The Atlanta Braves have already made some moves this offseason, according to the transaction log. Most notably, infielder Brett Wisely was selected to the major league roster. Outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett, and infielder Luke Williams elected free agency.
Given his limited big league experience, the decision to add Wisely to the 40-man gives the Braves the option to use him in a later transaction. Atlanta will have plenty of decisions to make as it looks to improve the roster for 2027, and these early moves are a reminder that the team is already working to create flexibility for what comes next.
More Braves News:
Tate Southisene reached base four times in the recent Arizona Fall League matchup. More in the minor league recap.
MLB News:
Game 4 of the ALCS has been postponed to tonight due to inclement weather. Game 5 is slated for Sunday evening.
From the Feed:
Braves special assistant Martin Maldonado is headed to the Detroit Tigers as a quality control coach.
Jul 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) slides safely into second base with adobe ahead of tag by Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (72) during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
I don’t know, I’m not all that inspired by Dave Dombrowski’s end of year presser. He sounded like he’s going to try and make changes, but with this roster as it is, how will be actually do that? Some are going to have waive some no-trade clauses for that to actually happen.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman walks to the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of Game 4 against the Brewers on Thursday night. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
In the NLCS, the Dodgers faced two HUGE opponents. The Milwaukee Brewers and “Father Time.” The Brewers are an exceptional young team and Father Time is undefeated.
Wayne Kamiya El Segundo
Outpitched. Outhit. Outmanaged. Now OUT!
Richard Jewell Los Feliz
It’s the fall of the Dodgers empire. It was great while it lasted. I suspect the lineup will change dramatically next year. With a pending lockout, expiring player contracts and possible retirements, who knows what the future will hold. Thank you everyone for some memorable baseball.
Cheryl Creek Anaheim
There should be a master class for Dodgers left-handed hitters to learn how to hit opposing team’s left-handed pitchers when they throw sliders and sweepers!
Larry L. Gurewitz Los Angeles
Due to their 2020 championship, 2024’s World Series title earned against their AL rival New York Yankees, and last year’s thrilling seven-game World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, irrespective of how this season ended — getting to the NLCS ain’t bad — the Dodgers should continue to be celebrated and the Boys in Blue appreciated.
Ken Feldman Tarzana
The Dodgers don’t suck. This season wasn’t a failure. They got beat by a better team. It’s a simple as that. The playoffs are about which team is playing its best this time of year, and right now it’s the Brewers. They are a complete team. They won 103 games in the regular season, which was more than every other team. They have good discipline at the plate, speed up and down the lineup and a bullpen that was near perfect in this series.
Dave Roberts didn’t get outmanaged. His team lost to a better one.
Ron Epstein Woodland Hills
Good news and bad news. Bad news: The Dodgers were swept by the Brewers. Good news: At least they are no longer ruining baseball!
David Waldowski Laguna Woods
The excuses for the Dodgers collapse flew off the page minutes after the last out of Game 4. Observations: 1) The Brewers were a better team, more prepared and clearly better managed. No excuses, please. 2). Anyone surprised has not been paying attention. During the regular season the Dodgers lost more games than they won against teams with better than a .500 record. 3). I never thought I could write this but has Shohei Ohtani become the LeBron James control freak of the Dodgers? 4) Will the next headline be “Mark Walter puts the Dodgers up for sale?”
David Bialis San Diego
Starting with the Blue Jays last year, and continuing with the Brewers, Rays and Guardians this season, I truly hope MLB teams will return to “anti-analytics “ baseball. Watching games with base runners, tough at-bats and actual strategy by managers is much more enjoyable than strikeouts and home runs with no one on base.
Thanks for bringing back baseball. Keep it going!
Tim Boyd San Juan Capistrano
I’m sure there are Dodgers fans unhappy about losing to the Brewers. But nobody wins all the time and the Dodgers have won a lot.
Another great season. Three World Series titles in six years isn’t too bad. Lots of people would love to see their team win a championship just once. Ask a Padres fan.
