Starting 5 Daily Newsletter

Starting 5, Oct. 26: MVP Saturday

SGA and Jokić deliver patented performances to cap a historic Opening Week across the NBA.

NBA.com Staff

October 26, 2025 2:50 PM

360 reasons to love basketball.

Another Jokić performance that will leave you spinning.

Nikola Jokić, Aaron Gordon

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Oct. 26, 2025

Saturday Shine: MVP performances from Jokić & Shai add to a historic Opening Week

Roundup: A Grimes game-winner, a rookie eruption and another Bulls dub

Renewed & Red-Hot: How transformative summers have Luka & Wemby moving different

East Contenders Clash: Cavs host Bucks, Knicks aim to stay unbeaten, Pistons & C’s duel

Opening Week Snapshots: Some of our favorite frames from an unforgettable start to 2025-26

BUT FIRST … ⏰

A Sunday hoops marathon…

Scores & Schedule

Nine games tip off today on League Pass, beginning with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs hosting the Nets (2 ET). Seven hours later, Luka Dončić and the Lakers face the Kings in Sacramento (9 ET).

1. SATURDAY SHINE: JOKIĆ & SHAI MAKE HISTORY

Garrett Ellwood + Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

Last season, the Kia MVP race came down to two names:

Nikola Jokić, the league-leader in triple-doubles
And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the eventual winner who paced the league in scoring

One week into 2025-26, the pair hasn’t missed a beat.

Nuggets 133, Suns 111: Jokić’s playmaking genius was on full display Saturday. By the time he scored his first point, he’d already tallied 8 assists and 6 boards, guiding Denver to a 57-45 lead with 4:18 left in the 2nd quarter.

The Nuggets never looked back as Jokić notched his second triple-double in as many games (14 pts, 14 reb, 15 ast), outdueling Devin Booker (31 pts, 7 ast) to move Denver to 1-1. | Recap

Nikola Jokić

The Highlights: Jokić finished the 1st half with 11 dimes, including one over-the-head dish to Christian Braun (20 pts), before finding Aaron Gordon (17 pts) for a ridiculous 360 alley-oop jam
The History: By night’s end, he became the fifth player ever to open a season with back-to-back triple-doubles, and just the second this century, joining Russell Westbrook (2020)
“He’s just so dominant,” said Gordon postgame on Jokić, who had nearly half of Denver’s assists (31). “Some nights we need him to score. Some nights we need him to pass. And he just reads the game – he’s incredible.”
No-Miss Nuggets: Jamal Murray also had himself a night, with 23 points, 6 boards, 5 assists and one half-court buzzer-beater

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

While Jokić leads the league in triple-doubles, the reigning MVP and scoring champ is already pacing the field in points – and just joined some special company.

Thunder 117, Hawks 100: After back-to-back double-OT dubs, OKC didn’t need any extra time to move to 3-0, as Chet Holmgren (31 pts, 11 reb, 6 3s) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30 pts, 5 ast) combined for 61 points to pull past Trae Young (15 pts, 10 ast) and Atlanta. | Recap

Shai & MJ: Gilgeous-Alexander now joins Michael Jordan as the only players in the last 50 years to total 120+ points in the first three games of a season
Shai, Alone: The only one to do it on over 50% shooting? SGA
The Streak: Shai also became just the third player ever to notch 75 straight 20+ point games, joining Oscar Robertson (79) and Wilt Chamberlain (96 & 126)
Historic Fireworks: There have already been 16 instances of a 35+ point scorer in 2025-26 – the most ever in the first five days of an NBA season. SGA owns two of them (35 & 55)

2. ROUNDUP: GRIMES TIME, GRIZZ WIN, BULLS ROLL

Quentin Grimes, Joel Embiid

Quentin Grimes, just in time.

76ers 125, Hornets 121: LaMelo Ball stuffed the stat sheet (27 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast, 3 stl) to help Charlotte build a 10-point lead in the 4th, but it wasn’t enough as Philly roared back and Grimes buried a go-ahead triple with 13 ticks left to push the Sixers to 2-0. | Recap

Max-mentum: After tying the Sixers’ opening-night scoring record (40 pts), Tyrese Maxey stayed hot (28 pts, 6 reb, 9 ast), closing with a 12-point 4th-quarter to help complete Philly’s second straight comeback
Philly Fight: “[It was] kinda similar to the game in Boston,” said Grimes, who had 24 points on five 3s. “Down double digits … muck the game up, get stops … and come out with a win.”
Edgecombe Eating: Following his historic 34-point debut, No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe was everywhere (15 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk), while Joel Embiid added 20 points

Joe Murphy + Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Grizzlies 128, Pacers 103: Memphis dropped 80 points across the 2nd and 3rd quarters as Ja Morant was operating (19 pts, 8 ast) while this year’s No. 11 pick Cedric Coward went off, going a perfect 6-of-6 from deep en route to a game-high 27 points to help outpace Indy. | Recap

Where They Stand: Bennedict Mathurin (26 pts) led the way for the Pacers, who fell to 0-2, while the Grizz improved to 2-1

Bulls 110, Magic 98: Josh Giddey (21 pts, 8 reb) led seven double-digit scorers for Chicago, which held Orlando to just 3-of-24 (12.5%) from beyond the arc to improve to 2-0, despite a game-high 24 points and 10 boards from Paolo Banchero. | Recap

3. SCORCHING SUPERSTARS BOOKEND SUNDAY’S 9-GAME SLATE

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Every offseason, NBA stars search for an edge – a tighter handle, a deeper jumper, a new trick to add to their bag.

