NBA Notebook: How a 28-point collapse against the Nets help Joe Mazzulla grow as a coach

Joe Mazzulla knew the Celtics would lose. He still talks about it frequently almost eight months later.

Boston raced to a 37-15 lead through one quarter last March against a seemingly spiraling Brooklyn Nets team that just traded Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, going up by as many as 28 points midway through the second quarter. Brooklyn started 6-for-25, 2-for-11 from three, while Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Marcus Smart poured in six layups, Boston shooting 14 twos compared to nine threes. The Nets, by contrast, unloaded 21 threes before halftime, many rolling in and out. A 21-8 Nets push before the teams hit the locker room made it a game again in under four minutes. 

"I just remember us getting off to a good start getting easy baskets and having a ridiculous 2-point percentage and them taking really good 3s and missing them," Mazzulla told Boston Sports Journal at practice. "And I know there are certain teams that are going to continue to shoot those. And I think over the course of the game, if you start out scoring really, really easy, it's hard to make the adjustment of, 'OK, it's not going to be this easy.' We have to work to maintain our offensive discipline once they make their defensive adjustment. We played with a sense of, 'it's just going to come this easy the whole night and then they continued to shoot high-level threes." 

The eventual 115-105 loss, arguably Boston's worst last year, fell on Jayson Tatum's 25th birthday and marked something of a coming-of-age for Mazzulla as a coach. It, in part, led him to study momentum and ways to manipulate runs within the flow of the game. Mazzulla, ever aware of the margins, began stressing the small ways games can shift through the rest of the team's schedule, offensive rebounds, fouling, turnovers -- but most importantly the shot totals. Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn effectively gave away his game plan that night, they would out-shoot Boston in attempts, and finished the game with a 95-84 field goal advantage -- along with a staggering 44-29 edge on three-point attempts. 

Mazzulla watched from the sideline almost helplessly. The Celtics shot 0-for-5 from three in the third quarter while the Nets cut their efficiency inside the arc to nearly 50%. Brooklyn doubled their attempts from three, Dorian Finney-Smith's make across half court over a slow-arriving Brown building an 89-80 advantage for the Nets before the fourth quarter. Mazzulla didn't rewatch the game over the ensuing weeks and months, because he could feel how the game shifted. Since, Boston built a greater awareness of those margins -- tested again one month later by a Quin Snyder Hawks team that launched threes and crashed the offensive glass relentlessly. 

"We really adjusted on both ends of the floor," Vaughn said then. "Defensively, we kept it pretty simple, we ended up getting to our switching package which really helped us a lot. We communicated that across multiple possessions, and then on the offensive end of the floor, the management by Mikal (Bridges) and Spencer (Dinwiddie) to get the shots that we wanted (and) the formations we wanted ... our ability to keep a body in front of a body and not give them open looks early ... to keep a team like this only shooting 30 threes and only make nine of them, pretty impressive because of their ability to shoot. We're physical without fouling ... but we kept a body in front of a body ... we've been stressing offensive rebounding. That was a part of our coach's meeting today ... we were debating whether we were gonna continue or get back in transition ... that balance of, are we going to continue to offensive rebound, can we get some to manage that shot discrepancy? Tonight, I think it helped us, but I do listen to our analytics team." 

Brown had spoken after a recent loss to the Knicks, commenting on how he thought Boston took too many threes (42) in a loss at New York where the Celtics fell to 21.4% and lost 109-94. Boston's results became starkly tied to their success behind the line, finishing 13-19 when the Celtics shot below league average from three and, like Dallas and Golden State, saw nearly half of their attempts coming from three. Multiple Celtics players throughout the stretch run commented on finding ways to win games when those shots don't fall. The Nets presented a lesson with their attention to detail, shifting defenders toward the rim to take the easy interior looks away, switching to limit three-point attempts around screens and driving up their free throw attempts. Brown noticed himself stuck between deciding to take a three with a lane open to the basket, and attacking inside when he could've pulled up. 

Returning to Brooklyn on Saturday -- Boston showed both a greater awareness to the margins that Mazzulla stressed throughout last year and a flexibility to take mid-range and post-ups that new personnel can integrate efficiently to the offense when a team like the Nets successfully takes the three away. The Celtics ranked third in post-up possessions entering the game, 11th in mid-range and with the sixth-most transition opportunities. Along with that, they emerged as a top team in the four factors -- second in offensive rebounding, 11th in limiting opponent free throws, just outside the top-10 in turnovers and the league's top shooting team (59.8 eFG%). They dominated the Wizards and Pacers by cutting off their three-point success. Going forward, they could benefit from forcing more turnovers (11.5 opp. TOV%, T-27th), a top organizational priority following their struggles to create them last year. 

