The Corner · November 10-13, 2026
The Corner
Four nights of games, and already enough to fill a Corner: records, rolled ankles, eleven straight wins for the Spurs and a new leader in the East. Seven stories, until the rest of the week catches up.
- 01The number · 52Cunningham: 52 points, 11 assists, zero turnovers
Cade Cunningham beat his career high (46) with 52 points and 11 assists, without a single turnover, in Detroit's double-overtime win in Washington (144-140). Nobody had ever put up 50 points, 10 assists and zero turnovers since turnovers were first counted, in 1977. On the other side, AJ Dybantsa forced the second overtime with a midrange jumper.
- 02The Spurs · 11Eleven straight, starting with an 18-0 run
Down 22 in Chicago on Wednesday, the Spurs ended up winning 124-119. On Friday, they crushed the Warriors in the NBA Cup (123-85) after opening on an 18-0 run, the best start in franchise history in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98). Stephon Castle set a season high (32 points), while Wembanyama settled for 12 points and 12 rebounds in 21 minutes. Eleven straight wins, the longest active streak.
The feature: Spurs: the problem is the bench, not the starters →
- 03The EastBoston passes Philadelphia
The Celtics won 123-101 in Philadelphia, with 36 points from Paul George, traded this summer for Jaylen Brown, who finished with 13, his lowest total of the season. Boston (10-2) takes first place in the East. The Sixers bounced back on Thursday against Toronto (123-112). We've updated our feature.
- 04InjuriesDončić, Reaves, Curry: a bad night
On the same night, Luka Dončić left with a rolled ankle in Milwaukee (after scoring 32), Austin Reaves hurt his left heel, and Stephen Curry left the game in Houston in the first quarter: a right oblique tear, out at least two weeks. Among the rookies, Caleb Wilson broke his hand trying to strip the ball from Wembanyama: four to six weeks out. Anthony Edwards, after knee surgery, could miss up to two months.
- 05Houston · 43Şengün: 43 points on 17-of-24
Alperen Şengün scored 43 points, with 12 rebounds and 5 assists, against Utah (125-118). Since 1956-57, only Hakeem Olajuwon and Yao Ming had put up 40 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists on 70% shooting for the Rockets. Houston is 10-3, and Şengün climbs to 3rd in our MVP race. On the other side, rookie Darryn Peterson scored 28, his fifth straight game with 20 or more.
- 06StreaksTowns keeps going, the Bucks keep sinking
Karl-Anthony Towns now has twelve straight double-doubles to open the season: he passes Willis Reed (11), and only Walt Bellamy (13) did better among Knicks. It wasn't enough in Indiana (106-104). Milwaukee lost its ninth straight: at 1-12, it's the Bucks' worst start in 52 years. And the Thunder, the 2025 champions, have lost three in a row, the last one to the Clippers (113-112) despite 40 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
- 07Les BleusTraoré second, Raynaud back soon?
Behind Wembanyama (28.8 points), Nolan Traoré is still the most prolific French scorer (12.9 points), ahead of Alex Sarr (11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds). Maxime Raynaud still hasn't played, but ESPN projects his return around November 15. Noah Penda is expected around the 18th. The chart on the French players page shows who's up and who's down, week by week.
- Nov. 15Jazz-Spurs in Salt Lake City: San Antonio goes for a twelfth straight win.
- Dec. 4-5NBA Cup quarterfinals, final on December 11 in Indianapolis.
- Jan. 14Spurs-Pelicans in Paris, at the Accor Arena.
On Friday, the Grizzlies had ten players score in double figures, tying the NBA record. The same night, in San Antonio, the Warriors had two. Basketball is a team sport, just not for everyone at the same time.
Sources: NBA.com (Starting 5), ESPN box scores (our own calculations), ESPN, NBC Sports, Heavy, Wikipedia. Published Nov 14, 2026.
