Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo exited early in Wednesday night’s 122-112 loss to the Denver Nuggets after feeling pain in his left foot. Adebayo left the game late in the first quarter and did not return. He was seen hobbling after the game and will undergo tests on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury. “We’ll figure it out,” Adebayo said afterward. Without their All-Star big man, Miami struggled inside as Nikola Jokic powered Denver with 33 points, 16 assists, and 15 rebounds for his fifth triple-double of the season. The Nuggets outrebounded Miami 61-38, including a 21-5 advantage on the offensive glass — their highest rebound total since May 2021. “Definitely tough,” said Heat guard Norman Powell. “We had good rhythm early, good energy. He was battling. I didn’t see what happened, but it was just tough.” Adebayo’s status for the Heat’s upcoming games remains uncertain.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a labral tear in his left shoulder, the team announced Wednesday. The 23-year-old will undergo surgery in Los Angeles on Thursday to repair the injury. Kessler had been off to an impressive start, averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 70.3% from the field. He also showed major progress from long range, knocking down 6 of 8 three-point attempts after making only 11 in his previous three seasons combined. The 7-footer opened the campaign with 22 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers, and added 25 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over the Phoenix Suns two games later. His absence is a major blow for the Jazz, who will now rely more heavily on John Collins and Walker Hendricks in the frontcourt rotation.

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland made his long-awaited season debut on Wednesday night, helping his team to a 132-121 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Garland, back after offseason surgery on his left big toe, scored eight points and dished out four assists in 26 minutes, returning to his role as floor general for the Cavs. “Seeing the ball go through the hoop, passing the ball to 45 (Donovan Mitchell), Ev (Evan Mobley) and JA (Jarrett Allen) for sure,” Garland said postgame. “It was great to be back with the teammates. Being around them makes me happy.” The 24-year-old guard, who averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists last season, had missed the team’s first seven games following the surgery in June. The injury, a form of turf toe, also hampered him during last year’s playoffs. Without Garland, Cleveland’s offense had looked out of sync — ranking fifth-lowest in offensive rating (111.3) after leading the NBA last season. Head coach Kenny Atkinson noted that his absence forced stars like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley into unfamiliar offensive roles. Garland’s return provided the spark the Cavaliers had been missing as they improved their ball movement and tempo to earn a much-needed victory.

Beloved halftime performer Red Panda made her NBA return on Tuesday night in Chicago as the Bulls hosted the Philadelphia 76ers, just four months after breaking her wrist in a fall. Red Panda — real name Rong Niu — suffered a left wrist fracture during her July 1 performance at the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx. She spent 11 hours in a Minneapolis hospital after the incident. Her agent, Patrick Figley, said Niu first show back was on October 23 for an Amazon Prime event, and she has since performed at several universities. Known for her dazzling act, riding a unicycle while flipping bowls onto her head. Red Panda has been a fixture at NBA and college games for years, including a performance during Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Oklahoma City last June.

It came down to the final play, but the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 118-116 win over the San Antonio Spurs, erasing a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Luka Dončić led the charge with 35 points, nine rebounds, and 13 assists, including eight points in the final period to spark the comeback. The game ended in chaos when Marcus Smart stepped over the line while inbounding the ball with 0.1 seconds left. Julian Champagnie was fouled but missed his first free throw and intentionally missed the second, with Keldon Johnson failing to convert the putback attempt. “To come back without (Austin Reaves) and (LeBron James), it’s unbelievable,” Dončić said. “They fight every moment of the game. It’s so fun to play with them.” San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama (19 points, 8 rebounds), Jeremy Sochan (16 points), and Harrison Barnes (14 points) all fouled out. The Lakers improved to 7-2, marking the best stretch by any team featuring LeBron James without him in the lineup. “What a wild finish,” said commentator Mike Breen, while analyst Tim Legler added, “The Lakers dodged multiple bullets… but they ultimately get the win.”

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton addressed reporters for the first time. Since he ruptured his Achilles in the Game 7 of the NBA Finals during Pacers media day on Monday. “It’s coming along. I feel like I’m right on cue, right where I’m supposed to be at this point,” Haliburton said. “Just taking it one day at a time. It’s a monotonous thing of everyday it feels like you’re doing the same thing over and over.” Haliburton, 25, was key in the Pacers’ historic playoff run, hitting multiple circus shots while leading Indiana to its first Finals in 25 years. Haliburton described his summer as “a drag.” “He’s right on pace where he needs to be,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan told reporters during Pacers front office media availability last Thursday. “He’s going through the typical rehab procedure with an Achilles, which can be kind of monotonous and tedious, but it’s part of the long-term growth of getting yourself back healthy.”