Starting 5, Oct. 11: Triple Aces

Three of a kind.

For the third time in four years, the Aces are WNBA champions.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Oct. 11, 2025

China Games 2025: Booker, Brooks & the Suns rally to win the opener in Macao

All-Access Macao: On the ground for a global hoops spectacle

W Dynasty: A’ja Wilson and the Aces complete a storybook season with a Finals sweep

Friday Roundup: Wemby & Ace trade buckets, Harper debuts, a last-second winner and more

Saturday Spotlight: Indy & OKC meet again, a potential Flagg vs. Kon clash and Hawks-Grizz

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Let’s run it back…

A 2025 NBA Finals Rematch tips off tonight’s three-game slate as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder visit Pascal Siakam and the Pacers on NBA TV (7 ET).

Then Sunday at 7 am ET on NBA TV, the Suns and Nets play the second of two NBA China Games, after Phoenix took the opener.

1. SUNS RALLY FOR OT WIN IN FIRST OF TWO NBA CHINA GAMES

As the sun came up in North America on Friday, the Suns came back in China.

Suns 132, Nets 127 (OT): Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks teamed up for 18 points apiece, Jordan Goodwin added 19 and 7 assists after the half, and the Suns erased an 18-point 1st-quarter deficit to force OT, where they outlasted the Nets at Macao’s Venetian Arena | Recap

• Scorching Start: Cam Thomas was feeling it early, going 6-of-6 for 14 points in the 1st quarter before finishing with a game-high 22
• New Nets Clicking: 2025 first-round picks Danny Wolf (11), Ben Saraf (9), Nolan Traore (6) and Drake Powell (6) combined for 32 points, while newly-acquired Michael Porter Jr. added 13 with a pair of treys
• Brooks Boost: A Phoenix summer acquisition also made his mark, as Brooks fueled a 13-1 run to open the 2nd half, punctuated by a steal-turned-assist for a Booker 3

• Suns Surge: Down nine with 2:55 left in the 4th, the Suns finished regulation on a 14-5 run, sparked by this and-1 dunk from No. 10 pick Khaman Maluach (10 pts, 5 reb) to force extra hoops
• Good Win: In OT, Phoenix outscored Brooklyn 11-6, with Goodwin single-handedly matching the Nets in scoring, including a dagger 3 with 12.2 ticks left to improve the Suns to 2-0 this preseason
• Showtime: At 6-11, Wolf showed off his playmaking with this fake behind-the-back into an over-the-shoulder dime, while Phoenix’s Ryan Dunn took flight to finish a lob with authority

2. ALL-ACCESS MACAO: ON THE GROUND ACROSS THE GLOBE

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

From the moment the Suns and Nets arrived at the Venetian, the energy was electric, setting the stage for a weekend-long spectacle that stretches beyond the hardwood.

• Early Buzz: Fans packed the arena early with seats filling up 45+ minutes before tipoff to see the stars warm up, including one of the many fan-favorites, Devin Booker
• Icons Enter: The Venetian erupted as Shaquille O’Neal, Yao Ming, David Beckham and Jackie Chan took their seats – making a courtside lineup of legends
• Hoops Royalty: More stars were in the house as Dwyane Wade and Vince Carter pulled up to take in the action. The two Hall of Famers were honored at halftime alongside Shaq and Yao
• Crowd Ignitor: While the retired superstars drew a thunderous ovation, perhaps the loudest in-game roar came from Ryan Dunn’s alley-oop hammer — a dunk that lit up the Venetian (witness it from inside the arena)

When the final buzzer sounded, the energy didn’t fade. What followed was a scene that captured the full spirit of the NBA’s return to China, as stars and fans connected long after the clock hit triple zeroes.

