Starting 5: An OT overload as an epic week awaits

The highest-scoring game of the season. Three OT finishes. Five games decided by five points or fewer.

A night of chaos needed one last closer. Keyonte George obliged.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Overtime Madness: Rockets’ trio takes over, Keyonte calls game, Flagg sparks flawless finish

Never Out: Atlanta completes improbable rally, Boston staves off Harden’s hot hand

Sunday Roundup: Fox dissects a familiar foe, Nets win and Moody’s moment

What’s Trending – West: Three Kia MVP candidates powering three 10+ win teams

What’s Trending – East: The streaking Pistons lead a pack of contenders on the rise

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Two East powers open tonight’s eight-game slate as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks visit Donovan Mitchell’s Cavs on Peacock (7 ET | Tap to Watch).

1. PURE BASKETBALL: 3 OT FINISHES, ANOTHER CAN-YOU-BELIEVE-IT NIGHT

Week 4 of the 2025-26 season opened with a breathless night of buzzer-beaters, outbursts and overtime classics.

It closed with another wild night of hoops – sparked by one of the hottest teams in the league.

Rockets 117, Magic 113 (OT): In a frantic finish, Anthony Black’s and-one steal-and-score put Orlando up 2 with 1.7 seconds left in the 4th. But it was too much time for Houston, as Amen Thompson found Alperen Sengun on the ensuing inbound for a game-tying hook shot at the buzzer to force OT.

Then Kevin Durant finished the job, following up a series of clutch buckets in the 4th with a go-ahead dime to Thompson, before icing the game with a dagger pull-up with 9.2 ticks left, sealing Houston’s fourth straight win and its ninth in 10 games. | Recap

• Thriving 3: Durant (35 pts, 6 ast), Sengun (30 pts, 12 reb, 8 ast) and Thompson (12 pts, 10 reb) combined for 77 points, including 31 in the 4th quarter and OT
• OT Takeover: The trio scored or assisted on every Houston bucket in the extra frame, while single-handedly matching Orlando in scoring (11-11)
• Red-Hot: That chemistry has fueled Houston’s 9-1 stretch, where it’s averaged an NBA-best 126.2 ppg, elevating to 3rd-place out West

Overtime? How about two of ’em?

Jazz 150, Bulls 147 (2OT): In his season debut, Coby White (27 pts, 8 ast) delivered a one-man rescue. With Chicago down 2 and time winding down, White forced a jump ball, won it and then scooped in the game-tying layup with 0.2 left to force double OT.

But Utah wouldn’t be denied, with Lauri Markkanen (47 pts, 7 reb, 6 3s) and Keyonte George (33 pts, 6 ast) delivering bucket after bucket, capped by George’s game-winning trey with 0.8 left to send the Delta Center into a frenzy after the highest-scoring game of 2025-26. | Recap

• “To get that moment … it was just great to hear our crowd scream and yell.” – George on his first career game-winner inside 10 seconds
• Lauri Unleashed: Markkanen (47, 40, 35) has now posted back-to-back 40-pieces and three straight games of 35+, both career-firsts
• Unique Company: The only other Jazz player to tally consecutive 40-point games in the last 40 years? Donovan Mitchell and Karl Malone
• Chicago Star: Josh Giddey continued his hot start with his 3rd triple-double of the season (26 pts, 13 reb, 13 ast)
• Sunday Sizzle: It’s the highest-scoring game this season and one of five Sunday matchups decided by 5 points or fewer

And why not one more OT? This one was courtesy of this year’s No. 1 pick.

Mavericks 138, Blazers 133 (OT): Trading blows in the final 90 seconds of regulation, Cooper Flagg pulled Dallas even twice – first on a driving floater with 1:11 left, then a clutch free throw to force OT – where the Mavs couldn’t miss.

Fueled by Flagg (4 pts, 1 ast, 2 reb, 2-2 FG in OT), Dallas went a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor in the extra frame, including an electric 30-second sequence to seize control for a thrilling win. | Recap

• Flawless Finish: It’s just the second time since play-by-play tracking began in 1997-98 that a team has shot 100% from the field in OT on 7+ FGA
• Coop’s Cookin’: Flagg finished with 21 points, 5 assists and 2 blocks, marking his second 20+ point outing in four games
• Sharpe Shines: Shaedon Sharpe powered Portland with a game-high 36 points and 6 assists
• Wild Week: There have been seven OT games in the last seven days – the most in any seven-day span since December 2022

2. NEVER OUT: HAWKS STUN SUNS, CELTICS OVERCOME HARDEN

The drama didn’t stop there, as the Hawks kept soaring.