Previous editions
Nov 10, 2026 October 26 to November 9, 2026 7 stories
- 01The number · 52Wembanyama: 52, 24, 8, then 40 in 25 minutes
On November 4 against Dallas (112-111), Victor Wembanyama set career highs in points (52) and rebounds (24), with 8 blocks. Five days later in Phoenix, he had 40 points, 11 rebounds and 9 blocks in 25 minutes. Since 1973-74, there have only been ten games with 40 points, 10 rebounds and 8 blocks: this is the only one in under 30 minutes. He's 2nd in our MVP race.
- 02The Spurs0-2, then nine straight wins
After two losses to the Thunder and the Rockets, the Spurs won their next nine games, the longest active streak. NBA.com put them first in its power rankings: their starting lineup allows just 85.8 points per 100 possessions. The bench still struggles without Wembanyama. We've updated the feature.
The feature: Spurs: the problem is the bench, not the starters →
- 03Lakers · 39.3Dončić at 39.3 points per game
45 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals and 8 threes against Toronto: nobody had ever put up those five numbers in one game. He added 53 against Portland in the NBA Cup, then missed a game with a stiff back. After nine games he was averaging 40.1, something only Wilt Chamberlain had done. The Lakers are 10-2, the best record in the league.
- 04RookiesAcuff, Boozer, and Dybantsa has arrived
Darius Acuff Jr. (Kings) scored 259 points and dished 74 assists in ten games: only Oscar Robertson had started that well, in 1960. Cameron Boozer posted a triple-double (18 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists) at 19. AJ Dybantsa finally debuted on October 28, with 19 points, and is averaging 16.7. Dylan Harper is at 18 points a game for a winning team.
- 05The duel · 43Flagg: 43 points and the game-winner
Cooper Flagg had 43 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists against Indiana (125-122), with 16 in the fourth quarter and the go-ahead shot with 26 seconds left. Only Kevin Durant, in 2008, had put up 40 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists before turning 20. His shoulder is fine, thanks for asking.
- 06InjuriesThe Thunder hold on without half their roster
Jalen Williams (fractured leg) and Cason Wallace (torn shoulder labrum) are out indefinitely, Chet Holmgren for 8 to 10 weeks (patellar tendon). The Thunder are still 8-2, carried by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his back-to-back 40-point games. Elsewhere: Anthony Edwards (knee) has missed seven games, and Kon Knueppel hurt his hamstring again (four more weeks).
- 07Les BleusTraoré settles in, Raynaud and Penda wait
Behind Wembanyama (30.1 points), the most productive French scorer is Nolan Traoré, at 12.9 points per game. Rudy Gobert grabs 12.1 rebounds a game, Alex Sarr is at 9.9 points and 7.2 rebounds. Maxime Raynaud (knee) and Noah Penda (hamstring) still haven't played: Penda is expected back around mid-November. It's all in our tracker.
- Nov. 10Sixers-Celtics in Philadelphia, Jaylen Brown's first meeting with his old team. The only two teams in the East with two losses.
- Dec. 4-5NBA Cup quarterfinals, final on December 11 in Indianapolis.
- Jan. 14Spurs-Pelicans in Paris, at the Accor Arena.
On October 25, the Spurs were 1-2 and San Antonio was worried. Nine wins later, Wembanyama is averaging 30.1 points and the bench is still in the red without him. Turns out you can have a problem and win every game. It's almost a luxury.
Oct 25, 2026 Week of October 19-25, 2026 7 stories
- 01The number · 52Dončić drops 52
Luka Dončić scored 52 points on 17-of-30 shooting, with 8 rebounds and 10 assists, in the Lakers' win in Utah (132-123). The best total of the first week, ahead of the 45 points from Ty Jerome and Anthony Edwards.
- 02Les BleusWembanyama: 1-for-13, then 48 points
On opening night against the Thunder, Victor Wembanyama made 1 shot out of 13 (12 points, 13 rebounds, 6 blocks, a 116-104 loss). He followed it with 25 and 23 points, including a win in Dallas (122-106) where he finished +32 on the floor. Dylan Harper is averaging 20 points.
- 03MovesGiannis scores, Miami loses
Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 35 and then 36 points in his first games with the Heat. The result: three games, three losses. Klay Thompson is still looking for his shot (34% shooting). The Florida sun hasn't kicked in yet.
