Happy Halloween, Enjoyers! Whether you get into it as much as LeBron or skip the costumes entirely, we hope you have a fun holiday. Just watch out for… Wemby. 😬

PS: someone dressed up a little early.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Antonio Davis and Cole Aldritch! 🎉

Spooky Scores

Ryan Rollins’ career-best game lifts Bucks over Warriors 120-110

Giannis (knee soreness) was a late scratch, but the Bucks found a way regardless. That way’s name was Ryan Rollins.

Rollins (32 PTS, 8 AST, 5-7 3PT) and the shorthanded Bucks disposed of Golden State last night thanks not only in part to the young guard’s scoring effort. Eight Bucks scored at least ten points as Milwaukee shot the lights out from three against a Warriors defense that boasts the likes of Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.

Speaking of the Warriors, they were led in scoring by Steph Curry (27 PTS) but couldn’t find an offensive rhythm outside of the Chef that would have allowed them to complete a comeback despite a brief surge in the third quarter. Jonathan Kuminga (24 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST) had a solid game, but Butler didn’t excel shooting the ball (7-18 FG) and Milwaukee was able to keep it right out of reach.

Props to you, Ryan! We’re sure Bucks fans are pretty excited about this contract, too.

Los Angeles blows 20-point lead, Reaves saves day to lift Lakers over Wolves 116-115

Both teams came into this one at 2-2, and that sense of early-season urgency came to a boil by the final buzzer.

This was a Julius Randle (33 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB) game in the first half, no questions asked. Randle led all players in scoring at the break with 22 PTS and had already hit three triples in the first quarter. But Austin Reaves (28 PTS, 16 AST) and Deandre Ayton (17 PTS, 10 REB) flipped the momentum toward L.A. before the break, and the Lakers went into halftime up four.

From then on, a combination of Reaves and Jake LaRavia (27 PTS, 8 REB) poured it on, extending Los Angeles’ lead to 20. With Anthony Edwards out, the Wolves had to rely on Randle and Jaden McDaniels (30 PTS, 7 REB) to mount a late comeback, and it almost worked—down 114-106 with two and a half minutes left, the duo went on a 9-0 run to put Minnesota ahead by 1 with ten seconds to go.

Then Austin Reaves happened. See for yourself. Ball game. Wolves-Lakers is turning into one of our favorite rivalries in the West!

Elsewhere around the NBA:

• That wasn’t the only game-winner from Wednesday night! With eight seconds left against Devin Booker (32 PTS) and the Suns, Ja Morant (28 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST) hit an 11-foot floater that put Memphis back in the lead after surrendering a 10-point margin earlier in the fourth. Booker missed the three on the other end as time expired, and the Grizzlies escaped with a 114-113 win.

• The Spurs are 5-0, as another winning effort from Victor Wembanyama (27 PTS, 18 REB, 6 AST, 5 BLK) and the rest of San Antonio’s young squad dispatched the Heat 107-101. Bam Adebayo led Miami in scoring with a 31-point double-double, while Stephon Castle (21 PTS, 8 AST, 6 REB, 4 STL) played a beautiful second fiddle to Wemby.

• Brandon Ingram (29 PTS, 4 AST) and Scottie Barnes (31 PTS, 5 REB, 2 STL) combined for an efficient 60, but Kevin Durant (31 PTS, 5 REB, 3 BLK) led a group of seven Rockets who scored in double figures as Houston’s offensive attack outpaced Toronto’s 139-121. Jabari Smith (25 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST) had his best game of the new year.

• Lauri Markkanen (32 PTS, 5 REB, 3 BLK) and Keyonte George (29 PTS, 8 AST, 15-15 FT) had the Jazz in control in the first half against Portland, but Jrue Holiday (27 PTS, 8 AST) took over after the break and the Blazers’ defense held Utah off en route to a tight 136-134 win. Shaedon Sharpe (18 PTS, 4-8 3PT) shot well from the perimeter for Portland.

• Another triple-double from Nikola Jokic (21 PTS, 12 REB, 10 AST) was the jewel on top of the Nuggets’ dominant 122-88 win over Jeremiah Fears (21 PTS, 6 AST, 2 STL) and the Pelicans. Jamal Murray and Christian Braun each had 17 in support, and Peyton Watson (5 PTS, 5 AST, 5 REB, 3 BLK, 1 STL) did a little bit of everything in 22 minutes played.

Film Friday

After taking down the Kings on Wednesday, the Chicago Bulls are 4-0 for just the fifth time in franchise history. How have they been able to surpass expectations and jump out to a conference-best undefeated record when they were projected to win less than 40 games this year?

We’ve seen the tape. Let’s dive into it.

1. Matas Buzelis is playing aggressively and demonstrating real three-level scoring potential.

The second-year forward has found another gear.

At 6’10”, Matas Buzelis (16.8 PTS, 4.6 REB, 1.0 BLK, 51.0%/33.3%/84.6%) is finally pairing his smooth handle with real force downhill, getting to his spots instead of drifting around them. He’s showing the same sense of balance and touch that made him a top prospect out of the G League Ignite program, but what’s new is the consistency—attacking mismatches, finishing through contact, and looking comfortable pulling up from mid-range to wayyyy past the line.

The game has slowed down for Buzelis, and you can see it in his decision-making. This guy is starting to look like a nightly problem, not just a flash in the pan.

2. With Coby White out, Kevin Huerter and Ayo Dosunmu have kept the Bulls’ backcourt offense humming with Josh Giddey at the helm.

Chicago’s guard rotation looks way more stable than you’d think once you learn they’re without their typical backcourt partner, but that’s the story of the Bulls’ 4-0 start. Josh Giddey (19.5 PTS, 8.5 REB, 7.8 AST) has been the organizer, getting guys like Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic (18.3 PTS, 13.3 REB) involved in the offense, but Kevin Huerter and Ayo Dosunmu have filled in the scoring gaps left behind by White’s injury.

Huerter (14.8 PTS) has thrived as a catch-and-shoot threat, while Ayo (also 14.8 PTS) has shown a continued ability to both attack open lanes and knock down spot-ups. Plus, Coby White is expected to return to the Bulls’ lineup soon after sustaining a calf strain earlier this month, with recent reports saying White has been running and shooting “pain-free.”

3. The scrappy Bulls have put themselves on a trajectory to become a top defense in the league.

For all their offensive flow, the Bulls’ early success really stems from their defensive buy-in.

Chicago’s 106.2 defensive rating ranks near the top of the league, powered by physical team defense, communication, and Tre Jones (12.5 PTS, 7.5 AST, 3.0 STL) already having grabbed 12 steals in four games. And while he’s mainly been a steady contributor on offense, Vucevic’s positioning has been solid on both ends, with the energy of Isaac Okoro and Patrick Williams on the wing complementing his efficiency.

It’s a small sample size, to be sure. And this Bulls team isn’t without its issues, most importantly rim protection against big bodies in the paint. But Chicago has at least shown that they have the potential to play like one of the better teams in their conference. And in a weaker East, why not?

Three in the Key

Signing Off

Happy Friday! With all four sports in action at this point in the calendar, we’re glad to see people Enjoying the start of the season as much as we have. Talk soon!

Austin Zeglis