Top Stories

• Magic have won 6 straight

• Sixers fall to 2-11

• Dyson Daniels is dynamic on defense

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

Games of the day

Last Night’s Top Games! (link to the box scores of every game from yesterday)

Franz Wagner scored 32 points, Anthony Black added 20 and the Orlando Magic beat the struggling Phoenix Suns 109-99. Tyus Jones had 18 points for Phoenix. Devin Booker — coming off a season-high 44 points — had 17. The Suns had three starters out due to injury, including Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic. It was Durant’s sixth straight game out of the lineup. Phoenix is 1-5 over that stretch, including losing four straight. Orlando was without leading scorer Paolo Banchero, who has an oblique injury. The Magic opened the third quarter with a 64-48 lead and then scored the first five points for a 19-point edge. The closest Phoenix got down the stretch was 98-91 with 3:36 left after Booker hit a 3-pointer. Orlando showed it can win on the road against a strong, although depleted team. Since March 29 last season, the Magic won 14 consecutive home games, including five straight this season.

Jimmy Butler scored a season-high 30 points in his return from a sprained ankle, Tyler Herro added 18 and the Miami Heat erased an early 19-point deficit to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 106-89. Duncan Robinson scored 13 and Dru Smith added 10 for Miami, which played its first home game in two weeks. The Heat — who were outscored 137-71 in third quarters in their first four home games — outscored Philadelphia 35-16 in that period. Jared McCain scored 20 points, Paul George added 18 and former Heat forward Caleb Martin finished with 12 for Philadelphia, which has lost 11 of 13 games to open the season. Joel Embiid played for the third time this season; the Olympic gold medalist from this past summer scored 11 points in 31 minutes for the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) missed his sixth consecutive game and coach Nick Nurse expects an update on his status Tuesday. Nurse said Maxey was able to go through most of the team's practice in Miami on Sunday.

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

League News

Around the League

• The Hawks-Kings game came down to the final possession and De’Aaron Fox, who had scored 109 points in the last two games and is one of the best clutch players in the NBA, was going to take the final shot. Fox was met by the recently dubbed "Great Barrier Thief" Dyson Daniels, who had the game-sealing block that had NBA Twitter buzzing afterward. It was not one of his best games of the year, but Dyson Daniels did seal the game tonight with a steal on the final possession. Fox was going for the win and Daniels prevented him from doing so, preserving a big win for the Hawks. Dyson is averaging 15ppg, along with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals. Much better than his previous 2 years of 5ppg. He’s able to start alongside Trae Young in Atlanta’s backcourt after struggling to consistently crack the rotation in New Orleans. Until last night, he had 5 straight games of 4 or more steals. He’s the Hawks #1 perimeter defender, as well as their best player in the passing lanes. If he keeps this up, he will (at the bare minimum) make an All-Defensive team, and be in the running for most improved player as well.

• Injury Updates: Kawhi Leonard (knee) is out indefinitely, and his recovery might “take longer than expected” according to the team. Kristaps Porzingis (foot) is still recovering from offseason surgery and will miss some games. Khris Middleton (ankle) will miss longer than expected. Isaiah Hartenstein (hand) will be re-evaluated in 5-6 weeks with a fracture. Dejounte Murray (hand) is confirmed to have fractured it and will miss a few weeks. James Wiseman tore his achilles and will be out indefinitely. Taylor Hendricks (leg and ankle) suffered a fractured fibia and dislocated ankle and will be out for the season. Scottie Barnes (orbital) will miss at least 3 weeks with a fracture. Paolo Banchero (oblique) has a tear and will be out indefinitely, and re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks. Herb Jones (shoulder) will be out for a minimum of 2-4 weeks. CJ McCollum (adductor) will miss at least 2-3 weeks. Isaiah Jackson (achilles) will be out for the season. Jeremy Sochan (thumb) underwent surgery to repair a fracture and will be out indefinitely. Aaron Gordon (hamstring) will miss multiple weeks. Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) will be out multiple weeks. Zion Williamson (hamstring) will be out multiple weeks. Ja Morant (hip) will be be out at least 2 weeks. Kevin Durant (calf) will be out multiple weeks. Chet Holmgren (hip) suffered a fracture and will be out 8-10 weeks. (We wish all these guys speedy and successful recoveries.

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

NBA MVP Ladder

1. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Last Ladder: No. 3
Season stats: 29.7 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 11.7 apg

His case: Aside from averaging a healthy triple-double, Joker has been a steady force despite the lineup changes within the Nuggets, who have dealt with missed games by Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray. No worries; Jokić can carry Denver to victory regardless of slumping or injured teammates. Hence, the scratches on his shoulders.

His 37-18-15 stat line against the Mavericks last Sunday — two days too late for consideration for the first installment of the Kia MVP Ladder — is the season’s gold standard. Honestly, it would stack up well against any non-Wilt triple-double. And it’s early. That’s what’s scary.

2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last Ladder: No. 2
Season stats: 30.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 5.6 apg

His case: He was big in a pair of victories against the Nets over the last week, one in overtime, and is coming off a 36-10-9 effort a few days ago. Tatum remains very consistent this season, and that consistency remains high virtually across the board.

His spot in this Kia MVP Ladder next week could hinge mostly on what he does Tuesday in an Eastern showdown with the Cavaliers (7 ET, TNT), who remain undefeated and, from a win-loss standpoint, are the team to beat in the conference. That’s gotta get Tatum’s attention.

3. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

Last Ladder: No. 6
Season stats: 27.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.4 apg

His case: Bummer for Durant — a strained left calf will keep him benched for a few weeks, just as he was pressing the accelerator. Not only was he productive for the Suns pre-injury, but he averaged just shy of 39 minutes a night, his most since 2010-11. Pure durability is acknowledged and rewarded by an MVP race.

If Durant keeps up this performance pace when he returns, he’ll also get nods for the Kia Clutch Player of the Year Award. Durant came up big in most of the Suns’ seven crunch-time wins in the first few weeks, and in those situations, he led the league in points scored. Which raises a point about his value — Durant missed the last three games and the Suns lost two of them, one in overtime when they could’ve used his presence.

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last Ladder: No. 4
Season stats: 27.9 ppg, 6.3 apg, 1.8 spg

His case: He’s just days removed from a demolition of his former team, the Clippers, which was crammed with highlights and numbers — a career-high 45 points, nine assists and five steals.

Shai’s value to the Thunder and level of play now becomes more paramount because OKC will be without Chet Holmgren for at least eight weeks with a pelvic fracture. If that first game without Holmgren was an indication from SGA, the Thunder should be fine and Gilgeous-Alexander will remain in this MVP race. We’ll see right away, with upcoming games against Devin Booker and the Suns, then Luka Dončić and the Mavericks.

5. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

Last Ladder: No. 1
Season stats: 30.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.1 bpg

His case: Don’t read too much into his one-week tumble early in this MVP race. He missed one game because of a bum ankle and also suffered a scratched eye. But upon returning, his output was solid (21 points and nine rebounds over the last two games), just not at the level of his scorching start to the season.

No matter; Davis remains the best both-ends player in this top five. Not only is he averaging over 30 points but he’s No. 6 in blocks and No. 8 in rebounds. That level of balance must be respected for an award that should recognize 94-feet dominance.

The next five:

6. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
8. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
9. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
10. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

Fantasy Leaders

Brook Lopez makes his Top 3 debut

Overtime Thoughts