2025/26 NBA Over/Unders: Recap
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been examining projections for all 30 NBA teams for the 2025/26 season, publishing polls asking how many games each club will win. With the help of lines from professional oddsmakers, we’ve had you vote on whether each team will go over or under a given win total, from the Thunder (62.5) all the way through to the Jazz (18.5).
Here are the full results of those votes:
Eastern Conference
New York Knicks (53.5 wins): Over (63.2%)- Boston Celtics (42.5 wins): Over (52.7%)
- Philadelphia 76ers (42.5 wins): Under (58.7%)
- Toronto Raptors (37.5 wins): Over (50.2%)
- Brooklyn Nets (20.5 wins): Over (54.4%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (56.5 wins): Over (58.0%)
- Detroit Pistons (46.5 wins): Over (60.5%)
- Milwaukee Bucks (42.5 wins): Over (74.4%)
- Indiana Pacers (37.5 wins): Over (50.1%)
- Chicago Bulls (32.5 wins): Over (60.8%)
- Orlando Magic (51.5 wins): Over (52.8%)
- Atlanta Hawks (47.5 wins): Over (54.9%)
- Miami Heat (37.5 wins): Over (54.4%)
- Charlotte Hornets (27.5 wins): Over (50.6%)
- Washington Wizards (21.5 wins): Under (62.4%)
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder (62.5 wins): Over (62.9%)
- Denver Nuggets (53.5 wins): Over (72.1%)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (49.5 wins): Over (58.7%)
- Portland Trail Blazers (34.5 wins): Over (57.1%)
- Utah Jazz (18.5 wins): Over (55.3%)
- Los Angeles Clippers (48.5 wins): Under (58.7%)
- Los Angeles Lakers (48.5 wins): Under (52.1%)
- Golden State Warriors (46.5 wins): Over (68.3%)
- Sacramento Kings (34.5 wins): Over (55.1%)
- Phoenix Suns (31.5 wins): Under (56.8%)
- Houston Rockets (52.5 wins): Over (55.5%)
- San Antonio Spurs (44.5 wins): Over (57.6%)
- Dallas Mavericks (41.5 wins): Over (71.8%)
- Memphis Grizzlies (39.5 wins): Under (61.3%)
- New Orleans Pelicans (30.5 wins): Under (54.9%)
It’s pretty common for our poll respondents to pick more overs than unders, with optimism high in most NBA cities following an offseason of change. But we took it to a new extreme this year, going over on 23 teams and under on just seven.
Technically, it’s not impossible for 23 teams to beat their projected win totals. If 20 teams go over by one win and one team goes under by 20 wins, it all evens out. It’s very much a long shot, of course, but you never know.
These were the five “over” bets that received the largest vote shares:
Milwaukee Bucks (42.5 wins): 74.4%- Denver Nuggets (53.5 wins): 72.1%
- Dallas Mavericks (41.5 wins): 71.8%
- Golden State Warriors (46.5 wins): 68.3%
- New York Knicks (53.5 wins): 63.2%
Because we published our polls over the span of a few weeks, there has been some heavy betting action on some of these numbers ahead of the start of the season, pushing the projections in one direction or the other. The “over” has been especially popular for the top four teams on this list, with the Bucks’ and Nuggets’ projected win totals increasing by one apiece in some sportsbooks, while the Warriors’ has risen to 48.5 wins.
I like all five of these bets, though there’s some significant health-related risk for the Mavericks, who are already without Kyrie Irving and who will have to lean heavily on oft-injured Anthony Davis this season. I could also see the Knicks taking some time to adjust to the changes new head coach Mike Brown is implementing and falling short of 54 wins.
But I think the Bucks, Nuggets, and Warriors are good candidates to go over this season as long as they can avoid major injuries.
Here are the five “under” bets that received the largest vote shares:
- Washington Wizards (21.5 wins): 62.4%
- Memphis Grizzlies (39.5 wins): 61.3%
- Los Angeles Clippers (48.5 wins): 58.7%
- Philadelphia 76ers (42.5 wins): 58.7%
- Phoenix Suns (31.5 wins): 56.8%
It’s not uncommon for projected cellar-dwellers like the Wizards to fall short of their projected win totals, since they typically go out of their way to put themselves in position to rack up losses after the trade deadline. Washington will only keep its 2026 first-round pick if it lands within the top eight, so the front office will be motivated to finish near the bottom of the NBA standings.
