{"id":257845,"date":"2025-11-02T15:44:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-02T15:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/257845\/"},"modified":"2025-11-02T15:44:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T15:44:21","slug":"starting-5-sgas-thunder-wembys-spurs-giddeys-bulls-16-combined-games-0-losses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/257845\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5: SGA\u2019s Thunder. Wemby\u2019s Spurs. Giddey\u2019s Bulls. 16 Combined Games. 0 Losses."},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren came to Mexico City with four alley-oop connections so far this season.<\/p>\n

They left with three more and a win over the Mavericks.<\/p>\n

\"Cade<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

Nov. 2, 2025<\/p>\n

Revved Up In Mexico: Career games from Duren, Cade power Pistons past Mavs<\/p>\n

First Wins: Indy gets 1st win of the season, Sac gets 1st win in Milwaukee in a decade<\/p>\n

Roundup: Rockets win 3rd straight after 0-2 start, Wolves & Magic roll<\/p>\n

Luka\u2019s Wilt-esque Start: Don\u010di\u0107 looks to keep his historic scoring run going vs. Heat<\/p>\n

Playing With Perfection: Thunder (6-0), Bulls (5-0) & Spurs (5-0) put streaks on the line<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

Fire up NBA League Pass\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

For only the sixth time in NBA history, and the first time since 2014-15, three teams have started at least 5-0<\/a> \u2013 the Thunder (6-0), Bulls (5-0) and Spurs (5-0).<\/p>\n

All three put their perfect records on the line today on NBA League Pass. It begins with OKC hosting New Orleans (3:30 ET<\/a>, Tap To Watch<\/a>), followed by Chicago visiting New York (7 ET<\/a>, Tap To Watch<\/a>) and San Antonio visiting Phoenix (8 ET<\/a>, Tap To Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

1. CUNNINGHAM-DUREN CONNECTION GOES GLOBAL WITH MEXICO CITY WIN
\n\"Cade<\/p>\n

Chris Schwegler\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Since the NBA first brought regular-season games to Mexico City in 1997, the fans have been treated to a show<\/a> no matter which teams took the court \u2013 with six of the first 14 games decided by five points or less.<\/p>\n

So, it was fitting that Saturday\u2019s game between the Pistons and Mavs came down to the wire.<\/p>\n

With 4:51 to play, D\u2019Angelo Russell (31 pts) splashed his seventh 3 of the game to give the Mavs a 106-105 lead. From that point on, the Pistons closed the game on a 17-4 run to win the 2025 NBA Mexico City Game.<\/p>\n

Pistons 122, Mavericks 110: Jalen Duren scored a career-best 33 points<\/a>on 13-of-16 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Cade Cunningham matched his career-high with 18 assists<\/a> along with 21 points to lead the Pistons to their fourth win in five games. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Cade On Duren (recipient of seven Cade dimes): \u201cHe\u2019s such a beast. He makes me look good. He makes my job easy. I always say running the break with JD and Ausar Thompson is the easiest job in the world.\u201d
\nCade On Playing In Mexico<\/a>: It\u2019s been the coolest basketball experience I\u2019ve ever had<\/a>, being able to travel here. I probably never would have come here if it wasn\u2019t for basketball, so I\u2019m thankful.\u201d
\nDetroit Dime Droppers: Cunningham joined Isiah Thomas as the only Pistons with multiple 18+ assist games before turning 25<\/p>\n

\"Cade<\/p>\n

In a game that featured 16 lead changes and 11 ties, the Pistons used three distinct runs to capture the momentum.<\/p>\n

Fast Start: Detroit opened the game on a 7-0 run<\/a>, highlighted by a defense-to-offense sequence for Duren \u2013 starting with a swat and ending with an alley-oop slam
\nTurning Tides: Trailing by nine midway through the 2nd quarter, the Pistons used a 21-2 run<\/a> to take a double-digit lead
\nThe Closer: After Russell\u2019s final 3 gave the Mavs their final lead, the Pistons closed the door with a 17-4 finish with Cunningham and Duren accounting for 13 of Detroit\u2019s 17 points<\/p>\n

\"Cade<\/p>\n

When the Pistons and Mavs last met in Mexico City in 2019, Dallas\u2019 Luka Don\u010di\u0107 addressed the crowd in perfect Spanish before handing the microphone to Detroit\u2019s Blake Griffin, who followed with a simple \u201cHola M\u00e9xico<\/a>\u201d and a smile.<\/p>\n

On Saturday night, it was Cunningham with the mic in his hand, beginning with the familiar \u201cHola M\u00e9xico\u201d before finishing his welcome in Spanish<\/a> to the delight of the 20,000+ plus inside CDMX Arena.<\/p>\n

On The Ground: From player arrivals<\/a> to pregame warmups<\/a> and celebrity sightings<\/a>, the cameras were rolling to capture every moment<\/a> of the 15th regular-season game in Mexico City.<\/p>\n

