Saturday, October 24, 2026

Joel Embiid is expected to sit out Sunday's game against the Pistons after he told reporters he planned to play only one game of Philadelphia's back-to-back set. LeBron James (back) was held out of Saturday's game against the Bucks but is targeting a return Sunday against Detroit. Jabari Walker, who filled in for James, exited in the third quarter with an ankle injury and is considered questionable for Sunday.

Jalen Duren will miss at least two weeks with a right hamstring strain suffered in Friday's win over Miami, with Paul Reed expected to slide into the starting lineup. Gui Santos limped off in the third quarter of Saturday's loss to the Suns with an undisclosed injury and is questionable for Monday in Denver. Draymond Green (back) and Al Horford (back) both sat out Saturday's Golden State-Phoenix matchup as expected rest decisions.

Paolo Banchero faces a four-to-six week absence with a right high-ankle sprain, pushing Tristan Da Silva into Orlando's starting lineup. Cooper Flagg was diagnosed with a mild left shoulder sprain and will be re-evaluated next week, keeping the Mavericks' rookie forward out beyond Saturday's game against San Antonio. Marcus Smart (forearm) and Fred VanVleet (knee) were both held out of Houston's second consecutive game, opening minutes for Reed Sheppard, Bruce Thornton, and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Yves Missi has been diagnosed with a left knee bone bruise and faces an extended absence, with Derik Queen a candidate to start in his place. Ben Sheppard remains out indefinitely with a torn left meniscus, while T.J. McConnell (hamstring) has yet to make his season debut for Indiana.

Joel Embiid delivered the performance of his young season against Milwaukee, posting 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 127-116 win — his first triple-double of the year. Nikola Jokic matched him with a triple-double of his own against New Orleans, finishing with 35 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, and three blocks.

Jamal Murray stole the spotlight in Denver's overtime thriller, exploding for 42 points on eight or more three-pointers. Devin Booker was equally brilliant in Phoenix's win over Golden State, dropping 43 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists. Jalen Johnson was the night's most surprising stat line, recording 26 points and a remarkable 16 assists in Atlanta's loss to Houston.

Denver edged New Orleans 141-135 in overtime in the night's highest-scoring game. Eight games were played in total on Friday.