The injuries are already racking up for the Grizzlies, though stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are trending toward being available for opening night. Memphis’ success this season could hinge in large part on how many games that duo plays together.
Our voters aren’t buying a Sixers bounce-back after an injury-plagued 2024/25 campaign, and aren’t bullish on the new-look Suns following the offseason exits of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Fair enough.
The one that surprised me most was the Clippers — I think they have more than enough depth to get to 49 wins in the regular season, even if they have to deal with some injuries. They won 50 games a year ago even though Kawhi Leonard only played in 37.
Here are the five picks that were closest to 50/50:
Indiana Pacers (37.5 wins): Over (50.1%)- Toronto Raptors (37.5 wins): Over (50.2%)
- Los Angeles Lakers (48.5 wins): Under (52.1%)
- Boston Celtics (42.5 wins): Over (52.7%)
- Orlando Magic (51.5 wins): Over (52.8%)
The Pacers and Celtics are two of the toughest teams to forecast for the 2025/26 season. Neither team will be as good as usual while Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum recover from Achilles tears, and they lost other key contributors over the summer too — Myles Turner for Indiana, and a handful of players, including Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis, for Boston. But both franchises have a strong culture, a good head coach, and a smart front office, so it’s hard to say just how significantly those losses will impact them.
As close as the Raptors’ and Lakers’ votes were, I think both ended up on the right side of the 50/50 divide — Toronto’s projected win total has risen to 39.5 since we published our poll, while the Lakers has dipped to 46.5, largely due to LeBron James‘ health concerns.
As for the Magic, they haven’t won 52 or more games in a season in 15 years, so I understand why nearly half of our voters were reluctant to go over. But if they have better health luck than last year, there’s certainly enough talent on the roster to get there.
What do you think of our picks in general? Are there any results above that you strongly disagree with? Did you make any over or under votes within the last couple weeks that you’re second-guessing now? Jump into our comment section below and weigh in with your thoughts!
Blazers Exercise Options On Henderson, Clingan, Murray
A busy week of roster moves continues for the Trail Blazers, who announced in a press release that they’ve exercised their rookie scale team options on three players for the 2026/27 season. Those options are as follows:
Scoot Henderson (fourth year, $13,585,523)- Donovan Clingan (third year, $7,519,920)
- Kris Murray (fourth year, $5,315,004)
Henderson, the third overall pick in the 2023 draft, hasn’t made the immediate impact that many experts anticipated, but he took a positive step forward in his second NBA season, averaging 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game on .419/.354/.767 shooting in 66 contests. The 21-year-old point guard currently recovering from a hamstring tear and will miss the start of the season.
Clingan, last year’s seventh overall pick, will take on an increased role in his second NBA season following the offseason departure of center Deandre Ayton. The former UConn standout averaged 6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 19.8 minutes per game last season, starting 37 of his 67 total outings.
Murray, the 23rd overall pick in 2023 out of Iowa, hasn’t done much offensively in two seasons for Portland, averaging 5.1 PPG and 1.1 APG on .406/.251/.558 shooting in 131 appearances (18.2 MPG). However, the 6’8″ forward is a versatile defender who could still have more room to grow.
[RELATED: Decisions On 2026/27 Rookie Scale Team Options]
Henderson and Murray will now be eligible for rookie scale extensions during the 2026 offseason, while the Blazers will have to decide on Clingan’s fourth-year option for 2027/28 (worth $9,550,298) by October 31, 2026.
The Blazers finalized a pair of four-year contract extensions on Monday for two key pieces of their long-term core, announcing new deals with Toumani Camara ($81MM) and Shaedon Sharpe ($90MM). Today’s moves ensure that all of Portland’s most important young players are under contract for at least the next two seasons.
And-Ones: International Players, NBA Europe, Taxpayers, More
Highlighting some of the storylines and potential milestones to watch as the 2025/26 NBA season gets underway, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press observes that the league is setting a series of records related to international players this fall.