Hawks 124, Suns 122: Down 22 with 9:50 left, Onyeka Okongwu (27 pts), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (26 pts) and Jalen Johnson (25 pts, 10 reb, 7 ast) ignited a 43-19 closing run, as Atlanta stunned Phoenix for its 5th straight win. | Recap

• NAWt Over: Alexander-Walker scored 16 in the final frame, including the game-clinching free throws to cap the largest 4Q comeback this season
• Suns Stars: Dillon Brooks (34 pts) and Devin Booker (27 pts, 7 ast) led Phoenix, which saw its five-game win streak snapped

While Atlanta stormed back, Boston steadied just in time.

Celtics 121, Clippers 118: With the Clippers trailing by 24 in the 3rd, James Harden went off, dropping 32 2nd-half points to will LA back, but Boston held on thanks to Jaylen Brown (33 pts, 13 reb) and Payton Pritchard (30 pts, 8 3s). | Recap

• The Closer: Brown scored 13 in the 4th, including a game-sealing dunk in the final minute to secure the C’s third win in four games
• The Beard: Harden finished with 37 points, 7 boards and 8 dimes, following up his monster triple-double on Friday (41/14/11)
• Timeless Company: Harden’s just the fourth player ever of age 36 or older to post back-to-back games of 35/5/5, joining Steph, KD (2x) and LeBron (5x)

3. ROUNDUP: MOODY ERUPTS, FOX SPARKS SPURS, NETS WIN

On Wednesday, Steph dropped 46. On Friday, he followed it with 49.

On Sunday, a new Warrior caught fire – joining Curry in the record books.

Warriors 124, Pelicans 106: In a blistering burst, Moses Moody splashed seven 3s in the 1st quarter for 21 points as Golden State built a 17-point lead and never looked back to top Trey Murphy III (20 pts) and NOLA for its third straight win. | Recap

• Splash Bros: Moody is just the third Warrior to hit 7+ triples in a quarter in the play-by-play era, joining Curry (2x) and Klay Thompson (2x)
• Moody’s Moment: The 5th-year guard – averaging 13.2 ppg this season – finished 8-of-12 from deep for a career-high 32 points, along with 4 boards and 3 steals
• Steph’s Special Stretch: Curry was limited to 9 points but still turned in a historic week, joining Michael Jordan as the only players to tally back-to-back games of 45+ points after turning 35

Only one player in Kings history ranks in the top five in franchise points, assists and steals – De’Aaron Fox.

And in his second game against his former team, he showed why.

Spurs 123, Kings 110: With Victor Wembanyama out (calf), Fox delivered a season-high in points (28) and assists (11) – plus a steal that sprung one of Keldon Johnson’s two double-clutch jams – as San Antonio soared past DeMar DeRozan (27 pts) and the Kings to snap a two-game skid. | Recap

Nets 129, Wizards 106: Michael Porter Jr. turned up for a season-high 34 points, 9 boards and 7 dimes, and the Nets never trailed after the 1st quarter on their way past Kyshawn George (29 pts) and the Wizards. | Recap

4. WHAT’S TRENDING: THE BEST OUT WEST

Five different players with 50-point games. 

Twenty players with 40-balls.

Thirteen with triple-doubles.

The first two are both NBA records through the first month of a season. The latter is one shy – and we’re only 27 days in.

At the center of this early-season explosion? Three of the top four players on the Kia MVP Ladder – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić – leading the only 10-win teams out West.

SGA & OKC Rolling: At an NBA-best 13-1, the Thunder are off to their best start in the OKC era, leaning on what delivered them last year’s NBA title – depth, defense and Shai.

