Week 7 of the NFL season kicked off on Thursday with Sean Payton's Denver Broncos dominating his former team, the New Orleans Saints, and on Sunday night, Russell Wilson made his Pittsburgh Steelers debut, where his stellar performance helped fuel a dominant win over the New York Jets.

Sunday started off with the Jacksonville Jaguars grabbing a much-needed win over the New England Patriots in the final NFL game from London this season.

Later, the Minnesota Vikings suffered their first loss of the season to the Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley had a big day against his former team, the New York Giants. The Kansas City Chiefs handled the San Francisco 49ers, and the Washington Commanders blew out the Carolina Panthers.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let's get to it.

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DEN-NO | NE-JAX | DET-MIN
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PIT-NYJ

Pittsburgh 37, N.Y. Jets 15

Steelers

Did Russell Wilson end the Steelers' QB debate? It's never that simple, but Wilson's three-touchdown Steelers debut began unlocking the potential of a listless passing game and almost certainly silenced the near-deafening pregame chatter as he threw for 264 yards, a franchise record in a debut performance. Though Wilson showed obvious rust early with a handful of rushed throws under pressure and balls that bounced on the turf, he settled in and uncorked several deep throws. In addition to two passing scores, Wilson recorded a rushing touchdown as he shoved his way into the end zone from the 1-yard-line. He also helped turn two interceptions into 14 points, something the offense under Justin Fields struggled to do in the first six weeks.

Most surprising performance: Beanie Bishop Jr. Two weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys picked on the rookie cornerback, and he looked lost in his first prime-time game. But second time was the charm for the undrafted free agent as he picked off Aaron Rodgers twice -- and coming within inches of securing a pick-six off the second one.

Describe the game in two words: Blocked kicks. This win doesn't happen without big contributions from all three phases, and the Steelers' special teams came through with a blocked field goal in the third quarter to keep the Jets from cutting the Steelers' lead to five. After the blocked kick, which was the Steelers' league-leading second of the season, the unit encircled special teams coach Danny Smith and jumped up and down to celebrate with the veteran coach. -- Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Giants (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Jets

What kind of impact did Davante Adams have? There was some early promise, as Adams was heavily involved. But he disappeared, as did the entire offense as Aaron Rodgers threw two interceptions and the Jets blew a 15-6 lead. The Rodgers-Adams connection was a dud. He targeted his former teammate nine times in his Jets debut, but they connected only three times for 30 yards. Adams was supposed to galvanize the passing offense, but that didn't materialize. In fact, Rodgers was 13-for-25 when targeting wide receivers. There was bound to be some growing pains with Adams. Problem is, the Jets have no margin for error.

Most surprising performance: Once upon a time, the Jets defense was elite. Not on this night. Not this season. Depleted by injuries in the secondary, they were no match for the Steelers. They sacked Wilson only once and let him throw for 264 yards, making him look like the Wilson of old. The Jets did Steelers coach Mike Tomlin a favor, making him look smart for starting Wilson amid a quarterback controversy. If the Jets don't get healthy and solve their issues on defense, they will have no shot to turn around their season.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Where was the running game? Week after week, the Jets talk about establishing a rushing attack with Breece Hall. Not only was it ineffective, but playcaller Todd Downing forget about it and got too pass-happy (40 dropbacks vs. 15 rushes). That is not a winning formula for the Jets, especially with the mounting injuries on defense. -- Rich Cimini

Next game: at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Kansas City 28, San Francisco 18

Chiefs

How long can Chiefs stay undefeated with QB Patrick Mahomes throwing more INTs than TDs? The Chiefs are the NFL's only remaining undefeated team, but it hardly feels sustainable. Mahomes threw two interceptions against the 49ers (eight on the season), one on a deflected pass and the other when WR Xavier Worthy fell on a route. He has six passing touchdowns through six games this season. This is a bad development for a two-time MVP who entered the season with a 3.5-to-1 ratio of TD passes to interceptions.

Most surprising performance: WR Mecole Hardman. He was the Chiefs' big-play producer against the 49ers -- he had runs of 20 and 18 yards (the latter for a touchdown), a pass reception of 17 yards and a 55-yard punt return. Hardman had mostly been a forgotten player this season but received more playing time in the absence of JuJu Smith-Schuster, who aggravated his hamstring injury early in the game and didn't return.

Describe the game in two words: Hello, touchdowns! The Chiefs entered the game as one of the NFL's worst teams at scoring touchdowns inside the red zone, but they scored four TDs in five trips against the 49ers. All of the scores came on running plays, including two by Kareem Hunt, one by Hardman and one by Mahomes. -- Adam Teicher

Next game: at Raiders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

49ers

What's it going to take for the 49ers to finally beat the Chiefs? A lot more than what they showed Sunday. This loss had nowhere near the stakes as previous defeats for the 49ers and it shouldn't hurt as much as blown leads to divisional foes Rams and Cardinals. But there is a mental toll that comes with losing to the same team over and over again. Since coach Kyle Shanahan took over in 2017, the 49ers are 0-5 against Kansas City. That's the only team San Francisco has faced more than twice that it doesn't have a win against. Reinforcements should be on the way after playing Dallas and the bye. But this version of the Niners simply isn't good enough to beat the two-time defending champions -- or any real contender.

Describe the game in two words: More injuries. The 49ers were already missing key players such as LB Dre Greenlaw, RB Christian McCaffrey, S Talanoa Hufanga, DT Javon Hargrave and WR Jauan Jennings. They then lost WRs Brandon Aiyuk (right knee) and Deebo Samuel (illness) early in Sunday's game. For the 49ers, beating Kansas City has proved difficult even with so many of their top stars.

Biggest hole in the game plan: From the redundancy department: The 49ers special teams still isn't good enough. There were some positive signs early as the unit stopped a fake punt and got a 55-yard field goal from K Anders Carlson. But that was tempered by allowing a 55-yard punt return to set up Kansas City's second touchdown and a missed extra point from Carlson. Special teams continue to be an issue every week. -- Nick Wagoner

Next game: vs. Cowboys (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

L.A. Rams 20, Las Vegas 15

Rams

Can the Rams defense carry the offense until WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua return? The Rams have a young defense that has struggled at times this season, but the unit was a difference-maker against the Raiders on Sunday. All 20 points the Rams scored came off of turnovers -- two QB Gardner Minshew interceptions that gave the offense a short field and a Minshew fumble that was recovered by Kamren Curl and run in for a touchdown. While the performance showed growth for the defense coming off the bye, it will obviously be a much tougher task for the unit against the 5-1 Vikings on Thursday night.

Eye-popping stat: Two touchdowns today gave RB Kyren Williams 24 scrimmage touchdowns since the start of last season, which is the most in the NFL, according to ESPN Research. Sunday was Williams' seventh game of multiple scrimmage touchdowns in that span, which is also the most in the NFL.

Most surprising performance: WR Jordan Whittington. He had seven catches for 89 yards on 10 targets in his past game, and played just nine offensive snaps Sunday. He was not targeted. The rookie receiver was listed as questionable for the game after being limited in practice all week with a shoulder injury, but coach Sean McVay said Friday he expected Whittington to play. -- Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. Vikings (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Raiders

How active in the market will the Raiders be for another quarterback? With a broken thumb on his passing hand, Aidan O'Connell will miss some time and further tests Monday will determine the length of his absence. Minshew, benched a week earlier in part for his propensity for turnovers, did little to inspire with three INTs and a lost fumble returned for a TD. Undrafted rookie Carter Bradley is the other QB on the roster. The Raiders need to scour the waiver wire and opposing teams' practice squads with the Chiefs coming to Las Vegas next. Also, Nathan Peterman, who spent two weeks with Las Vegas in training camp, is on the Falcons' practice squad.

Most surprising performance: RB Alexander Mattison. He joined the Raiders as Zamir White's backup but has been taking RB1 snaps of late -- rushed for 92 yards, his most since going for 95 yards last October for the Vikings. He was just 8 yards away from his fourth career triple-digit rushing day, his first since Oct. 10, 2021.

Eye-popping stat: With 47 total catches, rookie Brock Bowers has the most receptions by a tight end in their first seven games since 2000. The No. 13 overall draft pick had 10 catches, on 14 targets, for 93 yards against the Rams. -- Paul Gutierrez

Next game: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Washington 40, Carolina 7

Commanders

What is the impact if QB Jayden Daniels (rib) has to miss a game? Severe, considering how well he played in the first six games and that Washington plays Chicago next week. Daniels' legs and accurate passing have sparked Washington's offense. But Washington's hope lies with Marcus Mariota's experience and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's playcalling. The Commanders also have strong RBs with Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols. However, against the Bears' top-10 defense, Mariota would be challenged much more if he has to play.

Describe the game in two words: Defensive domination. Although Carolina is bad, its offense with QB Andy Dalton was 13th in yards and 15th in scoring. The Commanders entered as the NFL's 22nd-ranked defense in yards and points. Yet Washington's defense scored on a pick-six by DE Dante Fowler Jr., and it held the Panthers to zero points and 133 yards in the first three quarters.

Most surprising performance: Mariota has started 74 games, but it's not as if his play in recent years has been terrific. After missing on his first three passes Sunday, Mariota connected on 15 of his next 16, including two that went for touchdowns. He finished 18-for-23 for 205 yards. -- John Keim

Next game: vs. Bears (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Panthers

What message did coach Dave Canales send by not playing QB Bryce Young when down 37-0? The message publicly is Carolina still believes Young has a future with the team. Maybe as a franchise quarterback. That Canales didn't give Young the second half to prove himself when they were down 37-0 doesn't signal a strong belief. His eventual appearance in mop-up duty opens speculation that Young could be traded before the deadline or that Carolina could move on from him before next season.

Eye-popping stat: The Panthers have been outscored by 92 points in the first half this season (they were shut out 27-0 today). That's the worst in team history, topping their 43-point differential in 2014. It's also the worst differential by an NFL team in its first eight games since the 2021 Jets (minus-107).

Describe the game in two words: Humiliated again. And just imagine how bad it might have been had Daniels played more than one series. Carolina's defense is so decimated by injuries that it made Mariota look like a star. And the offense that is relatively healthy looked a mess. -- David Newton

Next game: at Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Green Bay 24, Houston 22

Packers

Does this win mean a little more? This was the first victory over a team with a winning record for the Packers. The Texans' only previous loss came against the Vikings -- who beat the Packers in Week 4. The Packers' first four wins came against teams that entered this week with a combined 7-15 record. Their two losses came against teams with a combined 8-2 record before Week 7. The Packers won't have to face questions about the quality of their wins when their schedule gets tougher.

Describe the game in two words: Clutch kick. How would Packers fans have felt if they trotted Brayden Narveson out for a 45-yard winning field goal? The Packers cut Narveson this week after he had missed five field goals in six games, paving the way for veteran Brandon McManus to come to town and win the game -- and do a Lambeau Leap to celebrate it.

Eye-popping stat: Josh Jacobs' 8-yard touchdown reception ended the NFL's longest streak for a player for catches without a touchdown. On Jacobs' 212th catch of his career, he gave the Packers a 21-19 lead in the third quarter. His streak eclipsed Gerald Riggs with 197 in Week 4. -- Rob Demovsky

Next game: at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Texans

Should the Texans' blocking woes concern them? QB C.J. Stroud had his worst game of his career -- throwing for only 86 yards with no touchdowns. He was pressured on 48% of his drop backs, a season-long theme, and was sacked four times. On four plays, the Packers had an unblocked defender rushing him. Stroud has now been sacked 20 times, which was ranked in the top five by game's end. If the Texans want to go on a deep playoff run, their offensive line must protect their star quarterback.

Most surprising performance: Stroud has never had a game where he's thrown for under 100 yards that he finished. The only other game he threw for less than 100 yards was Week 14 last season against the Jets. He exited that game early because of a concussion.

Eye-popping stat: With starting CB Kamari Lassiter out, D'Angelo Ross replaced him and allowed a passer rating of 158.3 when targeted for 95 yards and a touchdown. Yes, that's a perfect passer rating. -- DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Cincinnati 21, Cleveland 14

Bengals

Is WR Tee Higgins the key to Cincinnati's offensive success? Yes. With Higgins on the field, the Bengals have a reliable option when defenses decide to double-team receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Higgins continued his strong return from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the first two games, catching a touchdown to give the Bengals some breathing room in the first half. Higgins has now had 75 or more receiving yards in three straight games.

Describe the game in two words: Gritty victory. It didn't need to be pretty. And it wasn't. Cincinnati was 0-for-6 on third downs in the first half and couldn't pull away against a bad Browns team until late in the third quarter. But Cincinnati did what it needed to get its first win in Cleveland since 2017 and its first AFC North win of the year.

