Starting 5: Williams makes history, Maxey delivers again

“In just their second year of existence, the Golden State Valkyries are champions of the WNBA!”

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Valkyries Ride: The Golden State Valkyries win the 2026 WNBA championship, taking the first Game 7 in league history behind Gabby Williams

Roundup: The Grizzlies move to 6-0 and Tyrese Maxey stays showing up in the clutch on Saturday night

Happy Halloween: Check out the best costumes from around the NBA on the spookiest day of the year

The Pritchard Situation: The NBA’s top bench scorer leads the Celtics against the Magic Sunday

NBA Origins: NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt takes a look at Ben Newman, owner of the Toronto Huskies, who helped launch the league 80 years ago today

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Our four-game slate features a matinee showdown between the Celtics and Magic (3:30 ET) and Luka Dončić and the Lakers taking on Scottie Barnes and the Raptors (9 ET).

1. VALKYRIES RIDE TO A TITLE IN BALLHALLA

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

With the championship on the line, and the spirits of Halloween in the air, the Valkyries turned to their “spooky” star.

Gabby Williams scored 28 of her 30 points in the second half — more than any other player has put up in a half in WNBA postseason history — to lead Golden State to a title with a 68-63 Game 7 win over the Atlanta Dream in front of their roaring fans at Chase Center.

The game was tied at 57 with 2:18 to go, but Williams, nicknamed “Spooky G,” knocked down a 31-foot 3-pointer to take the lead, and Golden State never looked back.

• “It’s easy when the energy is so good and positive,” said Williams, who earned Finals MVP after totaling the most points in a WNBA Finals series (137 pts)
• “We didn’t let anyone put a limit on us all year,” said Veronica Burton (10 pts, 10 reb).

Jordin Canada (18 pts, 5 ast) led Atlanta in scoring in the defeat.

The Valkyries handed the Dream their first loss in a game when Angel Reese (8 pts, 12 reb) made at least one 3-pointer, snapping Atlanta’s 16-0 record in those games.

“Our fanbase poured so much into us,” said Reese. “We’ll be back.”

• Reese’s Run: Angel Reese is the first player in WNBA history to total 100+ PTS and 50+ REB in a single Finals series

The Valkyries are the fastest team, dating back to 1967, to win a championship since their inception, taking the title just two years after arriving in the Bay.

2. ROUNDUP: MAXEY DELIVERS IN THE CLUTCH AGAIN

Helen McGinnis/Getty Images

The Sixers remained perfect in the clutch behind their All-Star point guard.

76ers 109, Hornets 104: Philadelphia won the fourth quarter 32-21, coming back on the road behind Tyrese Maxey (38 pts, 4 3PM, team-high +14). | Recap

• Maxing: Maxey scored 15 points in the fourth quarter — the third time he’s put up 15+ in the final period this season. No one else has done it more than once
• VJ For Victory: VJ Edgecombe (10 pts, 8 reb) delivered a crucial 3-pointer for the second straight night
• Philly Rising: The Sixers are 6-1 for the first time since 2023-24

Grizzlies 136, Kings 105: Cameron Boozer (27 pts, 9 reb) continued his strong play to begin the season, leading the Grizzlies past the Kings and the ankle-breaking stylings of Darius Acuff Jr. (38 pts, 9 3PM), who was electric for Sacramento. | Recap

• Bearing Down: The Grizzlies matched the best start in franchise history, reaching 6-0 for the first time since the 2014-15 season
• Bucket Getter: Acuff Jr. is the first player since Shaquille O’Neal to score 150+ points through his first six NBA games, the youngest Kings player to put up 30+ in consecutive games, and the youngest player in NBA history to drop 9+ 3PM

Cavaliers 136, Bucks 111: Evan Mobley (27 pts) and Jarrett Allen (25 pts, 11 reb) dominated the interior on the way to the win, but Brayden Burries (14 pts) had the highlight of the night, throwing down this dunk that earned a 120.1 on the Dunk Score scale — the highest mark of the season. | Recap