Doug Dunlap Valencia
Stumbling finish
“OK Rams fans, don’t change the channel, we promise we’ll do it right this time. Just keep watching as we hold the ball and our kicker will come running up and kick a field goal. OK, here we go. .. Whoops! Ha! Gotcha again, didn’t we?!”
I’m not sure who’s been duped more times; Charlie Brown as Lucy keeps yanking the ball away from him when he’s about to kick it, or Rams fans, when the special teams are sent out to attempt a field goal.
Jerry Leibowitz Culver City
Hey, is George Blanda still alive? Maybe we can sign him to kick for us.
Eric Monson Temecula
If there were a real time machine would Les Snead and Sean McVay go back to the end of the 2023 season and re-sign Matt Gay instead of letting him go in free agency so they could save a few dollars?
Alan Lawler La Verne
Les Snead has built a Rams roster capable of winning championships, but his persistent failure to address the kicking game might have cost the team at least one or two more trips to the Super Bowl. With the departure of Harrison Mevis, the Rams will have used six field goal kickers in five seasons. Until the Rams prioritize the position and stop relying on practice-squad castoffs, they will continue to undermine their own championship hopes.
George Pisano Rancho Palos Verdes
Bumbling start
Thank goodness the Chargers again snapped defeat from the jaws of victory with that pathetic fourth-down try when they were leading 17-10. They increased their chances of the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Russell Hosaka Torrance
To Jim Harbaugh, what are you waiting for?
Cut yourself loose of Mike McDaniel now. It’s past time. McDaniel sold us all on a bill of goods that is now very fraudulent. Be a CEO and cut the guy loose!
Felipe Varela Whittier
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.
Oct 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Headshot of Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Isaiah Evans (33) during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Laughlin-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Two former Blue Devils and current NBA rookies had big nights Friday.
Cameron Boozer had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists to help the Memphis Grizzlies past the Charlotte Hornets.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Evans showed his potential for the Minnesota Timberwolves, finishing with 21 points on 6-13/5-10 from the floor, in a 133-116 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
People have come to expect big things from Boozer already, but Evans still has to prove himself at the NBA level. As Duke fans know, he knows how to shoot, and every team can use a good sniper. He made a solid argument for himself Friday night. Now he needs to build on it.
Sep 22, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates his two run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays with designated hitter Ben Rice (22) during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Thanks to an ill-timed storm in Cleveland, we were left without baseball last night. Baseball-less nights will be a fate we’ll soon have to resign ourselves to, once the World Series concludes, and with a lockout on the other side, we have little idea of when the MLB-less stretch of the calendar will end once it starts. Best not to think about that now! If you’re able to stomach watching the ALCS without the Yankees’ participation, they’re gonna give it another go tonight, with the Guardians looking to extend their lead over the Rays.
On the site today, Nick will profile Red Rolfe, one of the great supporting players on many of the Yankees’ early championship teams. Later, Matt looks back on the finest pitching performances by the Yankees in 2026, and Michael delivers his weekly Arizona Fall League update. And also, Peter writes why Ryan McMahon was the Yankees’ LVP this year, and Kento analyzes the Yankees’ (lack of) a plan against Drew Rasmussen in the ALDS.
Today’s Playoff Matchups:
American League Championship Series Game 4 (Cleveland leads, 2-1)
Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays (TBD vs. RHP Nick Martinez)
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: TBS/HBO Max/truTV
Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Questions/Prompts:
1. The buzz has it that the Yankees are likely to tender David Bednar a qualifying offer. What are the odds that he accepts?
2. How worried should the Dodgers be that their decline has at last begun? Will they no longer be the juggernaut that paces the NL every year? Or will they bounce back in 2027?
(Original Caption) 4/18/62 -BOSTON,MA.- : HAPPY CHAMPS...The victorious Boston Celtics, NBA basketball champions for the fourth consecutive year, whoop it up in the dressing room, flanking their coach Red Auerbach {white shirt} Gov. John Volpe of Mass., {rear,L} and Celtics owner Walter Brown {front,L}. The Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 110-107, Boston Garden{4/18}.
