The opening month of the season has already shown how important the 3-point shot has become. Teams rely on outside shooting more than ever, and several players are putting up strong numbers from long range.

The injury-depleted Clippers entered their matchup with the Lakers knowing the stakes: survive, or watch their NBA Cup hopes disappear. A Lakers win would clinch the group outright, while the Clippers needed either a Memphis loss or a statement victory to stay alive.

Luka Doncic and the Lakers hosted his former team, the Mavericks, for Friday's final NBA Cup group game. As expected, the five-time All-Star demanded significant attention from his former teammates on offense. The Mavericks doubled him straight out of the gates, in the Lakers' backcourt in the first possession after tipoff.

The Western Conference is shaping up to be a wild race as we head into December, with several teams making strong early statements. From powerhouse contenders to surprising climbers, the standings are already tightening up.

There is an NBA Cup matchup that won’t mean anything for the NBA Cup standings but still counts toward the regular season as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, Nov. 28 at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The Detroit Pistons continue to be dominant through the first couple of weeks of play, climbing to the top of the Eastern Conference and 2.5 games ahead of the Toronto Raptors -- two teams that have been building momentum after a few undesirable seasons.

The first month of the 2025-26 NBA season has already delivered a scoring race that feels tighter, louder, and more unpredictable than most years. Luka Dončić is setting the bar ridiculously high in Los Angeles.