Jemison appeared in one game with Toronto during the preseason after signing a two-way contract in August.
Jemison spent the 2025-26 season with the New York Knicks on a Two-Way.
In 13 NBA games, Jemison averaged 1.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.3 minutes. Jemison also appeared in 31 G League games, averaging 8.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 27.7 minutes.
Clippers Waive Cam Christie Ahead Of Guarantee Date
The Los Angeles Clippers have waived Cam Christie.
Christie had a $2.3 million salary for the 2026-27 season that was set to be guaranteed on Thursday.
Christie, who was the 46th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft out of Minnesota, appeared in 55 games last season with the Clippers. Christie averaged 2.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.7 minutes.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on 76ers key: 'Our chemistry… Us liking each other'
We know the headliners in Philadelphia: LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid. What too often gets overlooked is that Mike Gansey didn’t just recruit stars, he brought in talent around them for a quality bench, guys such as Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
That’s a lot of mouths for coach Nick Nurse to feed. What is the key to making it all work? Caldwell-Pope — who has won two rings — said the key is the chemistry the roster is building now. Here is what he told Kris Rhim of ESPN.
“Our chemistry is gonna be the biggest part for us,” Caldwell-Pope said Monday. “Us liking each other, being able to be around each other and have fun on and off the court…
“We have so much talent from one through 12, or 15, however many guys we’ve got, and it’s talent everywhere,” he said. “So, I think our biggest thing is just communicating with each other, learning each other’s tendencies, and just trying to implement that on and off the court.”
Chemistry takes time. It can start in training camps and with team dinners, but what it really takes is real games with the core guys healthy and playing together — we saw that for one half this preseason, which is about right — and it will take some road trips. Team dinners on the road where LeBron spluges on good wines. Bus trips. Locker room jokes.
Bringing in LeBron changes a team’s culture — he is a brand and culture unto himself. Not in a bad way, but he’s the most famous player in the world, an icon, a guy in the GOAT conversation, and his off-court presence is huge. He’s also still the first guy in the gym and he puts in the work, that’s a big part of his culture, too, and it rubs off on teammates.
It may take some time, but the 76ers culture is going to come together. They are going to figure out how to play best together, Nurse is going to figure out rotations that work. The basketball side of this will come together. Then it just comes back to those core 76ers guys with lengthy injury histories being available when it matters most.
Get a look at the 76ers’ early-season chemistry on opening night, next Tuesday, Oct. 20, when they travel to Madison Square Garden and try to spoil the Knicks’ ring night. Watch that game on NBC and Peacock as part of our opening day triple-header, with the ring ceremony starting at 6:30 Eastern and the game tipping off at 7 p.m.
NBA betting, odds: Tips for betting the NBA and 2 futures wagers I like
The 2026-27 NBA regular season is rapidly approaching. How will LeBron James look in Philadelphia? What about Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball in Minnesota? Can the New York Knicks repeat?
We’ll see the answers to those questions soon enough. In this article I am going to give you three tips for betting the NBA regular season, and two NBA futures bets to place now.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season
Let’s start with some macro strategic betting advice for this season.
Bet as early as you can
This is slightly different for every bettor, mainly based on the availability of lines to bet into and the limits offered at the time.
But it’s important to figure out when lines you have access to open up, and when you can bet enough money (small or big) that aligns with your bankroll. From there, consistently try and bet at the earliest time possible with those parameters established. NBA lines are volatile, and they will move a good amount, so the best way to get positive expected value wagers is to bet early and beat the closing line. There will be times you get a bad break on injury news, a random player resting that went unreported. Don’t let that dissuade you from the biggest edges being available earlier.
Keep track of your closing line value (CLV)
Closing line value is the most important secondary metric in sports betting.
After looking at wins and losses, profit (or deficit) and return on investment (ROI), the CLV tells the real story of whether your process was sound and if the results — usually a small sample size — were good or bad luck.
For example, if you bet a favorite -3, hope they close with a standard line of -4 or greater. That small gap in beating the closing line is the most quantifiable edge in betting. Use a bet tracking platform to help you in this. You can sync your sportsbook log-ins with one of the tracking apps so the entire process is automated, and you will get the secondary metrics done for you.
Take some time to reflect every week or so on what is closing well and what is not; do more of the good and less of the bad.
Track the injury report closely
I truly believe the biggest edge in NBA basketball the last few years has been a firm grasp on the injury report and projecting the news better than the market.
If a star player is listed as questionable, the market may price his impact on the spread and total 50-50. It becomes our job as bettors to figure out if that probability is closer to 75-25, 80-20, 90-10, etc. This can be done by tracking what the beat writers are reporting (follow them all on X). Listening or reading what players and coaches say in interviews often provides insightful context. If you become a master of the injury report, and solely bet off that news well, there is a very high probability of being a winning sports bettor, which would be confirmed by frequent CLV and betting early before news is widely known.
