Serge Ibaka had the perfect Revenge Game

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

BUT FIRST ... I want to extend an apology to Ernie Johnson and those I offended with my comments regarding protest votes in Friday’s newsletter. My comments were inartful, and the newsletter was not the right place for them. I’ll do better.

AND NOW: Paul Flannery on why we need the NBA — not as a distraction, but “as a community that stands against bigotry in all its forms.” This is who we are. Plus, Flanns discusses five league trends, collects the best quotes of the week and offers up a delicious Steph Curry Vine. Check it out.

SPEAKING OF STANDING UP TO BIGOTRY ... Gregg Popovich’s six-minute sermon on the election, in which he compares the United States to Rome, says he is “sick to his stomach” Trump was elected, and much, much more. Peak righteous anger. In related news, Marc Spears writes that Popovich is the NBA’s most woke coach.

THE SERGE IBAKA REVENGE GAME: Serge Ibaka has not had a great opening two weeks of the season. Until Sunday. He broke out for a career-high 31 and the game-winning bucket as the Magic beat the Thunder in Ibaka’s return to OKC. Ibaka’s night countered a 41-point triple-double for Russell Westbrook.

WIGGIN’ OUT: Andrew Wiggins scored 47 points in a Wolves win over the Lakers. Forty-seven.

MEET THE WARRIORS, WHO GO FROM CHASE-DOWN BLOCK TO 35-FOOTER REAL QUICK.

SCORES GALORE ...

Hornets 93, Cavaliers 100
Magic 119, Thunder 117
Lakers 99, Wolves 125
Suns 120, Warriors 133
Nuggets 105, Blazers 112

DWYANE WADE IS A PROFESSIONAL FLOPPER.

BIG NEWS: The Playstation Vue streaming service has added NBA TV to its list of channels. This is the first time you can pay to receive NBA TV legally outside of a cable/satellite contract. Here’s our (updated) NBA guide for cord-cutters.

BIGGER NEWS: Jrue Holiday is set to return to the Pelicans this week as things are going well for his wife Lauren and new baby.

PROTEST PROTEST: Damian Lillard questions the usefulness of protesting Trump in Portland. (Portland’s Multnomah County went 73-17 for Hillary Clinton.) LeBron commented on how he won’t let the election change what he does. Jonathan Jones in SI on the social activism gap between NBA and NFL stars.

OLD HAT: Duke freshman Jayson Tatum has already been to college and law school ... as a child, tagging along with his mom.

THE RIM WAS LIKE, “MORE LIKE SPENCER NAWES.”

REMEMBERING GREG ODEN: Greg Oden did an Outside the Lines interview last week where he called himself the biggest bust in NBA history. Kevin Durant defended his draftmate against the label. I agree with Durant here, because when Oden was able to play he was incredible. He really might have become some sort of hybrid of Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard. He may never have been as good as either of them, but the raw goods and skill level were something else. He could just never stay healthy. (Oden is the name that freaks me out the most as we watch Joel Embiid, by the way. I remember getting so hyped when Oden got on the court and ruined the opponents.)

BASKETBALL IN POLAND: Marcin Gortat about the sport’s state in his home country.

MIRROR IMAGE: What Geno Auriemma is learning from Gregg Popovich.

BISMACK BIYOMBO’S BIGGEST WIN.

NEXT UP: NBA TV has Sixers vs. Rockets in the K.J. McDaniels Bowl (8 p.m. ET). The best League Pass options are Thunder-Pistons (7:30 p.m.) and Grizzlies-Jazz (9 p.m.).

AND FINALLY: I’m not sure if the Cavaliers pioneered this, but you will not find me more excited about any arena break gimmick than Human Hungry, Hungry Hippos.

Be excellent to each other.