"It's not that (we were) shooting too many (layups)," Mazzulla remembered. "It's that the ones that we got came too easy and the game is not going to be that easy. So as you get easy layups, you start to think, oh, I can drive in there and get the all the time. And as there are five possessions where they miss five threes in a row, you start to think that you're playing really good defense and sometimes it's not good defense. Sometimes it's just, they didn't get the result that they wanted. So it's just finding that balance of effort on the defensive end regardless and on the offensive end just taking what the defense gives you constantly knowing that they're going to make adjustments and being able to play good basketball even when they adjust." 

"I just felt it (that night)," he said. "I let my team down from an emotional, momentum perspective to where we didn't have the tools necessary to stop runs as a team. To stop runs, either offensively or defensively with a quick adjustment. And so I think that really helped us build a mind frame of how do we handle momentum during games as a team?" 

Mazzulla inserted Oshae Brissett midway through the first quarter as the Celtics trailed against the Heat during last Friday's home opener. He planned to make the substitution at the start of the second quarter, but pivoted as he felt the game getting away from Boston and needing a spark. Brissett almost immediately tipped Brown's free throw miss out-of-bounds off Miami, and Sam Hauser hit a three on the ensuing possession as part of a 13-point turnaround for the Celtics. Brissett grabbed three offensive boards that night, Boston pulled in 16 as a team and out-shot the Heat 39-33 from three, keeping free throw attempts and turnovers (12-15) close. It's not perfect -- Mazzulla glancing at an uglier box score after the opening night win with almost a sigh of relief -- only managing a 26-26 free throw attempt tie in the four factors and benefiting from 12 New York misses at the line. 

Timeouts come into play too, one of various run-stopping methods from the head coach as he tries to emphasize creativity, that feel for the flow of the game and the cross-matches that transition plays allow his players to take advantage of. He harped on beginning and ending quarters strong. 

Film sessions from the opening three games revealed possessions where five Celtics have advantages, and while those plays reveal no correct choice and some reliance on isolation, where Boston performed much better compared to passing, it's part of a free-flowing, flexible offensive approach he desires. The three-point volume remains central, that loss to the Nets teaching the team how that mathematical deficit alone can swing a game, but it's one factor among many. Mazzulla explained during training camp how fast breaks following stops and turnovers create much more open rim looks -- and when discussing threes, pointed out how a missed layup can immediately set up an advantageous transition run for the other team. 

Looking back --  Mazzulla almost wished the Celtics started launching threes to keep up with Brooklyn in that loss. They would've fared better than they shots they ended up attempting. Almost one year later -- he feels more prepared to stop such a run. And it showed on Wednesday against a Pacers team when a steady lead grew to 20, then 30, then 40 and landed on a near-record 51-point win for the Celtics. He hopes Boston will react like that more routinely. He knows it won't always happen, but called the win a step toward doing so. 

"It's hard to quantify (momentum)," Mazzulla said. "I think it just entails an instinct and it entails finding tools on the basketball court. What are league wide trends that ignite momentum that stop momentum, and how can you effectively become great at those tools? I felt it. And so as much as I'm a numbers guy, I also do see the balance of momentum versus analytics or instincts versus numbers. And so I think you have to lean into both of those things and so I can feel games and momentum going a certain way. And it's just a matter of, do you have the proper tools to manipulate that momentum?"

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta (3-2): Won three games in a row sparked by Trae Young's 11 assists that led eight Hawks to double-figure scoring nights in a blowout win over the Bucks, Jalen Johnson among them stepping into the starting lineup. Saddiq Bey returned in their latest win over the Wizards while Dejounte Murray scored 30 points in the second half to down the Wolves. Onyeka Okongwu appears next in line for a promotion, mostly outplaying Clint Capela to begin the year and averaging 10.6 PPG on 20-for-26 shooting from inside the arc and 13-of-13 success at the line. Atlanta is +14.3 in his minutes. 

Boston (4-0): Scored the second-most points in franchise history in another example of their potentially unmatched potential at both ends of the floor, beating the Pacers 155-104. The win followed another runaway victory over the Wizards marked by 69 points between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum -- their 23rd game in their careers where they each scored 30 points. Boston's bench faltered in the fourth quarter of that win, Dalano Banton's 9:41 losing 17 points off the lead. The second unit bounced back against Indiana -- scoring 46 points in the fourth, a TD Garden record. 

