NBA Basketball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 21, 2026, 6:50 PM ET
Opening Night Results
Paul George scored 38 points in his Celtics debut, the most by a Celtic in a first game, but Boston still fell in a loss. The Pistons rallied to complete a comeback over the Celtics on a tripleheader that opened the 2026-27 season.
Injury Reports
The Warriors will be without Brandin Podziemski for their season opener against the Lakers because of a back issue. Stephen Curry is expected to play despite an ankle concern. The Hornets ruled out Kon Knueppel and Coby White for their opener. AJ Dybantsa's debut has been delayed by an ankle injury, and Kings guard Ben Simmons tore his Achilles tendon and will undergo surgery.
Contracts and Roster Moves
The Hornets and Brandon Miller agreed to a five-year, $209 million rookie extension. The Timberwolves signed Jaden McDaniels to a one-year, $40 million extension through 2029-30. Oklahoma City locked up Cason Wallace with a five-year, $139 million deal. On the cut list, the Lakers waived Dalton Knecht, the Bucks waived Kevin Porter Jr. ahead of the opener, and the Grizzlies are waiving Walton Clayton Jr. and Micah Peavy.
Lakers and Knicks
JJ Redick called the Lakers' "biggest unknown" how the new-look roster handles adversity. The Knicks celebrated their title with a banner ceremony before facing the 76ers, adding a surprise Cup banner. Looking back at their offseason, the Knicks' celebration ran from Brunson's SNL appearance to Karl-Anthony Towns' wedding. Commissioner Adam Silver said there is "no rules issue" with LeBron James commuting by helicopter. Reflecting on the Garden, Windhorst explained what Madison Square Garden means to LeBron as he opens his final chapter there.
League and Outlook
The NBA will invest heavily in a new European league, calling it the biggest investment ever in European basketball. Ahead of the season, the Spurs and Thunder lead the championship futures as favorites. Our experts offered their picks for the East, West and champion, and a full preview of all 30 teams is available. Fantasy experts shared their boldest predictions for the season.
Coming Up
Dybantsa will miss the Wizards' season opener, so his NBA debut is pushed back. The Warriors' opener against the Lakers is set for Wednesday night, with Curry expected to play.