NBA Basketball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 23, 2026, 3:40 PM ET
Contracts & Front Office
The NBA's opening week has surfaced a notable shift in contract talks espn.com, with star negotiations evolving as teams prepare for heavier roster commitments, particularly in Oklahoma City. The Knicks, meanwhile, faced an embarrassing off-court episode after delayed championship rings espn.com left staffers vulnerable to a phishing offer. In New York's roster moves, Dalton Knecht espn.com, the former Lakers first-round pick, agreed to a two-way deal.
Officiating & Legal
The league's referees confirmed espn.com that LaMelo Ball took two steps too many before a three-point make. In the gambling case, co-defendant Eric Earnest pleaded guilty espn.com to conspiracy to commit wire fraud while denying that Billups supplied him with information.
Game Results & Performances
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 20-point streak espn.com ended in a Thunder blowout, as he chose to sit late in the game. Philadelphia staged a remarkable 29-point comeback espn.com against Cleveland, with Tyrese Maxey scoring a game-high 32 points after the Sixers trailed by 24 at halftime. Anthony Edwards dropped 40 points espn.com to join Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players to do so in a season opener. Los Angeles rolled to a 127-105 win over Golden State, with Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton powering the Lakers espn.com in a performance Doncic described as proof the team's ceiling is even higher.
Comebacks & Returns
Tyrese Haliburton made an emotional return from his Achilles tear espn.com as Indiana edged New Orleans in a gritty win. Haliburton also drew attention for a jacket espn.com paying tribute to Triple H.
Teams & Outlooks
Giannis Antetokounmpo said the new-look Heat must trust each other more espn.com after an opening-night blowout loss to Minnesota. The Clippers opened their season with a win over Sacramento dedicated to espn.com banned owner Steve Ballmer. In Minnesota, the new Ant-Melo backcourt espn.com of LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards opened with considerable promise. Reflecting on the league's changing landscape, one analysis argues that the Warriors-Lakers matchup espn.com marked the quiet end of an incredible era. Finally, a profile of Gilgeous-Alexander examines how patience espn.com helped build a two-time MVP in Oklahoma City, while a week-one review of 12 season debuts espn.com sorts the winners from the losers.