According to Reynolds, there are a record 135 players born outside of the U.S. on the league’s 30 opening night rosters. Of those 135 players, 71 are from Europe, which also represents a new high watermark. In total, 43 non-U.S. countries are represented on NBA rosters, tying a league record, Reynolds writes, and each team has at least one international players on its roster.
The rising level of talent from Europe and elsewhere around the world is one reason why the NBA has been moving forward on plans to launch a new professional league based in Europe. According to Aris Barkas of Eurohoops, NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum told reporters this week that the goal is to get NBA Europe off the ground within the next couple years. Tatum also specifically identified seven countries the league is eyeing for permanent franchises in that league.
“In phase one, our plan is Spain, U.K., France, Italy, Germany, maybe Turkey, and maybe Greece,” Tatum said. “But there will be some open spots in the ecosystem, so in the early phase, (others) will be able to qualify.”
We have more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Fourteen of the NBA’s 30 teams will open the season as projected taxpayers, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link), though he acknowledges that number will certainly change in the coming months. The Raptors (over the luxury tax line by just $772K), Nuggets ($402K), and Suns ($274K) are among the prime candidates to duck out of tax territory by February’s trade deadline.
- Keith Smith of Spotrac also takes look at teams’ cap situations around the NBA, identifying where every club is operating relative to the aprons, tax line, and salary cap.
- In an extensive preview of the 2025/26 season, a panel of ESPN writers ranked all 30 teams entering the year, from the Thunder at No. 1 to the Wizards at No. 30.
- Within the past year, several NBA stars have taken on general manager or assistant GM roles with their alma maters, including Stephen Curry at Davidson, Trae Young at Oklahoma, and Damian Lillard at Weber State. Lindsay Schenll of The Athletic explores that trend, noting that the titles are mostly ceremonial but that those stars are willing to help fundraise, recruit, or do whatever else the program might ask of them. “I may not talk to every recruit, but if there is a high-level recruit, you best believe I’m gonna talk to the kid,” Young said. “If there’s a kid I feel like we’re not going after hard enough, I might bring it to their attention. … I’m not gonna overstep. But there’s definitely opinions I’m gonna mention.”
- Sovereign wealth funds based in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere in the Middle East have become increasingly involved in the NBA as investors in recent years. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst explores how this partnership between the league and those investors came about and where it’s headed in the future.
Pacers Sign Aaron Nesmith To Two-Year Extension
October 21: The Pacers have formally announced their extension with Nesmith, confirming the news in a press release.
“Aaron Nesmith embodies our team’s selfless, fast-paced style of play while also playing a key role in defining our culture, all of which is a testament to his talent, dedication, and commitment to this organization and our fans,” president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said in a statement. “We look forward to Aaron’s continued growth and contributions to both our team and our community, and we’re proud to have reached an agreement that will keep him here in Indiana.”
October 20: The Pacers and starting small forward Aaron Nesmith have agreed to a two-year, $40.4MM extension, agent Mike Lindeman tells ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal includes a trade kicker, Charania adds.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (via Twitter), Nesmith will earn $11MM each of the next two seasons. His extension, which begins in two years, will pay him a projected $19.4MM in 2027/28 and $21MM in 2028/29.
Nesmith, who turned 26 years old last week, has developed into one of the NBA’s top 3-and-D players in Indiana. He was selected 14th overall in the 2020 draft and spent his first two seasons with the Celtics, who traded him to the Pacers in the 2022 offseason.
Over the past two regular seasons, the 6’5″ wing has averaged 12.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per contest, posting an excellent shooting line of .500/.423/.829. Nesmith played an integral role in the Pacers’ run to the NBA Finals earlier this year, appearing in all 23 playoff games (28.3 MPG) while averaging 12.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 0.9 SPG and 0.8 BPG on .472/.492/.861 shooting.
Charania, citing ESPN research, says Nesmith’s 49.2% mark from long distance was the best percentage of any player who has attempted at least 100 threes in the playoffs.
Nesmith was among a handful of players our Luke Adams identified last week as an under-the-radar veteran extension candidate. Two others from his list — Toumani Camara and A.J. Green — have inked new deals as well.
