Abracadabra – Luka Magic is back.
After Dončić shined in his preseason debut last night, the Lakers take on Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg and the Mavs tonight on ESPN. (10:30 ET)
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Oct. 15, 2025
Top Pick Parallels: Inside AD & Cooper Flagg’s similar journeys as they chase greatness in Dallas
New Looks: Brandon Ingram & Toronto meet Boston after The Association debuts on NBA TV
Loud City: OKC’s NBA original championship docuseries premieres today at 5 ET
West Stars Shine: Shai & Steph take over, Luka dazzles in debut, Denver duo dominates
Tuesday Roundup: Another night, another game-winner – plus Cleveland’s clicking
BUT FIRST … ⏰
A new way to watch hoops…
Desert Duel: Wednesday delivers a four-game slate, capped by Mavs-Lakers in Las Vegas (10:30 ET, ESPN).
Today also marks the launch of the reimagined NBA TV and NBA App – a new multi-platform streaming experience, offering nonstop hoops coverage and original programming, highlighted by The Association, a new weeknight primetime basketball-cast airing at 6:30 ET tonight.
1. TOP PICK PARALLELS: AD & COOP’S EARLY CONNECTION
Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images
It started with a simple read – a rookie trusting his instincts, a veteran trusting him back.
One minute into their second preseason game, Anthony Davis set a screen for Cooper Flagg, who turned the corner into the lane. With three defenders collapsing, the 18-year-old didn’t force the shot.
Instead, he floated a soft lob toward the rim – where Davis swooped in to hammer it home.
Davis and Flagg walked similar paths to the league: both were top high school recruits, both became the faces of college basketball as freshmen, both were named Naismith Player of the Year, and both went No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft.
Before entering the spotlight, both had to fight to be seen – starting with Flagg, who hails from a state that’s produced just one other active NBA player.
- “So many people told [me], ‘Being from Maine, it’s impossible — it will never happen,’” said Flagg on reaching the NBA. “But it did.”
Davis also defied the odds, famously sprouting from 6-3 to 6-10 in a single year of high school – transforming from an unranked guard into the nation’s top prospect. Now, over a decade later, he’s mentoring another unlikely phenom.
- “I was excited – ecstatic,” said Davis at Media Day on Dallas landing Flagg. “He’s a helluva talent. Can do everything on the floor. So it was a great moment for us.”
Jennifer Pottheiser + Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images
AD and Coop share more than parallel paths. Each brings a rare blend of length and athleticism – able to guard anyone and score from anywhere – epitomizing the modern NBA.
And yet, while their games and journeys mirror each other, Flagg’s entry point is unlike any top pick in recent memory.
- “As a No. 1 pick, you’re usually going to a team that’s in a rebuilding mode,” said Davis at Media Day. “For him, he’s coming to a team that’s established and has veteran talent … we’re still gonna ask him to be Cooper Flagg…
- “But [I’m] putting the pressure all on myself … and letting him focus on basketball and constantly getting better each and every day.”
Stacking days is how Flagg got here – from Maine to the main stage – pouring hours into the gym and earning the respect of his teammates, including another former No. 1 pick, Kyrie Irving.
- “Simply his winning ways and winning habits,” said Kyrie Irving on what’s impressed him most about Flagg. “He wants to separate himself from the group, while also giving everything he has to the team.”
Both Irving and Davis have lived the role Flagg now steps into – a rising star learning beside greatness. Each grew next to LeBron James, mastering what it takes to win at the highest level – and summiting the sport’s ultimate peak.
Now, Flagg is eager to learn from the two champions – from how they see the game, to what sets them apart in the biggest moments.
- “There’s so much to be learned from both those guys,” said Flagg on Davis and Irving. “So much on the court-wise … but also [a lot] mentally … they’ve been through so much.”
And as he soaks it in, the rookie is keeping a big-picture view of what’s ahead – one day at a time.
- “I’m just looking forward to the journey,” said Flagg. “We have an incredible group of guys … I’m excited to get back to competing – and trying to win.”
2. NEW LOOKS: CELTICS & RAPTORS MEET ON REIMAGINED NBA TV
Justin Ford + Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Things will look new and different when division rivals Toronto and Boston get reacquainted tonight after the debut of The Association on the reimagined NBA TV (7:30 ET)
Toronto is ready to ring in the Brandon Ingram era, with the former Kia Most Improved Player and All-Star set to make his Raptors regular-season debut next week. An ankle injury last season kept him out after arriving in Toronto at the trade deadline.
Ingram’s scoring firepower (20.0 ppg in two preseason games) wasn’t needed while he was out (rest) for Friday’s 107-105 comeback win against these Celtics.
- Locking Down: Toronto’s surging defense (2nd-best defensive rating post All-Star break) held Boston to 18 4th-quarter points, while erasing a 20-point deficit to steal the win
- Swiping Victory: This pack of Raptors applies a full-court pressure that forced 8 turnovers in Friday’s final five minutes, including nabbing 5 steals, to close on an 18-2 run
- Gradey Game: Meanwhile, Gradey Dick reminded everyone how deep Toronto’s scoring options can be, dropping a game-high 22 points in just three quarters
With health and defense on their side, Toronto will look to close the gap on Boston amid a shifting Eastern Conference power structure.
Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images
Boston hopes “new” doesn’t necessarily have to equal “different” as far as results, as the team works to replace three of five starters from 2024-25.
- Scorching Simons: Offseason addition Anfernee Simons is leading the team in scoring this preseason (19.5 ppg), including a 21-point outing in Sunday’s win over Cleveland that saw him splash six 3s
- More Core: Meanwhile, a familiar trio follows him: Payton Pritchard (16.5 ppg), Derrick White (16.0 ppg) and Jaylen Brown (14.5 ppg)
- Green Light: Good things have happened when the Celtics leaned on Jaylen Brown in the past (see the 2024 Playoffs run that earned him Finals MVP and ECF MVP honors)
- New Test: But it’s been eight seasons since the 3-time All-Star played without Jayson Tatum. How might that change his game and the team’s attack?