• Star Encounters: Jeremy Lin made sure to grab a pic with Beckham and Chan courtside, while Agent also got his photo in with the movie star
• All Love: After securing the dub, Booker caught up with Beckham and Chan before leaving the court to a sea of fans, signing autograph after autograph on his way out
• “I haven’t heard that type of love in a very long time,” said Booker on the energy of the Macao crowd. “It was a whole ‘nother level.”

What’s Next: Brooklyn and Phoenix meet again Sunday (7 a.m. ET, NBA TV) for the second and final matchup of the NBA China Games 2025, wrapping up the international slate of the preseason, which has included stops in Abu Dhabi, Melbourne, Vancouver and Puerto Rico.

3. ACES CEMENT DYNASTY WITH THIRD WNBA TITLE IN FOUR YEARS

Back-to-back. And back again.

Aces 97, Mercury 86: Holding a 3-0 series lead after a last-second winon Wednesday, Las Vegas didn’t ease up in Phoenix. Instead – as the great teams do – it pushed the pedal even harder.

A’ja Wilson delivered another masterful performance (31 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 3 blk), Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray each added 18 points and the Aces never trailed after the 1st quarter to sweep the Mercury, capturing their third WNBA championship in four seasons.

• Unprecedented: After earning her fourth MVP this season, Wilson elevated her play on the biggest stage (28.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg), becoming the first player ever to average 25+ points and 10+ rebounds in a W Finals
• Unguardable: With her performance last night, Wilson set the WNBA record for most points in a single Finals with 114, surpassing Cappie Pondexter’s 2007 mark of 110
• Untouched: Wilson is now the first player in league history to win Finals MVP, regular-season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and the scoring title in the same season

Battle Tested: The Aces opened the year with a 14-14 record, capped by a 53-point loss on Aug. 2. They wouldn’t lose again in the regular season, ripping off 17 straight wins as part of a 25-3 closing run to claim the title.

The key to that turnaround? Not just Wilson, but a team. One that rediscovered its championship DNA to solidify its dynasty.

• Legendary Heights: Las Vegas is just the second franchise to win three titles in a four-season span, joining the Houston Comets (four straight from 1997-2000)
• All-Time Finish: The Aces are also just the fourth championship team in W history to earn 25+ wins in their final 28 games – a feat matched only by some of the sport’s greatest teams (1998 Comets, 2001 Sparks, 2014 Mercury)
• “It took all of us,” said Young, a 7-year vet and now a 3-time champ. “We stood together … had a tough first-half of the season, but we were able to string together some wins, and now, we’re champs.”
• “We understood the assignment and what was in front of us,” added Wilson on the midseason turnaround. “All we had to do was believe in one another.”

Chris Coduto/NBAE via Getty Images

4. FRIDAY ROUNDUP: WEMBY & ACE SHINE, GAME-WINNER IN TORONTO & MORE

Halloween is still 20 days away.

But Victor Wembanyama is already looking scary entering Year 3.

Spurs 134, Jazz 130 (OT): Wemby dazzled again with 22 points, 7 boards and 3 assists in the 1st half, while Dylan Harper added 9 points and 3 dimes in his preseason debut, as the Spurs outlasted the Jazz in OT, despite another Ace Bailey gem. | Recap

• Alien Hours: Wemby showed off his array of scoring – taking defenders off the bounce, throwing down yet another outrageous oop and even banking in a 3 – on his way to a 6-of-10 night from the field
• Harper’s Here: The distributor behind that highlight-reel lob? Harper, this year’s No. 2 pick, who flashed more playmaking with this pretty dish to Luke Kornet (7 pts, 6 reb)
• Another Ace: Meanwhile, Harper’s former Rutgers teammate went off (again), following up Wednesday’s 25-point performance with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 7 boards
• Rooks In Rhythm: Utah’s fellow first-rounder Walter Clayton Jr., who led Florida to a national title last spring, matched Bailey with 20 points along with 5 assists

Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images

And how about another big comeback?