Early prediction for next week: Chase Brown will continue to expand his role as the featured RB. While the snap share should be fairly even with Zack Moss, Brown is Cincinnati's biggest rushing threat. He had a 22-yard run in the third quarter, which was the catalyst for Cincinnati's first offensive touchdown of the day. -- Ben Baby

Next game: vs. Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Browns

What's next for the Browns after Deshaun Watson's Achilles injury? Watson went down with a right Achilles injury toward the end of the first half. The Browns had second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson promoted to the backup role over Jameis Winston before the game. But Thompson-Robinson struggled, throwing two interceptions, then left late in the fourth quarter because of a finger injury. Winston finished out the game.

Most surprising performance: WR Cedric Tillman. The second-year wideout, who entered the game with just five targets this season, had a career-high 12 targets in the Browns' first game since trading Amari Cooper to the Bills last week. His role figured to increase and he made himself a frequent target for each of the Browns' three quarterbacks Sunday.

Early prediction for next week: The Browns give RB Nick Chubb at least 20 touches against the Ravens. Cleveland limited Chubb's snaps in his first game back from a severe knee injury. But with Watson out and an offense that has no rhythm, the Browns might have no choice than to increase Chubb's workload. -- Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: vs. Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Buffalo 34, Tennessee 10

Bills

What does Amari Cooper's first game mean for this offense moving forward? A sign of very good things to come. After a slow start for the offense in the first half, Cooper played a significant role even though it looked like he wasn't sure of the play at times. Despite that, QB Josh Allen found him four times for 66 yards and a touchdown. Cooper became the second player in NFL history to record a receiving touchdown in his first game with multiple teams after changing teams midseason (Cowboys, Bills), joining Chris Chambers (Chiefs, Chargers), per Elias Sports Bureau.

Most surprising performance: DE Greg Rousseau. Rousseau has put together a solid start to the year, but this was a next-level performance. His six quarterback hits are the most by any player in a game since DT Chris Jones had six against the Raiders in Week 18 of 2022. He finished the game with a pressure rate of 28.2%, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

Describe the game in two words: Offensive turnaround. After a relative offensive flop in the first two quarters, Buffalo scored on five straight drives with Allen's downfield game especially promising. He went 6-of-8 for 114 yards and a touchdown on passes 10 or more yards in the second half. He was 1-of-5 on such passes in the first half. -- Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Titans

Can the Titans figure out how to close out games? It's becoming clear the Titans can't finish strong, especially in the fourth quarter. Entering this week, Tennessee averaged only 2.4 fourth quarter points (31st in the NFL). They failed to score at all in the second half today. The offense sputtered and defense grew tired, leading to 27 unanswered points from the Bills. Things likely won't get better next week when the Titans face the Lions' high-powered offense.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Protecting the quarterback. The Titans' offensive line didn't allow any sacks last week as Leroy Watson IV made his first start at RT. Watson was inactive against the Bills -- and it wasn't due to injury. Jaelyn Duncan got the start and injured his hamstring four snaps into the game. Nicholas Petit-Frere came on in relief, but he gave up most of the pressures on QB Mason Rudolph.

Early prediction for next week: The Titans travel to Detroit to face the Lions in what will likely be another sloppy game. The issues are abundant on both sides of the ball. Tennessee's offense can't score points, and the defense can't stop teams from scoring. Detroit is coming off a big win over the previously undefeated Vikings and will look to expand its NFC North lead. -- Turron Davenport

Next game: at Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Indianapolis 16, Miami 10

Colts

What can the Colts do to establish some offensive consistency? QB Anthony Richardson has been most successful when he makes explosive plays in the passing game. Those never came Sunday -- the Colts had one completion longer than 16 yards -- in Richardson's first start since missing two games with an oblique injury. If and when he can get back to them, and when coach Shane Steichen begins to dial them up a bit more, the Colts can open more running lanes and make things tougher on defenses.

Biggest hole in the game plan: For the first half at least, Steichen seemed reluctant to fully deploy Richardson as a runner. That limited his impact on a day when he struggled throwing (10-of-24 for 129 yards). In the second half, Steichen leaned into Richardson's running ability and harnessed his full range of traits. Richardson finished with 57 rushing yards, all of which were much-needed.

Most surprising performance: LB and special teams ace Grant Stuard started the day on the bench, but he was pressed into action by a second injury at the position (to Jaylon Carlies) and made an immediate impact. Stuard finished with a career-high 18 tackles and made a game-changing play when he stuffed Dolphins' FB Alec Ingold in the backfield, allowing LB Zaire Franklin to strip the ball. -- Stephen Holder

Next game: at Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Dolphins

Will Tua Tagovailoa return in Week 8? The Dolphins fell to 2-4 during Tagovailoa's four-game stay on injured reserve and his backup, Tyler Huntley, left Sunday's game with a right shoulder injury. Miami's offense has been among the league's worst since Tagovailoa's departure, ranking last in scoring and 26th in passing yards per game. Don't expect the team to reveal Tagovailoa's game status until it has to -- even if that means holding off on a public announcement until Friday or Saturday.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Where were the targets to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle? The NFL's most expensive wide receiver tandem combined for four targets as neither Huntley nor Tim Boyle could get them involved. Miami fully committed to the run game over its past two games, but you have to get your playmakers involved at some point.

Eye-popping stat: Huntley's touchdown pass to TE Jonnu Smith in the first quarter was notable for several reasons. Not only was it Huntley's first touchdown pass and Smith's first touchdown catch of the season, but it was also Miami's first TD pass since the first quarter of Week 2. The score also marked the first receiving TD by a Dolphins tight end since Week 12 of 2022. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: vs. Cardinals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Philadelphia 28, N.Y. Giants 3

Eagles

Will the "Saquon Barkley game" serve as the spark for the Eagles? It should at least provide some momentum. The Eagles looked pretty ordinary through their first five games, with their three wins coming by a combined 12 points. But Barkley lit a fire by erupting for nearly 200 all-purpose yards. And it wasn't just him: QB Jalen Hurts finished with three scores; WR A.J. Brown looked dominant (again); and the defense ate QB Daniel Jones' lunch, sacking him seven times.

Eye-popping stat: Barkley reached a top speed of 21.93 mph on his 55-yard run in the second quarter, the second-fastest speed by a ball carrier this season (behind only Brian Thomas Jr., 22.15 mph). It's also the fastest top speed by Barkley in his career, in case you were wondering whether the return to MetLife Stadium provided any extra juice for the 27-year-old.

Most surprising performance: LB Nakobe Dean. He went off for 2 sacks, 4 quarterback hits and 2 tackles for loss. It has been an up-and-down start to the season for Dean, who has yet to hit the potential he showed while starring at Georgia. But this was a step in the right direction. -- Tim McManus

Next game: at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Giants

How does this loss reflect on GM Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll after Barkley's departure? Considering owner John Mara said he would have a hard time sleeping if Barkley went to the Eagles in free agency, this might have him up for weeks. Mara and Giants fans had to watch Barkley return to MetLife Stadium and compile 176 yards rushing and a touchdown. This is exactly what Daboll and Schoen needed to avoid. This reflects poorly on their regime, which results suggest isn't much improved in Year 3. They need to make sure this season doesn't completely go off the tracks.

Describe the game in two words: Total embarrassment. The Giants didn't just get blown out at home. They got blown out at home against their closest rival with Barkley doing a chunk of the damage. In the process, quarterback Daniel Jones got pulled early in the fourth quarter. Daboll's offense has now produced just one touchdown in four home games this season.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Giants' running backs had three carries for 4 yards in the first half on 32 snaps. They needed to have some sort of balance to control the clock and give themselves a chance against a more talented Eagles team. That didn't happen as New York fell into a 14-0 hole. -- Jordan Raanan

Next game: at Steelers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Seattle 34, Atlanta 14

Seahawks

Has the Seahawks' defense turned the corner? Gouged against the run and decimated by injuries in recent weeks, Seattle's defense had arguably its best performance of the season. After forcing only one takeaway over the past five games, it got three against Atlanta, including a LB Boye Mafe strip-sack that Derick Hall returned for a touchdown. Despite placing without CB Artie Burns (toe), S Rayshawn Jenkins (hand), CB Riq Woolen (ankle) and CB Tre Brown (ankle), the Seahawks secondary shined, picking off two passes and holding Atlanta to 230 passing yards.

Describe the game in two words: Happy birthday! RB Kenneth Walker III was added to the injury report Saturday as questionable with an illness, but he started and celebrated his 24th birthday with a pair of touchdowns. One came on a 20-yard run and the other on a 17-yard catch. He finished with 93 yards on only 16 touches.

Most surprising performance: The Seahawks' offensive line held up under tough circumstances. It was down to its fourth option at RT in rookie sixth-round pick Mike Jerrell. He had a false-start penalty and got beat for a sack, but that was the lone time Atlanta dropped QB Geno Smith, who threw for 207 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 18-of-28 passing. -- Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Falcons

How can the Falcons improve their pass rush? Atlanta hasn't been good at getting to the quarterback in nearly a decade and is again among the league's worst. The Falcons have six sacks, tied for the lowest total in the NFL. Their pass rush win rate is sixth worst (34.4%). Edge rusher Matthew Judon was brought in, but needs help. Defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake says the team is on the right track, but it didn't look that way Sunday, even against a Seattle team with a fourth-stringer at right tackle. Perhaps Atlanta can do something at the trade deadline.

Describe the game in two words: Beat themselves. The Falcons committed nine penalties for 72 yards and kept two Seahawks drives alive with fouls. Late in the third, Seattle quarterback Geno Smith threw an incompletion on third down, only for Demone Harris to fall into him, leading to a roughing-the-passer call. The Seahawks scored a touchdown on the next play. QB Kirk Cousins had a strip sack returned for a TD and threw two interceptions.

Eye-popping stat: The Falcons defense gave up six plays of more than 20 yards Sunday. Coming into the game, Atlanta had allowed a league-low 11 plays of 20-plus yards. Bend but don't break only lasts so long, and the Falcons found that out the hard way. -- Marc Raimondi

Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Detroit 31, Minnesota 29

Lions

Can the Lions cover for the loss of Aidan Hutchinson with their depth? Lions coach Dan Campbell said they wouldn't enter panic mode after edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson broke his tibia and fibula. Instead, the Lions used a committee approach with defensive linemen Isaac Ukwu, Trevor Nowaske, Mekhi Wingo, James Houston and Josh Paschal all seeing action on the edge. Paschal registered a sack on Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold at the end of the third quarter, but Detroit will need to continue to explore potential options to help down the stretch. Darnold exposed some visible weaknesses within the defense, notably in the second half.

Eye-popping stat: Jared Goff is the only quarterback this season to have a perfect completion percentage in a half. And he's done it three times, including Sunday in Minnesota. Goff went a perfect 12-of-12 with 15 successful completions before throwing his first incompletion on a deflected pass in the third quarter. In Week 4, he set an NFL record by completing all 18 of his passes against Seattle.

Most surprising performance: Guard Kayode Awosika. Detroit ruled out starting offensive guard Kevin Zeitler (groin) ahead of kickoff, which opened the door for Awosika. He was flagged for three penalties in the first quarter, including back-to-back holding calls to start the game. The Lions had five total penalties in the first quarter, which was their most since they also had five in Week 15 of 2022. -- Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Vikings

Is this where the Vikings' bubble bursts? No. The Vikings weren't going 17-0 this season. They were going to lose some time, and the Lions are the best team they've played so far and perhaps the best team in the entire NFL. The Lions employed their dominating run game, and Jared Goff's accuracy, to gash the Vikings' otherwise elite defense. But they lost by two points. That's hardly evidence that the Vikings have been exposed.

Describe the game in two words: Rush defense. The Vikings did not have an answer for Lions tailback Jahmyr Gibbs, who rushed for 116 yards and collected another 44 receiving. He became the first Lions player with 150-plus scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in a game since 2011. The Vikings' personnel looked a step slow against him.

Most surprising performance: At one point last week, Aaron Jones seemed destined to sit this game out because of a sore right hamstring. He and the Vikings decided to give it a go, and he played as if he was never hurt at all. He opened the scoring with a 34-yard rushing touchdown, finishing the game with 93 yards. -- Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Rams (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Jacksonville 32, New England 16

Jaguars

Did this prove the Jaguars haven't quit? Safety Andre Cisco made waves last week after he said he saw players quit during the loss to the Bears. That mentality didn't show up in the second quarter, when they scored 22 unanswered points to erase a 10-0 deficit. Doug Pederson hasn't lost the locker room after starting 1-5, which is a good thing because the Jaguars have a tough stretch ahead: Green Bay, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Detroit and Houston. At 2-5, the Jaguars still have slim playoff hopes, but there's no margin for error.

