Game Theory

Sam is live right after Thursday's NBA slate reacting to Magic-Suns and Heat-Warriors before, examining the Hornets messy 3-6 start to the season, Hawks-Wizards, Victor Wembanyama's absurd performance vs. the Mavericks, and more, before listening to some listener voicemails.

(00:00) Intro

(03:45) Warriors Beat Heat 120-100

(19:45) Suns beat Magic 117-104

(26:35) Victor Wembanyama's Week of MVP Salvos

(35:40) Charlotte Hornets Messy Start and Revisiting the LaMelo Trade

(56:25) Would the Thunder Trade Jalen Williams?

(1:00:00) Favorite Two Way Contracts League Wide

(1:06:05) Outro

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Sam is joined by Jovan Buha to run through a bunch of teams' offensive/defensive starts to the season and wonder whether it's real or fake. Then they check in on the Lakers, Luka Doncic's MVP chances, what the Lakers must do to genuinely compete in the West, and more.

(00:00) Intro

(06:10) Rockets offense
(11:05) Warriors offense
(16:05) Knicks offense
(18:50) Nuggets offense
(23:35) Thunder offense

(29:10) 76ers defense
(33:15) Wizards defense
(38:15) Grizzlies defense
(42:25) Heat defense
(46:50) Suns defense

(51:05) Lakers check-in
(1:25:10) Potential Lakers trades

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Wagering offered by DK Sportsbook: 21+. Present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. Event Trading offered by DraftKings Predictions, CFTC-registered: 18+. Trading involves risk of loss. Market availability varies. General: 1 per new DraftKings customer. Trade $5 get $200 Prediction Dollars (1-year expiry); or bet $5 get $200 in Bonus Bets (7-day expiry and stake removed from payout). Rewards issued in $50 increments every 7 days via click-to-claim for 21 days. Click-to-claims expire 7 days after issuance. Rewards are non-withdrawable. 7 days = 168hrs. Terms: dkng.co/offer. Get 1 promo code to redeem a 3-month NBA League Pass subscription, complimentary of DraftKings. Subscription auto-renews monthly at then-current price (currently $16.99/mo); cancel anytime. Terms, restrictions, and eligibility requirements apply. Redeem League Pass by 12/19/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Addt’l terms: support.watch.nba.com/hc/en-us/articles/9165532876183-League-Pass-Terms-of-Use_. Predictions offer void in NY.Ends 11/29/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
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Sam is joined by The Athletic's Andrew Schlecht to run through some weekly NBA awards including Team of the Week, Player of the Week, and Favorite Performance of the Week, before trying to figure out how the Thunder can whether the injury storm that just intensified with Chet Holmgren expected to miss 8-10 weeks.

(00:00) Intro

(05:00) Team of the Week

(23:25) Player of the Week

(29:50) Favorite Performance of the Week

(40:20) The Thunder’s Path Forward

Sam is joined by The Athletic Daily’s Dave DuFour for an early rookie check-in on Dybantsa (00:00), Peterson (18:51), Boozer (28:22), and Wilson (35:34). Plus, they discuss the Mavs as the most fun team in the NBA right now (47:43), the Jaylen Brown-Jayson Tatum Celtics drama (1:06:39), Tyrese Haliburton’s latest injury (1:19:28), and what the Pelicans are doing with Herb Jones (1:27:17).

Sam is live after Tuesday's NBA slate to react to games, as well as a slew of early-season injuries including Anthony Edwards, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Jalen Suggs, and Jaren Jackson Jr.

(00:00) Intro

(04:20) Trail Blazers Beat Lakers

(14:20) Pistons Beat Knicks

(22:10) Injuries Ravage NBA

(30:50) Anthony Edwards out for possibly
two months?

(36:05) Jaren Jackson Jr out for up to two months

(40:10) Oklahoma City might be without Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace for the
year; do they make a trade?

(52:20) Voicemails!

(52:50) Cooper Flagg, How Many Players Would you take to start a franchise over him?

(1:01:40) What is Ron Holland's trade value?

(1:06:20) Nets, is there anything to be excited about this season?

(1:11:55) What is the Hawks ceiling with Onyeka Okongwu?

(1:19:20) Outro