• Steady Hand: No player has more 30-point games this season than SGA, with 12 in 14 outings, fueling OKC to a top-5 offense
• Scary Numbers: With 32.6 ppg on 53.1% shooting, Shai is seeking his fourth straight season averaging 30+ on at least 50% shooting – a feat that hasn’t been achieved since MJ (1987-88 to ‘91-92)
• Relentless Pressure: OKC’s defense hasn’t just carried over from last season – it’s tightened the screws, leading the NBA in points allowed, steals, points off turnovers, opponent FG% and DefRtg

Jokić History, Nuggets Heater: Seven triple-doubles on the season for Nikola Jokić. Seven straight wins for Denver, leading to a 10-2 record – its best start since 1985. As Jokić continues to shatter records, Denver is climbing the standings.

• Unprecedented: Jokić is averaging 34.6 pts, 12 reb and 11 ast while shooting 71.4% amid the Nuggets’ win streak – numbers no player has ever matched in a 7-game span
• Unstoppable: That includes a 55-point outburst on 18-of-23 shooting last Wednesday, followed by a triple-double to top the Wolves on Saturday
• “Enjoy it while it’s here,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman on Jokić earlier this month. “This is something that you’re never going to see again.”

Luka Magic: Only one player in NBA history has piled up 340+ pts, 80+ reb and 80+ ast in his first 10 games of a season – Luka Dončić, once in 2022-23 and again this year, leading Los Angeles to a 10-4 start.

And every time he takes the floor, he can erupt.

• Peak Production: Luka is pouring in an NBA-best 34.4 ppg, ranks 5th in assists (8.9) and leads the Lakers in rebounds (8.9)
• Highly Flammable: That includes four 40-point games in just 10 outings – the most of any player this season
• Against The Best: His most recent masterpiece? 41 points, 9 boards and 6 dimes on Saturday to outduel Giannis (32 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast)

Wemby Being Wemby: Right behind Luka (No. 4) on the MVP Ladder stands Victor Wembanyama, averaging an absurd 26.2 pts, 12.9 reb and 3.6 blk, with three straight 25+ point double-doubles.

5. WHAT’S TRENDING: EAST BEASTS ON THE RISE

The Pistons enjoyed a season-to-season turnaround for the ages in 2024-25, winning 30 more games than in 2023-24 while reaching the Playoffs (after finishing last in the NBA in 2023-24).

They’re firing on all cylinders these days and boast the East’s best record (11-2). Additionally, the squad is on a league-best nine-game winning streak, its longest since 2008.

• Dual Dominance: Cade Cunningham (31.6 ppg, 11.1 apg) and Jalen Duren (22.9 ppg, 13.6 rpg) have been a one-two punch throughout the squad’s nine victories, though the former is questionable tonight with a hip injury
• Consistent Crew: Duren has ripped off six double-doubles in that time, and Cunningham has been similarly reliable, putting up 25+ points and 10+ assists in his last four games
• Defense Does It: But it’s on defense where the Pistons have excelled, ranking 2nd in steals and 3rd in blocks, DefRtg and Opp FG%

The Knicks are hot on their tracks — literally. They stand at 8-4 after claiming six of their last seven outings. Tonight, they face the Heat (7:30 ET, NBA League Pass) with a chance to keep the pressure on the Pistons at the top of the standings.

• Rock The Rim: New York leads the Association with 128.3 ppg in that span, compared to its 4th-best average of 122.1 during the season so far
• Next Man Up: Jalen Brunson missed his first game of 2025-26 on Friday, and still, New York outran Miami and its top-ranked 125.3 ppg in a 140-132 barnburner

Big names have done big things elsewhere. Giannis Antetokounmpo (32.6 ppg), Tyrese Maxey (32) and Donovan Mitchell (30.4) are all former All-Stars who currently stand 2nd, 4th and 6th among the league’s scoring leaders.

• Fear The Freak: Giannis is shooting at an absurd 63.0% clip, putting him on a better pace than any of his 12 previous seasons
• Mad Max: With 330+ points, 80+ assists and 40+ 3s through his first 10 contests, Maxey joined James Harden (2019-20) as the only players in league history to do so
• Spida Sense: Mitchell has shined in closing time, averaging 19.2 2nd-half ppg on 57.7% shooting to help Cleveland to 3rd place in the East, setting the stage for a key matchup tonight versus Milwaukee (7 ET, Peacock)

The Raptors are also roaring, with seven victories in their last eight games. Tonight, they host the Hornets (7:30 ET, League Pass) with an opportunity to gain further ground in the East.

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