The maximum the Pacers could have offered Nesmith was a three-year deal worth up to $62.9MM — what he agreed to was the maximum he could have received on a two-year extension.
The deadline for veteran extensions for players on non-expiring contracts is at 10:59 pm CT tonight.
Lakers’ Kleber Out At Least Two Weeks With Oblique Strain
Maxi Kleber won’t be available when the regular season gets underway, according to the Lakers, who announced today that the veteran big man has an oblique strain and will be reevaluated in approximately two weeks.
Kleber, acquired from Dallas in February’s Luka Doncic blockbuster, broke his foot in January and didn’t make his Lakers debut until Game 5 of their first-round series vs. Minnesota, the team’s last game of the season.
Coming into this season, there was a sense that Kleber might have a chance to play a regular role in Los Angeles’ relatively thin frontcourt, but injuries have once again been a problem. He sustained a minor quad injury early in training camp that limited him to just a single preseason appearance, and now he’s expected to miss at least the club’s first eight games of the season due to an oblique issue.
Kleber has shown in the past that he can be an effective rotation player when healthy — he averaged between 21 and 27 minutes per game while appearing in between 50 and 74 contests in Dallas from 2018-22. However, health problems have slowed him down in the past three seasons. The 33-year-old has missed more regular season games (132) than he has played (114) since the start of the 2022/23 campaign.
With Kleber unavailable and forwards LeBron James and Adou Thiero also out to open the season, the Lakers figure to lean more heavily on centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes and forwards Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt in their frontcourt. Two-way center Christian Koloko could also play a role for L.A. in the early going.
Brad Stevens Talks Celtics’ Offseason Roster Decisions
Even if Jayson Tatum hadn’t torn his Achilles during the second round of the 2025 playoffs, the Celtics planned to shed salary during the offseason, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens confirmed to Jay King of The Athletic.
Boston had operated over the second tax apron in 2023/24 and ’24/25, winning 125 regular season games and a championship during those two years. However, the club made it a priority to get below that line this summer in order to reduce what would have been a record-setting luxury tax bill and to create more flexibility for roster moves going forward.
“First and foremost, what we were staring at was a bill like no one has ever stared at, right?” Stevens said. “So that was not the driver as much as the second apron, but that’s still a significant, significant thing. And our owners — past and present — have always been committed to spending, but it made sense for us, even in that perspective to retool, in my opinion. And then when you’re sitting over those aprons, you just have a lot of restrictions. You know, right now our 2032 (first-round) pick is frozen. That will be unfrozen if we’re under (the second apron) for three of four years.”
According to Stevens, before the Celtics traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and lost Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency, he expressed that he was willing to discuss his plan for the offseason with “anyone who wanted to talk about it,” including coaches and players, per King.
“We were very forthright with everybody,” Stevens said. “We tried to be as proactive (as possible) communicating that, ‘Hey, these things are gonna happen. We’re gonna bring in young, hungry, maybe unproven, maybe a little scarred, but high-character people that are gonna play hard, that want to be a part of something special.'”
That last point – focusing on “high-character” additions – was an important one for Stevens, given all the veteran leadership the team was losing on the trade market and in free agency.
“It was not only that, ‘Hey, we’ve gotta reset and retool,’ but the people we bring into this place — whether through the draft or a trade or a signing — yes, we’re looking for maybe some young, proven, cost-effective people, but at the same time, they have to be high character and they have to be high competitive character,” he explained, per King. “Because if they’re not, we’re just losing too much in that area to sustain it.”
The Celtics are still operating in tax apron territory entering the 2025/26 season — their team salary is roughly $4MM above the first apron threshold and in the tax by about $12MM. But the team has plenty of breathing room below the second apron, giving the front office more freedom to operate on the trade market during the season. Boston can aggregate salaries in a trade this season, for example, after not having the ability to do so last year.
“If you’re going to have to reset and retool, what you’re trying to do is you’re just trying to give yourself a chance to be opportunistic if that presents itself,” Stevens told King. “We lived it. We knew it was coming. And, you know, it wasn’t the most fun summer for a GM or a front office person but we knew that that was part of the pain of A) going all-in in the last couple of years and then B) making sure we give ourselves a chance to continue to be opportunistic around our young core — and our core is still young and still very, very good.”
