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Payton Pritchard hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter, causing Doc Rivers to bend over like he was about to throw up. Of course, I turned that into a dub about Seth Rogen in “Superbad,” saying Michael Cera is the fastest guy alive.

Money starts here?

Milwaukee is off to a troubling start

Almost four weeks ago there was an idiot in there this separate newsletter stating that the Suns and Bucks were forgotten as NBA contenders. It’s me. I’m the idiot. Maybe. It’s still early. The Suns are off to a good start, but the Bucks are definitely not.

The latter defeated the 76ers on opening night, as the Sixers were missing Joel Embiid and Paul George. Then they lost to the Bulls at home and to the Nets on the road. Last night, Milwaukee held out for a while against the defending champion Celtics.

Finally, the dam broke as Boston buried the Bucks with a 119-108 victory behind 30 points from Jaylen Brown and 28 points with eight made three-pointers off the bench of Payton Pritchard. We’re only four games in, so no one should be roasted for losing in Boston… But this Bucks team, which started out ranked No. 8 in BetMGM’s NBA title odds, losing a game like that after losses to Chicago and Brooklyn isn’t a good sign. They just don’t look like the team they should be. We’re only 5 percent into the season, but I’m starting to worry about the Deer. The Bucks started 1-3 under Doc Rivers when he took over midway through last season. Unfortunately, they have remained consistent by starting 1-3 with him this season.

I decided to ask Eric Nehm – the best in the business at covering the Bucks – what’s going on and if it’s time to panic.

What is the biggest problem the Bucks face heading into this season?

Nehm: They just didn’t bring the required effort, intensity and focus in those two games against the Bulls and Nets. Rivers called them “terrible games” after the loss to the Celtics on Monday, and it would be hard to disagree with that assessment. They committed far too many turnovers, gave up too many offensive rebounds, and played defense with a general malaise that allowed both the Bulls and Nets to build confidence in the first half and then blow out the Bucks in the second half. If they plan to be one of the best in the Eastern Conference, they can’t give away games against teams they need to beat.

Will Doc Rivers be able to solve this? Should Bucks fans be concerned?

Nehm: It’s worth noting that the Bucks have a top-heavy roster and Khris Middleton hasn’t played a game yet this season. For some, that might be a reason to worry even more, while others might think it’s a reason for optimism going forward. I think it’s fair for Bucks fans to be concerned, as the Bucks should have started the season 3-0 before dropping Monday’s game to the Celtics, but there’s still plenty of reason to believe that they can turn this around. If Doc Rivers wants to get them back in position to challenge for a title this season, he will have to get more out of his roster on the nights when they play less talented teams and continue to build the chemistry between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. . Both things are far from impossible.

The last 24

The top three, middle three and bottom three

I no longer present the Power Rankings The Athletics. Law Murray has taken up the torch, so he’s burning all your favorite teams with it! However, I can’t help myself when it comes to ranking teams. Every Tuesday I’ll give you the top three, middle three and bottom three teams. Some say that conceding your favorite three mediocre teams is the bravest thing you can do on the internet. Let’s discover it together!

Top three: Celtics (4-0), Thunder (3-0), Cavaliers (4-0)

We expect the Celtics to keep rolling. We’re impressed with the Thunder’s good start, even if it’s not surprising at all. Everyone called them great this season. The Cavs? Sure, their first three wins came against Toronto, Detroit and Washington, but their win in New York was great.

Middle three: LA Clippers (2-1), Kings (1-2), Rockets (2-2)

I really like the way the Clippers have started the season, and James Harden could easily have them at 3-0. The Kings have a losing record, but narrowly lost to Minnesota and the Lakers. The Rockets are as solid as they come and still great defensively.

bottom three: Blazers (1-3), Jazz (0-3), Pistons (0-4)

I like the way the Blazers are approaching things, but they’re still bad. The Jazz are winless and unwatchable on offense. The Pistons are winless and still can’t close any games.

Here’s everything else you need to know from the past 24 hours in the NBA world.

🏀 Another fired WNBA coach. The Sun fired coach Stephanie White. Half of the league is currently without coaches. Read more here.

⚾ Spotted! Paul George and Sabrina Ionescu during Game 3 of the World Series in New York. PG represented the Dodgers, as a distant resident of Los Angeles. One problem: he’s a Padres fan?

🩼 Steph Curry will miss at least two games. His ankle injury is annoying, but hopefully not serious. Don’t miss Marcus Thompson.

🗣️ Dwyane Wade says he likes his statue! I mean… what should he say? His thoughts.