Describe the game in two words: Getting Tanked. With Travis Etienne Jr. sidelined with a hamstring injury, Tank Bigsby delivered the best game of his career. He set career highs in carries (26) and yards (118) with two TDs, and his physical style really set the tone for the offense. At one point the Jaguars ran the ball on 19 consecutive plays in the second half.

Eye-popping stat: Parker Washington's 96-yard punt return was the first special teams touchdown in an international game. That was the 266th touchdown scored in those games: 150 passing, 102 rushing, seven interception returns, six fumble returns and Washington's punt return. It was also the longest punt return in Jaguars history, surpassing the 91-yard TD that Keelan Cole scored against Green Bay in 2020. -- Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Patriots

How much heat should be on coach Jerod Mayo for the Patriots' disappointing play? Growing pains were expected in Mayo's first season, but the way the Patriots have regressed since a season-opening win has been concerning. Mayo is a self-proclaimed "defensive coach," and the defensive performance Sunday -- other than a fourth-quarter stop on fourth down -- was alarming after they jumped out to a 10-0 lead. The Patriots had trouble stopping the run again and the Jaguars owned the line of scrimmage, which is supposed to be the Patriots' strength. While they are missing key defenders DT Christian Barmore (blood clots), LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (torn pectoral muscle) and S Jabrill Peppers (commissioner exempt list), that isn't an excuse for a team that prides itself on the "next-man-up" mentality.

Describe the game in two words: Sudden change. After talking all week about the importance of a fast start, the Patriots got what they wanted in taking a 10-point lead and then collapsed in epic fashion on offense (couldn't run), defense (couldn't tackle consistently and was often blown off the line of scrimmage) and special teams (allowed a 96-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the second quarter).

Biggest hole in the game plan: No running game. The Patriots' inability to run put rookie QB Drake Maye in a tough spot. It's hard to be one-dimensional and win, and Maye still gave them a fighting chance with his strong passing performance. Instability along the offensive line, with the Patriots playing with their seventh different starting unit in seven games, seems to be the root of the issue. Maye went 26-for-37 for 276 passing yards, two touchdowns and was sacked twice. -- Mike Reiss

Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Thursday

Denver 33, New Orleans 10

Broncos

Have the Broncos found the best formula to help rookie quarterback Bo Nix? After some early bobbles in the passing game, the Broncos settled Nix into the game by using him as a runner more often and by getting him some more of the run-pass options he is comfortable operating in. The result was 225 rushing yards on 35 carries -- the Broncos' season high in both -- with 75 of those yards coming from Nix. It was Nix's second consecutive game with at least 61 rushing yards and -- when the Broncos went a little more run-first -- Nix settled in and the team scored on six consecutive possessions. With the real meat of the Broncos' schedule waiting in November, it should give them pause.

Most surprising performance: LB Cody Barton. Barton had a sack, a forced fumble and returned another Saints fumble 52 yards for a touchdown. He also had another touchdown on a scoop-and-score called back because of a Broncos penalty. He is the 12th player to have at least half of a sack for the Broncos this season.

Describe the game in two words: Power up. It's become clear the Broncos are at their best when they play a more blue-collar brand of football. Their defense continues to make the lives of opposing QBs difficult -- they have 28 sacks in seven games and have scored two defensive touchdowns and two safeties. And when coach Sean Payton commits to the run, they control tempo and win the line of scrimmage more often than when they try to keep Nix in a bevy of three-wide receiver sets. Thursday's 225 rushing yards in a runaway win -- over a battered Saints team or not -- is plenty of proof of that. -- Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Saints

Is Dennis Allen on the hot seat? Saints general manager Mickey Loomis defended Allen on a radio show after last week's loss and said they have to look at all the reasons they aren't winning (including injuries). But the Saints turned in another bad performance, losing their fifth straight game and causing the home crowd to leave by the fourth quarter. Allen is now 18-23 in his three years as Saints head coach.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Protection. Starting a rookie quarterback isn't easy, and it's even worse with three offensive linemen out, but the Saints struggled to protect Spencer Rattler, who was sacked six times and had multiple strip sacks. Rattler was able to make plays with his legs, or that number likely would've been higher.

Eye-popping stat: The Saints' defense allowed 225 rushing yards Thursday, making it a total of 502 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in the past two games -- and 332 of those yards came before first contact. The Saints went 55 games between 2017 and 2020 without allowing a 100-yard rusher, but they have been on the decline in that category since 2022 and are now one of the worst run defenses in the league. -- Katherine Terrell

Next game: at Chargers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

For many years, amid fan festivals, T-shirt giveaways and light-up bracelets that spice up opening nights across the NBA, there has been an open secret that hangs over tipoffs each season.

Almost none of these teams celebrating fall renewals will have a chance to win by spring.

In a "good year" throughout the 2000s and 2010s, maybe five teams per season could truly look themselves in the mirror at the season's start and believe they could hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June. Don't even ask about the 1980s and '90s, when the league was basically dominated by five teams over 20 years.

It was good for business in many respects, but from 1999 to 2007, Tim Duncan or Shaquille O'Neal was in the Finals in eight out of nine years. From 2007 to 2020, either LeBron James or Kobe Bryant was in the Finals in 12 of the 13 years (sadly, never against each other). You might recall the Golden State Warriors, who played in six Finals (2015-22), and the Cleveland Cavaliers played in the Finals four consecutive years from 2015 to 2018.

Which brings us to today. Parity has swept through the NBA like a breath of fresh air. This season, an exponential number of teams will begin the season believing they can win compared with a decade ago. And with good reason.

It's true that the legacy Boston Celtics are the reigning champions, about to hang banner No. 18 and collect their rings on opening night, but last June they became the sixth different team in a row to celebrate under the confetti.

Eight teams start the season with championship odds of 13-1 or better, according to ESPN BET. Before the 2017-18 season, which as it turned out proved to be the end of the dynasty era, there were only two teams with those odds.

In this six-year span of change, some legacy teams indeed won -- the Warriors, Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers -- but there were glorious and unique championship parades in Milwaukee, Toronto and Denver, too.

There are a few major storylines to follow this season. The new-look Philadelphia 76ers being the newest quasi-superteam, assuming they can all get on the court together. The continued rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder, fueled by the addition of some high-class role players. The ascension of Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The challenge of past champions, the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets, to regain momentum with franchise players in their primes. And, of course, LeBron and Bronny James on the Lakers.

But maybe the most relevant storyline is that this collective group believes it can hold back the Celtics.

The 2024-25 NBA regular season opens with the New York Knicks taking on the Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Timberwolves facing the Lakers (10 p.m. ET) on Tuesday. But before we jump, let's preview all 30 teams, where they stand and what to expect ahead of the NBA's 79th season.

-- Brian Windhorst

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN's Kendra Andrews, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Chris Herring and Kevin Pelton) think teams belong heading into this season.

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

1. Boston Celtics

BPI's overall ranking: 2
Chances to make playoffs: >99.9%
Projected wins: 56.0

When we last saw them: After years of coming close, the Celtics finally claimed banner No. 18 with a dominant run through the playoffs, capped by a five-game defeat of the Dallas Mavericks. The 2023 offseason acquisitions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis transformed Boston into a juggernaut that won a league-leading 64 games with a 16-3 mark in the playoffs. Boston's summer was spent keeping the team intact. Extensions were given to Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Sam Hauser, after Holiday got his own in April. The biggest news of Boston's offseason was the Grousbeck family putting its controlling stake in the team up for sale. The decision has left the short-term future of the team -- set to cost more than $500 million in combined payroll and luxury taxes for the 2025-26 season -- up in the air.

Biggest strength and weakness: Boston has plenty of strengths, but its 3-point shooting is near the top of the list. The Celtics averaged more than 50 attempts per game in their opening preseason games in Abu Dhabi, and it won't be a shock to see them set the NBA record for makes and attempts this season. There aren't many obvious weaknesses, but center health stands out. Al Horford is in his age-38 season and Porzingis is already out until at least December because of offseason surgery. The Celtics probably will need both players to repeat as champs. -- Tim Bontemps

Celtics in NBA Rank:
Jayson Tatum (5)
Jaylen Brown (14)
Jrue Holiday (36)
Derrick White (39)
Kristaps Porzingis (46)
Al Horford (96)

Number to watch: Scoring and clutch net efficiency
The Celtics outscored opponents by 10.7 points per game last season -- the fifth-best differential in NBA history. They also went 6-0 in clutch-time games with a plus-46.9 net efficiency -- the first team to do so in a single postseason since play-by-play was first tracked in 1997.

Best bet: Celtics win division (-145)
The Celtics were the dominant team in the NBA last season, winning the East by a whopping 14 games in the regular season before going through the playoffs with a 16-3 record. Despite teams such as the Knicks and 76ers making great offseason moves, the gap between the Celtics and those teams was so large that Boston should still be a huge favorite to win the Atlantic Division. Those moves by competitors got the odds to move to almost even money, making the Celtics excellent value here. -- Andre Snellings

Fantasy: Do draft ... Derrick White
I doubt many fantasy managers realize White finished 36th in ESPN fantasy points, and he was 24th on the Player Rater. He is a prime example of how fantasy points can evolve from stats other than traditional scoring, including assists, 3-pointers and blocked shots. Incidentally, White outscored his far more famous teammate Jaylen Brown last season. -- Eric Karabell

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

BPI's overall ranking: 1
Chances to make playoffs: 97.3%
Projected wins: 51.2

When we last saw them: The Thunder's "breakfast" season -- borrowing from general manager Sam Presti's analogy to indicate how early the organization was in the building process -- ended up being a breakout campaign. After a three-year playoff hiatus, Oklahoma City became the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, giving the Thunder reason to believe the foundation of a long-term contender is already in place with MVP runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the last two Rookie of the Year runners-up, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. OKC also added two high-caliber role players in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein -- without dipping into OKC's stockpile of first-round draft capital -- during the offseason to enhance the West's most well-rounded roster.

Biggest strength and weakness: It's hard to find a weakness on this roster. Presti addressed the Thunder's glaring flaw (28th last season in rebounding rate) by adding Hartenstein. The former Knick will sit out at least the first month of the season, but reigning Coach of the Year Mark Daigneault will soon have the option of playing two skilled 7-footers together in a jumbo-sized lineup that assures OKC will almost always have a rim-protector on the court. Presti flipped the one starter who was a questionable fit, guard Josh Giddey, for an elite glue guy with championship experience in Caruso. The Thunder joined the Celtics as the only teams to rank among the top five in offensive and defensive ratings last season, and Oklahoma City could be even better on both ends of the court. -- Tim MacMahon

Thunder in NBA Rank:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (4)
Chet Holmgren (32)
Jalen Williams (44)
Alex Caruso (59)
Luguentz Dort (85)
Isaiah Hartenstein (88)

Number to watch: Gilgeous-Alexander's production
He averaged 30.1 points, 54% shooting and 2.0 steals, becoming the third player to average those numbers, joining Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry.

Best bet: Gilgeous-Alexander to score 50+ points in any regular-season game (+130)
Only Luka Doncic (33.1) and Joel Embiid (34.1) are projected to have a higher PPG than Gilgeous-Alexander (32.0). His career high is 44 points, but he had six games with 40-plus last season. As the Thunder's top offensive playmaker, there's a strong chance he'll finally hit 50 this season. -- Eric Moody

Bold fantasy prediction: Chet Holmgren becomes a fantasy superstar
The leap from unknown to rotation player is always an intriguing development. The rare surge from there to stardom can change your fantasy fortunes or the outcomes for real NBA teams. The rarest of transitions, however, is from star to superstar. This will occur for Holmgren this season. My bold take is that he will ascend to -- while not Wemby heights -- an entirely new statistical tier that includes dominant defense and a growing offensive repertoire that could become even more dangerous given his team's added talent. He's the only player who should be considered a peer with San Antonio's special center in terms of block rate potential, while the support of his gifted teammates frees him up for direct handoffs, high-efficiency cut-and-lob plays, and even spot-up 3-point work. Put it this way, this is the last season for likely a decade that you can get Chet outside of the first round. -- McCormick

3. New York Knicks

BPI's overall ranking: 19
Chances to make playoffs: 64.6%
Projected wins: 40.6

When we last saw them: Even without star forward Julius Randle and center Mitchell Robinson, who'd been ruled out due to surgical procedures, the Knicks were on the cusp of reaching the Eastern Conference finals as they hosted the Pacers at Madison Square Garden in Game 7. But then the wheels came off in just about every conceivable way, with OG Anunoby -- who tried to come back from a hamstring strain prematurely -- hobbling around from the start, and star guard Jalen Brunson fracturing his shooting hand later in the game. By that point, the snakebit New York club lacked the horses to close out Indiana -- let alone take on the eventual champion Celtics in the next round.