Shooting Lessons While Shooting: Klay Thompson, who\u2019s made the fifth most 3s in NBA history, offers young hoopers some tips<\/a>while getting his own shots up
\nHave Ball, Will Travel:\u00a0Duren proves that basketball can take you anywhere<\/a> in the world and you can take Tobias Harris\u2019 basketball anywhere with you<\/p>\n

2. INDY GETS FIRST WIN OF SEASON, SAC GET FIRST WIN IN MILWAUKEE SINCE 2015<\/p>\n

\"Pascal<\/p>\n

Seeking their first win since their magical run to the 2025 NBA Finals, the Pacers followed a familiar formula in earning their first victory of the 2025-26 season \u2013 mounting a furious 4th-quarter comeback.<\/p>\n

Pacers 114, Warriors 109: Powered by career-best games from Aaron Nesmith (31 pts, 5 3pm) and Quenton Jackson (25 pts, 10 ast), Indiana closed the game on a 21-5 run<\/a> over the final 5:46 to beat Golden State for the sixth time in their last seven matchups. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Start To Finish: Pascal Siakam got hot early, sinking his first five buckets<\/a> and finishing with 27 points. Jackson scored 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting during Indy\u2019s game-ending run, capping off his first career double-double
\nOut Of Range: Despite a combined 44 points from Steph Curry (24 pts, 4 3pm) and Jimmy Butler III (20 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk, 1 buzzer-beater<\/a>), the Warriors posted season lows in 3-pointers made (12) and 3-point percentage (27.3%)<\/p>\n

\"Zach<\/p>\n

Kings 135, Bucks 133: Zach LaVine netted his league-best-tying fifth 30+ point game of the season and tied up Giannis Antetokounmpo\u2019s game-tying attempt at the buzzer to snap Sacramento\u2019s three-game skid and earn the Kings\u2019 first win in Milwaukee after nine straight losses. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Royal Court: Four Kings starters accounted for 108 of the team\u2019s 135 points \u2013 LaVine (31) and DeMar DeRozan (29) combined for 60<\/a>, while Domantas Sabonis and Dennis Schr\u00f6der each added 24
\nMilwaukee Run: Kyle Kuzma scored 16 4th-quarter points before Giannis (26 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast) added 11 straight, as the duo nearly caught the Kings with 27 of Milwaukee\u2019s 31 points in the period
\nFreakish Start: Giannis is the first player to ever top 170 points, 60 rebounds, and 30 assists through the first five games of a season (171 pts, 67 reb, 36 ast)<\/p>\n

3. ROUNDUP: ROCKETS WIN 3RD STRAIGHT, WOLVES & MAGIC ROLL<\/p>\n

\"Alperen<\/p>\n

Rockets 128, Celtics 101: Kevin Durant scored 20 of his game-high 26 points in the 1st half as the Rockets built a 20-point lead and never looked back in a wire-to-wire win over Boston for their third straight dub. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Magnificent Seven: Durant led seven Rockets in double figures, including near triple-doubles from Amen Thompson (17 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast) and Alperen Sengun (16 pts, 10 reb, 9 ast)
\nKD On The Rockets: \u201cWhen we\u2019re clicking on all cylinders like that, we\u2019re tough to stop<\/a>.\u201d
\nStreak Ends: Coming off Friday\u2019s tight win over Philly, Boston had its three-game win streak snapped. Baylor Scheierman (17 pts, 4 3pm), Payton Pritchard (14 pts, 4 ast) and Jaylen Brown (12 pts, 5 ast) combined for 43 in the loss<\/p>\n

\"Naz<\/p>\n

Timberwolves 122, Hornets 105: For the second-straight game, Julius Randle tallied a team-high 30 points as Minnesota got its first win of the season without All-Star Anthony Edwards (hamstring). Charlotte was held to a season-low 105 points in a third-straight loss. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Great Range: Hot shooting from distance (5-9 3FG) helped the Wolves run away in a 36-18 3rd quarter and never look back
\nLaMelo Leads: Ball (18 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast) finished one assist shy of 60 through six games, tied with Cunningham for the NBA lead (59)
\nTale of the Paint: Rudy Gobert (14 pts, 15 reb, 2 blk) and Minnesota dominated the battle inside by 20 points, limiting Charlotte to 36 points in the paint<\/p>\n

\"Paolo<\/p>\n

Magic 125, Wizards 94: Paolo Banchero (28 pts, 11 reb) and Franz Wagner (25 pts, 6 ast) each scored 20+ points for a league-best fifth time this season to secure Orlando\u2019s first consecutive wins of the year. Kyshawn George (17 pts) led Washington in a fourth-straight loss. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

D Loading: In their back-to-back wins, Orlando held opponents to season lows in scoring, as their Defensive Rating returned to the top 10 (T-10th, 112.7)<\/p>\n

4. LUKA LOOKS TO EXTEND RED-HOT START WHEN LAKERS HOST HEAT<\/p>\n

\"[<\/p>\n

Wilt. Michael. Luka.<\/p>\n

That is the list of players that have scored at least 125 points through their first three games to begin an NBA season.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a first-name-basis level that Luka\u2019s playing at right now.<\/p>\n