🙏 Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks suffered a horrific injury. The second-year player appeared to take a normal step on the field and ended up with a broken fibula and a dislocated ankle. Here’s to a speedy and full recovery.

📺 Don’t miss this match tonight. Mavericks (2-1) at Timberwolves (2-1), 7:30 PM ET on TNT. We’ll see if Julius Randle is the missing piece for this WCF rematch.

🤯 Stat

Denver desperately needs that Jokic minutes

I have good news about the Nuggets (1-2)! They won last night! Yes, it was against the Raptors (1-3). Yes, it took a late-regulation reverse layup from Jamal Murray with 0.3 seconds left to force overtime. And yes, Denver nearly blew an eight-point lead in that overtime before securing the victory thanks to RJ Barrett missing a go-ahead 3-pointer, followed by subsequent missed tip-ins by the Raptors.

Still, Nikola Jokić had 40 points (17 in the fourth quarter and OT), 10 rebounds and four assists as Denver recorded its first win of the season. Here’s the stunning statistic I promised:

With Jokić on the floor this season: The Nuggets are plus-7 in 116 minutes with an offensive rating of 114.2.

With Jokić on the bench this season: The Nuggets are minus-25 through 33 minutes with an offensive rating of 60.3.

For context, the Nuggets are playing with a 99.3 possession rate so far this season. Over an entire game at such a pace with Jokić, Denver would score about 113 points. During the matchup at that pace without the three-time MVP, the Nuggets would finish with 60 points… in the modern NBA! They wouldn’t even compete against the 2003-2004 Detroit Pistons! Dear Nuggets, please ask our friend Jokić some help before he retires to breed horses in Serbia.

Back-to-back 40-point games for Nikola Jokić as the @nuggets get the OT victory in Toronto!

🃏 40 PTS
🃏 10 REB
🃏 4AST
🃏 2BLK
🃏 3 p.m pic.twitter.com/OTYxUc9vLl

— NBA (@NBA) October 29, 2024

About last night

Paolo Banchero goes for 50; Lakers finally lose

Leave it to Magic star Paolo Banchero to give us our first 50-point game of the season. His 37-point first half tied Tracy McGrady’s team record before shutting down the Pacers with a nine-point fourth quarter. Orlando won 119-115. Banchero actually left points on the table by shooting 15 of 22 from the free throw line, but he made up for it with 13 boards and nine dimes. This was the seventh 50-point game in Magic history, as Banchero joined McGrady (four times), Shaquille O’Neal and Nick Anderson.

Josh Robbins The Athletics staff and I have more for you on Paolo’s big night!

Paolo Banchero was absolutely DOMINANT in the @OrlandoMagic W!

🔥 50 PTS (career high), 37 in 1H
🔥13 REB
🔥9 AST
🔥 3 p.m
🔥2 BLK
🔥 16-26 FGM

Magic move to 3-1 this year! pic.twitter.com/1BtNZ9iyBm

— NBA (@NBA) October 29, 2024

Suns 109 (3-1), Lakers 105 (3-1): LeBron James (11 points) barely reached double figures and extended his streak of 10 or more points to 1,226 consecutive games. But Kevin Durant dropped a game-high 30 when Devin Booker added 33, handing JJ Redick his first coaching loss.

Cavaliers 110 (4-0), Knicks 104 (1-2): Darius Garland had 15 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to shut down the Knicks at MSG.

Heat 106 (2-1), Pistons 98 (0-4): Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Pistons collapsed in the fourth quarter and lost.

Mavericks 110 (2-1), Jazz 102 (0-3): This was an ugly game overall, but Kyrie Irving had 23 points and nine assists.

Rockets 106 (2-2), Spurs 101 (1-2): Jalen Green torched San Antonio for a season-high 36 points. Victor Wembanyama had an off night with 14 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. He is the youngest player in NBA history to reach these points in a game (83 times).

Wizards 121 (1-2), Hawks 119 (2-): The Hawks started off great in their first three games before losing at home to the Wizards. Never trust the Hawks.

Bulls 126 (2-2), Grizzlies 123 (2-2): The Bulls look great, but let me point you to Marcus Smart’s start to the season. Last night he shot 0 of 11 and missed all eight of his three-point attempts, meaning he’s shooting 23.5 percent overall (8 of 34) and 16.7 (3 of 18) percent from deep.

Kings 111 (1-2), Blazers 98 (1-3): DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox put this one away early. Scoot Henderson looked good off the bench (18 points, five assists). 👀

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(Top photo: David L. Nemec/Getty Images )