POWERED BY

It may be Turkey Day tomorrow, but you know what’s more important? NBA Cup action.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Nick Van Exel, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Enjoyers Lucas, Tom, and Grahm! 🎉

Game Recaps

Rockets advance to NBA Cup knockouts after 117-111 OT win over Wolves

Every game is just more and more evidence that the Rockets are not a team you want to meet in the playoffs. Their defense was absolutely suffocating against Minnesota, holding the Timberwolves to a brick-laden 9-for-38 from deep and forcing 17 turnovers. Every time Minnesota tried to build some momentum, it seemed like Houston’s perimeter pests slammed the door shut.

On the other end, Houston showcased the tantalizing potential of their offense when everything clicks. With Alperen Sengun (22 PTS, 10 REB, 11 AST) orchestrating like a maestro from the interior, the Rockets’ shooters found space to shine. Jabari Smith Jr. (18 PTS) had himself a night, putting together his best game of the season with clutch buckets and some big stops on D.

Knicks put on passing clinic to destroy Nuggets 145-118

As the on-paper offseason champions, the Knicks have dealt with a lot of pressure this season to perform at a high level right away… a pressure that they finally seem to be embracing. New York capped off a 5-1 stretch on Monday night with one of the most impressive offensive outputs of the young season, carving up Nikola Jokic (22 PTS) and the Nuggets with a dazzling display of playmaking.

Led by Jalen Brunson (23 PTS, 17 AST), the Knicks became the first team since 1991 to finish a game with 45+ assists and fewer than 10 turnovers, as their all-around great passing fed a monster game by Karl Anthony-Towns (30 PTS, 15 REB) and a new career-high for OG Anunoby (40 PTS).

Elsewhere around the NBA…

• Damian Lillard (37 PTS, 12 AST) seems to have a “Portland mode” switch in the back of his head that flips whenever Giannis is out. Dame carried the Bucks’ offense to a 22-point lead over the Heat, which they managed to sweat out in an eventual 106-103 W.

• We might be entering the Victor Wembanyama (34 PTS) era sooner than anyone anticipated. The French phenom has led the Spurs to four straight wins with a barrage of buckets, including last night’s 128-115 win against the Jazz.

• The Suns snapped their cold streak in a major way, holding the Lakers to a quiet second half as Devin Booker (26 PTS, 10 AST) and Bradley Beal (23 PTS) poured in the points on the other end to win 127-100.

• Is Memphis glad to have Ja Morant (22 PTS, 11 AST) back or what? He made an immediate impact in his return during the Grizzlies’ 123-98 win over the Blazers, exploding for 20 points in the first half to put the game out of reach early.

• The Dennis Schroder (31 PTS) renaissance has been nothing short of a miracle for the Nets. Missing seven rotation players, Schroder kept Brooklyn’s shorthanded offense humming in a shocking 128-120 win on the road over Golden State.

• What a difference a season can make! For Jaden Ivey (25 PTS, 8 AST) and the Pistons, that is. The former top-five pick had his best game of the year in Monday night’s 102-100 win over the Raptors, walking it off with a tough bucket at the buzzer:

The Smart Choice for Nutrition

Huel Black Edition combines 40g of protein with essential vitamins & minerals for a meal that’s ready when you are.

Enjoy convenient, affordable, complete nutrition in seconds.

Get 15% off your first order, plus a free t-shirt and shaker with code BEHUEL15.

Upgrade Your Meals Today

Numbers to Remember

920

…the number of days since Elfrid Payton had stepped on an NBA court before his return to the Pelicans earlier this month. From being signed off the streets to "the streets won’t forget”, Payton became only the third player in New Orleans franchise history to record a 20-assist game on Monday night. Congrats on the comeback! 🥳

95.2

…Orlando’s points allowed per game over their last ten games. That’s the fewest in the NBA over that period by more than eight points, despite the Magic being without star player Paolo Banchero. After a 4-6 start, the Magic are cruising at 12-7 behind arguably the NBA’s best defense. The most impressive part? The resurgence of Franz Wagner, who’s not only carrying Orlando’s offense over this hot stretch with an efficient 27.6 PPG, but also leading the team in steals. 👏

4

…the number of times Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo have scored 30+ in the same game this season, the most of any duo in the NBA. And despite only playing just over a season together, the Bucks’ star tandem is already up to 12 games with matching 30 pieces, only four behind the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen duo for fourth all-time. 🔥

Three in the Key

Signing Off

As Thanksgiving approaches, let’s take a moment to appreciate the things that bring us joy—our friends, our families, and the beautiful game of basketball. Whether it’s a perfectly timed pass, a big win, or just a good laugh with loved ones, there’s so much to be grateful for. Enjoy the holiday, hug your people, and maybe sneak in a game or two! 🏀🦃

Talk soon,

-Spencer Poole