Boston begins a three-game road trip at Brooklyn (SAT), Minnesota (MON) and Philadelphia (WED) before their first in-season tournament group play game against the Nets at home on Friday. The Celtics will cautiously return center Neemias Queta (foot) to the floor, who will have missed three games now with soreness following a stress reaction in the foot over the summer. The team assigned Jordan Walsh to G-League Maine. 

Brooklyn (3-2): Host the Celtics on Saturday night after scoring 120 points in a loss to Dallas and 133 to beat the Hornets before overcoming a 15-point deficit late in the third quarter to beat the Heat. Jacque Vaughn's competitive approach, mixing deep lineups with intense efforts, drew more offensive production compared to the team's struggles on that end following the Kevin Durant trade late last season. New additions and fliers like Trendon Watford, Lonnie Walker IV and G-League call-up Armoni Brooks have all posted double-figure scoring nights so far. Ben Simmons averaged 7.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 7.5 APG on 56% shooting, struggling as a scorer and free throw shooter while regaining some of his on-ball creation impact. 

Charlotte (1-3): Lost three straight because of defensive meltdowns against the Pistons, Nets and Rockets, hardly the league's best competition and a bad sign for a Steve Clifford team that would typically at least hold up on that end of the floor. Brandon Miller scored in double-figures in all three games as some silver lining, but the team declined the fourth-year team option on James Bouknight, the No. 11 overall pick in 2021, a rare move that marks the beginning of the end of his disappointing time with the team. Mark Williams received his option, averaging 10.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 1.0 BPG so far. 

Chicago (2-4): Showed little upside through their start, falling flat on offense in a loss to the Mavs where Patrick Williams scored 0 points, which he and Coby White also did in a loss at Detroit where Zach LaVine's 51 points barely made a dent. LaVine's name continues to float around as a potential James Harden replacement in Philadelphia following the Sixers' trade of the guard for draft assets, and the Bulls will have to begin assessing where they're going before long with DeMar DeRozan beginning a contract season. The Bulls, who extended LaVine for five years, have no intention of trading him for now. LaVine talked to Yahoo about the much-discussed players-only meeting the team had following the first game of the season. 

Cleveland (2-5): Jarrett Allen made his season debut and Darius Garland returned from a four-game absence with a hamstring where the Cavs struggled offensively. Cleveland started the season among the bottom-five offenses despite their additions at the wing position and re-signing Caris LeVert, who shot 38.7% through the team's start. Rookie Emoni Bates made his case for some playing time in Tuesday's blowout loss to the Knicks, scoring nine points. Garland and Allen added 24 points in their limited returns, but the Pacers pulled away late to hand the Cavs another loss. 

Dallas (4-1): Started undefeated despite Kyrie Irving (foot) sitting out all four wins, Luka Dončić averaging 27.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 8.0 APG on 46.6% shooting. Grant Williams broke out for 25 points in the Mavericks' 114-105 win over the Bulls where Derrick Lively II looked more comfortable (13 reb., 6 ast.) and Derrick Jones Jr. scored 17 in his spot starting role. Williams began the year averaging a career-high 15.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG and shooting 55.2% from three. He and former Celtics guard Marcus Smart met for dinner in Memphis after Dallas' win over the Grizzlies on Monday. 

“Grant’s amazing,” Smart said. “That’s my brother for life, for sure. Me and Grant been through some battles. We had our ups, we had our downs. But that’s family right there. I’m proud to see him happy, see him out there playing and playing well. Unfortunately, it was against us, but I’m happy for him.”

Denver (5-1): Rolled through tough Thunder and Jazz teams before the Timberwolves challenged them in their first round rematch, winning 110-89 to end the Nuggets' undefeated start. Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert held Nikola Jokić to 25 points and three assists. Only Jamal Murray and Jokić scored double-figures in the loss, an early trend with Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. struggling to shoot. Depth became a question entering the season with Bruce Brown gone, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and second-year guard Peyton Watson have answered that call. Christian Braun, Reggie Jackson, Zeke Nnaji and the team's rookies have not. They're still ninth in offense -- the Jokić effect. 

Detroit (2-4): Jaden Ivey faced an uphill battle proving himself to new coach Monty Williams through the team's start, which saw Killian Hayes logging the bulk of their point guard minutes. Cade Cunningham scored 25 points with 10 assists to beat the Bulls, while his 30 points couldn't top the Trail Blazers. Cunningham and Hayes combined for 20 assists against the Pelicans, but 20th-ranked shooting from the field limits this group's offensive upside. They'll have to grind their way to playoff contention, something rookie Ausar Thompson (9.3 RPG, 1.8 BPG) added to despite his offensive woes (36.8% FG). The Pistons rank 13th in defense, enough to manage a -0.3 net rating. That's progress. 

