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5. November 2026

NBA News Today: Wembanyama Explodes for 52, Lakers Keep Rolling, Thunder Win Again as NBA Season Heats Up

Article written by Admin in the category News

NBA NEWS | Thursday, November 5, 2026

San Antonio delivers a dramatic Texas showdown, Luka Dončić continues his scoring dominance, and Oklahoma City strengthens its early-season momentum in a busy night across the NBA.

The 2026-27 NBA season is delivering spectacular individual performances, unexpected results, and intense competition across both conferences. Wednesday night's 14-game schedule featured a historic performance from Victor Wembanyama, another 40-point outing from Luka Dončić, and major victories for the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers.

From San Antonio to Los Angeles, established stars and rising contenders are making early statements as teams begin establishing their identities.

Wembanyama's Historic 52-Point Performance Lifts Spurs Over Mavericks

The San Antonio Spurs continued their impressive start to the season with a thrilling 112-111 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, November 4.

Victor Wembanyama delivered one of the most remarkable performances of his career, finishing with a career-high 52 points, a career-best 24 rebounds, and eight blocked shots.

The Spurs built a 19-point advantage before Dallas mounted a comeback and briefly seized the lead late in the fourth quarter.

With the game tied at 111, Wembanyama converted the decisive free throw with 24.2 seconds remaining. Dallas had one final opportunity, but Kyrie Irving missed a contested jumper, allowing San Antonio to escape with its sixth consecutive victory.

Irving led Dallas with 29 points, while Naji Marshall added 22. Cooper Flagg contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Wembanyama's combination of scoring, rebounding, and defensive dominance made the performance especially significant. San Antonio is demonstrating that its young centerpiece can influence games at both ends of the court while delivering in pressure situations.

For Spurs fans, the message is becoming clear: San Antonio is building momentum, and Wembanyama is playing at an extraordinary level. Reuters+1

Luka Dončić Delivers Another 40-Point Performance for Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Sacramento Kings 116-103, powered by another dominant outing from Luka Dončić.

Dončić finished with 40 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, recording his third consecutive 40-point game and fifth such performance of the season.

Austin Reaves contributed 21 points, while Walker Kessler provided 15 points, eight rebounds, and four blocked shots.

The victory continued Los Angeles' early-season momentum and highlighted Dončić's extraordinary offensive production.

The Lakers are establishing themselves as a serious Western Conference threat, with Dončić providing the explosive scoring needed to challenge the league's strongest opponents. Reuters

Thunder Defeat Cavaliers Behind Gilgeous-Alexander's 42 Points

The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their impressive play with a 124-116 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points, including 16 in each of the final two quarters, helping Oklahoma City secure its second victory over Cleveland in three days.

Ajay Mitchell contributed 23 points, while rookie Bennett Stirtz added a career-high 16.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 27 points, while James Harden contributed 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Oklahoma City's ability to close games with strong performances from Gilgeous-Alexander remains one of its greatest strengths. The Thunder continue to look capable of competing with the NBA's elite. Reuters

Knicks Dominate Bulls as Brunson Scores 33

The defending NBA champion New York Knicks delivered one of Wednesday's most convincing victories, defeating the Chicago Bulls 135-105.

Jalen Brunson led New York with 33 points, including 22 in the opening quarter.

The Knicks erupted for 84 first-half points, tying a franchise record and taking complete control of the contest before halftime.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 17 points and 12 rebounds as New York improved to 4-4 after beginning the season with three consecutive losses.

The convincing victory demonstrated the offensive potential of a Knicks team working to regain its championship form. Reuters

Miami Heat Win Overtime Thriller Against Clippers

The Miami Heat completed a dramatic comeback against the Los Angeles Clippers, earning a 117-116 overtime victory.

Bam Adebayo led Miami with 35 points and 10 rebounds. Klay Thompson scored 30 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with one second remaining in overtime.

Giannis Antetokounmpo added 27 points and 14 rebounds.

Miami overcame a 17-point second-half deficit to secure the win, its third victory in four games.

The Clippers, meanwhile, suffered their sixth consecutive loss despite 26 points from Darius Garland. Reuters

Other NBA Teams Making Headlines

Philadelphia continued its strong opening to the season with a 112-106 victory over Detroit. Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, Joel Embiid contributed 26 points and 15 rebounds, and Tyrese Maxey added 19 points.

Denver defeated Toronto 128-109 behind Nikola Jokić's 32-point triple-double. The Nuggets dominated the third quarter 41-15 to take control of the game.

Portland also continued its surprising early-season success with a 132-119 victory over Phoenix. Damian Lillard scored 25 points as the Trail Blazers improved to 6-1 overall and remained undefeated on the road.

Minnesota defeated Houston 117-107, while Boston earned a 109-102 victory over Milwaukee. Reuters

Around the League: Leonard Recovery and Westbrook Recognition

The Toronto Raptors announced that Kawhi Leonard has completed treatment for swelling in his left knee and has begun the process of returning to basketball activities.

Leonard has missed five consecutive games. Toronto expects to provide another progress update approximately one week after its November 3 announcement. His return date remains uncertain. NBA.com

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced plans to retire Russell Westbrook's No. 0 jersey on February 7, 2027, when the team hosts the New York Knicks.

Westbrook retired after 18 NBA seasons, including 11 with Oklahoma City. His legacy includes the 2016-17 Most Valuable Player award, nine All-Star selections, and the NBA's career triple-double record. NBA.com

NBA Games to Watch Tonight: November 5

Thursday's schedule features two matchups as teams prepare for another busy weekend.

Matchup

Tipoff (Central)

Orlando Magic at Phoenix Suns

8:00 PM

Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors

9:00 PM

Miami's visit to Golden State follows its dramatic overtime win against the Clippers. The Warriors will look to defend their home court against a Heat team beginning to find its rhythm.

The NBA's early-season schedule continues to provide meaningful tests for established contenders and developing teams alike. NBA.com

The Bigger Picture

The first weeks of the 2026-27 NBA season have delivered a compelling combination of elite individual performances and competitive team basketball.

Wembanyama's historic evening has strengthened San Antonio's growing confidence. Dončić continues to demonstrate his ability to carry Los Angeles offensively. Gilgeous-Alexander has Oklahoma City moving in the right direction, while New York is showing renewed championship-caliber intensity.

The season is still young, and the standings will continue to evolve. But one thing is already evident: this NBA campaign has no shortage of star power, compelling storylines, or teams determined to make a statement.