Top Stories

• Julius Randle hits game winning 3

• Cade is leading the Pistons to be competitive

• Cavs making more history

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Games of the day

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

Julius Randle hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to cap his 35-point night and lift the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 120-117 win over the Phoenix Suns. Randle and the Wolves got the ball back with just 2 seconds remaining and called a timeout to advance the ball. The ball found Randle, who hit a 24-footer as time expired. Minnesota overcame a season-high 44 points from Devin Booker, who needed to carry the offensive load for a Suns team still missing Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal with injuries. Anthony Edwards added 24 points for Minnesota, most of that coming in the second half. He also picked up a technical foul on the same day he was fined by the league for an obscene gesture he made in Friday’s win over Sacramento. Grayson Allen scored 18 points off the bench for Phoenix, including a few 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Cade Cunningham had 21 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons over the Washington Wizards 124-104. Jaden Ivey scored 28 points and Malik Beasley added 26 for Detroit. Cunningham has four triple-doubles this season, two behind league leader Nikola Jokic. It was the eighth straight loss for Washington, which was home after a five-game trip. Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points apiece for the Wizards. Detroit held Washington to 18 points in the first quarter and led 65-53 at halftime. The lead was never in single digits after that, with the Pistons going on a 12-3 run to take an 85-64 lead on a dunk by Jalen Duren. Wizards center Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, had four points on 1-of-7 shooting.

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League News

Around the League

• The Cavs are the fourth team to start 15-0, joining the Golden State Warriors (2016), Houston Rockets (1994) and Washington Capitols (1949). The Warriors set the league record by winning their first 24 games on the way to a 73-9 season. All three previous teams made the Finals that season, with the 1993-94 Rockets being the one team to win the championship. Cleveland’s perfect start sets a new standard for a franchise that has fielded quality core talent before. Yet even successful eras led by LeBron James did not begin seasons this dominantly in the wins column. Cleveland’s current core, led by three current or former All-Stars in Garland, Mitchell and Allen as well as promising fourth-year big man Evan Mobley — not only leads the league record-wise, but is also second in point differential (+12.3). Garland’s resurgence in particular has been pivotal for Cleveland’s scorching start. The former fifth overall pick struggled with injuries, as well as acclimating to star teammate Donovan Mitchell’s arrival, after initially making the All-Star team at age 22 in 2022. Can the Cavs continue the trend and make, or even win, the Finals this year?

• 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.

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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

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Fantasy Leaders

Cade makes his debut in the Top 3

Overtime Thoughts