Golden State (5-1): Chris Paul returned to the bench and Draymond Green (ankle) made his season debut, both helping an uptick in passing success for a top-10 offensive effort (66 AST%, 5th). With 12 assists between the pair in their win over Houston, and 16 by Green alone in two wins over New Orleans and Sacramento since, the staggered lineups give the Warriors creation in the starting lineup and off the bench. Steph Curry benefited in both situations, averaging 31.0 PPG and shooting 45.9% from three on over 12 attempts per game, focusing less on playmaking and more on his elite scoring. Klay Thompson hit a last-second mid-range shot to beat the Kings, their 11th meeting over their previous 17 games going back to last postseason. 

They face again on Nov. 28 as part of the in-season tournament. 

“That's probably never happened in the history of the NBA,” Steve Kerr said.

Houston (1-3): Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks scored 65 points combined to score the Rockets' first win under Ime Udoka, but Alperen Şengün emerged as the team's offensive hub while averaging 19.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 6.0 APG on 58.9% shooting. Houston ranks 21st in offense and 26th in defense, underscoring old challenges for this young group that Udoka assumed and has already tried to change. Losing rookie Amen Thompson won't help that development, expected to miss multiple weeks with a right ankle sprain suffered in the win over Charlotte. Tari Eason could replace him sometime early this month after returning to the floor following a flare-up of a stress reaction in his leg. 

“I don’t think our energy and effort has really been the question,” Udoka said. “I think they come in every day willing to work and learn. So, for us, we are three games in, and it is not time to hit a panic button or anything like that, and I think the veterans have done a good job of keeping everybody even-keeled, as well. For us, it is the progress and growth, and we have had that in those games.”

Indiana (3-2): Tyrese Haliburton missed the game, but Rick Carlisle called a 51-point loss at the Celtics embarrassing and took responsibility for not having the team prepared for Boston's offensive onslaught. Andrew Nembhard struggled to jump-start the offense and the power forward position has struggled to produce points, Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith combining for 11 points in a loss to the Bulls before rookie Jarace Walker showed potential in garbage time at Boston. Nesmith, who extended long term, also flashed in a win over the short-handed Cavs, scoring 26 points with nine rebounds. 

"I do take things personally and I think that helps make me better,” Nesmith after re-posting a tweet that said Boston traded nothing for Malcolm Brogdon. “That’s what drives me to go to the gym at night. So seeing that tweet was always on my mind for sure ... sometimes I’m having a good day or something. I open up the photos and it’s in there, it makes me wanna go to the gym." 

Clippers (3-2): Traded Robert Covington, Marcus Morris, Nic Batum and KJ Martin along with a 2028 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick swap and a future first owned by the Thunder for James Harden, PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev to end a long-running saga after Harden demanded a trade from Philadelphia to LA over the summer. The Clippers successfully retained Terrance Mann and Norman Powell following negotiations that stalled for months before Harden effectively left the 76ers to begin the season. He arrived in LA ramping-up in hopes of debuting on Monday against the Knicks, addressing his frustrations with his role in Philadelphia and previewing what he'll bring to a team that started 3-1 behind hot Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook starts. Westbrook, who expressed excitement over reuniting with his former teammate from the Thunder and Rockets, will have to adjust if Harden regains his typically hefty ball time -- and it could eventually result in him returning to the bench. 

"Taking $26 million less to sign and make the team better," Harden said. "Changing my role, which media [felt] is ball dominant, which my ball dominance is really effective. But changing my role, trying to change the narrative, trying to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to win at the highest level. That's not talked about. It's the other BS. So me leaving Brooklyn and thinking I'm going to retire as a Sixer, and the front office had other plans. They didn't want me. ... There's a lot of narratives and people think they have an opinion. ... But none of that is true ... I think the game and I'm a creator on the court. So if I got a voice to where I can, 'Hey, Coach, I see this. What you think about this?' Somebody that trusts me, that believes in me, that understands me. I'm not a system player. I am a system. You know what I mean?"

