NBA recap of the 12 games on the slate of October 28, 2026.
Indiana Pacers 109-114 Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers had to summon a touch of the miraculous to prevail in Indiana. Even with Tyrese Haliburton out and the visitors starting strong, the Pacers controlled the middle portion of the game and entered the final frame with a 13-point cushion, making the ending look steep for Philadelphia. Yet with a roster built for late-race drama, no game is decided until the clock runs out.
Nick Nurse’s squad flipped the script with a 21-39 rally in the fourth, where Tyrese Maxey emerged as the hero of the night, pouring in 17 of his 27 points. The point guard was the chief architect of the comeback and also sealed it, converting two triples in the last 70 seconds to push the margin to 106-112 and seal the fourth Philadelphia win, vaulting them to the top of the Eastern Conference with a 4-1 record.
Tyrese Maxey turned the fourth INTO. HIS. SHOW.
17 PTS
4-8 FGM
12 MINHe would finish the game with a game-high 27 points as the @sixers move to 4-1 on the season! https://t.co/VeK3xPmX5F
— NBA (@NBA) October 29, 2026
Detroit Pistons 97-89 Charlotte Hornets
4-1 is also the Pistons’ mark, co-leading the conference after beating Charlotte behind Cade Cunningham’s 30 points and 7 assists, and, above all, his stellar defensive work. After a rocky first half where they struggled to click, Michigan’s squad held Charlotte to just 38 points after the break, enabling a relatively comfortable victory on a night where Cunningham carried much of the load solo.
Brandon Miller also had a standout performance, finishing with 31 points as the visiting lead scorer by a wide margin, outpacing Dennis Schröder, who was the Hornets’ only other double-digit contributor with 14. The Pistons missed Kon Knueppel and Coby White for depth, and Charlotte finished the night with under 90 points for the second time in their first five games.
Atlanta Hawks 117-129 Miami Heat
Finally, a clear win for the Heat. Some had begun to worry about Miami’s outlook, but tonight they exhaled a sigh of relief as they controlled most of the action in Atlanta, and despite a late scare when the Hawks trimmed an 18-point margin to four in the final period, the visitors closed out the game with relative ease.
The performance of Bam Adebayo was pivotal, as the forward dropped 24 points in his best showing of the season, dispelling concerns from a shaky start. Another 24 was also logged by Giannis Antetokounmpo in a display that emphasized his all-around impact with 18 rebounds. With seven players in double figures, the Heat treated this game as though it were a championship bout.
Cleveland Cavaliers 121-111 Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa couldn’t cap his impressive NBA debut with a win. The top pick started his career with 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting, and with the Wizards clinging to double-digit leads for most of the night, it seemed like a favorable night for him. But then Cleveland brought out the big guns.
Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland found their rhythm after a subdued first half, supported by Evan Mobley’s steady 24 points, the most consistent performer for the Cavaliers. Mobley’s 10 points in the final period capped a comeback, helping Ohio register its third consecutive win and begin to forget the rough opener against Philadelphia.
Toronto Raptors 129-99 Orlando Magic
The game in Toronto unfolded with little drama. Without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, the Magic never found their footing and couldn’t mount a challenge beyond the early portion of the game. The Raptors pulled away by 16 at halftime and extended the lead steadily, finishing with a comfortable margin of 33 points.
Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett led the home side with 28 and 25 points respectively, while Orlando struggled to find a consistent scorer. Franz Wagner, expected to spearhead the rookie-laden roster in the absence of their stars, had a taxing night with several turnovers and finished with 14. Tristan Da Silva added 20, trying to salvage a rough evening for the Magic.
Milwaukee Bucks 110-132 Houston Rockets
The visit by the Rockets to the Fiserv Forum offered little drama, a night when Milwaukee’s attention seemed more focused on the nearby baseball festivities than the court. Houston jumped ahead decisively in the second period, when the Bucks mustered only 14 points, and the rout was on from there.
The Rockets, still unblemished with a perfect start, looked the sharper unit throughout. Fred VanVleet, back to a high level, led the way with 24 points, while Amen Thompson added 23 as the rookie continues to prove he’s ready to contribute at a high level this season. The Texas visitors looked in control from the opening minutes and never loosened their grip.