Biggest strength and weakness: The club's offense, which at times was bogged down last season when teams sought to wall off Brunson, should be supercharged this season with the high-profile addition of Karl-Anthony Towns. The duo of Brunson and Towns will be difficult to stop: Is it more important to sink down and seal off Brunson's ability to get to the basket, or is the priority to stay with Towns if and when he stays on the perimeter? Regardless, the Knicks will now have better floor spacing. New York's depth undoubtedly took a hit with the loss of Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in a trade to Minnesota for Towns. Randle was a two-time All-NBA selection and was one of the toughest players on a team, and DiVincenzo -- on one of the league's best contracts -- hit the third-most 3-pointers in the NBA in 2023-24. Because of the bruising style the Knicks play under coach Tom Thibodeau, depth always matters; particularly on the wings. Speaking of wings, the Knicks might have the best defensive duo in Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. But there's still a question of rim protection with Towns, who primarily played power forward in Minnesota. This will be a shift for the big man, especially with Robinson, the backup center, unavailable for the first few months. -- Chris Herring

Knicks in NBA Rank:
Jalen Brunson (12)
Karl-Anthony Towns (30)
Mikal Bridges (38)
OG Anunoby (51)
Josh Hart (61)
Mitchell Robinson (82)

Number to watch: Defense of Bridges and Anunoby
Over the past three seasons, Bridges has given up a 42.9% field goal percentage as the contesting defender, fifth lowest among 50 players to have contested at least 2,500 shots. Alongside Bridges on the wing will be Anunoby. The Knicks went 20-3 in Anunoby's 23 games compared with 30-29 in his absence (from injury or pre-trade).

Best bet: Brunson to average over 26.5 points (-125).
Brunson averaged 28.7 points last season, comfortably over the 26.5 threshold. He was the clear focal point of the Knicks' offense, working largely off the dribble with high usage. Despite New York's big trades this offseason, its offensive lineup doesn't change largely in scoring and playmaking caliber. If anything, with DiVincenzo no longer in town, Brunson might have to create even more. -- Snellings

Fantasy: Do draft ... Josh Hart
Hart is tougher to roster in roto/categories formats, since he neither scores much nor provides many 3-pointers, but for those who have to fill positions, having a guard rebound to this high level is golden. Hart goes undrafted in many leagues. -- Karabell

4. Denver Nuggets

BPI's overall ranking: 6
Chances to make playoffs: 81.6%
Projected wins: 46.3

When we last saw them: The Nuggets, after winning the 2023 NBA title, were bounced in the second round on their home court in a Game 7 loss to the Timberwolves. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray & Co. looked physically and mentally spent after trying to defend their title but now look to get back to the top of the West. They'll do it without key cog Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who left in free agency for Orlando, although Denver added Russell Westbrook to give them a much-needed spark and leadership off the bench.

Biggest strength and weakness: The Nuggets will once again rely heavily on the best player in the game (and recently voted as the No. 1 player in ESPN's top 100) in reigning MVP Jokic, who ranked in the top five in total points, rebounds and assists last season. He might have to shoulder even more during the start of the season after coach Michael Malone said Murray felt something "funny" in his knee ahead of last week's preseason game against Phoenix. The Nuggets' title hopes will be determined by Murray's health as well as their bench after Christian Braun moved up into the starting lineup. As such, Westbrook, Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther and Dario Saric will have to do one of the tougher things in basketball -- deliver positive minutes when Jokic is resting. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

Nuggets in NBA Rank:
Nikola Jokic (1)
Jamal Murray (31)
Aaron Gordon (49)
Michael Porter Jr. (89)

Number to watch: Jokic's offensive prowess
The Nuggets outscored opponents by 682 points with Jokic on the court last season and in contrast were outscored by 251 points with him on the bench. Last season was the second consecutive one when Jokic led the NBA in plus/minus.

Best bet: Western Conference No. 5 Seed (+800)
Though Jokic is a three-time MVP who has carried the former champs when needed, even he can't do it all. Murray looked banged up during the Olympics, and, with his new contract extension, the pressure on him is immense. Another issue is the tough competition in the West. Teams such as the Kings, Mavericks, Timberwolves and Thunder might be hungrier to win a championship and, in some cases, have better rosters than Denver. -- Moody

Big fantasy question: Joker or Wemby at No. 1?
I am not drafting Joker No. 1 this season, despite his extremely worthy résumé and outlook, because I am taking a chance on the Alien. Wembanyama has a chance to put together a sophomore season for the ages. He has the potential to push toward the league lead in scoring and rebounding, and toward the league lead among centers in assists, steals and 3-pointers. He is flat going to lead the league in blocked shots, likely by a lot. In points-based leagues, I project Joker with a slightly higher fantasy points total than conservative estimates for Wemby, but it's still close. Those same conservative estimates put Wemby on an island, alone in first place, in projected category-based league value. Overall, while Jokic has the higher floor than Wemby, with the top pick I'm taking a chance on the player with no ceiling. -- Snellings

5. Philadelphia 76ers

BPI's overall ranking: 3
Chances to make playoffs: 99.6%
Projected wins: 51.5

When we last saw them: The 76ers lost a hard-fought six-game series to the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs. Each team completed wild comebacks inside Madison Square Garden, with New York ultimately ending Philadelphia's season on its home court. Former MVP Joel Embiid never quite looked like himself after sitting out most of the final 2 months of the season because of a knee injury and returned just before the playoffs.

In response to their postseason performance, Philadelphia landed Paul George in free agency -- one of the biggest offseason trades via free agency since Kawhi Leonard joined George with the Clippers five years earlier. They also re-signed Tyrese Maxey, extended Embiid, signed Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon and Caleb Martin and also brought back Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry. They also have several first-round picks they can use in deals to improve this season.

Biggest strength and weakness: Star power. When healthy, the trio of Embiid, George and Maxey is just as good as any team entering this season. If Philadelphia is going to break its decades-long championship drought, it'll be on the backs of those stars delivering in April, May and June. Conversely, this team's weakness is the health record of Embiid and George who are both currently dealing with injuries that stifled them in the preseason. The future of the franchise depends on the chemistry these two superstars cultivate this season -- they just need to be on the court to do so. -- Bontemps

76ers in NBA Rank:
Joel Embiid (8)
Tyrese Maxey (19)
Paul George (21)

Number to watch: Embiid's availability
The 76ers had a .795 win percentage with Embiid on the court and a stark .372 win percentage without him.

Best bet: Embiid to win MVP (+1800)
This is an interesting "long shot" bet, because Embiid won the MVP in 2022-23 and was the front-runner to repeat as MVP the next season before his injury. If healthy and available for the NBA-mandated 65 games, Embiid probably would be an MVP favorite. But, Embiid has played 65 games only twice in the 10 seasons since he was drafted, explaining the long shot odds. Nevertheless, at 18-1, he is worth a flier because the bet is more similar to "Will he play 65 games?" than "Is he worthy to be MVP?" -- Snellings

Fantasy bold prediction: Andre Drummond will average a double-double
Drummond is 31 now, and he hasn't achieved this since the 2020-21 season, but what a great opportunity he has now that he's back in Philly. We know Joel Embiid is not going to play close to every game. He didn't play in even half of the games last season. Drummond averaged 14.1 PPG and 17.9 RPG during his 10 starts for last season's Chicago Bulls, finishing at 8.4 PPG and 9.0 RPG overall. Assuming Drummond starts at least twice as much, and perhaps a lot more than that, he becomes a viable option in deeper leagues. -- Karabell

6. Dallas Mavericks

BPI's overall ranking: 4
Chances to make playoffs: 96.3%
Projected wins: 50.3

When we last saw them: The Mavericks morphed into contenders after the trade deadline last season, when GM Nico Harrison continued the aggressive roster reconstruction around the star duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving by acquiring two athletic role players (forward P.J. Washington and center Daniel Gafford). Dallas, which had the league's stingiest defense for the final quarter of the regular season, rolled all the way to the NBA Finals before the supporting cast's spotty 3-point shooting prevented the Mavs from mounting much of an upset bid against the Celtics. Harrison addressed that void by winning a free agency recruiting battle for Klay Thompson, one of the most dangerous catch-and-shoot threats in NBA history.

Biggest strength and weakness: The Mavs have all the ingredients to be an elite offensive team. They feature the league's most potent pair of playmakers in Doncic and Irving, and they've surrounded them with players with gravitational pull, such as Thompson as a 3-point shooter and the center tandem of Dereck Lively II and Gafford as lob-finishing vertical spacers. Coach Jason Kidd said they'll figure out during the "journey" of the season how to maximize the fit of all the pieces -- specifically meshing Thompson's constant off-ball movement with Doncic's preferred style that is heavy on pick-and-roll and isolations. The big question is whether the Mavericks' defense can be tough enough to return to the Finals. Plugging Thompson, 34, into the spot that was formerly occupied by free agency departee Derrick Jones Jr. leaves the Mavs without a primary perimeter defender in the starting lineup. "I want to get rid of that notion that I'm not the same defender as I once was," Thompson said. "I truly believe I am, and I'm excited to prove people wrong, that I can still guard the elite players in this league." -- MacMahon

Mavericks in NBA Rank:
Luka Doncic (2)
Kyrie Irving (25)
Dereck Lively II (56)
Klay Thompson (71)

Number to watch: Thompson's contributions from beyond the arc
The Mavericks took the most corner 3s in the NBA last season but made only 36% of those, 28th in the league, per Second Spectrum. With the Warriors last season, Thompson shot 41.4% on corner 3s last season -- 35th out of 74 players with at least 100 attempts.

Best bet: Doncic as first player to score 70+ points in a regular-season game (+1500)
It seems inevitable, especially considering Doncic averaged so many points per game last season. He had two standout performances, scoring more than 50 points in each. Last season, he dropped 50 points against the Suns on Christmas Day and just a month later went off for an incredible 73 points against the Hawks on Jan. 26. It wouldn't surprise anyone if Doncic gets off to a fast start this season. -- Moody

Fantasy make-or-break pick: Kyrie Irving
Irving has averaged stellar per-game numbers over his past five seasons: 26.7 PPG (49.3 FG%, 39.9 3P%, 91.2 FT%), 5.7 APG, 4.9 RPG, 3.0 3PG,1.3 SPG and 0.6 BPG with only 2.2 TO/G. Unfortunately, due to a combination of injuries and off-the-court issues, he has averaged only 44.2 games per season during that stretch. Last season, Irving ranked 22nd in the league in fantasy points per game but 47th in total fantasy points. His availability versus his draft status could make a major impact on his fantasy hoops squads, for good or for ill. -- Snellings

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

BPI's overall ranking: 7
Chances to make playoffs: 82.8%
Projected wins: 46.5

When we last saw them: The Wolves are coming off one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, making an appearance in the Western Conference finals for just the second time. And to build off that 56-win season, Minnesota made a franchise-altering trade before the start of training camp by trading four-time All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for forward Julius Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round pick. It's a move the Wolves hope gives them a deeper team surrounding guard Anthony Edwards as he continues to develop into a star.

Biggest strength and weakness: The Wolves were the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA by a comfortable margin last season, which figures to be their strength again with four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in the middle along with Edwards and Jaden McDaniels on the wings. Yet, Edwards has stated multiple times he believes the Wolves need their crunch-time offense to improve at the end of games, which begins with his decision-making and growth as the team's go-to option. -- Jamal Collier

Timberwolves in NBA Rank:
Anthony Edwards (10)
Rudy Gobert (34)
Julius Randle (48)
Donte DiVincenzo (75)
Jaden McDaniels (77)
Naz Reid (87)
Mike Conley (98)

Number to watch: Fourth-quarter offense.
Entering last season, the Timberwolves ranked 27th in fourth-quarter offensive efficiency. But from last February to the end of the regular season, Minnesota was second, trailing only the Mavericks.

Best bet: Edwards regular-season MVP (+1000)
Edwards is a legitimate contender for the award, and here's why. He averaged 25.9 PPG, 5.1 APG and 5.4 RPG last season, with a usage rate of 32.2% (fifth highest in the league). Based on our projections, that number could rise to nearly 35% this year. Edwards is also a strong defender and has stayed relatively healthy, averaging 75.5 games per season. He's a great value, with the sixth-best odds to win the award. -- Moody

Bold fantasy prediction: Naz Reid will be a top-75 player
Reid was a fantasy darling during the last half of the 2023-24 season and finished in the top 120 despite playing behind Gobert and Towns, who both stayed relatively healthy. Reid had a career year, averaging 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.9 assists and 2.1 3-pointers, but he was even better after the break, posting 16.0 points, 6.6 boards, 1.0 steals, 1.2 blocks and 2.5 triples. KAT is now in New York, and while Randle (and Gobert) will still be in the way, Randle is no KAT. Minnesota knows how good Reid is, and we're all about to see it this season. -- Alexander

8. Phoenix Suns

BPI's overall ranking: 10
Chances to make playoffs: 55.5%
Projected wins: 42.7

When we last saw them: The Suns were swept out of the first round by the Timberwolves , losing the four games by a combined 60 points. The team's big three of Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant fell flat after entering the season with the third-best championship odds. But the team started off 4-6 and failed to find consistency thanks in large part to Beal missing 29 games and a lack of depth to mask his absence. Frank Vogel paid the cost for failing to reach expectations, fired after one season as coach. Mike Budenholzer, a championship coach thanks to his Milwaukee Bucks beating the Suns in 2021, is now tasked with making the pieces fit.

