In this week’s NBA highlights, take a look back at the key storylines from the past seven days. The Boston Celtics are showing their strength in the Eastern Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies are enduring a rough patch, and Tyrese Maxey continues to dazzle for the 76ers.

Team of the Week: Boston Celtics
With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the entire season due to an ACL injury, doubts loomed over whether the Boston Celtics could remain competitive. So far, those concerns have been put to rest.

Coach Joe Mazzulla has impressed with his leadership, while the Celtics’ roster has proven versatile on both ends of the floor. Jaylen Brown, stepping up in Tatum’s absence, recently called himself the “best two-way player in the game” on social media and followed that up with a joint career-high 50-point performance against the Los Angeles Clippers. He now averages 30.1 points per game this season.

Boston claimed commanding victories over the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, and Clippers last week, moving up to third in the Eastern Conference and just three games behind the top seeds. The Celtics are looking like a serious threat.

Underperformers of the Week: Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies have had an up-and-down season. After a sluggish start with just two wins in their first 11 games, the team began to find rhythm—but last week’s three consecutive losses against the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers highlighted the void left by seven-foot-three center Zach Edey.

Edey, who averages 11.1 rebounds per game and provides elite defensive presence, has been sidelined for nearly four weeks. His return will be vital if the Grizzlies hope to regain momentum.

Player of the Week: Tyrese Maxey
Tyrese Maxey continues to cement his status as the 76ers’ go-to player. Last week, he delivered 34 points and 12 assists against the Grizzlies, 34 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists against the Mavericks, and 36 points with eight rebounds against the Knicks.

Maxey is now averaging 31.1 points per game, ranking just behind Luka Doncic (33.6) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.1), firmly establishing himself as one of the league’s elite guards.

Play of the Week: Matas Buzelis
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis has made an early statement in 2026, producing a jaw-dropping poster dunk over Jalen Suggs that instantly put him in contention for the dunk of the year.

Story of the Week: Nikola Jokic’s Injury
Fans around the league were on edge when Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic went down clutching his knee during a defeat to the Miami Heat. Known for his durability, Jokic has missed just 36 games over the last five seasons, making the injury scare particularly alarming.

Initial fears of an ACL injury proved false, but Jokic suffered a hyperextended knee that will sideline him for four weeks. The Nuggets have since gone 1-2 in his absence, navigating a stretch that also sees key players Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cam Johnson sidelined.