What happened: Andre Drummond entered early in the first quarter and reached 10 points and 10 rebounds in 12 minutes. The double-double was complete before halftime at Madison Square Garden.

Why it matters: The production came immediately after an early rotation entry and set the tone for the bench unit. It offered an early measure of rebounding and second-unit scoring entering the 2026-27 season.

What to watch: Watch how his early-entry minutes and rebounding role carry into the rest of the preseason schedule.