Celtics Notes: Simons, Minott, Brown, Gonzalez
Anfernee Simons enjoyed his best game since joining the Celtics in Monday’s win at New Orleans, writes Souichi Terada of MassLive. Boston hasn’t needed Simons to be the primary scorer like he was in Portland, so he has been adjusting to a new role as well as a new team. He delivered a vintage performance against the Pelicans with 25 points off the bench, including six three-pointers, in 32 minutes.
“It’s been for sure a transition, but I’ve been enjoying it,” Simons said (YouTube video link). “Just asking a different side of me. I’ve been trying to, each and every day, improve on things I need to improve on to help the team win. It’s been fun, for sure, learning from each and every game. Applying to the next game, seeing what you can do better. Maybe be more aggressive.”
Terada notes that Simons has talked about winning and making himself a more complete player since the trade with the Trail Blazers was announced. He has accepted a reserve role without complaining and is working to improve defensively.
“He’s just a graceful guy and he just wants to win and he wants to be a part of something,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “So you just have to balance that. But you kind of saw tonight obviously what he’s been able to do in this league for a long time. It’s on me to make sure that he feels comfortable. It’s on his teammates to get the best version of him like we did tonight.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Josh Minott delivered 15 points and nine rebounds as he started Monday for the first time in his NBA career, per Brian Robb of MassLive. Minott had a strong performance in the fourth quarter Sunday against Detroit, and Mazzulla rewarded him with a start as the team’s rotation continues to evolve. Boston outscored New Orleans by 42 points in Minott’s 28 minutes on the court. “It’s just been exciting,” he said. “I don’t really even know how to put it into words. … I’m still kind of high on life from the game right now but the opportunity to be out there and contribute to winning and the team’s success, I can’t take that for granted.”
- Jaylen Brown has been dealing with a strained left hamstring, but even though Monday was the second night of a back-to-back, he was determined not to miss any games until the Celtics started winning, Terada states in a separate story. A lopsided victory gave him the luxury of limited playing time, and he finished with 15 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes. “I had to get on the floor,” he said (YouTube video link). “We had to find a way to get the win, so I was going to play until we figured that part out. From my body standpoint, just managing it. Just trying to stay within myself, not overextend myself too much. I’ve had some hamstring injuries in the past, so it’s given me some good information to still be effective without using too much explosiveness or too much athleticism.”
- Mazzulla’s changing lineups can mean radically different roles for players on different nights, notes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (subscription required). The latest example is rookie forward Hugo Gonzalez, who didn’t play at all Monday after starting Sunday at Detroit. “We have a lot of guys; we have a lot of depth,” Mazzulla said. “We can go to offensive lineups, defensive lineups. I thought (Gonzalez) did a great job in the 18 minutes he was out there. But you also have to think about matchups. He’s answered the call. It really is a testament to where he came from, he’s well developed in the system that he played in.”
Pacers Waive Wiseman, Sign McClung To Multiyear Deal
October 28: The moves are official, the Pacers confirmed in a press release.
October 27: The Pacers are signing free agent guard Mac McClung to a multiyear contract, agent Greg Lawrence tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
McClung’s multiyear deal will be non-guaranteed, sources tell Charania (Twitter link).
To make room for McClung on their standard roster, which is currently full, the Pacers intend to waive center James Wiseman, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter).
As Keith Smith of Spotrac tweets, Wiseman’s contract features a $1MM partial guarantee. Assuming he clears the waiver wire, Indiana will carry that $1MM cap hit on its books for the remainder of 2025/26.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Wiseman signed with the Pacers as a free agent in the 2024 offseason after playing for Golden State and Detroit in his first four NBA seasons. The big man impressed Indiana in the preseason last fall and appeared to have the edge for the backup center role behind Myles Turner, but tore his left Achilles tendon in the club’s regular season opener.
Wiseman, 24, re-signed with the Pacers on a two-year deal (the second season is a team option) in July and was said to be in excellent shape entering the ’25/26. Just like last season, he appeared in one game for the Pacers this fall, recording four points and four rebounds in 20 minutes during Saturday’s blowout loss in Memphis.
