Jaylen Brown’s first run in a 76ers uniform came with the familiar view Philadelphia has seen too often from the other side: buckets in bunches. Brown scored 22 points in 17 first-half minutes as the Sixers opened preseason with a 120-97 win over the defending champion Knicks, one of several new-look teams getting their first real floor time Monday.
Key takeaways
- Brown went 8-for-13, adding two rebounds, two assists and a block before Philadelphia held him out after halftime.
- LaMelo Ball posted 11 points, four rebounds and three assists in Minnesota’s 116-97 win over Milwaukee.
- Luka Dončić had 21 points before intermission as the Lakers handled Sacramento, 127-103.
- Detroit erased a 19-point deficit behind a 59-39 second half to edge Phoenix, 109-107.
- Charlotte hosts Brooklyn at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV, followed by Lakers-Warriors in San Francisco at 10 p.m. ET.
Brown sets Philadelphia’s tone as new pairings debut
Brown’s opening basket was a baseline stepback, and the night kept moving in Philadelphia’s direction from there. He made seven of his next 11 attempts, punctuated by a two-handed transition dunk, while the Sixers built a 72-58 halftime cushion. Brown’s 22 led all scorers.
VJ Edgecombe supplied 12 points and seven assists for Philadelphia, which did not have LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey or Joel Embiid available. Edgecombe liked what he saw from Brown in their first game together. “He looked great,” Edgecombe said. “Everybody knows what JB can do. We’re building now, and it’s time to get ready for the next game.”
Jalen Brunson had 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in 15 minutes for New York, while OG Anunoby also scored 12. The Sixers next visit Brooklyn on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET on League Pass, with James still awaiting his preseason debut.
In Minnesota, Ball made his first impression almost immediately, finding Jonathan Kuminga for the first basket 10 seconds into the game. Ball logged 17 minutes and finished with 11 points, four boards, three assists, a steal and two 3-pointers. Anthony Edwards added 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks, with the new Wolves backcourt combining for 25 points.
Terrence Shannon Jr. and Kuminga each delivered highlight dunks in the Wolves’ 116-97 victory. Milwaukee got 14 points and 12 rebounds from Kel’el Ware, while Tyler Herro had 11 points and three assists. Rookies Brayden Burries and Nate Ament combined for 15 points, with Burries recording seven points and five assists and Ament scoring eight.
Rookies, rallies and a busy Tuesday slate
Memphis jumped Atlanta early and never gave the game back in a 132-123 preseason win. No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer showed a little of everything with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Grizzlies scored 81 points before halftime, then piled up 49 in the second quarter while shooting 8-for-11 from deep.
GG Jackson led Memphis with 14 points. Ty Jerome and Jaylen Wells had 12 apiece, with Jerome handing out five assists and Wells knocking down four 3s. Corey Kispert scored 19 for Atlanta, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 14 and No. 8 pick Kingston Flemings contributed 11.
Dončić got the Lakers rolling against Sacramento, scoring 13 in the first quarter and 21 before the break, along with three assists and two steals. Los Angeles used a 37-19 second period to take a 73-47 halftime lead. Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 selection, gave the Kings a sharp first showing with 19 points and four assists, including 17 points before halftime. Cameron Carr scored 19 and Quentin Grimes added 16 for the Lakers, who were without Walker Kessler and Austin Reaves.
Detroit’s comeback came in layers. Ron Holland II scored a game-high 14 points, Cade Cunningham put up 10 in 16 minutes, and Ausar Thompson and newcomer John Collins scored 10 each. Twelve Pistons reached at least five points. Devin Booker had 13 for Phoenix, Dillon Brooks scored 11, and Miles Bridges made his Suns debut with eight points, five rebounds and four assists.
Tuesday’s NBA TV doubleheader starts in Charlotte, where the Hornets begin their preseason against Brooklyn. Charlotte won 44 games last season, its highest total since 2015-16, but fell one win short of ending the league’s longest active playoff drought in the Play-In Tournament. The Hornets went 33-16 after New Year’s Day and led the NBA at 17.3 made 3-pointers per game during that surge.
Charlotte has shifted its direction after trading LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, building around Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. Knueppel is out for preseason play, putting more on Miller, who led the Hornets at 20.2 points per game last season. Naz Reid, Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale arrive with a combined 533 made 3-pointers last year and 219 playoff games of experience.
“The goal is, of course, playoffs,” Miller said. “It’s not all about me. Whether I’m guarding the best player every night or scoring, I’ll do what the team needs to win.”
Brooklyn counters with Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr., who averaged a career-best 24.2 points last season, around a young group that includes five first-round selections from the 2025 draft. No. 6 pick Mikel Brown Jr. could make his preseason debut.
The Lakers then head to Golden State. Stephen Curry scored 10 points in 12 minutes in the Warriors’ preseason loss to the Clippers in Honolulu, including a deep 3-pointer for his first make. Entering his 18th season and holding 4,248 career 3-pointers, Curry said the preparation remains worthwhile once the game begins: “As soon as you get on the floor, it’s automatic how worth it it is.”
Elsewhere Tuesday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could make his first preseason appearance when Oklahoma City hosts New Orleans, while Denver and Utah meet for the second time in three days. Houston and Dallas are also in Macao for the 2026 China Games, scheduled Friday at 8 a.m. ET and Sunday at 6 a.m. ET at The Venetian Arena, with both games on NBA TV.
With the regular season two weeks away, the Atlantic Division carries major change: Boston begins a post-Brown era after leading the league in wins and collecting 86 playoff victories during his decade there; New York enters as a leading Eastern Conference contender; Brooklyn aims to halt a three-year slide; Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto seven years after leading the Raptors to their only title; and Philadelphia sees a ceiling beyond simply reaching the Eastern Conference finals if its roster comes together.
The league’s 2026-27 officiating priorities will again focus on improving the game’s flow and fairness, including off-arm push-offs and quicker free-throw administration. James Jones, the NBA’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, said the points of emphasis were selected to advance the product for fans, teams and the people competing inside it.
