Valkyries Fall in Game 3, Clingan Helps Blazers Open Season With 21-0 Run

DREAM DELIVER STATEMENT WIN, TAKE 2-1 FINALS LEAD 

Gabby Williams (15 points and eight assists) and Tiffany Hayes (14 points) both scored in double-digits, however it wasn't enough as the Golden State Valkyries fell to the Atlanta Dream 97-71 in Game 3 of the WNBA FInals. Kiah Stokes grabbed 11 rebounds and rejected three shots, while Kaityln Chen scored two points with two assists. The loss marks the Valkyries’ first back-to-back defeats of the postseason.

All three of Stokes’ blocks came within a 47-second span early in the first quarter, as she rejected back-to-back layup attempts by Angel Reese before denying Jordin Canada at the rim. Despite those defensive efforts, the Dream scored the game’s first six points and never trailed in the franchise’s first finals game since 2013.

The Valkyries didn’t record their first field goal until the 4:38 mark of the first quarter, when Hayes found Aminata Gueye for a layup. Just over a minute later, Hayes converted her own layup then drilled a three-pointer to trim the Golden State lead to one, 9-8. The Dream closed the opening period on a 14-7 run to take an eight-point lead, but Hayes opened the second quarter by driving along the baseline and converting a layup while drawing a foul. She sank the ensuing free throw to cut the deficit to five. Later, Williams stepped back and knocked in her second three-pointer of the game, then Stokes found Cecilia Zandalasni in the corner for another Valkyrie three-pointer, but Golden State still trailed by six, 46-40 at halftime.

The beginning of the second half got off to a promising start for Williams and company as she accounted for the first eight Valkyrie points in the third quarter. The final three was off another assist to another Zandalasini three-pointer to tie the game at 48. 

Atlanta responded once again, extending its lead back to eight before Hayes converted two more layups, first off an assist from Williams and then from Chen, to pull the Valkyries within four at 59-55 with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter. However, that was as close as Golden State would get, as the Dream regained control and carried a 71-57 lead into the final period.

CASTLE SINKS CAREER-HIGH 5 TRIPLES IN SPURS OPENING NIGHT LOSS

It did not take long for Stephon Castle to accomplish a new feat. The third-year guard drained a career-high five three-pointers and scored a team-high 24 points in the San Antonio Spurs’ 116-104 opening night loss at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night in a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference Finals. 

All five of Castle’s three-pointers came in the second half, with three in the third quarter and two in the fourth. The hot shooting came on a career-high 12 shot attempts from beyond the arc. At UConn, Steph’s personal best was two made three-pointers in a single game (did it five times) while his most attempts in a contest was six. He shot  2-of-6 from three-point range twice. On February 24th, 2024 against Villanova in a 78-54 Huskies victory, and against Alabama on April 6th, 2024, in an 86-72 UConn win in the national semifinals. 

Tarris Reed Jr. made his NBA debut after subbing in with 1:14 left in the game and the Spurs trailing by 12. 

CLINGAN RIPS FIRST POINTS OF TRAIL BLAZERS SEASON

Just 14 seconds into the Trail Blazers’ 2026-27 season, Donovan Clingan was left wide open on the right wing and drained a three-pointer on his first shot attempt of the year.

That triple helped ignite Portland’s offense, as the Trail Blazers opened the game on a 21-0 run (not quite 30-0!) against the Phoenix Suns. Portland lead 42-13 after the first quarter.

Clingan looked awfully quick on this pick and roll with Damian Lillard.

DC finished the game with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three and 1-of-1 from the free throw line along with seven rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes.

The Trail Blazers enjoyed every second of their season-opener, cruising past the Suns 124-83.

DRUMMOND SHOWS OUT IN MSG-KNICKS DEBUT

It wasn't even halftime by the time Andre Drummond had earned the praise of the Madison Square Garden Crowd in his New York Knicks debut on Tuesday night. Drummond began his 15th season with a “bang” as the former Husky posted a double-double in his very first stint with New York. 

Perhaps a lot of emotion was going through Drummond as not only was it his first game as a Knick, but a matchup against his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers. He subbed in with 8:46 left in the first quarter and by the time he went back to the bench with 7:03 left in the second quarter, he had picked up his 502nd career double-double.

Drummond finished the game with 12 points and 14 rebounds, but the 76ers spoiled the Knicks’ championship ring night with a 106-100 victory. After the game, 

KARABAN CHECKS IN FOR NBA DEBUT

With 5:15 left in the fourth quarter, Alex Karaban checked in for his NBA debut. Karaban scored his first career-point on a free throw after going 1-of-2 from the line and grabbed one rebound in the Sacramento Kings 121-96 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

• WEDNESDAY: 3 points (1-4 FG, 1-1 3-FG), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal in 16 minutes. The Grizzlies defeated the Utah Jazz 123-103.

Liam McNeeley (Charlotte Hornets)

• WEDNESDAY: 0 points (0-1 FG, 0-1 3-FG), 1 rebound in 3 minutes. The Hornets fell to the Brooklyn Nets 110-103.

Jordan Hawkins (Chicago Bulls)

• WEDNESDAY: DNP (Did not travel with team, Illness). The Bulls lost at the Toronto Raptors 135-92.

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