Lakers (3-2): LeBron James scored 35 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and passed seven assists in an overtime win over the Clippers following 11 straight losses against their rival down the hallway. Cam Reddish started, D'Angelo Russell scored 27 points off the bench and Christian Wood continued his strong defensive run to begin the season as Darvin Ham continues to formulate his rotations without Jarred Vanderbilt (heel). They allowed 73 points to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the game, underscoring their league average play on the defensive end and paltry offense outside of James and Anthony Davis' scoring so far. This doesn't look like one of the best teams in the west yet, especially considering James and Davis' recent health track record. Free agent addition Gabe Vincent will miss at least two weeks with a left knee injury after starting the year 11-for-28 (39.3%). Rui Hachmura entered concussion protocol. Rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino (knee) remains unavailable. 

Memphis (0-6): It's probably time to panic, at least a little, not necessarily due to their winless start, but their injury and availability issues that won't improve anytime soon and their offense falling to last in the league per 100 possessions. Their defense didn't play much better while allowing 113 points to the Wizards, 125 to Dallas and 133 to the Jazz this week despite Marcus Smart and Jaren Jackson Jr.'s presence as the last two defensive players of the year. It's impossible to fully judge them until Ja Morant returns in December, but by then the Grizzlies could sit in a massive hole outside of the west's playoff picture. GM Zach Kleiman didn't get aggressive with draft picks until he moved their 2023 pick for Smart. Will he chase reinforcements? 

Miami (2-4): Less concerning than Memphis' start considering their relative apathy toward the regular season. The Heat haven't played well, scoring 90 against the Timberwolves, touched up defensively without Bam Adebayo before Brooklyn beat them with a fourth quarter comeback as Jimmy Butler and Adebayo returned to the lineup. Josh Richardson returned from injury in Milwaukee and mustered only 12 points over the following two games, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has averaged 4.6 PPG on 37% FG and Nikola Jovic didn't generate enough trust to play at full strength and Kyle Lowry averaged 6.0 PPG through his first five appearances. That all amounted to the 26th-ranked offense, but it's worth considering they started last year similarly. 

Milwaukee (3-2): Dropped odd games against the Hawks and Raptors where their defense faltered, allowing 127 points to both teams. The Bucks played worse defensively than any team to start the season, only the Pacers ranking lower due to their outlier 155 points allowed in Boston. Damian Lillard proved a massive downgrade defensively from Jrue Holiday, beat badly by Trae Young and Dennis Schröder, allowing opponents to shoot 53.7% from the field. That's with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez available in the paint, and while Adrian Griffin deserves some leeway as a rookie coach and Lillard as a new teammate, they're far behind the cohesion the Celtics displayed through their opening stretch. 

Minnesota (2-2): Credit their defense to holding opponents to under 100 points in three of their four games, a credit to Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and Mike Conley's comfort together in their first full seasons. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns' ability to lead a consistent offense wavered through wins and losses. The defense powered an upset over Denver. Naz Reid's solid offensive play as the team's depth center could eventually create questions about Towns' future with the team if they get off to a slow start. 

New Orleans (4-1): Here come the injuries. The Pelicans beat the Pistons on Thursday, but the team scratched Zion Williamson (rest) while Brandon Ingram (knee) missed his third straight game. Travel issues and a back-to-back likely led to Williamson's absence and New Orleans looked dominant to begin the season, Williamson averaging 21.5 PPG on 50.7% shooting and set to return on Saturday against the Hawks. Ingram's status remains uncertain after an MRI revealed no structural damage beyond tendinitis. Willie Green said he thinks Ingram is day-to-day, but he's not sure. CJ McCollum carried the offense with 33 points over Detroit. 

New York (2-3): RJ Barrett missed his second straight game with knee soreness as Julius Randles' horrifying start didn't prevent the Knicks from pushing to within a possession late behind Jalen Brunson's hot shooting. It's overdue to discuss Randles' role in the Knicks' increasingly erratic offensive attack, finishing 5-for-20, 27.1% for the season and -5 in the loss while Brunson scored 45 in winning minutes. New York can't overcome those bad starts, but they're stuck with the All-NBA player at his best for now, who's continued to dive into a liability when his shot doesn't fall. Damian Lillard's late three and 30 points downed the Knicks' comeback attempt and they fell to No. 29 offensively, ahead of only Memphis. 

Oklahoma City (3-2): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored only seven points before only four Thunder including him reached double-figures in an offensively-starved losses to the Nuggets and Pelicans. They've been outscored so far despite edging out a record above .500 and received little scoring from their bench and Lu Dort to begin the year. Gilgeous-Alexander missed Friday's game against the Warriors due to a knee strain while Jaylin Williams (hamstring) made his season debut. Nikola Jokić left some advice for the team's lone center Chet Holmgren after beating him up in Denver's win. 

