5 NBA Storylines To Watch This Week: Injuries, NBA Cup And More

Indiana Pacers v Miami Heat — MIAMI, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 30: Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat reacts against the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup game at Kaseya Center on October 30, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

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Two weeks into the season, the injury report is shaping the discussions about the NBA as much as the talent and standings. Big contract stars are sidelined in Oklahoma, Minnesota, Orlando, Portland and Toronto. Some are out of action for multiple months.

The NBA Cup is one night old and every group game has high stakes. Giannis Antetokounmpo brings the Miami Heat to Los Angeles for a face off with Luka Dončić. And the NBA signed with prediction markets while a former player agreed to plead guilty in a federal betting case.

Here are five stories to follow this week.

The NBA’s Injury Wave

The medical ward is mounting for NBA teams in a season that is 10 days old. On top of that pile sit Jalen Williams with a fractured left fibula and dislocated ankle; he’ll be re-evaluated before the end of the regular season. His teammate Cason Wallace has a torn left labrum and will miss months. There’s 79 players listed as out, or listed with an illness. That’s 15 percent of the league.

Hamstrings appear to be the recurring injury. Morant, Haliburton and Duren all strained one; Morant has had significant time off playing 79 of 246 regular season games in three years. Many pundits are offering up suggestions on the culprit for these breakdowns: sneakers, faster modern game, big-bodied collisions and three-point volume spacing. On the other side of this, there’s also a study that found that NBA players who played multiple sports in high school played more games, handled heavier workloads and missed fewer games to injury.

What to watch: The big name to watch here moving forward is Anthony Edwards. Media reports estimate an absence of up to two months which could be 25 games. That would put him under the 65-game minimum for MVP and All-NBA eligibility. Jalen Duren, Chet Holmgren and Kawhi Leonard are some of the other big names at risk of not meeting the 65-game rule.

Giannis vs. Luka Monday Night

The main event kicks off tonight when the Heat take on the Lakers. Miami has won two straight after going 0-4. Antetokounmpo shot 31 against the Pacers and recorded his second triple-double this year. Dončić has hit the ground at full speed shooting 52, 41, 37 and 45 points in his last four outings averaging 43.7.

What to watch: Dončić resting. He missed the Clippers game with back tightness. He’s the league’s best scorer averaging 36 points per game.

NBA Cup Is Back In Full Swing

The Warriors pulled off a comeback win over the Lakers. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg combined for 68 points against the Rockets. And Scottie Barnes had a career best 41-point night but it wasn’t enough to propel the Raptors towards a win against the Magic. That all happened on the first night of the NBA Cup.

What to watch: Most NBA teams that have reached the knockout phase of the Cup have brought with them a 4-0 record or 3-1. So, two wins, two losses can be fatal. The next round of games are this Friday Nov.6. with nine games. The Lakers host Portland and can’t afford a 0-2 start after dropping the game to the Warriors; the Blazers are missing Ja Morant with a hamstring injury. The Sixers take on the Cavaliers and a win for Nick Nurse’s men could mean control of the East Group B. And the Raptors also can’t afford to lose to the Bucks but will have to look to Scottie Barnes and the bench mob with Kawhi Leonard out for another month. Here’s the full schedule.

Rookie Heat Check: Lendeborg and Acuff Jnr.

Yaxel Lendeborg has already beefed with Dončić.. Then went quiet in the Lakers rematch last week with six points, only to score 37 points with six triples last night. Darius Acuff Jnr. has had a license to shoot so far for the Kings. His 144 attempts from the field are the third most in the NBA right now but his average of 24 per game is the most in the league. He’s shooting 39.5 percent from the field in six games.

What to watch: Can Lendeborg find consistency for the Warriors against the Suns, Heat and Magic this week? And does the 0-6 Sacramento Kings reign in the amount of shots Acuff is taking per game?

The NBA’s Prediction Market Evolution

Last Friday, the 76ers became the first NBA team with an official prediction-market partner, Kalshi. That came days after the league named Kalshi and Polymarket its preferred prediction-market exchanges. The partnerships followed the NBA’s launch of a responsible-gaming campaign. In the same week, former NBA player Malik Beasley agreed to plead guilty in his federal betting-related bribery and conspiracy case. His plea is scheduled for Dec. 9.

What to watch: New Jersey has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether states can regulate prediction markets. The NBA’s deals rest on federal oversight and a ruling for the states could leave the league’s new partners facing different rules in each state.

Number Of The Week: 66.7

Luka Dončić shot eight triples against the Raptors going 8-from-12 from deep at a shooting percentage of 66.7. He’s currently on track for career shooting for three points with 43.2 percent across his first six games.