Good luck this season!
MACAU, CHINA – OCTOBER 09: Kevin Durant #7 of Houston Rockets shoots during NBA China Games 2026 between Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks at The Venetian Arena on the Cotai Strip on October 09, 2026 in Macau, China.
Zhizhao Wu via Getty Images
Here are two futures wagers I like right now.
Houston Rockets over 48.5 wins
The Rockets finished last season 52-30 in what felt like an underwhelming season. Houston consistently lacked the ability to finish teams off late in games. Now, they add veteran point guard Fred VanVleet to steady the ship, and get back Steven Adams to dominate the offensive glass and protect the rim. These additions, along with bringing in Marcus Smart — who has thrived under head coach Ime Udoka in the past — significantly raise the floor of this team. Amen Thompson and Alperin Sengun should take another leap in their development as well.
The downside for the Rockets this season is that the league changed its NBA Draft lottery rules to remove “tanking.” The worst teams are no longer outwardly trying to lose games, and therefore the floor of all teams should be raised. I still think the Rockets improved significantly by getting healthy and they will be one of the top teams in the league this season.
Their win total over is easily my favorite preseason bet. Last year when the Rockets lost Adams, they were No. 1 in offensive rebounding and 3-point shooting (his rebounding would provide space for kick-outs and high percentage looks) and second in league market rating from a betting lens.
I think the Rockets can certainly achieve being a top-five market-rated team as long as they are healthy, so their win total becomes a no-brainer over.
Player prop: Andrew Wiggins 2+ 3-pointers made per game (-125)
Last year, Miami Heat small forward Andrew Wiggins had the best shooting efficiency of his career, making 41.4% from 3-point range on 4.9 attempts per game. Wiggins has already proven capable of good efficiency on solid volume, and this year he is going to be tasked with expanding that part of his game.
The Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason and sent out a package that included Tyler Herro — the Heat’s most dependable floor spacer. Wiggins re-signed and restructured his contract to fit into this team’s core for the next few years and head coach Eric Spoelstra has raved about Wiggins this preseason. Wiggins’ starting spot in secured, and his role could be expanded.
The Heat are also continuing with the offense coached by assistant Noah LaRoche. His style emphasizes pace and an extreme lack of on ball screens set. Antetokounmpo will be the primary creator and he will be charging downhill to try and draw a double team, and then it is passing until the free shooter is found. I expect Wiggins to increase to close to six 3-point attempts per game, which could handle an efficiency dip from 41.4% down to 33%.
Wiggins to average 2+ 3-pointers made per game is my favorite individual player prop.
Payton Pritchard, Celtics Agree To Two-Year, $44.2M Extension
Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard has agreed to a two-year, $44.2 million contract extension, plus a mutual option in the 2029-30 season, CAA co-head of basketball Austin Brown and agent Max Saidman told ESPN on Tuesday.
Pritchard — the 2024 NBA champion and 2025 Sixth Man of the Year — cashes in on a fully guaranteed two-year max extension to keep him a key long-term member of the retooled Celtics after the 6-foot-1 guard averaged career highs in points (17), assists (5.2) and rebounds (3.9) last season.
The mutual option for Pritchard and the Celtics allows for either side to opt-in for the final season of his contract in 2029-30, which also opens the window for extension conversations that summer.
Celtics reportedly sign G Payton Pritchard to 2-year, $44.2 million extension, with a mutual option
The Boston Celtics are reportedly signing guard Payton Pritchard to a two-year, $44.2 million extension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal also includes a mutual option for the 2029-2030 season, and it is fully guaranteed.
The Celtics selected Pritchard with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He helped them win the 2024 NBA Championship and was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2025.
The Boston guard has been used off the bench throughout his career, but he started 50 games last year, a significant increase from 3 the year before. Pritchard averaged a career-high 17 points per game last year. He also averaged 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 32.4 minutes per game.
Pritchard is once again projected to come off the bench this season. Derrick White is expected to start at point guard, with Baylor Scheierman at shooting guard. The Celtics will likely rely more on Pritchard off the bench this season, since former guard Jaylen Brown now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Despite being a first-round pick, the guard has carved out a role as a depth player. He tended to fly under the radar, but had his first breakout game on April 9, 2023, against the Atlanta Hawks.
Pritchard finished with 30 points and hit nine 3-pointers. He added 14 rebounds and 11 assists in his first-ever triple-double.
The guard’s best scoring output came on March 5, 2025, when he drilled 10 3-pointers and finished with 43 total points. Pritchard also grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double.