Minnesota Timberwolves 114-119 Golden State Warriors
Don’t count the Warriors out yet. After a string of early losses, questions lingered, but as long as Stephen Curry is on the floor, Kerr’s squad can meet any challenge on nights when he’s locked in. Tonight gave a clear reminder of that, with Curry pouring in 44 points in a virtuoso performance.
Equally important was Yaxel Lendeborg, who continues to look like one of the brightest young players in the class, finishing with 29 points and staking a claim as a cornerstone for the Warriors. With his third straight game scoring over 25, the rookie already feels like a veteran in a team that needs his youthful energy.
LaMelo Ball had a difficult night without Anthony Edwards by his side, finishing with just 8 points on 3-for-11 shooting and committing 6 turnovers. While others tried to shoulder more responsibility, Minnesota will face a real test sustaining this early momentum with this version of the roster.
New Orleans Pelicans 91-104 Denver Nuggets
There’s no shortage of confidence to fix when visiting New Orleans. The Pelicans, still without a win, found themselves running into a Nuggets squad eager to regain rhythm after a harsh loss to Golden State, and Denver controlled the game from wire to wire, winning with a comfortable margin. But this night belonged to Nikola Jokic more than anyone else.
With 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, the Serbian center recorded his 200th career regular-season triple-double, becoming only the second player after Russell Westbrook to reach that milestone. Counting 209 triple-doubles in total, Jokic is rapidly approaching the top of the all-time list, and it seems only a matter of time before he climbs higher still.
Chicago Bulls 127-133 New York Knicks
It looked as if the Knicks might give themselves a tougher night than expected. With Norman Powell in lethal form and the Bulls’ youngsters energized, Illinois’ crew surged to a 19-point lead late in the third quarter, hinting at a potential trap game for the reigning champions. Yet what followed was the kind of comeback that helped New York claim the title a few months ago.
Jalen Brunson sparked the turnaround with a commanding fourth period, scoring 14 of his 38 points to pace a Knicks’ showing that erupted for 43 points over the final 12 minutes, converting 8-of-13 from long range to erase a Bulls’ advantage. Chicago’s performance, constrained by its own limitations, still offered a glimpse of potential and a taste of the togetherness that could carry them forward this season.
Utah Jazz 111-117 San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio needed overtime to edge Utah in Salt Lake City. Their clutch-avoidance in regulation again left them vulnerable, but come overtime, the Spurs’ defensive intensity and slick transition play did enough to seal the win. The victory marks a third straight for the Texans, who have moved to a positive 3-2 record after a questionable start.
Victor Wembanyama delivered the best night of his season thus far, exploiting Utah’s interior shortfall to dominate from start to finish with 36 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks. However, perhaps as influential as the rookie’s performance was Devin Vassell, who contributed 12 points across the fourth quarter and overtime to prevent Utah from folding entirely as Will Hardy’s crew pressed.
Dallas Mavericks 120-96 Oklahoma City Thunder
There were plenty of absences on the Thunder side. With three starters sidelined and another key reserve out, OKC’s lineup at the American Airlines Center looked notably diminished, far from the formidable squad that had opened the season by upsetting the Spurs. Yet Dallas took advantage of the mismatch to deliver a statement victory.
Cooper Flagg starred with 26 points and 8 assists, and seven teammates reached double figures, while Dallas’ defense thrived, maximizing every opportunity to pull away. The Mavericks have now claimed their third win of the young season, injecting a sense of optimism that few expected before the campaign began. Even in their reduced form, the Thunder rarely looked competent at the finish.
Perhaps something special is germinating in Dallas earlier than anticipated.
Los Angeles Clippers 87-103 Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Dončić’s absence did not prevent the Lakers from securing the first Los Angeles derby of the season. Redick’s squad controlled the proceedings from the opening whistle, routing a Clippers team that never managed a sustained push, and they did so without requiring a heavyweight performance from their other star. While Austin Reaves did not reach the ceiling he’s capable of, his 16 points were enough, as the supporting cast stepped up with solid individual performances.
Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton, two players highlighted after their previous defeat to Portland, delivered notable contributions with 23 and 21 points respectively, while Matisse Thybulle, coming off a quieter night, added 15 on 4-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc. On the other side, there was little to celebrate for the Clippers, as even Keaton Wagler’s 21 points fell short of sparking a comeback following a 4-for-15 shooting night from the field.