The Pacers were carrying four centers on their roster and have several guards injured at the moment, so swapping out Wiseman for McClung makes sense from a roster composition perspective.
McClung has become a household name among NBA fans by winning the league’s past three slam dunk contests. However, the 26-year-old has still seen limited game action at the NBA level, appearing in just six total regular season contests for four teams from 2021-25. He was on a two-way contract with the Magic for all of last season, but logged just 10 total minutes in two outings for Orlando.
McClung has starred in the G League in recent years, earning a spot on the All-NBAGL first team in 2024/25 after being named MVP in ’23/24. In a total of 44 appearances for the Osceola Magic last season, he averaged 23.0 points, 5.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 32.4 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .481/.344/.828.
The 6’2″ guard was signed and waived by Chicago this fall and likely would have started ’25/26 with the Windy City Bulls had the opportunity with Indiana not come up. Instead, he’ll be signing his first standard NBA contract with the Pacers, as Charania notes.
Sixers Notes: Undefeated Start, Maxey, Grimes, McCain
The Sixers wilted last season under an avalanche of injuries, but there’s reason to believe that may not happen again, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). Philadelphia was shorthanded on Monday night as Joel Embiid was rested for left knee injury management and Dominick Barlow missed the game after having a procedure for a laceration on his left elbow. They joined Paul George, Jared McCain and Trendon Watford, who haven’t played yet this season, but the Sixers managed to defeat Orlando to remain one of the league’s four unbeaten teams.
“Last year, I think lineups changed a lot. Guys in and out,” Kelly Oubre Jr. said of 24-58 season. “But this year, I think Tyrese (Maxey) has been hitting it on the head. It’s like no matter who’s out there, we have this constant that we won’t waver from. That goes into our culture and the things that we do on a daily basis. It’s still early. But at the end of the day, man, if we can have the next man step up, or anybody come in there and be an impact to winning, I think that we’ll be better off than we were last year.”
Head coach Nick Nurse was forced to use a makeshift rotation to pull out the win against the Magic. Jabari Walker made his first start of the season and delivered four points, five rebounds and a block in 14 minutes. Veteran guard Eric Gordon and rookie guard Hunter Sallis both saw action for the first time this season.
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- The Sixers are getting a historic performance from their young guards, Pompey notes in the same piece. Maxey and VJ Edgecombe have combined for 186 points, which is the highest total for a starting backcourt through three games since the league began tracking starters in 1970/71. Maxey, who had 43 points on Monday and is leading the NBA in scoring at 37 PPG, received MVP chants from the crowd. “I’m just trying to close games out,” he said. “Joel has been on me recently about that, probably since my fourth year, about how I can help close games out and have the ball in my hand and make decisions whether I’m shooting or whether I’m passing.”
- Quentin Grimes, who signed his qualifying offer following a summer-long standoff over a new contract, is finding success in a bench role after being the team’s leading scorer late last season, Pompey adds. He contributed 14 points on Monday after scoring 24 against Charlotte on Saturday. “I know I’m going to get starters minutes and everything (despite coming off the bench),” Grimes said. “I’m going to do my thing. I just get the opportunity to go out there and play my game … go out there and help the team win. We got a lot of good guys on the team, a lot of versatility. So it’s all going to play itself out. It’s going to work out for sure.”
- McCain is making progress in his recovery from thumb surgery and could be back on the court soon, Pompey states in a separate story. The second-year guard, who’s no longer wearing a splint, put on an impressive shooting display after Monday’s shootaround, according to Pompey. Nurse urged caution, saying McCain still has to go through “a series of days of contact” before being activated. “Inserting him in with the VJ, Tyrese and (Quentin Grimes guard) group is the plan,” Nurse added. “That was sort of the plan going into the season. Again, I think they all can do a variety of things, and give us a chance to have some more depth. Gives us a chance to, again, play some shorter stints so the energy can stay high and all those things. We need him back. We look forward to having him back.”
