What happened: Essengue attacked the paint for a finish at the rim and recorded a steal during Friday's regular-season action.

Why it matters: The two-way sequence followed an earlier block by Essengue that stood after a challenge overturned a foul call. His second-year contract option was exercised on Oct. 20 ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

What to watch: Essengue continues his early 2026-27 regular-season rotation stint as the late-October slate unfolds.