Need a reason to smile on Monday?
Wemby’s on tonight. The Dame & Giannis era’s underway. And we’ve got a surprise guest coming this week.
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October 16, 2023 | 4-5 minute read
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Damian Lillard splashes for his first preseason trey with the Bucks | NBAE
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- Dame/Giannis debut reaction ⌚
- Wemby and Scoot lead Monday 👀
- WNBA Finals: Liberty stay alive 🗽
- Meet Walker Kessler: 7️⃣ on 7️⃣
- Last week in photos 📸
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1. DAME & GIANNIS START WITH A WIN 🦌
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Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, teammates. | NBAE via Getty Images
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A preseason debut this anticipated had to be made in Hollywood (well, technically Downtown LA, but you get the point).
The Damian Lillard & Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee is officially underway as the superstar duo took the court for the first time as teammates in a 108-97 win over the Lakers on Sunday.
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- It didn’t take long for the first Dame-to-Giannis connection as Lillard got a steal and found a streaking Giannis for the dunk just five minutes into the game
- Giannis returned the favor the next quarter, finding Lillard beyond the 3-point line. The jab step, jab step, pull-up 3 looked very familiar. Dame in Bucks green? Not so much
- Dame put up 14 points (3-10 FG, 2-7 3P), with 3 assists and 4 steals in 22 minutes. Giannis had 16 points, 8 boards and 2 blocks in just 15 minutes
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A few key stats from Sunday that could give us a glimpse into the Bucks future:
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- Dame (25.5%) and Giannis (43.2%) combined for 68.7% of the Bucks scoring when on the floor
- Dame (55.4%) and Giannis (76.6%) were the only 2 players on the Bucks with over 50% true shooting percentages (min. 10 FGA)
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Sunday featured more than the Dame and Giannis show. Here’s a look at the day’s other 5 games:
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- Hornets 117, Thunder 115: PJ Washington posted the highest-scoring game of the preseason with 31 points (13-18 FG, 5-8 3P) in just 24 minutes
- Heat 132, Grizzlies 124: Tyler Herro made it two players to reach the 30-point mark this preseason as Herro (30) and Bam Adebayo (26) combine for 56 points, 9 rebounds and 9 dimes, including one Kevin Love impersonation outlet pass
- Raptors 134, Cairns Taipans 93: All 17 Raptors that suited up got some run, led by Scottie Barnes with 14 points (2 coming on this emphatic dunk), 5 boards, 4 dimes, 2 steal and a block in 18 minutes
- Nuggets 116, Bulls 102: The defending champs had just above everything going on Sunday: a Jamal Murray stop on a dime pull-up jumper, an Aaron Gordon alley-oop dunk off great ball movement, and a Sombor Shuffle from Nikola Jokic
- Warriors 121, Kings 115 (OT): In their first meeting since Game 7 of last year’s first round series, 48 minutes was not enough, as the Dubs prevailed in OT. Jonathan Kuminga continued his red-hot preseason with 28 points – he’s scored at least 24 in all 3 preseason games – to share the league lead with Herro (26 ppg)
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2. ROOKIE SHOWCASE: WEMBY, SCOOT LEAD MONDAY NIGHT 🔥
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Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson met up postgame after Wemby’s Metropolitans 92 took on Scoot’s G League Ignite on Oct. 4, 2022. | NBAE
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One question keeps repeating itself when the Spurs show up on the schedule: What is Victor Wembanyama going to do next?
After two tantalizing preseason performances, what other moves does the French phenom have to unveil to the world? Or is he going to hold onto a few until the games start to count in the standings?
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- We’ll get our answer when the Spurs host the Rockets (and No. 4 pick Amen Thompson, who has had some impressive moments of his own this preseason) on Monday night (8 pm ET, League Pass)
- No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson and the new-look Blazers close out the night when they face the Suns (10 pm ET, NBA TV) for the 2nd time in 5 days. Henderson has averaged 15.3 points (4th among rookies) and 6.0 assists (T-1st among rookies) through 3 preseason games.
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Rookie Scoring Leaders, 2023 Preseason
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- Victor Wembanyama (SAS): 21.5 ppg (2 games)
- Julian Strawther (DEN): 19.7 ppg (3 games)
- Chet Holmgren (OKC): 18.5 ppg (2 games)
- Scoot Henderson (POR): 15.3 ppg (3 games)
- Multiple Players: 13.0 ppg
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The Suns beat the Blazers last Thursday without Bradley Beal, who had 11 points in 14 minutes in his Suns debut on Oct. 8 but has not played since. Will we get to see the full big 3 on Monday in the Valley?
Also on tap for Monday night:
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- Hawks at Pacers (7 pm ET, League Pass): Indiana (0-2) looks for its first win of the preseason against unbeaten Atlanta (3-0)
- Maccabi Ra’anana at Cavaliers (7 pm ET, League Pass): Just like the Pacers, the Cavs are also looking for their first W of the preseason
- 76ers at Nets (7:30 pm ET, NBA TV): Ben Simmons has averaged 8 points on 64% shooting and a team-best 6 assists through two preseason games. How will he fare against his former team?
- NZ Breakers at Jazz (9 pm ET, League Pass): The Jazz put up 138 points in their win over the Blazers on Saturday – the most points in a game between two NBA teams this preseason. What will they do against the New Zealand Breakers?
