Veteran forward Doug McDermott announces his retirement after 12 NBA seasons, according to his agency Priority Sports. The 34‑year‑old was the 11th overall pick in the 2014 draft after a standout career at Creighton, where he earned three All‑American honors and AP Player of the Year in 2013‑14. He played for eight teams, posting his best stretch with Indiana and San Antonio (2019‑23) at 11.4 points per game on .489/.414/.798 shooting. In his final two years with Sacramento, he averaged 8.5 points in 71 games. His NBA contracts total just over $78 million.
Indiana MUST win or fall out of CFP! How to beat USC? Colts injuries mount! Pacers host Knicks!
The Utah Jazz’s season focus shifts to the NBA Cup after a 1‑11 start, offering a tangible goal beyond rebuilding. Writer @_roundball praises the in‑season tournament, citing its exciting inaugural Final—Los Angeles Lakers (LeBron James 24pts, AD 41pts) beating Indiana Pacers 123‑109—and the 2024‑25 showdown between Giannis‑led Milwaukee Bucks and Damian Lillard’s Oklahoma City Thunder. The post argues that reaching the NBA Cup Final would signal the Jazz’s readiness to compete for a championship.
Doug McDermott announces his retirement after a 12‑year NBA career, according to Priority Sports. The former Creighton star averaged 8.5 points and shot 41% from three, most recently appearing in 29 games for the Sacramento Kings last season (5.7 points per game). Agent Mark Bartelstein praised McDermott’s journey from an overlooked high school player to a respected sharpshooter who helped the Indiana Pacers in key playoff runs. With no veteran roster spot offered this year, McDermott appears content to end his tenure as one of the league’s elite shooters.
The Knicks face a tactical dilemma against Pacers forward Pascal Siakam in their upcoming game on Friday in Indianapolis. Siakam has been scoring 28‑29 points while shooting efficiently, including a perfect 12‑for‑12 from the line against Washington, and can score both inside and from three. The article advises New York to use a size‑based primary defender who stays between Siakam and the rim, while a guard offers help without fouling, keeping the weak‑side big near the basket. Double‑teams are recommended only on deep catches or mismatches, and foul timing must be managed to avoid gifting the Pacers free throws. This strategy aims to limit Siakam’s scoring without costly fouls.
Naz Reid could be on the trading block, the Warriors are already looking at big man upgrades and the Pacers are shopping for help.
The Cavaliers sit at 6‑6 after a roller‑coaster week, dropping by double digits at Charlotte before beating the defending champions at MSG. Despite the inconsistency, Donovan Mitchell re‑signed a four‑year, $273 million extension, reinforcing his belief the roster can contend. James Harden posted a season‑high 32 points in the New York win, still adjusting to his new role. Meanwhile, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham recorded a historic 52‑point, 11‑assist, zero‑turnover double‑OT victory, a feat not seen since 1978. Pacers center Ivica Zubac is quietly working on a three‑point shot, though he isn’t ready to use it in games yet.
The Knicks could deploy Andre Drummond against the Pacers on Friday to disrupt Indiana’s dominant paint play. Coach proposes short stints for Drummond to block center Ivica Zubac’s second‑chance rebounds, allowing Karl‑Anthony Towns to stay on the floor while a wing contains Zubac. The plan hinges on ending possessions early—securing rebounds before the Pacers can execute a second shot. Recent stats show Drummond’s offensive boards against Cleveland and the Pacers’ 14 offensive rebounds and 60 paint points, underscoring the need for a focused adjustment. The article outlines timing, rotation tweaks, and potential trade‑offs of the strategy.
The Knicks head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday for a tough test against a struggling Pacers squad. Indiana sits 4‑8 and is missing injured star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who’s out with a hamstring, leaving coach Mike Brown without his offensive engine. The Pacers rank near the bottom in three‑point shooting (33%), offensive rating (20th) and rebounding (29th), though they boast a strong assist‑to‑turnover ratio. Pascal Siakam leads the team with 22.7 points per game and Andrew Nembhard adds 17.1, while newcomer Ivica Zubac has yet to fit into the system. Expect a hostile environment as New York tries to capitalize on Indiana’s woes.
