Articles by EssentiallySports,Harshita Saxena

Sports

Deandre Ayton Admits What Went Wrong During Practice That Led to Lakers Loss

The Hawks’ defense set the tone early and carried through the night. They came out aggressive, forcing the Lakers into turnovers and tough shots. LA struggled to find rhythm, shooting just 44% in the first quarter, while Atlanta capitalized, building a 37-29 lead by the break. Mouhamed Gueye led the charge with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, adding seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block. Every Hawks starter scored in double digits, and the team shot an impressive 51.1% from the floor, converting defensive stops into transition points. Atlanta’s ability to force mistakes and control the paint left the Lakers scrambling, with only Doncic (22 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal) and Ayton (11 points, 5 rebounds) making notable contributions. JJ Redick’s frustration was clear as crystal as he faced the media after the loss. In a brief press conference lasting less than ninety seconds, he delivered sharp, no-nonsense answers before quickly exiting, leaving little doubt about his disappointment. “Just not a lot to like tonight,” he said. Redick didn’t mince words when reflecting on Atlanta’s effort. “They brought the requisite level of effort and urgency and physicality,” he stated, acknowledging that the Hawks showed up ready to compete while his team struggled to match the intensity. The loss reflected the Lakers’ difficulties across the board: poor perimeter shooting, sloppy ball movement, and turnovers piled up, leaving Redick visibly displeased. The game was defined by execution, or lack thereof. Atlanta clicked on all fronts, knocking down 16 threes, racking up 37 assists, and keeping turnovers to a minimum with just 11. The Lakers, meanwhile, struggled to match that rhythm, hitting 12 threes, dishing out 23 assists, but stumbling with 20 turnovers that constantly handed momentum to the Hawks. Ayton opens up: Lakers’ defensive struggles exposed by Hawks DeAndre Ayton admitted that the Lakers underestimated the Hawks. “Really, probably leaving those guys underestimated, not keeping those guys in account,” he said. “Forgetting about them that this is the NBA and those are NBA players… I feel like we were just behind the ball a little bit, and they killed us in transition, and they played amazing defense. And we weren’t ready for it, and JJ [Redick] basically got on us about it. Yeah, we ready for the next game.” The Lakers’ overconfidence was evident, and Ayton’s stats only added to it. Heading into the game, he was averaging 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on an efficient 65.7% shooting. Defensively, Ayton had flashes of brilliance, especially as a help-side protector, famously holding Spurs’ standout Victor Wembanyama, a DPOY favorite, to 19 points and eight rebounds. His timing for blocks looked sharp, reflected in a 3.9% block rate. Ayton also discussed how he plans to improve for the Lakers’ upcoming matchup against the Hornets on November 10. “JJ can see the stress on my face and you try to calm me down. But um it was a little frustrating because I’m the last line of defense and like I said they were in our paint and the way how they were moving the ball.” The paint has been a persistent vulnerability for the Lakers. Ayton struggled on the defensive glass, posting a career-low 18.7% defensive rebounding rate. Even with these mixed signals, the Lakers still stepped onto the court brimming with confidence, perhaps underestimating the Hawks and the challenges that awaited them. He also praised the Hawks’ unique style of play: “The centers were even driving the ball and the guards cutting. It was the other way around. So, you know, they’re pretty unique in how they were playing. They were running around, doing a lot of cutting and a lot of rebounding. They really wanted that game and it was really the second half that got them the dog.” The third quarter turned into a nightmare for the Lakers. Early on, Ayton and LaRavia helped shrink Atlanta’s lead to nine, but the Hawks quickly answered with a 7-0 spurt and two long-range shots, stretching their advantage to 20 with over seven minutes left. By the quarter’s end, the gap had swelled to 26. From there, the game was all but lost for the Lakers.

Technology

What Happened to Bennedict Mathurin? Star Exits Pacers vs Grizzlies Game With Injury

The Pacers struggled to keep up without him. Memphis poured in 70 points across the second and third quarters, building a double-digit lead that Indiana couldn’t overcome. The Pacers tried to make a statement by putting three centers on the floor, but it couldn’t stop the tide. Indiana shot 40.4% from the field, made only 14 of 40 three-pointers, and turned the ball over 13 times. The lack of cohesion and too much isolation basketball left their offense sputtering. Conversely, the Grizzlies got a massive lift from rookie Cedric Coward, who scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half, hitting all six of his three-pointers. Ja Morant added 19 points while Jaren Jackson Jr. chipped in 17. Coward, the No. 11 pick out of Washington State, has now scored double figures in all three games this season. Despite a humiliating 146-114 loss to the Heat on Friday, Memphis showed resilience and dominated the paint and fast breaks on Saturday. But the Pacers’ woes didn’t stop with Mathurin. Rookie guard Taelon Peter also had a short, frustrating stint on the court against the Grizzlies. According to Indiana’s official X account, Peter played just over two minutes before a sore right groin forced him out, leaving him sidelined for the rest of the game. In that brief window, he didn’t get a chance to make much of an impact, recording only a foul and no shots. But the real problem is much bigger! Pacers struggle with point guard shortage Indiana’s season has hit an early rough patch, and the biggest headache? Their point guard situation. With rookie Taelon Peter now sidelined with a groin issue, the Pacers face a severe shortage of ball-handlers just as the regular season rolls on. In addition, there are lingering absences of stars like Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard, and the team’s depth at the position is stretched to its limit. What started as a manageable injury list has snowballed into a significant challenge for coach Rick Carlisle and the Pacers’ rotation. Despite the setbacks, Indiana is figuring out ways to keep things afloat. RayJ Dennis and Ben Sheppard, who have filled in at point guard even though it isn’t their natural role, are currently carrying the load. On top of that, versatile players like Pascal Siakam, Jarace Walker, and Bennedict Mathurin are stepping up to handle the ball more than usual. “It’s not much, but this could help them stay afloat until they get some of their guards back,” the team seems to be thinking, using creative lineups to compensate for the missing playmakers. And now the Mathurin situation has only made things difficult. Even with so many absences, the Pacers showed flashes of resilience. Against Oklahoma City, their lineup featuring Siakam, Obi Toppin, Walker, Mathurin, and Sheppard outscored the Thunder during a stretch of 11 minutes, proving that even without traditional point guards, the team can generate offense. Carlisle leaned heavily on different combinations, often deploying lineups without a natural point guard, showing that flexibility might be Indiana’s best weapon while their roster slowly recovers. Looking ahead, the hope is that Peter and the other injured guards return soon, but for now, Indiana will rely on creativity, versatility, and short-term solutions. Bringing in an outside point guard isn’t ideal; the roster is already full, so the team must navigate this storm internally.