Tonight (9:30 ET, League Pass), Don\u010di\u0107 and the Lakers host the Heat with the team seeking a third straight win and Luka going for a fourth straight 40-ball.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve seen hot streaks from Don\u010di\u0107 before\u2026<\/p>\n

He\u2019s put up back-to-back 40+ point games three times in the regular season (2021, 2022, 2024) and once in the Playoffs (2022). But this is his first time hitting 40+ for three straight games
\nHe\u2019s one of only 10 players to post a 70+ point game \u2013 with his 73-point game the most among active players, topping Donovan Mitchell (71), Damian Lillard (71), Devin Booker (70) and Joel Embiid (70)
\nHe\u2019s one of only three players with five All-NBA First Team selections by age 25, joining Tim Duncan and Kevin Durant<\/p>\n

\u2026But this start is something that we have not seen from Don\u010di\u0107 over his previous six NBA seasons.<\/p>\n

\"[<\/p>\n

Entering the 2025-26 season, October saw Luka post his lowest scoring (27.0) and assist (6.8) averages of any calendar month in his career.<\/p>\n

His October splits this season: 45.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists in 38.3 minutes \u2013 the points, rebounds and minutes would top any monthly average in his career.<\/p>\n

A key to Luka\u2019s early success this season? A rigorous offseason workout regimen that brought him into Lakers\u2019 training camp in the best shape he\u2019s been in to open a season in years.<\/p>\n

Lakers Coach JJ Redick: \u201cThis is his life now. This is his routine. This is just a daily commitment to the new standard that he\u2019s set for himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now that the calendar has flipped to November, can Luka maintain this blistering pace? Teammate Austin Reaves claims averaging 40 ppg \u2013 and joining Wilt as the only other player to do so \u2013 is on the table for Luka.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s going to be tough<\/a>,\u201d Don\u010di\u0107 said. \u201cSometimes they\u2019re going to double me more. Sometimes I won\u2019t be able to score that much.\u201d
\nSo far, he\u2019s been able to score that much every time he touches the floor. Will that continue tonight against Miami?<\/p>\n

5. PERFECT STARTS ON THE LINE FOR THUNDER, BULLS, SPURS TODAY ON LP<\/p>\n

\"Shai<\/p>\n

Two weeks into the season.\u00a0Three scintillating starts.<\/p>\n

The Bulls, Spurs and Thunder are a combined 16-0.<\/p>\n

In a jam-packed eight-game League Pass slate<\/a>, with 16 different teams in action, those three will each battle to keep their perfect resumes intact.<\/p>\n

The Thunder tip things off at 3:30 ET when they host the Pelicans. The defending champions are the only six-win team in the Association, playing at a level reminiscent of the 7-0 start that paved the way for confetti to eventually rain down from their rafters.<\/p>\n

Shai Sizzles: Averaging 34.2 points through six games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has outdone his MVP-winning 32.7 ppg
\nSix Decades Ago: The superstar guard is one shy of tying Oscar Robertson \u2013 79 in 1963-64 \u2013 for the third-most consecutive games with 20+ points in NBA history
\nNext Man Up: Jalen Williams (wrist) has yet to play and Chet Holmgren (back) is out again tonight, but OKC and its No. 1 DefRtg have quieted opponents anyways<\/p>\n

\"Josh<\/p>\n

Chicago has found success on both sides of the ball en route to the league\u2019s No. 5 OffRtg and No. 6 DefRtg. A perfect start will go on the line when the Bulls visit the reigning East finalist Knicks at 7 ET.<\/p>\n

By Committee: Six different Bulls boast double-figure scoring averages, as Josh Giddey (22.0), Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107 (19.8) and Ayo Dosunmu (16.2) dictate a balanced attack
\nGlory Days: The team hasn\u2019t started a season 5-0 since 1996-97. That group won the franchise\u2019s fifth championship in Michael Jordan\u2019s penultimate season in Chicago<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

Ronald Cortes\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Victor Wembanyama has submitted his own early-season candidacy for MVP. At just 21 years old, he\u2019s doing things he\u2019s never done before, and San Antonio has rallied around him. The Spurs visit the Suns tonight at 8 ET looking to extend the best start in team history.<\/p>\n

Heaps Of Highs: The Alien\u2019s 30.2 ppg, 14.6 rpg, 4.8 bpg and 56.2 FG% all rank better than his previous two seasons, and his rebounding and blocking averages top the league
\nAmong Greats: Thursday\u2019s effort \u2013 27 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks \u2013 was his 3rd with 25\/15\/5\/5, trailing only David Robinson (8) and Tim Duncan (6) in Spurs history
\nYoung Scorers: Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper, with an average age of 21.6 years old, round out the scoring with a combined 50 ppg<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren came to Mexico City with four alley-oop connections so far this season. They…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":257846,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[4891,64,63,590,124174,151933,151934,85],"class_list":["post-257845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-4891","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nba","tag-nba-starting-5-newsletter","tag-november-2","tag-pistons-win-nba-mexico-city-game-2025","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257845\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/257846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}