NBA

Durant to miss emotional Houston return to Phoenix for personal reasons

Kevin Durant
November 2025

Houston star Kevin Durant will miss the Rockets’ home game against the Phoenix Suns for personal reasons, postponing his first on court return to the city where he played the previous two and a half seasons and averaged nearly twenty seven points per game. Durant, now the Rockets’ leading scorer and under contract through 2028, was traded from Phoenix in a seven team deal that included Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, with both teams starting strongly this season as Houston push toward the top of the Western Conference.

Nuggets dealt major blow as Aaron Gordon sidelined with hamstring strain

Denver Nuggets
November 2025

Denver forward Aaron Gordon has been ruled out indefinitely with a strained right hamstring and will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, depriving the Nuggets of another starter after guard Christian Braun recently sprained his ankle and joined the injury list. Coach David Adelman said Gordon is still weighing treatment options, with Denver leaning on Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones in his absence, a significant blow given Gordon’s 18.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and his importance alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

Ivey returns from fractured fibula as surging Pistons make it 12 straight

Jaden Ivey
November 2025

Jaden Ivey finally returned for Detroit nearly 11 months after breaking his left fibula and later undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, scoring 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench as the Pistons beat the Bucks 129-116 for their 12th straight win. He admitted the layoff tested his patience and perseverance, but said gratitude dominated his emotions on return, while coach J.B. Bickerstaff carefully capped his minutes and team-mates like Cade Cunningham praised his work, noting he already looked comfortable for a contender now chasing franchise-record streaks.

Former Wake Forest and NBA forward Rodney Rogers dies aged 54

Rodney Rogers
November 2025

Former Wake Forest star and 12-year NBA veteran Rodney Rogers has died at 54 from natural causes linked to his long-standing spinal cord injury, ending a 17-year period of paralysis that he used to inspire others through advocacy and foundation work. The ex-ACC Player of the Year and 2000 Sixth Man of the Year, whose No. 54 jersey was retired by Wake Forest, spent his post-accident years promoting resilience for people with spinal injuries, earning a Distinguished Alumni Award and an honorary degree as former coaches and teammates hailed his strength and character.

Suns forward Dillon Brooks fined $35k for postgame outburst at officials

Dillon Brooks
November 2025

The NBA fined Dillon Brooks $35,000 for confronting officials and using inappropriate language after Phoenix’s one-point win over the Timberwolves, adding another disciplinary mark to the forward’s already volatile reputation with referees and the league office. The incident occurred immediately after the final buzzer at Mortgage Matchup Center, prompting a review by Basketball Operations chief James Jones and resulting in the fine, with the league again signalling a low tolerance for direct verbal abuse of officials in tense late-game situations.

Cavs Battle Regression And Injuries After Last Season’s 64-Win High

Cleveland Cavaliers
November 2025

Cleveland’s 10-6 start, compared with last season’s 15-1 surge toward a 64-win campaign, has exposed clear slippage as injuries to Darius Garland and Max Strus, weaker rebounding and a dip in free-throw efficiency drag the Cavaliers away from the dominant identity they built in 2024-25. Coach Kenny Atkinson has already used nine different starting lineups while Donovan Mitchell urges teammates to stop leaning on last year’s success, with Evan Mobley yet to show a new offensive gear and Friday’s home game against the 2-13 Pacers treated as an urgency test.

Tre Jones honoured with Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for cancer and community work

Tre Jones (Chicago Bulls)
November 2025

Bulls guard Tre Jones has been named the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for October after helping raise over $1.1 million for cancer research, supporting breast cancer awareness campaigns and backing violence prevention and small business initiatives across Chicago. Jones co-hosted a major Jimmy V Foundation gala, backed Susan G. Komen’s VIPink campaign, partnered with the Obama Foundation’s Brotherhood Rising Program, amplified local businesses through the Bulls and BMO Spotlight Business initiative, and joined climate-focused Adapt2win, while also serving on the NBA’s Social Justice Coalition board.

Kings dealt major blow as Sabonis suffers partial meniscus tear

Domantas Sabonis
November 2025

Sacramento center Domantas Sabonis has been ruled out with a partial meniscus tear in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, a serious setback for a Kings team already sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference at 3-12. The 29-year-old former All-Star has averaged 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists across 11 games this season, anchoring Sacramento’s offense and rebounding, and his absence will force deeper rotation minutes on a struggling roster that lacks alternative interior playmaking and reliable size.

Illness sidelines Cooper Flagg for first time in rookie campaign

Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
November 2025

Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg missed his first NBA game due to illness, sitting out the narrow 113-111 loss to the New York Knicks after a demanding start to the season in which he has been thrust into primary playmaking duties. The top pick is averaging 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 34 minutes while adapting to a de facto point guard role with Kyrie Irving out until at least December, and his enforced rest comes as Dallas juggle heavy minutes and ongoing uncertainty over Anthony Davis’ calf return.

Zion Williamson returns from hamstring strain in Pelicans’ loss to Nuggets

Zion Williamson
November 2025

Zion Williamson made his comeback for New Orleans with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes during a 125-118 loss to Denver, offering a vital on-court boost to a Pelicans team that has slumped badly without him. Interim coach James Borrego kept Zion on a managed load in his first game since early November, praising his impact on the team’s spirit and the gravity he created for scorers like rookie Derik Queen, but New Orleans’ 2-13 record underlines how fragile their season remains around his availability.