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Reminder: Lineups change quickly in the preseason. Stay up to date at the NBA App.
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3. WNBA FINALS: LIBERTY STAVE OFF ELIMINATION 🚫🧹
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Sabrina Ionescu reacts to a bucket in the Liberty’s win on Sunday. | NBAE via Getty Images
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Facing elimination in the 1st WNBA Finals game in New York since 2002, the Liberty ensured there would be another game on Wednesday, defeating the Aces 87-73 to bring the five-game series to 2-1, Las Vegas.
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- Long Time Coming: This was NY’s first WNBA Finals win since Sept. 4, 1999, when Teresa Weatherspoon made this iconic shot. T-Spoon and former teammates Vickie Johnson, Crystal Robinson, Sue Wicks were in the house while another former teammate – Aces coach Becky Hammon – was on the opposing sideline
- Liberty MVPs Deliver: Jonquel Jones (27 PTS, 8 REB) and Breanna Stewart (20 PTS, 12 REB) combined for more than half of New York’s points and rebounds. Vegas’ A’ja Wilson (16 PTS. 11 REB) tried to bring the Black Air Force 1 energy, but it was not enough
- Block Party: New York blocked 8 Aces shots – including 3 by Jones and 2 each by Stewart (including this one on Wilson) and Sabrina Ionescu – while Las Vegas had its first game without a single block all season
- 3s Finally Drop for NY: After shooting just 17-of-64 (26.6%) from 3-point range in the first two games in Vegas, the Liberty shot 13-of-30 (43.3%) from deep at home
- Gray Leaves in 4th: Vegas Point Gawd Chelsea Gray exited the game midway through the 4th quarter, hobbled to the locker room with an apparent foot injury and left the arena on crutches. Her status moving forward could be a series changer if she’s unable to go
- Game 4 on Wednesday: Both teams have two days to rest, recover and strategize before the series resumes in Brooklyn on Wednesday (8 pm ET, ESPN). Vegas remains one win away from back-to-back titles, but have not won at Barclays Center this season (0-3)
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4. MEET ‘THE SHERIFF’: 7 FACTS ABOUT UTAH’S 7-FOOT RISING STAR 🏀
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It takes a village (to box out Walker Kessler). / NBAE via Getty Images
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In Sept. 2022, the Jazz shocked the NBA by trading away 2 franchise cornerstones – Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert – and set a course toward a different, uncertain future.
One of the players they got in return proved to be one 2022-23’s biggest revelations. Both on and off the court. (With bonus points for a great nickname)
Before the Jazz host the New Zealand Breakers on Monday (9 pm ET, League Pass), check out more about 22-year old center Walker Kessler, the man known as The Sheriff.
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- He’s already in the same sentence as Tim Duncan. In his first season, Kessler became the first rookie since Duncan to post 10+ games of 5+ blocks
- How do you replace a 3-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year? Add a rookie that finished 4th in the NBA in blocked shots (2.3 per game) and 5th in rim protection (allowing opponents to shoot just 51.5% at the basket)
- I hear he’s good with a mic, too? He showcased his colorful personality while serving as an NBA Finals correspondent last year, asking the hard-hitting questions to the likes of Nikola Jokic
- He’s got jokes? At this year’s media day, Kessler took the podium with a loud groan, saying “I’m getting old, man…grandkids are really treating me rough.” He’s 22 years old
- How much did Kessler play above his draft position (No. 22 overall)? He finished third in Kia Rookie of the Year voting behind only Orlando’s Paolo Banchero and OKC’s Jalen Williams
- So is it just about defense with him? He actually became the first Jazz rookie to post both a 20/20 game (aptly Jan. 16 at Minnesota) and a 30/10 game (March 25 at Sacramento). Not Karl Malone. Not Gobert. Walker Kessler
- Didn’t I hear this name over the summer? Kessler gained valuable experience as part of the U.S. Senior National team that finished fourth in the FIBA World Cup
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5. OUR FAVORITE PHOTO FROM EACH OF THE PAST 7 DAYS 📸
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A fan in Madrid got Luka’s autograph just after the Mavs arrived on Sun, Oct. 8. This one doesn’t count toward the 7 😂 /|Catherine Steenkeste/NBAE via Getty Images
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Anybody else feel like last week flew by?
To help keep Monday at bay, take as long as you need admiring these 7 frames from the past week of preseason ball – a favorite for each day.
Monday, Oct. 9
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The start of something big? Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren show love after their viral preseason debuts. | Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images
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Luka Doncic and Real Madrid coach Chus Mateo embrace after the Mavs & Real played an exhibition in Madrid, Mateo was an assistant when the 16-year-old Doncic became the youngest player in history to play with the senior team. | Catherine Steekneste/NBAE via Getty Images
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All eyes on Jrue, the Celtics’ new star guard. | Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
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Ben Simmons, back on the floor – and caught perfectly in the strobe – in Brooklyn. | Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
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LeBron, Steph & AD. So much history. So many inside jokes. | Ezra Shaw//NBAE via Getty Images
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Josh Hart waits for a rebound to come down. Guess you had to be there 😂 | Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
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Dawn of a new era in Milwaukee: Damian Lillard & Giannis Antetokounpo check in. | Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
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See ya tomorrow. Got somethin fun coming.
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