Biggest strength and weakness: The Suns were fifth in the league in team 3-point percentage (38.2%) and scored 11.3% of their points on midrange shots, the second most in the league. With Durant, Booker and Beal, the Suns are an elite jump shooting team. However, their offensive diet also exposed a weakness last season. Only 40.4% of their team points came in the paint, which ranked 27th in the NBA. -- Dave McMenamin

Suns in NBA Rank:
Kevin Durant (9)
Devin Booker (15)
Bradley Beal (70)

Number to watch: Scoring with a healthy Booker, Beal and Durant
The Suns had their big three for exactly half of the regular season in 2023-24. However, when they were on the floor together, the Suns scored 120.5 points per 100 possessions -- a mark equivalent to the Pacer's No. 2 offense.

Best bet: Western Conference No. 2 seed (+1600)
The Suns addressed nearly all of their offseason issues. They needed a point guard so Booker and Beal could play off the ball, so they added Tyus Jones. Monte Morris adds backcourt depth, and Mason Plumlee solves the backup center problem. I also like what rookie Ryan Dunn brings defensively. The main concern? Keeping Booker, Durant and Beal healthy for the playoffs. But Budenholzer will do everything to ensure they're ready when it matters most, which could lead to some DNPs. -- Moody

Fantasy make-or-break pick: Kevin Durant
Durant, like LeBron, is another aging legend who had missed a lot of games in recent seasons before a renaissance in the past year. After playing only 137 of a possible 308 games between the end of the 2019 playoffs and the start of the 2023-24 season, Durant bounced back in a huge way and played 75 of 82 games last season. Another season like that, likely from a second- or third-round fantasy pick, would be huge. But Durant will be 36 before the season begins and is in Season 18, making him a risky pick in the early rounds. -- Snellings

9. Milwaukee Bucks

BPI's overall ranking: 8
Chances to make playoffs: 93.4%
Projected wins: 46.0

When we last saw them: Milwaukee fell in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. An injury near the end of the regular season to Giannis Antetokounmpo prevented the Bucks from playing in a postseason game with both him and Damian Lillard. This offseason they added a few key reserves -- Gary Trent, Taurean Prince, Delon Wright -- to round out their depth but are hoping some continuity with their two stars and coach Doc Rivers will help the team reach its championship potential.

Biggest strength and weakness: Experience will be a double-edged sword for the Bucks this season. On one hand, they still have the core of a championship team and Antetokounmpo and Lillard as their leaders with proven playoff experience -- if they can stay healthy. But the perils of fielding a veteran roster mean the Bucks will have to manage the health of most of their key players -- four of their projected starters will be at least 30 years old this season. -- Collier

Bucks in NBA Rank:
Giannis Antetokounmpo (3)
Damian Lillard (23)
Khris Middleton (63)
Brook Lopez (93)

Number to watch: Dame and Giannis' production
The duo scored 30 points apiece in the same eight games last season -- most in a single season by a duo in Bucks history and second-highest scoring duo in the NBA overall. In the 1,756 minutes these two shared on the floor, the Bucks recorded a plus-10.2 net efficiency.

Best bet: Bobby Portis to win Sixth Man of the Year (+1800)
Portis is firmly established as the Bucks' sixth man, and in fact has finished third in each of the past two award votes. Last year's race was wide open, with new favorites rising and falling as the season went along. Portis' numbers (13.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG) compared very favorably with those of winner Naz Reid (13.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG), so I think he has a significantly better chance than 18-1. -- Snellings

Fantasy: Do draft ... Brook Lopez
What am I missing here? Lopez was a top-50 option in points formats and 28th in roto/categories. It hardly matters how he gets those numbers, or how old he is. He keeps outperforming his ADP, and by a lot. If I could lead this list with him every season, I probably would. -- Karabell

10. Cleveland Cavaliers

BPI's overall ranking: 5
Chances to make playoffs: 96.3%
Projected wins: 47.5

When we last saw them: For the first time in 30 years, a Cavs team without LeBron James on the roster made it past the first round of the playoffs. After advancing past the Magic in seven games -- with Donovan Mitchell exploding for 50 points in Game 6 -- they lost to the eventual-champion Celtics in five games with Mitchell (calf) and Caris LeVert (knee) missing the end of the second-round series. It was an eventful offseason, with the team replacing coach J.B. Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson and Mitchell agreeing to a three-year, $150.3 million contract extension that will keep him in Cleveland through the 2028-29 season.

Biggest strength and weakness: Cleveland was eighth in the league in assists per game with 28.0 a night thanks to the playmaking ability of Mitchell, LeVert, Darius Garland and Max Strus. The crisp passing led to quality looks, too, with the Cavs ranking 12th in team field goal percentage at 47.9%. However, they were in the bottom half of the league in turnovers with 13.7 per game, a big part of why they were only 24th in field goal attempts per game (87.2). And if you don't get shots up, you can't register assists. -- McMenamin

Cavaliers in NBA Rank:
Donovan Mitchell (17)
Evan Mobley (47)
Darius Garland (57)
Jarrett Allen (73)

Number to watch: On-court chemistry
Garland, Mitchell, Allen and Mobley played 28 games together and shared the floor for 392 minutes last season, but they outscored their opponents by only 27 points in that time.

Best bet: Mobley to win Most Improved Player (+1400)
Mobley is 23 years old, is in his fourth NBA season and seems primed for a leap. After finishing second in the Rookie of the Year vote, as a sophomore Mobley played 79 games and was named first-team All-Defense while finishing third in the Defensive Player of the Year vote. Last season, injuries kept Mobley out of 32 games and limited him in the games he did play. Even still, he notched career bests of 58.0% shooting (37.3% on 3s), 9.4 RPG and 3.2 APG. This season, fresh off him signing a five-year max rookie contract extension in the offseason, look for Mobley to get back to All-Defense level while edging up toward 20 PPG. That combo would put him firmly in the Most Improved Player race, at relatively long shot odds. -- Snellings

Fantasy middle-rounds target: Jarrett Allen
The Cavaliers signed Allen to a three-year extension, making him a key part of their future. He brings an enchanting blend of points, rebounds and efficient shooting. Last season, he was one of only two players to average at least 15 PPG on 60% shooting. In fact, he's one of just four players in the shot clock era to average 15 PPG, 10 RPG and 60% shooting in multiple seasons. Allen is one of my favorite centers to target in this range. -- Moody

11. Memphis Grizzlies

BPI's overall ranking: 11
Chances to make playoffs: 69.3%
Projected wins: 44.4

When we last saw them: Murphy's Law wreaked havoc on the Grizzlies last season. Everything that could go wrong in Memphis pretty much did, starting with Ja Morant's season-opening 25-game suspension and the continuous barrage of medical issues, including Morant's season-ending shoulder injury. Coming off of three straight playoff appearances, including two 50-plus-win seasons, the Grizzlies limped to a 27-55 finish and a spot in the lottery. At No. 9, they drafted big man Zach Edey, who figures to have a major role in Memphis as a rookie.

Biggest strength and weakness: The homegrown trio of Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane has proved that the three are good enough to get home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Memphis has made major renovations to the supporting cast since its last playoff berth in 2023, bringing in Marcus Smart and Edey to fill the roles formerly occupied by Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams. How impactful will 7-foot-4 Edey be as a rookie? That could determine Memphis' ceiling this season, assuming the Grizzlies don't have to endure so much medical misfortune. -- MacMahon

Grizzlies in NBA Rank:
Ja Morant (20)
Jaren Jackson Jr. (55)
Desmond Bane (60)
Marcus Smart (83)

Number to watch: Injuries
Last season the Grizzlies could not stay healthy with 577 total player games missed due to injury, the most in the NBA. Memphis also had 33 players play at least one game, the most in a season for any team all-time and 51 different starting lineups. Bane, Smart and Morant shared only 130 minutes together, but were plus-22 when they were on the floor.

Best bet: Edey as Rookie of the Year (+300)
This award often goes to players on rebuilding teams who can command a high usage rate, allowing them to rack up stats. Just look at Victor Wembanyama last season and Paolo Banchero the year before -- both won under similar circumstances. Edey finds himself in a great position with the Grizzlies this year. We project him to average 14.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 1.6 BPG. While these numbers might not be flashy, they should be enough for Edey to win the award. -- Moody

Fantasy sleepers: Marcus Smart and Vince Williams Jr.
It's rare that the fantasy market overlooks a former Defensive Player of the Year, but here we are. Smart's 2023-24 season was plagued by injuries, so it's understandable that he has slipped deeper into drafts. With enough passing chops to help run second units and some of the best defensive rates at his position, Smart could be a savvy late-round get. The unfortunate injury to GG Jackson II probably will lead to a massive role for Williams in Memphis to open the season. Word from the beat is that Williams could be among the team leaders in minutes. Last season's eroded roster afforded Williams a real chance to grow as a playmaker and complementary scorer, roles he'll probably revive even on a restocked Grizzlies rotation. -- Jim McCormick

12. Indiana Pacers

BPI's overall ranking: 18
Chances to make playoffs: 69.0%
Projected wins: 41.1

When we last saw them: Indiana had a charmed season last year, breaking through to the conference finals for the first time in a decade after also reaching the championship game of the NBA's inaugural in-season tournament. The Pacers responded by locking in their core, inking in-season acquisition Pascal Siakam to a massive new contract, re-signing Obi Toppin, and extending the contracts of T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard.

Biggest strength and weakness: The Pacers' obvious strength is their blistering offense, thanks to All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. If Haliburton can get over the lower leg injuries that have hampered him throughout 2024, expect Indiana to once again have one of the league's best offenses. Conversely, the Pacers are going to have to make improvements on defense to match last year's achievements, and it's hard to see who will come through there. Aaron Nesmith is the only above-average perimeter defender on the roster, adding pressure on center Myles Turner to clean up mistakes at the rim. -- Bontemps

Pacers in NBA Rank:
Tyrese Haliburton (16)
Pascal Siakam (42)
Myles Turner (81)

Number to watch: Pacers' passing
The Pacers had a historic offense in 2023-24, averaging 123.3 points, the most by any team in a season since the 1983-1984 Nuggets. They also averaged 30.8 assists in the regular season, the most by any team in a season since the Lakers in 1984-85. Indiana also led the NBA in passes per game and had the quickest average touch length as a team last season, per Second Spectrum.

Best bet: Haliburton over 10.5 assists per game (-130) and Haliburton assists per game leader (+200)
Through his first 31 games last season, including the in-season tournament, Haliburton was dishing 12.8 APG. After that, he injured his hamstring and was visibly not himself for the rest of the season. But after taking the time to get healthy this offseason, Haliburton could be off to the races to lead the league in assists for the second straight season. But more at the 12.8 APG pace he began last season with than the 10.9 APG he ended up averaging. -- Snellings

Fantasy player to watch: Myles Turner
Turner became the Pacers' leading career shot blocker last season and enters the season with 1,268 in his career. His 1.9 BPG last season ranked ninth in the league. But just because he's a rim protector doesn't mean he's a big rebounder. In fact, the 6-11 center has never averaged more than 7.5 RPG in a season and is at just 6.8 RPG in his career. -- Eric Moody

13. Orlando Magic

BPI's overall ranking: 20
Chances to make playoffs: 46.9%
Projected wins: 38.7

When we last saw them: The Magic had a breakout season on their way to making the playoffs for the first time in three years. Despite losing in seven games to the Cavaliers, it was a major step for a young team built on defense under coach Jamahl Mosley. The team re-signed several core players (Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze, Moritz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac) but its biggest move was extending Franz Wagner to a five-year, $224 million max extension. That solidifies Orlando's frontcourt with All-Star big man Paolo Banchero -- who is primed to take another leap in his game.

