NBA News

During the offseason, the Bucks bought out Damian Lillard’s contract and signed Indiana Pacers’ interior powerhouse Myles Turner, as well as role players like Cole Anthony and Kofi Cockburn. Milwaukee has gotten off to a strong start this season, holding a 4-1 record, with their only loss coming against the Cleveland Cavaliers

The new NBA season is already underway, and this year brings a fresh landscape once again. However, one thing that never changes in the Western Conference is the intense competition — the defending champion Thunder will face heavy challenges from multiple teams. With the new season tipping off, ESPN released its projected standings for both conferences. Today, let’s focus on the West to see which teams might stir up controversy or emerge as surprise contenders.

Last season, the Cavaliers had an impressive regular season, finishing with a 64–18 record, though they fell short in the Eastern Conference semifinals. During the offseason, Cleveland made several key roster upgrades, adding Lonzo Ball, Larry Nance Jr., and Thomas Bryant to strengthen their depth.

In the second half, Donovan Mitchell exploded for 21 points in the third quarter, erasing the 15-point deficit and tying the game at 87 heading into the fourth. The Knicks then opened the final quarter with a 14–2 run, building a 12-point cushion. Despite the Cavs’ efforts to rally, the Knicks held firm and secured a 119–111 victory.

The young forward was ejected during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers after a confrontation with a referee while driving to the basket, playing only 18 minutes before being sent off. He angrily approached the referee after attempting a layup following clear contact to his leg.

Earlier this week, Durant and the Rockets finalized a two-year contract extension worth $80 million. On this, KD said: "I can imagine myself retiring here in Houston, being a Rocket until the end of my career. I don’t like to say it too much, because no one knows what the future holds. But for now, that’s how I feel."

Houston Rockets – Core in Crisis, Rotation Exposed: Disaster struck Houston before tip-off — Fred VanVleet (15.2 PPG, 7.5 APG last season) tore his ACL in practice and will miss the entire year. His absence leaves the Rockets without a true floor general, forcing rookie guards Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard into heavy playmaking roles. The duo combined for 5.5 turnovers per game in preseason, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of only 1.8.

Head coach J.J. Redick confirmed pregame that Luka Dončić (27.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 7.7 APG last season with the Lakers), LeBron James (18 PPG, 6 APG in preseason), and Anthony Davis (19.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG in six games since returning) are all fully healthy and ready to play. The Lakers’ new “Big Three” will take the floor at full strength.

The Houston Rockets enter the new season with a young, dynamic roster headlined by superstar Kevin Durant, supported by a balanced mix of veterans and role players. If the team performs to its potential, the Rockets are expected to become the biggest threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference. Their goal for the regular season is clear—approach every game with focus, secure wins, and earn home-court advantage in the playoffs to fully showcase their strength.

As the Portland Trail Blazers reach a four-year, $90 million early extension with 2022 No. 7 pick Shaedon Sharpe, Fansided has released a fresh re-ranking of the 2022 NBA Draft lottery selections. Surprisingly, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr.—the original No. 3 pick—plummets all the way to 14th, while his teammate Tari Eason soars to 11th.

In the October 18, 2025 preseason matchup between the Clippers and the Warriors, the Clippers built a lead in the first and third quarters, but the Warriors stayed close in the fourth and nearly forced overtime. Luckily for the Clippers, the Warriors missed the game-tying shot in the final moments, and Los Angeles narrowly won 106–103. Notably, Paul, Leonard, Harden, Paul, Batum, and Lopez all did not play in this game.

In a recent NBA preseason game, the Houston Rockets, resting almost all of their key players, defeated the Atlanta Hawks 133–115. The win extended the Rockets’ p