Jamee; and all those throughout the NBA community who were fortunate to be touched by Lenny’s leadership and generosity.”
Victor Oladipo Joins Bucks’ G League Affiliate
Veteran guard Victor Oladipo will soon join the Bucks‘ G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, according to Jamal Collier of ESPN (Twitter link).
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on Friday (via Twitter) that Oladipo had entered the NBAGL player pool after playing three preseason games this fall with the Guangzhou Loong Lions, a Chinese team.
According to Fischer (Twitter link), Oladipo was claimed off waivers by the Santa Cruz Warriors, which subsequently traded his rights to the Herd.
The Herd confirmed in a press release that they have acquired Oladipo (Twitter link via Eric Nehm of The Athletic).
A two-time All-Star whose career was derailed by a series of leg injuries, Oladipo held his own against NBA players in the preseason, averaging 19.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.7 steals in 27.9 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .467/.250/.923.
Oladipo worked out for NBA clubs in Las Vegas over the summer, though nothing came of that session. Representatives from European teams also reportedly attended Oladipo’s workout, and while he didn’t rule out the possibility of playing overseas, the former No. 2 overall pick suggested last month that he wasn’t seriously entertaining that idea.
“You know, if push comes to shove and that’s the last option, we’ll see. I’m definitely one of the best. So that’s where I belong is the three letters: N-B-A,” he told Sam Yip of HoopsHype with a laugh.
Oladipo was one of the NBA’s best two-way performers in 2017/18, when he averaged 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.4 steals per game across 75 outings for the Pacers. He earned MVP and Defensive Player of the Year votes that season, winning the league’s Most Improved Player award and claiming a spot on the All-NBA third team and All-Defensive first team.
The 33-year-old made a second consecutive All-Star team for Indiana in 2018/19, but his season was cut short by a ruptured quad tendon, which sidelined him for roughly a full calendar year. That quad tendon injury continued to be an issue after the guard eventually returned to action and required a second surgery in 2021.
Oladipo has appeared in just 102 total NBA games since sustaining that initial quad injury in January 2018, most recently suiting up for the Heat during the 2022/23 season. He sustained a torn left patellar tendon in his last game with Miami in April 2023.
Suns’ Jalen Green Aggravates Hamstring Strain
The Suns fear that Jalen Green could miss multiple games after aggravating his right hamstring strain in Saturday’s win over the Clippers, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.
Green felt a sharp pain after passing the ball to Ryan Dunn for a corner three-point shot late in the first quarter, Rankin writes. Green hobbled toward the team’s bench while grabbing at the hamstring and had to be helped off the court by two staff members. He was declared out for the game shortly afterward.
Green was playing for just the second time since being acquired from Houston during the summer as part of the seven-team Kevin Durant trade. After missing the season’s first eight games due to the hamstring, Green scored 29 points on Thursday in his debut.
“That’s tough,” teammate Dillon Brooks told reporters. “Injuries suck, but he’ll work hard. He’ll be diligent with it.”
Medical imaging on the hamstring will likely be conducted when the Suns return home, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7, who estimates that Green could sidelined for another four-to-six weeks.
That would be a tremendous loss for a Suns team that has gotten off to a promising 5-5 start after last year’s disappointing season. However, new head coach Jordan Ott made it clear that his expectations won’t change.
“This team will have no excuses,” Ott said. “We lace them up, go out and play.” He also expressed sympathy for Green, adding, “You just feel for him. He worked so hard to get back.”
Dunn and Grayson Allen may see more playing time while Green is unavailable.
Phoenix got some positive injury news on Saturday as Brooks returned to the lineup after missing six games with a core muscle strain. He had 16 points, two rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes, including a late three-pointer that helped to quell a Clippers comeback.
Cam Thomas Out At Least 3-4 Weeks With Hamstring Strain
Nets guard Cam Thomas has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and will miss at least three-to-four weeks, which is when he’ll be reevaluated, the team announced today (Twitter link).
The 24-year-old sustained the injury in the first quarter of Wednesday’s game against Indiana. He was able to leave the court on his own, though he did not return to Brooklyn’s first win of the season.
It’s a tough blow for Thomas, who has now strained his left hamstring four different times in the past year. He was limited to just 25 games played last season due to the same issue.
There could be significant financial ramifications as a result of Thomas’ latest hamstring strain — he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026 after signing his one-year, $6MM qualifying offer as a restricted free agent this past offseason.
The 27th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Thomas has been a polarizing player during his time with the Nets. While he’s an undeniably gifted scorer, he doesn’t contribute in many other areas. In seven healthy games this season, the former LSU guard has averaged 24.4 points, 2.9 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 31.6 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .408/.356/.875.
If Thomas is able to return in exactly four weeks, which seems very optimistic given the repeated issues he’s had with his left hamstring, he will miss Brooklyn’s next 14 games.
Terance Mann, Tyrese Martin, Drake Powell and Egor Demin are among the Nets who could receive more minutes and/or touches with Thomas out for at least the next few weeks.