"I think he needs experience. I think he needs to be a little bit fatter, to be honest,” Jokić joked. “But yes, he has a talent that is unique.”

Orlando (3-2): Competitive against some tough competition early, and Paolo Banchero shook off a slow start to drop 30 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a 115-113 win over the Jazz. The team lost Wendell Carter Jr. in the win though, after the big man broke his left hand, scratched Markelle Fultz pre-game with left knee swelling and sat Gary Harris for the rest of the night when he suffered a groin strain early in the game. The losses will test the Magic's depth if they become long-term, rookie Anthony Black playing in crunch time, Cole Anthony already a large part of the offense early and Moe Wagner next in line to step up at the big man spot alongside Jonathan Isaac, who's slowly acclimating back from another surgery. 

Philadelphia (3-1): Winners of three straight and past the James Harden drama with an influx of wings arriving to help a scoring trio of Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid buying into more ball movement and activity preached by Nick Nurse. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 23 more points in a win over Toronto, joining the starters alongside De'Anthony Melton on a minimum deal to form the league's No. 3 offense. It's too soon to say they're better off without Harden, who helped push the Celtics to the brink ahead 3-2 in the east semifinals last year. They're more active for now, and while the new arrivals largely didn't play on Thursday, they might prove deeper as well. The long-term goal appears to be consolidating assets into another star though, and we won't be able to fully judge this team until they do that -- which could take until the deadline. They host the Celtics at home on Wednesday night. 

Phoenix (2-3): Blew a 20-point third quarter lead and led all game before a late Keldon Johnson steal on Kevin Durant in the back court and pivot toward the rim for the game-winning dunk. Bradley Beal (back) remained out and Devin Booker returned for the rematch with Victor Wembanyama's Spurs. Booker scored 31 points with nine rebounds and 13 assists, but the Suns allowed 132 points and lost by 11. Jusuf Nurkić sat for the entire fourth quarter and finished with 19 minutes for a thin team, a concerning start to his time with the Suns. Worse, the Arizona Republic reported Beal's back injury is a concern with no timetable set for his debut and Booker (ankle) is questionable for Sunday. Phoenix ranks 12th in offense and 11th in defense.

Portland (3-3): Overcame a late 10-point deficit to down the Grizzlies behind 24 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists from Malcolm Brogdon, who returned to the starting lineup with struggling rookie Scoot Henderson falling with a right ankle sprain earlier this week. Anfernee Simons underwent hand surgery on Halloween, likely to miss six weeks into December. Shaedon Sharpe also shined with 22 points in the comeback win after dropping 29 in a win over Detroit. Robert Williams III posted eight points and 10 rebounds off the bench, embracing with former teammate Marcus Smart pre-game. 

Brogdon is averaging 19.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 5.3 APG on 41.8% shooting. Williams III averaged 7.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG and 1.4 BPG (65.2% FG). 

Sacramento (2-2): Undefeated aside from the Warriors, who they're mostly getting out of the way early. They scored 130 points against the Jazz and Lakers, beating the latter in overtime, but losing De'Aaron Fox to an ankle injury that could sideline him for some time. Shams Charania reported Fox could returns sometime over the next week during the Kings' road trip, which starts in Houston on Saturday. They received 23-year-old prospect Filip Petrusev via the Clippers, who acquired him in the James Harden trade and sent him to Sacramento along with cash. 

San Antonio (3-2): Beat the Suns 132-121 after their epic comeback two nights prior in the breakout performance by Victor Wembanyama -- 38 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks on 15-for-26 shooting (3-6 3PT). Wembanyama overwhelmed Kevin Durant with his height and length after shaking off a rough start in the prior game to slam home a put-back dunk that led to Keldon Johnson's steal and game winner one the next possession. Wembanyama improved to 15-for-19 in the fourth quarter in the second game, pushing a 12-0 run to slam the door on Durant and Devin Booker. San Antonio lost Devin Vassell to groin tightness that knocked him out of the second half after emerging as San Antonio's go-to offensive player early this season. He could miss a little while, Gregg Popovich said. 

"He different," Durant, standing close to 7-0, said of the 7-4 Wembanyama on the broadcast. "He long, athletic, he mobile, he can shoot it, he got skills. He tough ... when he raised up and shot the ball, it's like, there's no way I'm gonna be close to this, so I'm just going to play hard and contest, because you're going to foul him or he's going to make the shot ... he misses, it's all on him."