Biggest strength and weakness: Orlando is the only team since 1999 that has recorded 45 or more wins with its top three scorers being 22 years old or younger -- Banchero, Wagner and guard Jalen Suggs. But the Magic need to do better at taking care of the basketball. They ranked 24th in the league in turnovers last season with 14.7 per game, which led to 16.4 opponent points per game. That issue has carried over early on as they averaged 20.0 turnovers through the preseason. -- Kendra Andrews

Magic in NBA Rank:
Paolo Banchero (24)
Franz Wagner (52)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (62)
Jalen Suggs (95)

Number to watch: Wagner's shooting
Wagner shot 29.2% on jumpers in the regular season and playoffs last season, the worst in a season since 2013-14 by any player to take 400-plus attempts, per Second Spectrum. He also shot 28% on 3-pointers last season, the worst in the NBA among qualified players. That was down from 36% on 3-pointers in 2022-23.

Best bet: Magic to win Southeast Division (-140)
The Magic were in the lottery two seasons ago, but last season they improved by 13 games to win the Southeast Division by a game over the Heat. These same two teams are favored again this season, but while the Heat's best player, Jimmy Butler, is moving toward the end of his career, Magic star Banchero is still very much on the rise in his third season. The Banchero-Wagner nucleus should continue to improve, which gives the Magic more upside than the Heat and helps their chances to win a second straight division title. -- Snellings

Fantasy player to watch: Jonathan Isaac
True fantasy nerds remember Isaac's wild 34-game showing in the 2019-20 season. Or maybe it's just me who does. Either way, he posted simply absurd defensive rates reminiscent of a prime Andrei Kirilenko. Since then, injuries have kept Isaac from seeing the floor much, but we shouldn't dismiss how well he played last spring and into the playoffs. Regularly topping 20 minutes in the series against the Cavaliers, Isaac's all-world defensive upside was on display. It's hard to buy that Isaac will ever return to heavy minutes, but there is still real sleeper status present if he can even just mimic his playoff role for Orlando this year. -- McCormick

14. Golden State Warriors

BPI's overall ranking: 16
Chances to make playoffs: 47.0%
Projected wins: 41.8

When we last saw them: The Warriors are coming off of one of their longest offseasons in recent history after being eliminated by the Kings in the first round of the play-in tournament. Since then, the Warriors have lost one of their cornerstones in Klay Thompson and a veteran in Chris Paul. But they brought in Buddy Hield, De'Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson, and they expect big leaps and increased work from fourth-year player Jonathan Kuminga and sophomores Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Throughout camp, Golden State has boasted about its depth and feeling as if it has the players to start climbing back up in the West.

Biggest strength and weakness: If their preseason numbers mean anything, the Warriors should be one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the league. Through the preseason, they averaged a 38.2% 3-point percentage. Whether this level of shooting is sustainable in the regular season is up for debate, but Golden State will continue to emphasize shooting and a fast-paced offense. The Warriors are looking to work on their defense -- particularly in transition. Last season, Golden State allowed the sixth-most points in transition per game, and the 1.17 points per possession the Warriors allowed in transition was the third most in the NBA. The Warriors were in the 17th percentile of transition defense and overall had the 15th-ranked defense in the NBA. With the current personnel, Golden State feels it has the players to climb the defensive ladder. -- Andrews

Warriors in NBA Rank:
Stephen Curry (6)
Draymond Green (66)
Brandin Podziemski (78)
Andrew Wiggins (90)

Number to watch: Green's availability
Last season, Green did not play in 27 games -- with 21 of those missed games due to suspensions and being away from the team for disciplinary reasons -- and was ejected in a career-high four games. In Green's absence, the Warriors went 13-14 and allowed 119.1 points per game. In the 55 games Green played, they went 33-22 and allowed only 113.2 points per game.

Best bet: Curry top points scorer on Christmas Day (+1000)
NBA basketball on Christmas Day is a tradition like no other. With Klay Thompson gone, Curry remains the last Splash Brother standing. Even with him 36 years old, Golden State will rely on him heavily this season. He has averaged 32.0 PPG in his past six games against the Lakers and should deliver a vintage performance on the national stage at home. -- Moody

Fantasy sleepers: Brandin Podziemski and De'Anthony Melton
"Air Podz" averaged 5.8 rebounds during his rookie season, which put Podziemski in the 98th percentile among NBA guards. In addition to atypical rebounding volume, Podziemski could erupt as a shooter and scorer in the wake of Thompson's departure from the rotation. Offseason buzz suggests the team is ready to feature the second-year guard. Steve Kerr's shot-happy system could bode well for Melton's offensive profile, while the team is also likely to unleash him in the passing lanes on defense in a similar fashion to how Donte DiVincenzo and Gary Payton II thrived in this system. It's quite possible, if not likely, that Melton will average more than two made 3-pointers and two combined blocks and steals in this fantasy-friendly setup. -- Jim McCormick

15. Los Angeles Lakers

BPI's overall ranking: 14
Chances to make playoffs: 56.1%
Projected wins: 42.7

When we last saw them: For a second straight season, the Lakers were eliminated by the Nuggets in the postseason. Although the series went five games -- a meager improvement from the sweep in 2023 -- it came in the first round rather than the conference finals. With the team's core roster cemented and trade options scarce, L.A. pulled the lever that franchises so often do when stuck in similar predicaments: It fired its coach, Darvin Ham. "You can't buy a house that's not for sale," said Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka. First-year coach JJ Redick replaced him, and the Lakers are banking on the idea that a coaching adjustment, combined with a little more luck in the health department, can be enough to turn the team back into a contender around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Biggest strength and weakness: On offense, the Lakers have a potent starting five. James, Davis, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and D'Angelo Russell played 389 minutes together last season and had a 116.0 offensive efficiency, according to ESPN Research. That ranked 10th among 21 five-man lineups to play 300-plus minutes together last season. However, that same group allowed 1.36 points per possession in transition -- which was 19th among 20 five-man lineups to defend 100-plus transition possessions. "We were horrific in transition defense," James said during training camp. "We got to be a lot better than that. We were pretty good in half-court. But we got to get our asses back." -- McMenamin

Lakers in NBA Rank:
LeBron James (7)
Anthony Davis (13)
Austin Reaves (72)

Number to watch: James and Davis' time on the floor together
James played in 71 games last season, the most since 2017-18, and Davis played in a career-high 76 games. They played in 66 games together, their most together since Davis joined the Lakers in 2019-20.

Best bet: Under 42.5 regular-season wins (-115)
The Lakers are counting on a new coaching staff to turn things around after winning last year's in-season tournament but falling short in the playoffs. Redick, with no prior coaching experience, impressed the front office, but the real concern is LeBron James' and Davis' health. Without them, the team has struggled -- 50-72 without James, 55-64 without Davis. Without a third star, it's tough to see them finishing with 43 wins in the competitive West. -- Moody

Fantasy rookie to watch: Dalton Knecht
Knecht is mature for a college player and has the type of shooter/scorer instant-offense skill set the Lakers need. It isn't clear whether he'll start the season in the main rotation, but he did get 34 minutes in his preseason debut and scored 13 points, with eight boards and four assists. Once he finds his level and gets his minutes, the No. 17 pick out of Tennessee has the game to produce immediately at the pro level. -- Snellings

16. New Orleans Pelicans

BPI's overall ranking: 12
Chances to make playoffs: 52.5%
Projected wins: 42.5

When we last saw them: New Orleans' first playoff appearance since 2022 ended swiftly in a four-game sweep by the Thunder with Zion Williamson out with an injury after playing a career-high 70 games during the regular season. The team addressed a glaring weakness in the offseason by trading for point guard Dejounte Murray, a strong two-way performer who will provide vocal leadership but also, most importantly, a playmaker and facilitator to improve New Orleans' execution down the stretch of close games. The trade depleted some depth, but the Pels now have three former All-Stars on the roster in Murray, Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

Biggest strength and weakness: Murray was an off-ball guard with Atlanta, but he'll return to the role of traditional point guard with added emphasis on defense. It bodes well for a player who made the 2018 All-Defensive team and led the league in steals in 2022. The Pelicans' starting five already features a first-team All-Defensive player in Herbert Jones and another promising 3-and-D wing in Trey Murphy III. The center position will be a major problem area this season for the Pels. At 6-7, Jones shouldn't be playing center. But he's currently slated to start there with the team having lost Jonas Valanciunas in free agency. -- Michael Wright

Pelicans in NBA Rank:
Zion Williamson (27)
Brandon Ingram (40)
Dejounte Murray (43)
CJ McCollum (84)
Herbert Jones (97)

Number to watch: Rim protection
The Pelicans finished sixth in defensive efficiency last season but ranked 23rd in field goal percentage allowed at the rim. That comes after New Orleans was bottom two in rim protection in the three prior seasons.

Best bet: Willie Green to win Coach of the Year (+1600)
Green enters his fourth season with the Pelicans under high expectations. He had to overcome injuries to key players such as Williamson and Ingram, but Green still led New Orleans to three consecutive winning seasons. The Pelicans continue to be positioned for success with the addition of Murray and a focus on defense. Green's composed demeanor rarely draws attention from the media. However, the Pelicans' record could catch the attention of voters since the three most recent winners of the award have been first-timers. -- Moody

Fantasy sleeper: Trey Murphy III
Already one of the league's most efficient wing scorers through just three pro campaigns, Murphy has posted a blistering 63.3% true shooting clip since the start of the 2022-23 season. Last season was abbreviated as he recovered from surgery, but Murphy enters this season healthy and primed to leap to a new tier of 3-and-D production. In addition to floor-spacing value, Murphy sustains a strong steal clip. In his 23 starts for the Pelicans last season, Murphy averaged 8.3 3-point attempts per game en route to more than16 PPG, suggesting he is already an elite specialist in the Klay Thompson mold. With an ADP well past 100, Murphy is an ideal middle-rounds selection this fall. -- Jim McCormick

17. Sacramento Kings

BPI's overall ranking: 15
Chances to make playoffs: 54.1%
Projected wins: 42.5

When we last saw them: One year after making the playoffs for the first time in 16 years, the Kings got bounced in the second round of the play-in. After that loss, Sacramento knew it needed to make some changes, so the team brought in DeMar DeRozan and sent Harrison Barnes to San Antonio and Chris Duarte to Chicago. This was the first big move the Kings have made since bringing in Mike Brown as head coach. While they don't think they took steps back last season, they know they have to regain the momentum they had in 2023 in a highly competitive Western Conference.

Biggest strength and weakness: The Kings are primed to have a high-powered offense. DeRozan gives the team another player who can score 25 points a night and perform in the clutch, while taking some pressure off of De'Aaron Fox. Putting DeRozan next to Domantas Sabonis will allow them to continue to use dribble handoffs, deploy pick-and-rolls and score in transition -- several big parts of their offense the past two seasons, which they hope will help integrate DeRozan. One weakness Sacramento is facing is its lack of size. The Kings have struggled against longer and bigger teams, and they didn't address that over the offseason. If they plan to play players such as DeRozan or Kevin Huerter at small forward, they will have to rely even more heavily on their offense to just outscore their opponent. -- Andrews

Kings in NBA Rank:
De'Aaron Fox (26)
Domantas Sabonis (29)
DeMar DeRozan (45)
Malik Monk (65)
Keegan Murray (94)

Number to watch: Late-game performances
Sacramento got one of the best players in late-game situations to play alongside Fox. DeRozan led the NBA in total fourth-quarter points last season, while Fox ranked second. This is the first time the top two scorers in total fourth-quarter points from the previous season have been on the same team since play-by-play was first tracked in 1996-97.

Best bet: Sabonis as rebounds per game leader (+195).
Sabonis led the NBA last season with 13.7 RPG while averaging 35.7 minutes per game. He's projected for similar numbers this season. It should also be noted that the Kings are emphasizing offensive rebounding after ranking middle of the pack last year. Sabonis' durability makes this bet even more appealing. He played all 82 games last season and 79 the year before, further positioning him to cash in as the rebounds leader again. -- Moody

Fantasy: Do not draft ... Domantas Sabonis
Sabonis is a walking triple-double threat every time he steps on the court. However, I like my big men -- especially those I take early in my drafts -- to block shots, steal the ball and maybe even hit some 3-pointers. While Sabonis checks the boxes in points, rebounds and assists, he shot only 70.4% from the line last season and added a paltry helping of steals (0.9), blocks (0.6) and 3-pointers (0.4) to his stat line. In my opinion, your early-round picks need to rack up steals, blocks and 3-pointers, and when you add in the hazy free throw shooting, I just can't do it anymore. And then when you add in the arrival of DeRozan to the Kings, things start to get really dicey. -- Karabell

18. Miami Heat

BPI's overall ranking: 9
Chances to make playoffs: 90.2%
Projected wins: 44.9

When we last saw them: After a surprise trip to the Finals without guard Tyler Herro in 2023, the Heat fizzled out of the first round last season. With Jimmy Butler sidelined with a sprained right MCL he suffered in the play-in tournament and trade deadline acquisition Terry Rozier out with neck spasms, Miami lost to the eventual-champion Boston Celtics in five games. The Heat looked into trading for Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, but the former All-Star wound up extending his contract to stay in Salt Lake City. So, one of the most stable franchises in the league is heading into the season with a nearly identical roster -- veteran guard Alec Burks was Miami's most notable addition -- and is banking on improved health, along with another strong campaign from gold medalist and All-Star center Bam Adebayo, to creep back into contention.

