What happened: Officials overturned an initial foul call at the rim upon review, crediting Noa Essengue in his second NBA season with a clean rejection of a dunk attempt. The defensive stop came during a 16-0 scoring run in Friday's 3 p.m. matinee.

Why it matters: Entering the 2026-27 regular season in jersey No. 2 after completing offseason rehab, Essengue is carving out a frontcourt defensive role. Converting contested rim challenges into clean stops avoids early foul trouble and backs up the front office's recent roster commitment.

What to watch: Essengue's rim protection and foul discipline will remain key metrics as his sophomore regular-season rotation minutes develop.