NBA Notes: Timberwolves, LaMelo Ball, Pacers, Ivica Zubac, Lakers

October 26, 2026

Timberwolves

LaMelo Ball has some advice for his new teammates. Keep your head up, and not just when things aren’t going well.

With Ball running the offense, a pass could be headed your way whether you’re ready or not.

“Actually, I tried to hit them in the head a couple times the first day (of practice),” Ball said, via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “You get hit in the head one time, you’re always gonna have your head up. That’s how I was as a kid. You don’t want to get hit in the head.”

A fairly memorable way to introduce the offense.

Ball gave the home crowd plenty to enjoy Sunday, finishing with 15 points, eight assists and two steals despite foul trouble limiting him to fewer than 17 minutes. The Wolves outscored the Raptors by 33 with him on the floor and improved to 3-0.

One particularly slick move into a three had Terrence Shannon Jr. appreciating his view.

“I’m just happy I get front-row seats to it,” Shannon said.

Giving up Naz Reid wasn’t an easy sell to everyone in Minnesota. Ball is quickly showing what the Wolves had in mind.

Pacers

The Pacers got a win in Brooklyn, but left with a concern considerably bigger than the final score.

Ivica Zubac sprained his left ankle after landing on Kelly Oubre Jr.’s foot while pursuing a rebound. He didn’t return and left the arena on crutches, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

“X-rays were negative for a fracture. He’s got some swelling,” coach Rick Carlisle said, via Tony East of Circle City Spin. “Pretty unlikely he’ll play tomorrow night, but we’ll see. Hopefully it’ll be a day-to-day thing, but you never know.”

Monday’s game is at Milwaukee. East notes that this is the same ankle that sidelined Zubac last season.

Jay Huff supplied an encouraging response, scoring 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting with three assists and three blocks in 21 minutes. That came after he barely played in Indiana’s first two games.

The Pacers would prefer to have Zubac available. But Huff gave Carlisle a reason to keep looking his way, even after the starting center returns.

Lakers

Walker Kessler thought he was ready for his return to Utah. Once the game started, it felt a little different.

“I think going into the game I let my emotions get the best of me,” Kessler said, via The Athletic’s Dan Woike. “But you got to learn in those moments and move on.”

Kessler finished with two points, seven rebounds and a block in 28 minutes against his former team. The Lakers won anyway, improving to 3-0 behind Luka Doncic’s 52 points.

It was a quieter night after an otherwise promising start for Kessler, whose work inside has given Los Angeles a useful complement to its perimeter scoring.

“I think the way we’re playing, with how unselfish the guys are, it’s pretty easy to get back in rhythm, because we’re just competing to win,” he said after Friday’s victory over the Clippers, via Benjamin Royer of the Orange County Register.

The first trip back is behind him. Kessler can get back to making himself at home with the Lakers.