Cooper Flagg Hurts Shoulder, Kept On Bench Late In Game
Monday marked the worst night of Cooper Flagg‘s brief NBA career, beginning with an injury on the first play of the game and ending with him watching from the bench as the Mavericks tried to complete a comeback against Oklahoma City, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Flagg managed to play 31 minutes, but he wore a large wrap on his left shoulder and treated it with heat whenever he came out. He received medical treatment after the game and told reporters that he’s optimistic about playing Wednesday against Indiana.
“We’re going to probably get some scans or whatever, make sure everything’s all clean, but I feel like it’s just a little sore,” Flagg said. “Just want to keep an eye on it, ice it, do some rehab and should be good to go.”
Flagg hurt his shoulder while battling for a rebound with Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein and was in obvious discomfort for the rest of the night, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). He finished with two points and shot just 1-of-9 from the field, leading to coach Jason Kidd‘s decision to keep him out of the game in crunch time as Dallas nearly overtook OKC after trailing by 22 points.
It also marked Flagg’s first back-to-back in the NBA after he scored 22 points on Sunday in a win over Toronto.
“I think in general, one of the biggest differences from college to this level is handling and preparing for a back-to-back like that, physically,” he said. “That was something I was going through tonight anyway, just being a little flat. A little banged up, but you gotta find ways to play through it to be successful.”
If Flagg has to miss any time, he would be the latest addition to the Mavs’ growing injury list. Centers Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford were both unavailable for Monday’s game, so Kidd gave Max Christie his first start of the season.
Kidd complimented Flagg for showing that he’s a “tough kid” by playing through pain, but said his decision to sit him late in the game was made to give Dallas the best chance to win. Flagg, who has been considered one of the top players in the country dating back to high school and has never experienced that situation before, said he understands.
“The way the game was going, we had a group out there that was doing really well and was on a run, so I see where Coach was at with that,” Flagg said. “And I mean, I was flat. I wasn’t myself. I wasn’t impacting the game at a high level, wasn’t doing the right stuff. So obviously, that’s an easy decision for Coach. He was just out there trying to win the game.”
Grizzlies Notes: Coward, Small, Morant, Bassey
After a slow start during the preseason, rookie Cedric Coward has quickly shown why the Grizzlies were so high on him entering the 2025 draft. Memphis traded a future first-round pick and two second-rounders in order to move up five spots from No. 16 to draft Coward at No. 11 overall.
The 22-year-old wing, who earned praise from his coaches and teammates during training camp, averaged an extremely efficient 15.0 points per game over his first two contests. And in Saturday’s victory over Indiana, Coward erupted for 27 points (on 9-of-13 shooting), six rebounds and four assists in just 24 minutes.
“It’s just been waiting to happen,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (subscription required). “He’s making those shots in practice and knocking them down at a high clip. Great free throw shooter, like, all the signs are there.”
As Sharon Brown of The Memphis Flyer writes, Coward doesn’t act or play like a rookie, with an even-keeled demeanor, “quiet confidence,” and excellent work ethic — traits that should serve him well over a long season.
“It’s super important,” Coward said of his poised demeanor. “We’ve got 82 of these things, plus playoffs … You have to take the highs and the lows the same. You can’t just do it one time and be satisfied.”
We have more from Memphis:
- In addition to Coward, backcourt injuries have also created an opportunity for rookie guard Javon Small, writes Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com. “He’s worked extremely hard to learn a ton of things in a short amount of time,” Iisalo said of Small, who is on a two-way contract. “He’s doing a great job. He listens. He just absorbs. He has a confidence that really works for us, and he’s become big-time for us in a situation that we really needed him.”
- Star point guard Ja Morant used to be mentioned as one of the future faces of the league until off-court incidents and injuries changed the trajectory of his career, but he tells Nick Friedell of The Athletic he was never interested in filling the role. “There’s a lot that comes with that,” Morant said. “I play basketball for the love of the game, not to be the face of the NBA. Obviously, I hear that a lot. I don’t put no pressure on it. I just go out and just play my game. Me pretty much just going out there and doing that had me in those conversations. Obviously, people have their own opinions, but I really don’t care for it too much.”
- The Grizzlies signed center Charles Bassey to a 10-day hardship contract on Monday. Iisalo praised the Nigerian big man’s rebounding prowess and said he’ll get a chance to play for Memphis at some point, as Cole relays (via Twitter). “He will get his opportunity,” Iisalo said of Bassey. “Whether that comes today or in the future games, that remains to be seen.”