He has 16 games in which he has made at least five 3-pointers. Pritchard is shooting 39.4% from beyond the arc in his career. Last year, he averaged 7.1 3-point attempts per game, the 18th most in the league.
The Boston guard’s 37.7% three-point percentage ranked 11th-highest among players who attempted that many shots from beyond the arc.
Pritchard and the Celtics will open up the 2026-2027 NBA season on Tuesday, October 20, on the road against the Detroit Pistons.
Spurs release new ABA-inspired Classic Edition uniforms and court
SAN ANTONIO – 1973: George Karl #22 of the San Antonio Spurs of the ABA looks to pass circa 1973 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1973 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s a not a new season without new alternate uniforms in this day and age, and the Spurs have released their new Classic Editions: a retro throwback to their ABA origins in honor of the 50th anniversary of the American Basketball Association’s merger with the National Basketball Association back in 1976.
“Honoring our ABA roots through this Classic Edition uniform gives us an opportunity to celebrate the history that helped shape the Spurs and our city,” said Jordan Mandelkorn, vice president of marketing, creative and retail at Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “From the original design worn at HemisFair Arena to the special court with the ABA 50th anniversary logo, this season-long celebration will connect generations of fans to our past while carrying that legacy forward into the future.”
The uniform features a silver base, grounding the team in a core color that reflects the early identity of the franchise. The arched Spurs wordmark returns in its original form on the jersey, worn by the first players to ever represent the city in the early ‘70s and now carrying forward their legacy. Directly above the jock tag, a special ABA anthem tag honors the league that brought the Spurs to the NBA. The shorts will feature the original black diamond backdrop framing the Spurs logo. The team’s patch partner, Ledger, appears on each jersey, symbolizing the commitment they share with the Spurs to build upon past greatness as the next generation forges forward into the future.
Each thread tells a story, and every detail carries us forward.
The Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA first came to San Antonio in 1973. They were initially going to be renamed “The “Gunslingers” before it was changed to the Spurs (probably a good idea), although there is debate as to whether the change was the result of a contest or one of the owners being from the small town of Spur, TX. They soon joined the NBA as part of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976, along with the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and then-New York Nets. The Spurs saw early success in the ABA and NBA, led by George Gervin and James Silas, and although it would take until 1999, they because the first former ABA team to win an NBA title — five, to be specific — and held that distinction until the Nuggets won it all in 2023.
The Spurs will sport their new Classic Edition uniforms and court nine times during the 2026-27 regular season, beginning on November 4 when they fittingly host the Dallas Mavericks. What do you think of the new unis, Pounders? It’s far from their first grey/silver uniform, but these are pretty slick, and the extra meaning behind them definitely adds some significance. Plus, there couldn’t be a more rad duo for rolling them out than Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JANUARY 22: Isaiah Collier #8 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 22, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Alex Goodlett/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After splitting their first two preseason games against the Nuggets, a new opponent is rolling into Salt Lake City. The San Antonio Spurs, runner-ups from last season and my pick for the eventual 2027 NBA champion, are coming to town, and will bring match-up problems that I can’t wait for the Jazz to try to solve. If Victor Wembanyama plays (and that is a big “if”), this preseason game will give us a unique opportunity to watch the Jazz, in a low-stakes environment, attempt to solve the player who seems destined to rule the West for the foreseeable future.
I’m particularly interested to see how what lineups the Jazz roll out in this one. Preseason is a time for experimentation, so I would not be shocked to see a starting lineup against the Spurs that Will Hardy has no intention of starting once the regular season comes around. Will Josh Okogie get his chance with the starters? Will Keyonte sit, giving Darryn Peterson some point guard reps? Will Hardy give Blake Hinson a shot with more established players? If ever he wanted to try these scenarios out, now is the time.
Once again, all eyes will be on Darryn Peterson. After he struggled in game 1 against the Nuggets, his shotmaking popped in the rematch. How will he fare against the notoriously physical Spurs backcourt? This is, once again, assuming that he plays – I would not be surprised if the injury report before this game looks eerily similar to what we became accustomed to during March and April of last season.
Utah Jazz vs San Antonio Spurs—How to Watch:
Who: Utah Jazz vs San Antonio Spurs
Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
When: 7pm Mountain Daylight Time
How to Watch: KJZZ, Jazz+ (in market) or NBA League Pass (out of market)
Karl-Anthony Towns ‘Very Disappointed’ By Knicks’ Decision To Pause Extension Talks
Karl-Anthony Towns said Sunday he was caught off guard by the New York Knicks’ decision to delay contract extension talks until later in the season. The team announced late last week that it would not negotiate with eligible players until then.
“It was news to me,” said Towns. “Very disappointed, to say the least. Let’s state the obvious: It’s a business, but there is business on the court for us to handle.”