Biggest strength and weakness: Anchored by a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Adebayo, the Heat posted the fifth-best defensive efficiency in the league last season, allowing only 111.5 points per 100 possessions. But while they made the opposition grind it out, their offense was so inept it made the other team's defense look just as effective. Miami was 21st in offensive efficiency, scoring 113.3 points per 100 possessions. -- McMenamin

Heat in NBA Rank:
Bam Adebayo (18)
Jimmy Butler (28)
Tyler Herro (76)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (86)

Number to watch: Fourth-quarter offense
Last season, they ranked 28th in fourth-quarter offensive efficiency and 29th in fourth-quarter net efficiency. Although they had a 22-20 record in clutch time, the Heat ranked bottom five in clutch-time offensive efficiency.

Best bet: Adebayo to win Defensive Player of the Year (+1000)
Adebayo has finished top five in the Defensive Player of the Year vote for five straight seasons, culminating in last season's third-place finish and spot on the All-Defense first team. Adebayo is just entering his prime-peak years at age 27 and will be the defensive anchor for what could be an improved Heat team this season. If they can remain largely healthy, with sophomore Jaquez taking a step forward, this is arguably the most talented Miami squad in years. Another strong Adebayo defensive effort, on a potential winning team, would give him better than the stated 10-1 odds to finally win the award. -- Snellings

Fantasy rookie to watch: Kel'el Ware
Ware was one of the most impressive rookies at the Las Vegas summer league, earning NBA 2K25 All Summer League first-team honors. He was strong in his preseason debut as well, scoring 13 points with 5 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in only 17 minutes. Ware, the No. 15 pick out of Indiana, looks to start the season backing up Adebayo at center, but Adebayo might have the versatility to play some at the 4 if Ware plays well enough that the Heat feel he needs the minutes. -- Snellings

19. Houston Rockets

BPI's overall ranking: 13
Chances to make playoffs: 49.6%
Projected wins: 42.1

When we last saw them: In Year 1 under head coach Ime Udoka, Houston lifted off to a record of 13-2 in March, leaving many to believe it might challenge for a play-in berth. Over that span, Jalen Green caught fire, averaging 27.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists. The Rockets finished 41-41, a 19-win improvement from the previous season, which represented the largest increase in wins by any team from 2022-23 to 2023-24. Houston stood relatively pat in the offseason but used their No. 3 pick on the sharpshooting Reed Sheppard, who can seriously contend for Rookie of the Year.

Biggest strength and weakness: Houston's collection of young talent could set up the Rockets to contend for a while if players such as Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson and Tari Eason continue to develop. The club pieced together a nice blend of up-and-coming players and solid veterans to take the lead in establishing the new culture under Udoka, which starts with strong defense which ranked ninth last season. However, the Rockets ranked 20th on offense, so players like Smith, Thompson and Eason need to take another step in their offensive development, as well as more consistency from Green. -- Wright

Rockets in NBA Rank:
Alperen Sengun (54)
Jalen Green (69)
Fred VanVleet (79)
Jabari Smith Jr. (92)

Number to watch: Continuity on defense
The Rockets finished 10th in defensive efficiency last season, 8th in rim protection and allowed the fewest fast break points per game last season.

Best bet: Over 43.5 regular season wins (-115)
The Rockets don't rely on just one player, which makes this bet intriguing. With seven former first-round picks and a defense that finished 10th in defensive rating last season, the talent is there. Houston won 41 games last year, so adding three more isn't a stretch. Yes, the Western Conference is stacked, and some players are still trying to figure out their roles, but I believe Udoka can further position this team for success. -- Moody

Fantasy breakout candidate: Jalen Green
Green was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft and has proven to be a plus scorer, but he's had trouble with consistency. When Ime Udoka took over as the head coach, he particularly wanted to institute a level of professionalism that required Green to improve to earn his minutes and opportunity. After a slower start to the season, Green burst out to average 29.2 PPG from Feb. 29 to March 29 as the Rockets made a hard playoff push. I like that as a preview for what we might expect from him more consistently this season. -- Snellings

20. LA Clippers

BPI's overall ranking: 17
Chances to make playoffs: 51.5%
Projected wins: 42.4

When we last saw them: The Clippers surprisingly went out with little fight in the second half of their Game 6 loss to the Mavericks in the first round of last season's playoffs. Paul George and James Harden combined to go 2-for-16 from 3 while Kawhi Leonard watched from the bench with inflammation in his knee. It would be George's final game as a Clipper, signaling the franchise's pivot from contending for a title now to trying to remain competitive until they can land another younger star in the future. The Clippers re-signed Harden but went younger, targeting scrappy defensive-minded players like Derrick Jones Jr. in free agency. And now with Leonard sidelined indefinitely this season as he rehabilitates inflammation in his knee, the Clippers postseason hopes remain fuzzy.

Biggest strength and weakness: The Clippers' defense will be a strength and keep them competitive in games. Besides acquiring defenders like Jones Jr., Nic Batum and Kris Dunn in free agency, the Clippers' biggest addition this offseason was defensive coordinator Jeff Van Gundy. On the other side of the ball, with George gone and Leonard sidelined indefinitely, Harden will be asked to shoulder much of the offensive load, especially on the playmaking side in setting up teammates like Ivica Zubac. Besides Harden and Zubac the Clippers don't have much depth outside of Norman Powell and Kevin Porter Jr. -- Youngmisuk

Clippers in NBA Rank:
Kawhi Leonard (22)
James Harden (41)

Number to watch: 3-point shooting
The Clippers made only 180 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season -- tied with the Mavericks for fewest in the NBA.

Best bet: James Harden assists per game leader (+900)
Despite Harden's statistical woes last season, he's averaged 9.7 assists per game since 2021-2022. The only other players we have projected for more APG than Harden (8.9) is Nikola Jokic (9.2), Luka Doncic (9.3), Trae Young (10.7) and Tyrese Haliburton (11.5). With Paul George and Russell Westbrook gone -- and Leonard out indefinitely with a knee issue -- Harden will see a significant increase in his usage rate. -- Moody

Fantasy: Do draft ... James Harden
George's departure from the Clippers is a big deal for Harden's usage. He averaged "only" 16.6 PPG and 8.5 APG last season, his first for the Clippers, but it would hardly be a surprise if he bounced back to a 20-and-10 level, especially with Leonard out indefinitely due to injury. Last season, I wanted no part of Harden in fantasy, as he was going late in the first round of so many drafts, but he is an absolute steal as a fourth- or fifth-round selection. -- Karabell

The 2024 World Series matchup is set, and it will be a star-studded showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.

After the Yankees put away the Cleveland Guardians on Juan Soto's extra-innings home run in Game 5 of the ALCS on Saturday night, the Dodgers finished off the New York Mets with a Game 6 win in the NLCS on Sunday.

What carried New York and Los Angeles this far -- and will it continue to work in the Fall Classic? What can we expect from Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani? And which other stars must shine for each team to win? Our MLB experts are here with your first look at a showdown between two of MLB's premier franchises.

New York Yankees

What is the No. 1 factor that has carried the Yankees to the World Series?

Jorge Castillo: The stress they apply on opposing pitchers. The Yankees, in particular the top four hitters in their lineup, have made pitchers work. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt succinctly described the challenge before Game 5 of the ALCS: They're on the fastball, and they don't chase. The Yankees are averaging four pitches per plate appearance in the playoffs. They are drawing walks at a high clip. The constant traffic creates constant pressure. And it starts early: Leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres has reached base in the first inning in eight of the Yankees' nine playoff games. Juan Soto, their 2-hole hitter, has done it in seven games. That increases pitch counts early, which leads to a quicker hook for opposing starting pitchers, which taxes bullpens over a series. It's a grind, and it's an effective blueprint.

Bradford Doolittle: Patience. Those walks galore have kept the pressure on opposing pitchers and set up the big moments for the Yankees' offense, which have usually come in the form of clutch, multi-run homers. Runs have been at a premium on the AL side of the proceedings and instead of getting out of their approach in an effort to make something happen, from top to bottom New York has been able to maintain this key aspect of its regular-season attack.

Jeff Passan: Their ability to get on base. The Yankees have an AL-best .347 on-base percentage and are walking in a staggering 13.9% of plate appearances. Walks are up across the board in the postseason -- the playoffs-wide walk rate is 9.9%, compared to 8.2% in the regular season -- but among their nine regulars, seven Yankees are walking at least 11.1% of the time. What's especially impressive is their on-base percentage to lead off innings: .450. By now, it should be boilerplate: the easiest way to score runs is to put people on base. And the Yankees have scored enough to make it to the World Series.

Why will -- or won't -- it continue against the Dodgers?

Castillo: The guess here is it will. Like the Guardians, the Dodgers have relied heavily on their bullpen in the postseason. Their three starters -- Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler -- have had uneven postseasons. They have combined to make eight playoff starts. Four of those starts have lasted fewer than five innings. Add in at least one bullpen game, if not two, over the course of the series, and the Yankees have the recipe to grind the Dodgers' pitching staff down.

Doolittle: I think it will continue, but the problem is that the advantage the Yankees have in this department disappears because the Dodgers are just as good collectively when it comes to grinding down opposing pitchers. The key to the series might be the walks department, either because one team does a better job of preventing them or does a better job of capitalizing on them in the form of big home runs.

Passan: It will, because the Dodgers are susceptible to the walk -- and L.A.'s pitchers don't strike out oodles of hitters. Los Angeles' advantage early in the series is that it will be able to give the Yankees plenty of different looks among its array of bullpen arms. If the Yankees weather those early games, the familiarity penalty could work in favor of New York's offense later in the series. (This goes both ways, to be clear.) New York's hitting depth has blossomed this October, and it's the sort that's smart enough not to get bullpenned to death.

It has been an up-and-down postseason for Aaron Judge. What should we expect to see from him in the World Series?

Castillo: More success. Judge hasn't been MVP Judge in the postseason. Going 5-for-31 with 13 strikeouts isn't ideal. But he has been productive. He has walked seven times. He has hit two home runs. He hasn't been a zero. Remember that tying two-run home run he hit off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase in Game 3 of the ALCS? Not many people on Earth would've hit that pitch out. He reached base in four of five ALCS games. He's due for a breakout.

Doolittle: A big series. He's just too good for this (lack of hits) to continue. Getting to the Series in the first place should ease his mind, and those around him -- Soto, Stanton, Torres -- have been going so well that Judge needn't feel any special burden. I think he'll hit at least four home runs against the Dodgers.

Passan: Up. It's always eventually going to be up with Judge. Even as he "struggles" this postseason, he has still been a near-average producer, with a wRC+ of 94. No, it's not to Judge's standards, but acting as if he has disappeared is just counterfactual. Much of the production came in the ALCS, which suggests that Judge could be ready to go on a jag. If he does, he's the sort of player who can carry a team to a championship.

Which other player is most crucial to the Yankees' chances in this series?

Castillo: Gerrit Cole. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner -- he has that title for about another month -- is the best starting pitcher in this series. He is lined up to start Game 1 on nine days' rest. If all goes well, he'd take the ball in Game 5 and be able to help out in Game 7. He could have the opportunity to make a huge impact on this series. His postseason has been a mixed bag thus far: One dominant outing and two solid showings. Something like his performance in Game 4 of the ALDS -- seven one-run innings on the road in a series-clinching win over the Royals -- in Game 1 against the Dodgers on Friday could significantly boost Yankees' chances to win the championship.

Doolittle: Luke Weaver. This entire postseason has been defined by the successes and lack thereof of ninth-inning relievers. Weaver has been terrific but not perfect as the Guardians took him deep a couple of times. The Yankees' bullpen looks a lot more formidable if Aaron Boone can assume an on-point Weaver to take over at the end of games.

Passan: Weaver. The newly minted closer finally showed a crack after an almost-impermeable postseason during Game 3 of the division series, allowing Jhonkensy Noel blast to tie the game with two outs in the ninth. Prior to that, Weaver had been the most unhittable pitcher in baseball for a month, and he has the arsenal to back it up with a four-seamer, changeup and cutter that are all above-average pitches. But Boone has leaned on him heavily. If Weaver can muster the ability to regularly finish games as he has done for a majority of the postseason, the Yankees will feel much better in the most high-leverage situations.

Los Angeles Dodgers

What is the No. 1 factor that has carried the Dodgers to the World Series?