Luka Dončić and Victor Wembanyama stripped things down instead – no shortcuts, no spotlight and for a while, even no basketball.

From Dončić’s two-a-days in Croatia to Wemby’s worldwide journey, beginning in China’s Shaolin Temple, each stepped away, rebuilt his body and returned renewed.

Now, both are moving different – and off to historic starts. Today, the two superstars open and close a nine-game slate on League Pass, still unveiling the results of their reinvention.

Nets at Spurs (2 ET): Sunday starts with Wemby, who’s already putting up numbers the league hasn’t seen in decades – and doing it in ways we’ve never seen.

Wembanyama is the first player in 35 years to record 60+ points and 10+ blocks through his team’s first two games – and only the fifth ever, joining David Robinson and Patrick Ewing (1990), Hakeem Olajuwon (1988) and Bob McAdoo (1975).

Dream Makes Nightmare: Fittingly, Olajuwon trained with Wemby this summer – the master of the Dream Shake passing down his footwork to a 7-foot-4 phenom whose fluidity defies his frame

Victor Wembanyama

“My summer revolved around my physical development,” said Wemby after his historic 40-point, 15-rebound season-opener. “And Hakeem, in terms of scoring – it doesn’t really get much better.”

But it’s not just polish – it’s purpose. A 3-point threat who can rise up over anyone, Wemby’s now using his guard-like skills to attack, trimming his 3PA from 8.8 per game last season to 2.5, while more than doubling his drives (4.6 to 10.5 per game).

The Result? 23.0 points in the paint per game – the second-most in the NBA behind only Giannis.

Victor Wembanyama

Lakers at Kings (9 ET): The night ends with Dončić, who’s opened the season doing something no one ever has – back-to-back games of 40+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists.

Like Wemby, Luka’s unprecedented start began with a transformative summer – refining his body through enhanced conditioning and nutrition to prepare him for the long haul.

In a Playoff rematch against the Wolves on Friday, it showed.

All Gas: Luka averaged an NBA-best 10.6 ppg in the 1st quarter of last year’s Playoffs, but only 13.6 in the 2nd half
No Breaks: On Friday, he dropped 23 in the opening frame. But this time, he remained full throttle, dropping 17 in the 2nd half, including 11 in the 4th to ice the game

Picked up beyond halfcourt, Luka makes the defense pay, splashing a dagger 3 in the 4th en route to a game-high 49 points.

Dončić’s pace is also hitting another gear. He’s increased his average speed on both offense and defense from last season, while boosting his drives per game to 20.0 – his most since 2021-22 and the third-most in the NBA.

Friday’s finishing touch? A coast-to-coast give-and-go dunk with 5:24 left – Dončić’s first jam since Dec. 15, 2024.

Tonight, Luka has a chance to extend his historic start. But he’s chasing wins, not numbers.

“Myself, I feel great,” said Dončić after Friday’s victory. “I just want to win every game.”

4. MORE ON LEAGUE PASS: EAST CONTENDERS CLASH

Nathaniel S. Butler + Patrick McDermott/NBAE via Getty Images

Another superstar on record pace takes the floor today, as East contenders collide across League Pass.

Bucks at Cavaliers (6 ET): Giannis Antetokounmpo is the first player in NBA history to tally 60+ points, 30+ rebounds and 10+ assists in the first two games of a season, powering the Bucks to a 2-0 start.

Tonight, they’ll face perhaps their toughest test yet in Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and the Cavs.

Downhill Force: Averaging 34.0 points, 17.0 boards and 6.0 dimes, Giannis’ numbers are unprecedented through two games
Paint Protector: Now, one of the game’s fiercest freight trains meets one of its most impenetrable walls in Mobley – the reigning Kia DPOY
Cavs Catalyst: Mitchell has fueled Cleveland offensively with Darius Garland out, averaging 33.0 ppg, including an NBA-best 22.0 in the 2nd half

Knicks at Heat (6 ET): Also 2-0 alongside Milwaukee? New York, ready to take on Miami after statement wins over Cleveland and Boston.

Cap & KAT: Jalen Brunson (27.0 ppg, 5.0 apg) and Karl-Anthony Towns (22.5 ppg, 12.0 rpg) haven’t missed a beat, combining for 99 points through two games
NY Heart: But it’s been the Knicks’ hustle that’s stood out, grabbing 21 offensive boards against the Celtics – their most in a game since the 2023-24 season – while allowing a league-best 103.0 ppg
White Hot: That defense will be tested against a blistering Miami squad fresh off a 146-114 win over Memphis, its third-highest scoring game in franchise history

Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images

Celtics at Pistons (3:30 ET): Before Knicks-Heat, the C’s look for their first win of the season against Cade Cunningham and a Pistons squad coming off a statement win over Houston.

Cade Cooking: After a career year, Cunningham’s playmaking continues to excel through two games (22.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 9.5 apg), including a 21-point, 9-assist night to beat the Rockets
Boston Balance: Still adjusting without Jayson Tatum, the Celtics have six scorers averaging double digits, led by Jaylen Brown (24.0 ppg) and Derrick White (20.0)

Four more games tip off tonight on League Pass, including Anthony Edwards and the Wolves hosting the reigning East champs.