3. AN NBA ORIGINAL, LOUD CITY PREMIERES TODAY AT 5 ET
Jalen Williams shined like never before last season.
In his third year with the Thunder, the Santa Clara University product raked in awards, becoming a first-time All-Star en route to All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive Second Team selections.
But there’s no greater reward in basketball than the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Loud City: The OKC Thunder’s Championship season premieres tonight at 5 pm ET, exclusively on NBA TV and the NBA App. Narrated by Williams, the NBA original series examines the anatomy of a champion, documenting the Thunder’s thrilling journey to the 2024-25 title.
- Three’s The Magic Number: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000 to win the Kia MVP, scoring title and Finals MVP in the same season
- Youth Movement: The Thunder, with an average age of 25.6 years old, were the second-youngest team to ever win the championship, next to the 1976-77 Trail Blazers
- Wins On Wins: Their 84 total victories put them in the same conversation as the 2015-16 Warriors, 1995-96 Bulls and 1996-97 Bulls as the only teams to win as many
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Williams sat down ahead of the new season to reflect on the championship road, talk about connections with teammates and preview what’s next as he approaches Year 4.
The following interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
How has winning a championship changed your approach entering this season?
“Winning gives you a different level of confidence. You know you can do it — you’ve been through it — so it’s about trusting the work. The work I’ve put in keeps me confident no matter what.”
What is the team’s mindset for its title defense?
“Our focus is not worrying about repeating — it’s going to be kind of the same mentality that we had last year as far as going out and hunting every night and not being what everyone thinks as the hunted … The coolest part will be the ring ceremony — that’s what everyone’s really looking forward to right now.”
What did it mean to have so many contributors like yourself sign extensions this offseason?
“We’ve built a great bond, and it’s exciting that we’re still young and get to grow through this whole NBA journey together for years to come.”
4. TUESDAY HIGHLIGHTS: WEST SUPERSTARS SHOW OUT
No player tallied more 20-pieces last season than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (75).
By halftime on Tuesday, he had another.
Thunder 116, Bucks 112: In 19 minutes, Shai poured in 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting along with 6 dimes and 3 steals, and the Thunder outlasted the Bucks down the stretch to improve to 3-2 this preseason. | Recap
- Door-To-Dunk Delivery: The reigning MVP showcased his signature footwork in the midrange, freezing his defender before dropping a seed to Isaiah Hartenstein for an easy dunk
- Greek Freak Flexin’: SGA wasn’t the only big name who posted big numbers, as Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee in limited action (16 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk)
- Melo In The Booth: On the call for Peacock? Carmelo Anthony, who broke down what most fans miss when watching OKC’s defense
Warriors 118, Blazers 111: While Shai cooked in the first two quarters, Steph took over the 3rd, dropping 13 of his game-high 28 points as Golden State stormed back from 18 down to top Shaedon Sharpe (18 pts) and the Blazers. | Recap
- Dub Depth: Curry splashed four 3s and added 5 assists, while nine other Warriors scored 7+ points
Suns 113, Lakers 104: Luka Dončić didn’t miss a beat in his preseason debut, dropping 25 points in 22 minutes, while adding 7 boards and 4 assists. But the Suns came out on top, thanks to Jared Butler’s monster night (35 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast, 5 3s). | Recap
- He’s Back: Luka tallied 22 in the 1st half, going 6-of-10 from the field and 4-of-7 from 3
- More Shine: Jordan Goodwin (24 pts, 6 ast) and No. 10 pick Khaman Maluach (17 pts, 8 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk) helped spark the Suns, while Austin Reaves matched Dončić in scoring
Nuggets 124, Bulls 117: Josh Giddey stuffed the stat sheet (25 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast), but Chicago had no answer for Denver’s star duo, as Jamal Murray dropped 30, while Nikola Jokić flirted with a triple-double (18 pts, 8 reb, 8 ast), powering the Nuggets past the Bulls. | Recap
- Bag Work: A nasty behind-the-back cross wasn’t even Murray’s best 3 of the night, as he somehow sank this one-legged triple to beat the shot clock
- Passing Class: And what’s a Nuggets win without a Jokić dime? Watch him loft a perfect lob to set up an Aaron Gordon jam
5. TUESDAY ROUNDUP: HOLIDAY SAYS GOODNIGHT, CAVS DUB
On Monday, it was a Houstan game-winner.
Last night, it was a Houston game-winner.
Rockets 130, Pelicans 128: Jabari Smith Jr. (26 pts, 5 reb) and Amen Thompson (21 pts, 5 reb) both dropped 20+ in three quarters, and after Houston squandered a 17-point lead, Aaron Holiday saved the day by sinking a tiebreaking floater with 1.8 ticks left, lifting the Rockets over the Pels. | Recap
- High-Flyin’ Pels: NOLA’s No. 7 pick, Jeremiah Fears, balled out (20 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast), while Zion Williamson bounced out of the gym with this 360 slam (13 pts, 4 ast, 4 stl)
Cavaliers 118, Pistons 100: Donovan Mitchell (17 pts, 3 ast, 3 stl) led six Cavs in double figures, while Lonzo Ball added 9 points, 9 dimes and 3 blocks for his new squad as Cleveland pulled past Tobias Harris (19 pts) and Detroit. | Recap
- New Season, Same Anchor: Jarrett Allen tallied 15 points and 2 blocks for Cleveland, highlighted by this big-time rejection at the rim