Towns is one of four Knicks eligible for extensions, along with Josh Hart, Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek. Towns has been the most outspoken of the group about his frustration.
The Knicks’ offer to Towns has centered on a deal worth close to $200 million in total, league sources said. Towns is eligible to sign for up to a four-year, $276 million extension.
The Knicks face tight financial constraints. Owner James Dolan has instructed the front office not to cross the second apron, which has complicated negotiations following the team’s NBA championship.
The timeline now hinges on Towns’ $61 million player option for next season. He must decline it by Oct. 19 to negotiate with the Knicks during the season.
If he does not, New York cannot legally discuss an extension with Towns or his representatives until after the season. Towns would then be officially entering the final year of his contract.
Jaguars holder Logan Cooke just delivered an all-time NFL performance
In the National Football League, there are a few positions that fans do not even think about until something bad happens.
Holding for place kicks is one of those positions.
That is considered a routine part of the game, almost an automated task you could imagine pulling off yourself while watching games from your couch. But it is a lot harder than it looks, and there are a lot of moving parts. From making sure the field goal unit is set, to catching the snap cleanly, to placing the ball down on the right spot and spinning the laces away from the kicker, and finally getting the angle of teh ball right based on the kicker’s personal preference.
It is also something I did for four years in college, so I know what it looks like when it goes right … and how it looks when everything goes haywire.
That brings me to Jacksonville Jaguars punter — and holder — Logan Cooke, who had a starring role in Jacksonville’s stunning 19-17 win on Sunday.
Jacksonville lost long snapper Ross Matiscik to a shoulder injury early in Sunday’s game in London against the Philadelphia Eagles. That forced Liam Coen and the Jacksonville coaching staff to turn to defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton to handle the snapping duties against the Eagles.
While Hamilton’s first long snap Sunday, on a punt, was perfect things were less accurate after that.
Before diving into these clips, let’s talk about the holding operation. Cooke holds for Cam Little, a right-footed kicker. What happens before the snap is this: Cooke will take his spot around seven yards behind the ball, get into his stance, put his left hand down to mark where the ball will be placed, and then brace his left elbow against his left leg as a guide. Cooke does this so that after he catches the snap, he brings the ball back with both hands and the left leg stops that movement, enabling him to place the ball where Little expects it.
You can see that in the image below, as Cooke has his left elbow pinned to the inside of his left leg, waiting for the snap. In a clean operation he’ll catch the snap, pull the ball back with both hands, drive his left elbow into his left leg to guide him, place the ball down with his left hand, and spin it with his right to get the laces out:
That’s when everything goes as it should.
But when it does not, the holder needs to work a little magic.
Following a Jacksonville touchdown Hamilton, Cooke, and the Jaguars field goal unit came into the game to attempt the extra point. Hamilton’s snap was high, but watch how Cooke is able to catch the snap, get the ball placed and then … GET HIS LEFT FOOT OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE CAM LITTLE KICKS IT:
Even though Cooke has to adjust to catch the high snap, he gets the ball down where Little is expecting it. However, the adjustment Cooke makes to catch the snap moves his left foot a bit, and into the path of Little’s swing. So Cook lifts that foot up a bit, giving Little a clear path to the football.
On a field goal attempt later in the game, a similar situation played out: A high snap, a great adjustment from Cooke, and a final move with his left foot to clear the path for Little:
The kicking operation did seem to impact how Coen handled some fourth-down decisions on Sunday. At the end of the half the Jaguars faced a 4th-and-goal from the Philadelphia 1-yard line, and rather than try a field goal to make it a 14-10 game, Coen left his offense on the field.
A jet sweep was stopped for a six-yard loss.
Midway through the fourth quarter Jacksonville again faced a 4th-and-goal decision, now trailing 14-10, and Coen kept the offense on the field. A Trevor Lawrence pass fell incomplete.
There was another high snap later in the game, following an incredible touchdown reception from Parker Washington Jr. Hamilton’s snap was high, but Cooke still managed to get the ball down, but the timing may have been off as Little pulled the kick to the left.
That looked for a moment as if it would be a deciding factor in this game, as the Eagles responded with a field goal in the closing minute to take a 17-16 lead. But on the ensuing kickoff, Jaguars returner Ameer Abdullah ripped off a 53-yard return, getting Jacksonville into field goal range for Little.
And giving Cooke one more chance to pull off something special as well.
Once again, Hamilton’s snap was high, but Cooke got the hold down, Little split the uprights, and the Jaguars had a stunning 19-17 win:
But when it comes to Cooke, holding is one of those specialties that you do not think about until you have to. And usually, in those situations, it is because something has gone terribly wrong.
But sometimes, iit is because a holder has dome something rather special.