The Philadelphia 76ers rallied from a 16‑point early deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 123‑112 on Nov. 12, 2026, snapping a rough start and improving to 10‑3. With LeBron James (sciatica), Adem Bona (cervical sprain) and Dominick Barlow (back) out, VJ Edgecombe stepped up, posting 15 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals and a block—nearly a triple‑double and zero turnovers. Joel Embiid, cleared from plantar fasciitis concerns, contributed 20 points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocks despite a knee knock. Six Sixers scored in double figures, and the win sets up a home game against the Indiana Pacers after a short break.
The Washington Wizards fall to the Detroit Pistons 144-140 in a double‑overtime thriller, extending their losing streak to six games. After a 17-10 early lead sparked by Alex Sarr’s perfect shooting, the Wizards surrender a lead and trail 94-90 entering the fourth quarter. Trae Young ties the game with a buzzer‑beating three, forcing OT, while Kyshawn George's triple briefly puts Washington ahead in the first overtime. Despite strong performances from Sarr (21 points), Anthony Davis (16 points, eight rebounds) and Young (12 points), Detroit’s Duncan Robinson (perfect 3‑for‑3) and Cade Cunningham seal the win. The loss follows a 114-101 defeat to the Pacers and a recent 122-111 loss in Detroit, highlighting the Wizards’ ongoing struggles.
Joel Embiid suits up for the Philadelphia 76ers against Toronto but exits early in the first quarter after colliding with guard Ja’Kobi Walter and pointing to his right knee. Medical staff check him, but he returns later, finishing the half with seven points and three rebounds. The 17.7‑point, 9.3‑rebounds star is still shooting only 37% this season, coming off a 2‑of‑9 night in a 123‑101 loss to Boston. The Sixers face back‑to‑back games vs. Indiana and Brooklyn, and may rest Embiid depending on his knee’s condition.
Prime Video announces that Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum will serve as a player contributor on NBA on Prime for the 2026‑27 season. He debuts Friday on NBA Nightcap after the Emirates NBA Cup double‑header featuring the Knicks vs. Pacers and Warriors vs. Spurs. McCollum, a journalism graduate, will share insider locker‑room insight while still playing. The move follows Amazon’s similar hires of Kyle Lowry and WNBA guard Kelsey Plum. McCollum’s media work began with his C.J.’s Press Pass program and a multi‑year ESPN analyst deal, positioning him for a post‑playing career.
Through the early stages of the 2026-27 NBA campaign, top teams have started to reveal themselves while teams destined to miss the playoffs are also starting to become clear.
In a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden, Knicks captain Jalen Brunson humorously tried to grab a referee’s attention while defending teammate Josh Hart, who racked up four fouls. ESPN footage shows Brunson shifting into the official’s eyeline after she looks away, finally getting a brief hearing. Despite Brunson’s 27 points on over 50% shooting and Karl‑Anthony Town’s 21 and 11 rebounds, the Knicks fall 6‑5, snapping a four‑game win streak. Cavs stars James Harden (32) and Donovan Mitchell (23) lead the win, and New York looks to bounce back against the Pacers on Nov. 13.
Grant Williams finally returns for the Hornets, announcing his season debut after a right hamstring strain kept him out since September. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) faces at least five more games on the sidelines with a hamstring issue, and Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson sustains a right hand injury after a collision with Victor Wembanyama. Raptors forward Scottie Barnes misses another night with a groin strain, while the Sixers sit LeBron James (low back/scatica) and Adem Bona (cervical spine sprain). Oklahoma City hopes to see Thomas Sorber back soon after his September 2025 ACL tear.
The Washington Wizards are struggling offensively, dropping five straight to sit at 4-8 after a 114-101 loss to Indiana. New guard Trae Young, acquired to spark the attack, averages 18.3 points and 8.3 assists but shoots just 40% overall and a league‑low 29.6% from three. The team as a whole is 29th in three‑point percentage at 29.8%, hampering both Young and big men like Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton. While Young’s playmaking remains solid, the Wizards need better shooting and smarter lineups to turn his opportunities into points and revive their offense.