Raptors 107, Celtics 105: Staring at a 27-point deficit in the 3rd quarter, the Raptors came roaring back and finished the 4th on an 18-2 run, capped by Jonathan Mogbo’s game-winning layup with 1.9 ticks left to stun the Celtics in Toronto. | Recap

• Six Stars: Gradey Dick led the Raptors with 22 points, while Chucky Hepburn added 13 points and 8 dimes, all in the 2nd half, to help complete the comeback
• “Coach drew up a play – we executed the play,” said Mogbo on the winner. “I trust my teammates and my teammates trust me.”
• Celtics Spotlight: Payton Pritchard and former Raptor Chris Boucher led the C’s with 19 points apiece, while fellow summer addition Anfernee Simons chipped in 18 in his first game with Boston

Oh, and how about another last-second finish?

Blazers 124, Kings 123: Jerami Grant (18 pts) and Deni Avdija (15 pts, 6 reb) led seven Blazers in double figures, including Caleb Love (12 pts), who knocked down the game-winning free throw with 0.6 seconds remaining to stave off Sacramento. | Recap

• Rookie & The Vet: The Blazers’ No. 16 pick, Yang Hansen, had himself a night (16 pts, 4 reb, 3 blk, 2 3s), showing off some crafty bag work, while Jrue Holiday pitched in 12 points and 3 assists
• Purple Rain: Zach LaVine (19 pts, 5 3s) and this year’s No. 24 pick Nique Clifford (15 pts) paced Sacramento, which erased a 13-point deficit in the 4th but couldn’t seal the deal

Magic 128, 76ers 98: Tyrese Maxey dropped 17 points in one quarter of play (including this filthy reverse), but it was the Magic who came out on top, powered by Wendell Carter Jr. (20 pts, 13 reb), Paolo Banchero (13 pts) and 15 different scorers. | Recap

5. TONIGHT ON NBA TV: 2025 NBA FINALS REMATCH

Dustin Bradford/NBAE via Getty Images

One opponent occupied the Pacers’ thoughts entering this season. Just not the kind they’ll try to counter beyond the arc or in the paint.

Adversity.

Indiana anticipated it when Tyrese Haliburton was lost to an Achilles injury. What the reigning East champs couldn’t foresee, though, was what happened in their first preseason game.

In a rematch of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Pacers host the Thunder tonight (7 ET, NBA TV) following the news that TJ McConnell will be out for at least a month with a hamstring injury. Coach Rick Carlisle still patrols the sideline, though, as a seasoned bench boss for the team.

• Smooth Operator: Under his stewardship, Indiana had nine wins in 11 clutch situations last postseason — most in the league — and tied for fourth-most (24) in the regular season
• No First Rodeo: The 2011 NBA champion is in his 5th year at the helm in Indy, and his 24th overall as a head coach, amassing the know-how necessary to make winning adjustments
• “When difficult things happen, we’ve got to focus on what we have and not what we don’t have,” Carlisle said at practice Thursday. “These are the guys we have.”

The defending champs, meanwhile, take on the latter half of their six-game preseason, already having demonstrated the depth at their disposal through a 2-1 start.

• Jam-Boree: Oklahoma City has posted five or more double-figure scorers in each of its first three preseason contests, including seven in its opener
• Light Work: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit the court competitively Thursday for the first time since Game 7 and scored 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting in just 20 minutes

Zach Beeker + Richard Rodriguez/NBAE via Getty Images

On League Pass, the Cooper Flagg show enters its second act when the Mavs welcome Kon Knueppel and the Hornets (8:30 ET) following tipoff between the Hawks and Grizzlies (8 ET).

• Blue Devil Battle? The No. 1 pick got busy on both ends in Dallas’ preseason opener with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 triples. Tonight, he could face his former Duke teammate in Knueppel – this year’s No. 4 pick
• J Squared: For Atlanta, Jalen Johnson has already picked up where he left off, returning from a season-ending should injury to tally two blocks, two steals and 11 points Monday