Trail Blazers 112, Jazz 90: Deni Avdija (24 pts on 12 FGA) and the Blazers held the Jazz to 37.2% shooting in the matinee win, leading by as many as 28. | Recap

Pelicans 121, Hawks 99: Saddiq Bey (25 pts) was hot off the bench as the Pelicans channeled their Halloween spirit to a win over the Hawks. | Recap

Rockets 119, Thunder 98: Jabari Smith Jr. (30 pts, 9 reb) and Marcus Smart (24 pts, 7-for-10 3P) led Houston to a big win over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26 pts) and Oklahoma City. | Recap

• Eason Elevates: Tari Eason threw down a monster poster dunk, putting an exclamation point on the win for the fans at Toyota Center.

Spurs 121, Timberwolves 111: Victor Wembanyama (43 pts, 6 blk) dominated in San Antonio, rocking the rim with this self alley-oop, and took the win with the help of Dylan Harper (25 pts).

3. CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN WITH THE NBA

Victor Wembanyama as Geralt from The Witcher

Wemby came dressed in costume once again, continuing his love of Halloween celebrations as players around the league joined in on the fun.

Check out some of the best costumes from around the Association here, then visit NBA.com for more.

• Hail The Wembaby: The Alien’s youngest fan was out on Halloween
• Alpi Is The One: There is no spoon, but there is a Sengun

Lauri Markkannen as Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders

Tony Bradley as Dennis Nedry from Jurassic Park

Sam Hauser and his son as Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story

4. LEAGUE PASS: PRITCHARD KEEPS GETTING BUCKETS

Brian Fluharty/Getty Images

The league’s top bench scorer will go to work Sunday afternoon in Orlando, as Payton Pritchard helps lead the Celtics against the Magic (3:30 ET).

Pritchard’s at 16.6 ppg, continuing the evolution that helped him become the 2024-25 Kia Sixth Man of the Year. The 6-foot-1 guard, who signed a two-year extension with Boston in October, has added strength to his trademark ballhandling and shooting, changing his profile.

In two of his last three outings, Pritchard has put up 28 points and 30 points, respectively.

He’s shooting 48.1/43.3/90.0 from the field this season, including 52.9% on 10.2 drives per game — second-most on the perimeter-oriented Celtics — and 44.8% from 25-29 feet, better than Luka Dončić, Stephen Curry and Tyrese Maxey from that range.

But it was his defensive effort that prompted praise from head coach Joe Mazzulla after Saturday’s win over Chicago.

“Being a key player on both ends of the floor really helps us take it to a different level, so he’s got more in the tank,” said Mazzulla. “He’s a kid that can continue to get better and better. I like pushing him, I like coaching him, and I love him like a brother.”

Our other contests include Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors (9 ET), and Curry, fresh off his 31-point explosion Friday night, leading the Warriors against the Clippers (8 ET).

5. 80 YEARS AGO TODAY, NBA HISTORY BEGAN

The Raptors and Timberwolves played on a Toronto Huskies-themed court in 2016. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt brings us the story of Ben Newman, owner of the Basketball Association of America’s Toronto Huskies, eight decades after the franchise played the New York Knicks in the first game of what would become the NBA.

Eighty years ago today, on Nov. 1, 1946, the New York Knicks played the Huskies at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto in what is considered the first game in NBA history.

The Knicks won, 68-66, and became a fixture in the NBA while the Huskies were around for just that one season.

Yet Newman’s impact resonates today. He was an entrepreneur, owner, manager, coach, promoter and advocate for the game. He believed in the virtue of sport.

“This guy lived and breathed basketball,” Newman’s grandson, Jordon Williams, said.

Newman had big dreams and ideas, but it began with a simple premise: basketball is accessible, and he wanted as many people as possible to play.

It was a grassroots approach before there was even such a thing.

“He believed all you needed was running shoes, shorts and a t-shirt,” Williams said. “He didn’t care what religion or culture you were.” | Read More

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