Lakers’ Gabe Vincent Out 2-4 Weeks With Ankle Injury
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent is expected to be sidelined for approximately two-to-four weeks after undergoing an MRI on his left ankle, sources tell Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link).
NBA insider Chris Haynes reports (via Twitter) that Vincent, who started each of the Lakers’ first three games before sustaining the injury on Sunday, has a “slight ligament tear” as well as sprained ligaments in the ankle.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic (Twitter link), Vincent was wearing a walking boot and using crutches ahead of Monday’s game vs. Portland.
The 29-year-old was limited to just 11 games due to a knee injury in his first season with the Lakers after signing a three-year, $33MM deal with Los Angeles in the 2023 offseason. He was much healthier last season (72 games), and was a rotation regular (21.2 minutes per contest) for head coach JJ Redick, averaging 6.4 points while shooting 35.3% from long distance and playing solid defense.
Vincent won a starting job to open ’25/26 after a four-game preseason slate in which he averaged 16.3 PPG and shot 55.6% from three in 22.3 MPG. The hot shooting hasn’t carried over to the regular season yet, as he was 2-of-10 from deep in three games.
Marcus Smart (right quad contusion) was also out Monday for the Lakers, who had a total of seven players unable to suit up, most notably Luka Doncic (finger, leg injuries) and LeBron James (right sciatica), tweets Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group.
Vincent is in the final year of his contract, which will pay him $11.5MM in ’25/26. He will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Mavericks Notes: Aguirre, Russell, Flagg, Lively
The Mavericks are retiring Mark Aguirre‘s No. 24 jersey on January 29, 2026, the team announced today (Twitter video link).
Dallas selected Aguirre with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1981 draft. He played parts of eight seasons for the Mavs, averaging 24.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 566 games and making three All-Star appearances before being traded to Detroit in 1989. He went on to win back-to-back championships as a role player with the Pistons.
In a phone interview with Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News, Aguirre became emotional multiple times when discussing the jersey retirement. He first found out the news before Wednesday’s season opener.
“I’m sorry about that,” he said. “After so long, it’s still a little shocking to me. It still hasn’t sunk in.”
As Townsend notes, Aguirre will be the fifth former Maverick to have his jersey hang in the rafters of the American Airlines Center, joining Derek Harper (No. 12), Brad Davis (No. 15), Rolando Blackman (No. 22) and Dirk Nowitzki (No. 41).
Townsend asked whether returning to Dallas this summer ahead of the 2025 draft and the news of having his jersey retired has brought closure for Aguirre after spending many years away from the franchise.
“Well, I think it opens it up really, to the fact that I am a Maverick,” Aguirre said. “Yes, I went to Detroit and it was a good stay, but I’m a Maverick. You know? I’m a Maverick. I am.”
Here’s more on the Mavericks:
- Free agent addition D’Angelo Russell got off to a slow start with the Mavs, playing just 12.0 minutes per contest in the team’s first two losses and going 1-of-9 from the field. He bounced back in Sunday’s victory over Toronto, recording 24 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes, per Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. Russell was a game-high plus-26 in the 10-point victory. “True professional,” Anthony Davis said of Russell. “He’s been in this league long enough. He never wavered. He stayed with the team. He stayed with himself, stayed locked in and came and made plays for us today. He came in and definitely changed the game. I’ve been a teammate of his for a couple of years and I know his ability to change the game and what he can do offensively.”
- Top pick Cooper Flagg had the best game of his young career on Sunday, finishing with 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and zero turnovers in 29 minutes. He also had the game’s top highlight (YouTube link), an and-one dunk over Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “The fans have showed up for the first three games, and I thought tonight was really the first time we gave ’em something to be excited for and be on their feet for,” Flagg said.
- Flagg may have suffered a left shoulder injury in Monday’s game vs. Oklahoma City. He had the shoulder heavily wrapped during a timeout, Curtis tweets, but was able to check back into the game shortly thereafter, notes Marc Stein (via Twitter).
