Kevin Durant Out

Kevin Durant is set to miss a few weeks with a left calf strain. This comes just after he helped secure a nail-biter win over the Mavericks, finishing with 26 points in 37 minutes. The Suns, who are blazing through the season with an 8-1 record, will miss their superstar’s contributions, especially his clutch-time magic.

Durant’s been averaging 27.6 points per game while pulling off the rare feat of shooting over 55% from the field and 40% from three, joining only Nikola Jokic in that exclusive club.

Durant has also been a clutch-time hero, leading the league with 35 points in those last-chance moments, helping the Suns go 7-0 in games that are down to the wire. Not bad for a guy logging 38.8 minutes per game, the most he’s averaged since 2010-11.

Jimmy Butler Benched for Another Timberwolves Matchup

In a game with history behind it, Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler had to sit out yet another matchup against his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. A sprained right ankle from Friday’s game against the Denver Nuggets kept Butler off the court, leaving Heat fans disappointed in his sixth absence from games against the Wolves in just 11 matchups.

With Butler unavailable, Coach Erik Spoelstra shook things up, starting Kevin Love and Haywood Highsmith in place of Butler and a healthy Nikola Jovic, marking Miami’s first lineup change of the season. Though the Heat snagged a narrow 95-94 win, their record with Butler against his old squad has been rough, just 1-4 when he’s on the court. Butler’s absence might have Wolves fans breathing a sigh of relief, while Miami fans will be watching his recovery closely.

What Next for The Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder took a hit in more ways than one Sunday night as Chet Holmgren exited early with a right hip injury in their 127-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Holmgren was hurt in a midair collision while trying to block a drive by Andrew Wiggins, landing hard on his right side and immediately needing help to get off the court.

Coach Mark Daigneault offered no update postgame on Holmgren’s condition, leaving OKC fans anxious about his potential absence. Holmgren, who’s been averaging 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks this season, is a central part of OKC’s strong 8-2 start.

Boston Outlasts Milwaukee

The Boston Celtics fought back from a nine-point halftime deficit to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-107 on Sunday afternoon, with Jayson Tatum stepping up to seal the deal. Tatum finished with an impressive 31 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, powering Boston’s comeback in the second half.

After Milwaukee's strong start with a 16-2 lead and a blazing first half, it looked like the Bucks were in control. However, the Bucks’ struggles continued as they managed just 15 points in the third quarter, allowing Boston to climb back and take over.

Tatum took charge with 23 points in the second half, while Payton Pritchard kept the Celtics close with a 17-point first half. Giannis Antetokounmpo was a one-man powerhouse for Milwaukee, posting a season-high 43 points along with 13 rebounds, but the Bucks’ recent slide hit a new low, marking their eighth loss in nine games. This Celtics win not only keeps their momentum but shows they can turn up the heat in the clutch.

Warriors on The Rise

The Golden State Warriors were on the ropes late in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but Steph Curry came through with another iconic performance to seal the win. Leading by just seven points in the final minutes, Curry drilled a clutch three-pointer with 1:12 left on the clock and broke out his signature night night celebration, effectively closing the game.

Curry was unstoppable, finishing with 36 points on a scorching 13-of-23 shooting, including 7-of-13 from deep. His stat line didn’t stop there: he added seven assists, five rebounds, and wrapped up with a plus-21 efficiency in 37 minutes. This was Curry’s first "night night" since the gold medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

With this win, the Warriors cap a successful 4-1 road trip and return to the Bay to face the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, where Curry will be reunited with his Splash Brother, Klay Thompson, now playing for Dallas.

For now, Curry and the Warriors can enjoy a well-deserved rest as they fly back home with yet another road win under their belt.

Anthony Davis Exits with Yet Another Injury

Just when the Lakers were heating up, they hit another speed bump. Lakers’ forward Anthony Davis was ruled out of Sunday’s 123-103 win over the Raptors after taking a rough shot to the face. It all happened midway through the third when Davis went for a highlight-worthy block on Jakob Poeltl’s dunk attempt. He got the block, alright, but Poeltl’s stray hand landed smack on Davis’s eye.

Cue the crowd going wild while Davis, not-so-wildly, dropped to the floor in obvious pain, hands covering his face. He eventually made it off the court and headed to the locker room, but not before fans held their breath. This eye injury, a corneal abrasion, is one he’s faced before, last occurring in March of last season.

With Davis out, Jaxson Hayes stepped in and kept the momentum going, slamming down three dunks and a layup to keep the Lakers on top. Davis, who’s been an early MVP candidate this season, had already racked up 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks before his sudden exit. And despite the tough break , he still leads the league in scoring, averaging 32.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.

Curt Miller Joins Dallas Wings as General Manager & EVP

The Dallas Wings made a power move by hiring Curt Miller as their new general manager and executive VP of basketball operations. Miller, known for his expertise in building winning rosters, previously coached the Los Angeles Sparks and led the Connecticut Sun to two WNBA Finals. His transition from coaching to executive roles is big news, especially with five head coaching vacancies still open across the league. With his proven track record, Miller’s focus will now be on finding a head coach for the Wings after Latricia Trammell’s recent departure.

Reflecting on his new role, Miller highlighted the immense potential of the Wings, citing their talented roster, a brand-new arena on the horizon, and the support from the Dallas community. As he takes charge of building a championship-caliber team, fans are excited to see where he leads the franchise.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

We’ll see you tomorrow!

— The Players Unlimited Team