Central Notes: Pistons, Thompson, Giannis, Middleton, Jones
Having not agreed to terms with center Jalen Duren or guard Jaden Ivey ahead of Monday’s deadline for rookie scale extensions, the Pistons now have an eventful offseason on tap for 2026, writes Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (subscription required).
As Sankofa notes, besides entering restricted free agency with Duren and Ivey, Detroit will also have to deal with Tobias Harris‘ unrestricted free agency — the veteran forward won’t become extension-eligible prior to reaching the open market. Additionally, 2023 lottery pick Ausar Thompson will become eligible for a rookie scale extension with his own next July, so the team may be negotiating with him at the same time as it tries to resolve Duren’s and Ivey’s contract situations.
While Duren and Ivey should do very well for themselves in free agency if they have strong seasons in 2025/26, Thompson has the tools to earn the most lucrative contract of the trio if he has a breakout year after a healthy offseason. Teammate Cade Cunningham is confident about Thompson’s chances to have a big third season, as Hunter Patterson of The Athletic details.
“Ausar had a great summer,” Cunningham said in September. “I think he’s really going to make a lot of noise this year. He’s going to wake a lot of people up in a loud way.”
“I don’t think about (having a breakout season), but if my mentality is where I want it to be every single game, then I should be able to do that,” Thompson said.
We have more from around the Central Division:
- In a separate story for The Detroit Free Press (subscription required), Sankofa takes a closer look at what the Pistons‘ rotation will look like without Ivey to open the season, exploring whether two-way player Daniss Jenkins has a chance to earn regular minutes and considering whether spacing or power forward depth will be an issue for the team.
- Speaking about how important his legacy is to him, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said he’s solely focused on winning rather than “stats” and that he doesn’t consider himself to be in the same tier as all-time NBA greats like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — at least not yet. “That’s the goal,” Antetokounmpo said, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “I’m not there yet. They’re like top 10 all-time. I’ve got a lot of work to do. But I’m going to be there.”
- Wizards forward Khris Middleton will be returning to Milwaukee on Wednesday for the first time as an opponent since the Bucks traded him at last season’s deadline. As Bijan Todd of Monumental Sports Network relays (via Twitter), Middleton expects it to be an “emotional” night. Antetokounmpo, Middleton’s longtime teammate, echoed that sentiment. “I think the most important thing, he should get the warmest welcome ever,” Giannis said (Twitter link via Eric Nehm of The Athletic). “When he comes here and he sees the tribute video, he should be in tears crying before the game. I cannot explain how much Khris means to this team. I cannot explain how much Khris means to me. … That’s my brother for life. We’ve done incredible things together, so I cannot wait to see him tear up on Wednesday.”
- Noe Padilla and Ryan Murphy of The Indianapolis Star share some additional details on Kam Jones‘ Monday arrest, writing that the rookie guard told police he was “running late for practice for the Indiana Pacers” when he was pulled over for erratic driving. Jones, who allegedly didn’t comply for several minutes when police tried to stop him, said that he didn’t realize right away that he was being pulled over.
Lakers Pick Up Dalton Knecht’s 2026/27 Option
The Lakers have exercised their team option for the 2026/27 season on forward Dalton Knecht, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link).
The option, which is for the third year on Knecht’s rookie scale contract, is worth $4,201,080 and is now fully guaranteed. The Lakers will face their next decision on the 24-year-old a year from now, when they’ll have to determine whether or not to pick up his $6,452,859 option for the 2027/28 season.
If that fourth-year option is exercised, Knecht would become eligible for a rookie scale extension during the summer of 2027, with potential restricted free agency on tap for 2028 if he and the Lakers don’t work out a new deal before then.
The 17th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Knecht got off to a great start as a rookie last season, averaging 12.2 points per game and making 43.9% of his three-pointers in his first 19 outings. However, he averaged just 8.1 PPG and knocked down just 34.8% of his outside shots the rest of the way while struggling defensively.
Knecht shot 32.1% from the field and 23.7% on three-pointers in six Summer League appearances and wasn’t any better in the preseason, with shooting percentages of 32.0% from the floor and 23.5% from beyond the arc in six outings. Still, the Lakers remain confident in his ability to turn things around, having picked up his 2026/27 option with plenty of time to spare before the October 31 deadline.