Alden Gonzalez: Their offensive approach, which basically boils down to this: Ignore balls and be aggressive against pitches in your preferred area. It sounds a whole lot easier than it actually is, of course. And the Dodgers' hitters were as good as any throughout the year at luring opposing pitchers into their desired nitro zones, a skillset they used expertly against Jose Quintana -- the New York Mets left-hander who thrived all year at getting chase -- during their 10-run onslaught in NLCS Game 4. The Dodgers' pitching continues to be a concern, but their lineup -- even with a hobbled Freddie Freeman -- has the depth and talent to carry them through every October round. And when they're stubborn in their zone, they can seem unbeatable.

Jesse Rogers: Let's not overthink this: Shohei Ohtani impacts games in ways no other player can right now. Yes, the Dodgers have had some good pitching performances, but their bread-and-butter is their offense and it starts with Ohtahi. Take Game 4. The leadoff home run set the tone for the night, and that's not just cliché talk. After putting the Dodgers up 1-0, the Mets pitched him so carefully that he walked the next three times and scored three more runs because of it. His damage (7-for-11, five walks) with men on base this postseason should not be glossed over. He's the reason the Dodgers are here.

David Schoenfield: More than anything, the roster depth from No. 1 to No. 26. It seems just about everybody has stepped up at some point. Or let's put it this way: That depth has allowed the Dodgers to overcome the injuries in the rotation as well as injuries to Freddie Freeman (who has just one run scored and one RBI in the postseason) and Miguel Rojas (who wasn't on the roster for the NLCS). The bullpen saved the season with that the shutout in Game 4 against the Padres, Mookie Betts finally broke out of his multiyear postseason slump, Tommy Edman drove in seven runs in the NLCS and Kiké Hernandez has continued his Mr. October persona after getting a chance to start when Rojas went down in the NLDS against the Padres.

Why will -- or won't -- it continue against the Yankees?

Gonzalez: Because if there's one team better than the Dodgers at not chasing outside the strike zone and being aggressive within it, it's, you guessed it, the Yankees. And New York's lineup seems exponentially more challenging to navigate with Gleyber Torres consistently getting on base from the leadoff spot and Giancarlo Stanton continually crushing big homers behind Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. Unlike in the NLCS, for which they weren't able to reset their rotation, the Dodgers will probably require only one bullpen game in the World Series. But it goes without saying that they're nonetheless going to need their three-man staff of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler to be effective. That was a tough task against the Mets. It will be exceedingly difficult against the Yankees.

Rogers: The short porch at Yankees Stadium will benefit Shohei Ohtani, Max Muncy, Freddie Freeman and others, but Dodgers pitching is trending toward being on fumes. Can Yamamoto give them a few more innings? Did Jack Flaherty hit a wall in his last start? Which direction is Walker Buehler trending in this October? There are just too many questions heading into another potentially long series. Additionally, the Dodgers have had success leaning on their bullpen so far, but asking for another round of covering about five innings per night could be asking too much. The Yankees are set up better on the mound for what could be a high-scoring series.

Schoenfield: It's going to have to continue. They still have just three starters, and Jack Flaherty's second outing against the Mets (eight runs and no strikeouts in three innings) doesn't exactly inspire confidence for the World Series. After that game, Dave Roberts mentioned in regards to Freeman, "I do think his swing is not right. I'm certain it's the ankle." In other words, it's hard to know what to expect from Freeman in the World Series. In the end, while the bullpen seems hot, Roberts will have to manage those innings carefully. Still, the Dodgers probably can't keep relying so much on guys like Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernandez. They'll need more Teoscar Hernandez and Will Smith -- and, of course, big results from Ohtani and Mookie Betts.

Shohei Ohtani has had mixed results in his first postseason. What should we expect from him in the World Series?

Gonzalez: One thing I don't expect to see is a lot of strikes. Ohtani has drawn 11 walks in his first 11 postseason games and is seeing only 39.0% of pitches within the strike zone. Teams clearly prefer to make those batting behind Ohtani beat them. And given that the vast majority of the Yankees' best arms are right-handed -- all except Tim Hill, who's technically below three other relievers in the pecking order -- they'll probably pitch Ohtani just as carefully as everybody else. If Mookie Betts stays hot, of course, that won't be a problem. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has said that when Ohtani is right, he's "stubborn in his zone" and drives pitches into the left- and right-center-field gaps. That approach has come and gone this month.

Rogers: Greatness. Yes, he has made a few outs when the bases were empty -- so what? He'll find the dimensions at Yankees stadium to his liking and already is beginning to reverse his trend of hitting only with runners on, as evidenced by his leadoff homer in Game 4 of the NLCS. And who knows, maybe we'll see him on the mound. He's nearly ready to face hitters -- though the Dodgers might not want the first time to be in the World Series. Anything can happen in baseball, but Ohtani will show up in the box score one way or another. Bank on it.

Schoenfield: Ohtani has been fine. Through his first 10 postseason games, he has three home runs, nine RBIs, 10 walks and 10 runs -- season-long paces of 48 home runs, 144 RBIs, 160 walks and 160 runs. I think our expectations were a little unrealistic given his absolutely ridiculous stretch to end the season, so his very good performance almost seems like a letdown. The only things he hasn't done: steal any bases (he's 0-for-1) and deliver a signature game to remember. I think we'll get one of those games in the World Series.

Which other player is most crucial to the Dodgers' chances in this series?

Gonzalez: Pick a starter. Any starter. I'll go with Jack Flaherty. He'll probably get Game 1 because he can come back on the traditional four days' rest to pitch again in Game 5 (if Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts Game 1, the Dodgers would be forced to stage two bullpen days within the first five games because Yamamoto requires five days of rest). Flaherty pitched seven scoreless innings in Game 1 of the NLCS but got roughed up in a Game 5 start in which he threw with a diminished fastball. The Dodgers desperately need Flaherty to recapture the life of that pitch. It's hard to see them winning a championship without him being effective.

Rogers: I'm going outside the box on this one: Yamamoto. He's trending in the right direction, and the Dodgers desperately need some innings out of somebody on the starting staff, especially if Flaherty's rough last outing is closer to who he'll be going forward. He looked like he hit a wall, while Walker Buehler has been grinding through his starts for a while now. Meanwhile, Yamamoto threw 73 pitches in Game 4 of the NLCS, striking out eight Mets over 4 innings. If he can add another 10 pitches to that this round, he'll be as important as anyone on the mound for L.A.

Schoenfield: I'm going with Teoscar Hernandez. Given the state of the Dodgers' pitching and the potential of the bullpen hitting the wall a little bit, they're going to have to score runs. And with Freeman limited, it's up to Hernandez to offer that big bat behind Ohtani and Betts. He didn't get a hit the first five games of the NLCS. That can't continue if the Dodgers are going to win.

Players contesting the Davis Cup final on 24 November will have just 33 days until the 2025 United Cup begins in Australia. Those in the Billie Jean King Cup final will have just four days longer.

Cancelling tournaments with immediate effect is not an option, as apart from the Tour Finals, these events are not owned by the Tours.

The expansion of ATP Masters events to 12 days has left many unhappy, although the 96-player draws open up opportunities for the lower ranked players.

Prize money on the ATP Tour rose by $15m (11.5m) in 2023, and $6.6m (5m) was added to the end-of-season Bonus Pool. This new model allows profits generated by Masters tournaments to be shared equally, with 50% to the players.

By expanding several 1,000 events, we have increased financial opportunities for more players while introducing more rest days between matches, enhancing recovery time, ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said in a reply prepared for BBC Sport.

We recognise the concerns raised by some top players that longer events can introduce an element of fatigue or burnout related to being away from home for extended periods.

"However, players ultimately have the autonomy to craft their own schedules based on their priorities - a freedom that comes with being independent contractors, unlike many other sports where players are bound by fixed schedules.

The health and well-being of our players is vitally important. We understand the ongoing need to improve rest periods to protect both the physical and mental health of our players.

Unseeded Egyptian duo Fayrouz Aboelkheir and Youssef Ibrahim delivered the first major shocks of the Comcast Business U.S. Open Championships 2024 as they both fought from behind to defeat No.6 seeds Georgina Kennedy and Karim Abdel Gawad respectively in five games. 

Aboelkheir, who recently defeated Kennedy in five games at Paris Squash, replicated those heroics at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center as she came from 2-1 down, saving three match balls in the fourth game, to advance to the second round of the Platinum-level event. 

READ MORE: US Open Squash boosted by title sponsor amid income loss

In a back-and-forth encounter that saw several swings in momentum, it was Aboelkheir who delivered her best squash in the pressure moments, eventually taking victory by an 11-7, 4-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-5 scoreline. 

After the match, the 18-year-old said: Im really happy to be through today. Gina is such a hard player to come up against; shes so quick around the court and had match balls in the fourth game. 

I just think about it [being match ball down] in a very easy way. Youre already losing, so you have nothing else to lose. You can just go for your shots a lot more in those moments.

Meanwhile, in the mens event, World No.17 Ibrahim battled back from 2-0 down to defeat former World Champion Gawad in an entertaining five-game duel on one of the two side courts in use in Philadelphia. 

Ibrahim, 25, won the 89-minute contest by an 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 12-10, 12-10 scoreline, saving a match ball in the fourth game, to record his second victory over Gawad from three meetings on the PSA Tour. 

Elsewhere, World No.1s Nour El Sherbini and Ali Farag both safely booked their spots in the second round, while defending champion Paul Coll got his title defence underway with victory over Nicolas Mueller. 

Results: Mens First Round U.S. Open Championships 2024

[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 3-0: 12-10, 11-5, 11-6 (33m)

Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 3-1: 12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6 (48m)

Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-1: 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5 (60m)

Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt [6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 12-10, 12-10 (89m)

[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Salim Khan (USA) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-7 (23m)

Joel Makin (WAL) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (42m)

Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-1: 4-11, 11-7, 14-12, 11-9 (52m)

[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-3 (28m)

Results: Womens First Round U.S. Open Championships 2024  

[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 3-0: 13-11, 11-6, 11-4 (34m)

Melissa Alves (FRA) bt Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 3-2: 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10 (58m)

Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt Rachel Arnold (MAS) 3-0: 12-10, 11-8, 11-4 (29m)

[8] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-3 (38m)

Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt [6] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 3-2: 11-7, 4-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-5 (61m)

Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Tomato Ho (HKG) 3-2: 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 12-14, 11-7 (66m)

Katie Malliff (ENG) bt Lucy Turmel (ENG) 3-1: 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 (46m)

[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 (21m)

Draw: Mens First Round To Be Played October 20

[4] Diego Elias (PER) v Auguste Dussourd (FRA)

Abdulla Mohd Al-Tamimi (QAT) v Miguel Rodiguez (COL)

Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) v Raphael Kandra (GER)

Leandro Romiglio (ARG) v [8] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG)

[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Dimitri Steinmann (SUI)

Timothy Brownell (USA) v Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)

Fares Dessouky (EGY) v Iker Pajares (ESP)

Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v [2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 

Draw: Womens First Round To Be Played October 20

[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) v Menna Hamed (EGY)

Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Hana Ramadan (EGY)

Malak Khafagy (EGY) v Emily Whitlock (WAL)

[WC] Marina Stefanoni (USA) v [7] Tinne Gilis (BEL)

[5] Nele Coll (BEL) v Amanda Sobhy (USA)

Sana Ibrahim (EGY) v Salma Eltayeb (EGY) 

[WC] Lucie Stefanoni (USA) v Georgia Adderley (SCO)

Tesni Murphy (WAL) v [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY)

What Cheika says he delivered at the interval was a honest assessment of the subdued showing his side had produced in the opening 40 minutes.

"I think you have to tell the truth to the boys at half-time about where we were mentally in that game.

"There was some tactical issues that we needed to address, but that was secondary to the idea that maybe we thought we were going to be handed victory. That doesn't happen ever in this game."

Second-half tries from Josh Bassett, Dan Kelly and Handre Pollard - who also added three conversions and a penalty - proved enough to edge the hosts to a dramatic victory.

"I think they showed good character in the end, because those situations are difficult to get out of," Cheika said.

"We didn't go quiet in that adversity, we stood up."

The only defeat England have suffered in the past five years was the 2022 World Cup final against New Zealand.

But the Red Roses are unbeaten since Packer took on the captaincy during the 2023 Six Nations - something she is proud of and believes will continue.

"Since I've been captain we've not lost a game, so I'll have that one at the moment," she said.

"You've got five games in the Six Nations, you'll have a couple of warm-up games and then you'll have the World Cup.

"So you're looking around that 30 mark again to whether we can win that World Cup final, which in my head it's a definite 'yes'.

"We just need to make sure we work really hard as a group and keep inspiring each other, and remembering why we are the best in the world is because we push each other to be the best."