The Washington Wizards fell to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, extending their five‑game losing streak. Trae Young, despite shooting efficiently, drew criticism after stopping mid‑possession to argue with the referee, leaving Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard open for a sure‑thing jumper. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about Young’s defensive effort, a problem dating back to his Atlanta days. Rookie AJ Dybantsa showed typical first‑year inconsistency, while veteran Anthony Davis contributed solid minutes. Washington next hosts the Detroit Pistons on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
The article argues that the Knicks should deploy forward OG Anunoby to guard opponents before screens arrive, using his length and defensive skill to disrupt the initial read. Citing James Harden’s 32-point, 11‑free‑throw performance against New York and Anunoby’s two steals and a block in 34 minutes, the author suggests switching Anunoby onto the ball handler early in upcoming games—especially against Indiana—to prevent the ball‑handler from pulling up or rolling. A deeper drop is presented as a secondary option, but the piece emphasizes proactive match‑ups over reactive defense.
The Sixers open a grueling schedule, facing two games each vs. the Knicks, Cavs and Pistons, plus a loss to Boston, but now enter their easiest five-game stretch. Thursday they host a depleted Toronto Raptors—missing Kawhi Leonard and likely Scottie Barnes—followed by a matchup with an injury‑hit Indiana Pacers lacking Tyrese Haliburton. The run continues with back‑to‑back games at Brooklyn against the Nets and at home versus the Bucks, all while experimenting with small‑ball lineups featuring Jabari Walker or Dean Wade. Coach Nick Nurse sees the stretch as a chance to tweak defensive schemes and rack up early wins, provided health holds up.
Ben Stiller missed the Knicks' 119-112 loss to the Cavaliers on Nov. 12 while attending the premiere of his new film, Focker-in-Law, at Manhattan's Beacon Theatre. The star posted a pre‑game hype tweet, then asked “What happened?” as Cleveland snapped New York’s four‑game streak, improving to 6‑6 while the Knicks fall to 6‑5. The Knights look to rebound against the Pacers on Friday, Nov. 13. The article also notes the movie’s release on Nov. 25, 2026, marking the first Focker sequel in 16 years.
The Washington Wizards drop their fifth straight game, a 13‑point loss to a Tyrese Haliburton‑less Indiana Pacers, and early‑season metrics suggest trouble ahead. After 11 games the Wizards sit at a –11.3 adjusted scoring margin, the worst in the Eastern Conference, projecting roughly 20‑25 wins—better than last season but far from a major jump. Historical data shows even 8‑10 games give a reliable strength indicator, and the Wizards’ poor defense and volatile three‑point luck could keep them stuck near the bottom. While a play‑in spot remains possible if other East teams falter, a dramatic turnaround appears unlikely.
Coach Rick Carlisle says Aaron Nesmith left Indiana’s 114-101 win over Washington with tightness in the back of his right knee, leaving the severity of the injury uncertain. Nesmith, a key starter who contributed to the Pacers’ 2025 Finals run, is now listed day‑to‑day as the team also battles Tyrese Haliburton’s ongoing hamstring issue. The veteran logged just 22 minutes, shooting 1‑for‑6 for two points before exiting with 4:57 left in the third quarter. With the Pacers languishing at 3-8, missing another starter could further derail their title hopes for the 2026‑27 season.
The Indiana Pacers outlasted the Washington Wizards 114-101 behind Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac on Wednesday night.
The post Pacers’ big men take charge to outlast Wizards 114-101 appeared first on TalkBasket.net .
The Knicks fall to 6-5 after a 115-107 loss to Cleveland, and head coach Mike Brown lashes out at the referees for denying Jalen Brunson any free‑throw attempts despite his 35 minutes on the floor. Brunson finished with 27 points but zero trips to the line, while the Cavs earned 25 free throws, 11 from James Harden. Brown says the lack of calls “is alarming,” though Brunson admits his own hesitancy contributed. Karl‑Anthony Towns notches his 11th straight double‑double (21/11/8) and Miles McBride adds 19 off the bench. The Knicks aim to rebound against Indiana on Friday.