As our tracker shows, Knecht is the only Laker whose contract includes a rookie scale team option for ’26/27.
Stein’s Latest: Connaughton, Knicks, Mazzulla, Curry, Mavs
Charlotte’s decision to release Spencer Dinwiddie — after signing the veteran guard to a guaranteed minimum-salary contract over the summer — surprised some people around the NBA, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link).
There was some speculation that the Hornets might waive Pat Connaughton instead, but Stein hears the team decided to keep the veteran wing because he’s popular in the locker room and has championship experience. Another key factor: the Hornets remain cautiously optimistic they might be able to use Connaughton’s $9.4MM expiring contract in a trade before February’s deadline, Stein writes.
Here’s more from Stein:
- The Knicks attempted to speak to several employed head coaches when they were looking for a replacement for Tom Thibodeau, but all of their formal requests were denied. According to Stein, there have been rumblings that New York also informally explored the possibility of trying to pursue Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, which obviously went nowhere — a month after the Knicks hired Mike Brown, Mazzulla signed an extension with Boston. While the Celtics vaguely referred to Mazzulla’s agreement as a multiyear extension, Stein hears the 37-year-old likely received a six-year contract.
- There’s zero doubt that the Warriors will eventually re-sign Seth Curry — the only question is when, says Stein. While Golden State could technically bring Curry back on November 11, waiting a bit beyond that date would give the Warriors more breathing room below their second apron hard cap, and they are believed to be considering that path, per Stein.
- The Mavericks waived NBA veterans Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Dalano Banton and Dennis Smith Jr. on Friday. Their G League affiliate — the Texas Legends — controls the returning rights of Robinson-Earl and Banton, and Dallas expects both players to open the season with the Legends, according to Stein. The Mavs are also optimistic that Smith with play for the Legends, but Stein points out that the former lottery pick’s rights are currently held by the Wisconsin Herd — an NBGL trade between Wisconsin and Texas would need to occur for that to happen. Banton was on an Exhibit 10 deal with the Mavs (Robinson-Earl and Smith were on Exhibit 9s), so he’s the only player of the group who will receive a bonus if he spends at least 60 days with the Legends.
Injury Notes: Trail Blazers, Knicks, Heat, Pelicans
While he’s not sure who will be ready for Wednesday’s season opener against Minnesota, head coach Chauncey Billups said Toumani Camara (knee), Deni Avdija (back), Robert Williams (knee) and Matisse Thybulle (knee) were full participants in Monday’s practice, tweets Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report.
Williams, who has been plagued by knee issues throughout his career, was limited to just 20 games last season. He didn’t play at all during the preseason, nor did Thybulle, who appeared in just 15 games last season due to knee and ankle issues.
Camara, the recipient of a new four-year, $81MM extension, appeared in two preseason games, while Avdija played in all four but exited the finale with upper back stiffness.
We have more injury updates from around the NBA:
- The Knicks may be without a pair of key rotation players for their regular season opener vs. Cleveland, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Josh Hart (back spasms) and Mitchell Robinson (load management) didn’t practice Monday, and head coach Mike Brown isn’t sure if either player will be available Wednesday. “Everything we’re doing with him is about managing his workload, which we’ll do the whole year,” Brown replied when asked if there is an injury for Robinson.
- Rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis (right groin strain) and second-year Kel’el Ware (neck spasms) were unable to practice Monday for the Heat, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald (Twitter link). Ware is being evaluated by a doctor, Chiang adds. Miami’s regular season begins Wednesday in Orlando.
- Lottery pick Derik Queen went through a full practice Saturday for the first time since undergoing left wrist surgery in July. While the Pelicans big man thinks he could play in Wednesday’s opener at Memphis, head coach Willie Green was careful to temper expectations after a lengthy layoff, writes Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com. “We’ve got to listen to how his body is responding,” Green said. “This is his first time playing with contact in a few months. We don’t want to rush. If he’s ready, that’s another conversation that we’ll have.” Second-year center Karlo Matkovic was unable to practice Saturday due to an elbow injury the team continues to evaluate, Green added.