- 04RookiesWilson takes off, Dybantsa waits
Caleb Wilson had 30 points and 14 rebounds against Washington, after 16 and 21. Cameron Boozer bounced back (25 points, 13 rebounds) after a 2-for-15 debut. AJ Dybantsa (sprained ankle) and Kon Knueppel (hamstring) haven't played yet.
- 05The returnHaliburton, as if he'd never left
After more than a year out, Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 21.7 points and 9.7 assists over his first three games. The Pacers won two of them. Damian Lillard opened his season with 25 points in 24 minutes.
- 06StandingsThe unbeaten and the rest
After three games, four teams are still unbeaten: LeBron James's 76ers, the Thunder, the Rockets and the Lakers. At the other end, the Bucks, Heat, Nets, Pelicans and Warriors are still winless. 79 games to go, no need to panic. Or maybe a little.
- 07InjuriesFlagg hurt, Raynaud and Penda sidelined
Cooper Flagg (32 points in his first game) left against the Pacers after a flagrant foul by Aaron Nesmith on a breakaway dunk: a mild left shoulder sprain, and one missed game against the Spurs. He is listed as questionable for Monday. On the French side, Maxime Raynaud (right knee) and Noah Penda (hamstring) haven't played yet; Rayan Rupert, Mohamed Diawara and Pacôme Dadiet are waiting for their coaches to remember them. It's all in our tracker.
- Oct. 30The NBA Cup tips off, fourth edition.
- Nov. 7Nuggets-Pacers in Mexico City.
- Jan. 14Spurs-Pelicans in Paris, at the Accor Arena.
Wembanyama opened his season 1-for-13. Two games later, he had scored 48 points. Moral of the story: never draw conclusions after one game. This Corner wisely waited for the third.
Oct 12, 2026 Week of October 5-11, 2026 7 stories
- 01The return · 472 daysHaliburton and Lillard are back (so are their tendons)
Tyrese Haliburton played for the first time since tearing his Achilles in the 2025 Finals: 7 points and 6 assists in 16 minutes, wearing No. 22 as a nod to his college days. The same night, Damian Lillard opened the Blazers' game with a three and finished with 15 points in 19 minutes.
- 02MovesThe summer reshuffled everything
LeBron James in Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson in Miami, LaMelo Ball in Minnesota with Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant in Portland, Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. in Brooklyn. It will take a while to get used to the jerseys. The Fanatics sales team already has.
- 03RookiesPeterson, Mara and Acuff set the tone
Darryn Peterson scored 23 against the Nuggets in his second preseason game. Aday Mara had 22 against Milwaukee, Darius Acuff Jr. 19 in his debut against the Lakers. No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa was still waiting for his first game on Thursday. No pressure.
- 04The rivalryWilson vs. Boozer, episode 4
Caleb Wilson (Chicago) and Cameron Boozer (Memphis) won the 2024 Peach Jam together in AAU, then faced each other in college and at Summer League. They meet again in the preseason. Boozer is averaging 13.5 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists; Wilson led the Bulls in scoring in his debut.
- 05Les BleusWembanyama backs the high-school protesters
After the Spurs' first preseason game, Victor Wembanyama spoke up for the high-school students protesting in France: "These are systemic inequalities." We analysed how he chooses when to speak.
- 06The number · $14MA $14 million Jordan jersey
A jersey worn and signed by Michael Jordan during the 1998 Finals sold for $14 million in a private sale. A record for a sports item of its kind. Ours, worn at Thursday night pickup, are still available. Make an offer.
- 07TributeThe Warriors honour Don Nelson
Golden State wore a "Nellie" patch on its jerseys to honour Don Nelson, who died in August at 86. Stephen Curry called him "an icon of the NBA family".
- Oct. 20Opening night: Celtics-Pistons, 76ers-Knicks, and Thunder-Spurs in a conference finals rematch.
- Oct. 21Giannis's first steps with the Heat, against Minnesota.
- Jan. 14Spurs-Pelicans in Paris, at the Accor Arena.
The Nets, Nuggets, Pacers and Spurs are bringing back ABA-inspired uniforms and courts this season. We bet it will show up in the next jersey sales rankings.