- Starting center Dereck Lively II suffered a right knee contusion on Sunday, causing him to leave the win early, and was out for Monday’s contest as well. Davis started in the middle with Daniel Gafford still recovering from a right ankle sprain, as Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal relays.
Jalen Duren Reaches Starter Criteria, Increasing QO
Fourth-year center Jalen Duren will be heading to restricted free agency next summer after failing to come to terms on a rookie scale extension with the Pistons before the 2025/26 campaign began.
After making 78 starts last season, Duren started his fourth straight game to open ’25/26 on Monday, giving him an average of 41 starts over the past two seasons. As ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, the 21-year-old big man has now reached the starter criteria, increasing the size of his qualifying offer by approximately $649K.
Detroit will have to issue Duren a qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent in 2026, which is essentially a foregone conclusion. According to Marks, Duren’s QO amount had been $8,966,188, but has increased to $9,615,393 as a result of meeting the criteria.
The 13th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Duren has averaged a double-double each of the past two seasons and is off to a solid start again in ’25/26. Through three contests, he has averaged 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 20.0 minutes per game.
Ordinarily qualifying offers are just placeholders for players and teams to work out longer-term deals, but two players — Cam Thomas and Quentin Grimes — accepted their one-year QOs this offseason, giving them the ability to veto trades. They will be unrestricted free agents next summer.
Pelicans Notes: Zion, Matkovic, Missi, Jordan, Springer
Pelicans star Zion Williamson is dealing with a bone contusion in his left foot and will miss Monday’s contest vs. Boston, head coach Willie Green told reporters, including Will Guillory of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Williamson has been hampered by a variety of injuries over the course of his NBA career, having played just 214 regular season games through six years in the league. This is the start of his seventh season.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Williamson has averaged 27.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals through two games (35.0 MPG). New Orleans lost both contests by a combined 10 points, but were plus-six in Williamson’s minutes.
Considering he was questionable earlier on Monday, it seems likely that Williamson’s foot issue will be a short-term injury. Still, it’s at least mildly concerning that he’s already missing a game.
Here’s more from New Orleans:
- On a more positive note, second-year big man Karlo Matkovic will be active for tonight’s game after missing the first two contests of the season due to lower back spasms (Twitter link). 2024 first-round pick Yves Missi (right ankle spain) will also return to action following a one-game absence.
- DeAndre Jordan‘s contract is fully guaranteed, a league source tells Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link). The veteran center, who spent the past two seasons with Denver, signed a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal with New Orleans on Friday. Jordan, 37, will earn a prorated minimum salary of $3,592,381, with the Pelicans taking on a cap hit of $2,269,880.
- According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link), the Birmingham Squadron — the Pelicans’ G League affiliate — have added Jaden Springer to their roster. The 23-year-old guard made New Orleans’ regular season roster, but was waived to make room for Jordan.
Hornets’ Brandon Miller Diagnosed With Shoulder Subluxation
Hornets wing Brandon Miller has been diagnosed with a left shoulder subluxation — a partially dislocated shoulder — the team announced on Monday (via Twitter).
According to the Hornets, Miller will be sidelined for Tuesday’s game in Miami and will be reexamined when the team returns to Charlotte. The Hornets’ next home game is Thursday vs. Orlando — another update could come before that contest.
Miller sustained the shoulder injury in the second quarter of Saturday’s loss in Philadelphia. Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer hears the injury occurred when Miller slipped while trying to fight through a screen.
The 22-year-old also missed Sunday’s game in Washington, which was the second of a back-to-back. Tuesday’s contest will be his second straight absence.
As of a few years ago, the average time missed for in-season shoulder subluxations that did not require surgery was approximately 21 days, according to Jeff Stotts of InStreetClothes.com. We’ll have to wait and see whether or not Miller’s ailment requires surgical intervention.
It’s an unfortunate setback for the former No. 2 overall pick, who was limited to just 27 games last season due a right wrist injury which required surgery. Miller recorded 25 points and seven assists in the Hornets’ season opener.
With Miller out most of the past two games, Kon Knueppel, Collin Sexton and Sion James have seen an uptick in playing time.