There have been a lot of great coaches in basketball. In high school, we saw Bob Hurley Sr. of St. Anthony’s and Morgan Wootten of DeMatha.
In college, we’ve seen Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith, and John Wooden.
And in the pros, we’ve seen Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, and perhaps most of all, Red Auerbach.
What he built in Boston is still astonishing. The Celtics were good, and when he saw that he had a chance to get the final piece, Bill Russell, he swung a trade that made it happen.
Russell won the last game of every season he played in the NBA except for two: 1958, when he was injured, and 1967, when the Philadelphia 76ers had a truly great team.
After Russell retired, Auerbach rebuilt around an undersized Dave Cowens and John Havlicek, and then again around Larry Bird.
But it wasn’t just about talent. It was about how he dealt with people. Auerbach had many talents, and was an intense competitor, but his greatest talent may have been his insights into people. He knew how to deal with Russell, which wasn’t easy. He knew just how far he could push Bob Cousy.
He knew how to deal with every player on his team as a coach or under his supervision as GM or team president.
This video gets into a lot of what made Auerbach one of, at a minimum, the two or three best coaches in the history of basketball. He was unbelievably good at what he did.
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It’s not common that I find myself on the edge of my seat and yelling at my TV over a preseason NBA game but I found myself in that exact position tonight watching the Boston Celtics defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 125-120 in overtime. In a game where the 76ers started all of their starters against the Celtics who ran out what could end up being their Maine Celtics lineup at some point this year, Boston overcame the adversity and took down the Goliath. Am I being a bit hyperbolic for a preseason game? Yes. But it was still an entertaining game to watch despite it not being a game that actually counts.
The Boston Celtics beat the Super Team Philadelphia 76ers with this Starting Lineup pic.twitter.com/gSQ1pc1hLf
What did impress me the most out of the group the Celtics played tonight was the fact that no one seemed afraid of the moment. Even in a preseason game, there are a lot of guys in Boston’s starting lineup that are fighting for a roster spot with either the Celtics on a two-way deal or just a G League spot. Philadelphia’s starters had a combined 89,240 Career NBA Points to their name while Boston had a combined 6 points, all by Hayden Gray who played in one NBA game with the Utah Jazz last season.
Everyone on the roster in this game looked to be aggressive and they didn’t care that NBA Champions and MVPs like LeBron James, Joel Embiid or Jaylen Brown were in the way. There was sloppy play at times from the Celtics but it was the hustle stats that told the story. Boston out-rebounded the Philadelphia 63-46, finished 16 more shot attempts, and forced 18 turnovers. There were times where Boston looked to be the better team with the 76ers starters on the floor and I think that is a huge testament to the culture of the Celtics.
2. Head Coach Sam Cassell
Similar to the first game of the preseason when assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay took the reigns from Joe Mazzulla, Sam Cassell made his Celtics head coaching debut for Boston in their matchup against the 76ers. Cassell was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers from 2020-2023 before joining the Celtics coaching staff in June of 2023. He was tied for 5th in the 2026-27 NBA GM Survey as the best assistant coach in the NBA and has been a hot name in the head coaching candidate circles a lot in the past.
Cassell did a great job when it came to coaching up the players who didn’t have a lot of playing time during the rest of the preseason games this year. He was actively engaged on the sidelines and helped lead Boston back from a 14 point deficit midway through the the third quarter.
When asked postgame about the starting lineup, Cassell said, “We wanted to reward these guys…they pushed our guys in training camp the last three or four weeks and Joe was like let’s reward them…It’s a big thing to be a starter for the Boston Celtics and this something I’m pretty sure none of them will ever forget in their lives.”
It was cool to see Joe Mazzulla give his assistant coaches the chance to shine in this preseason. It feels like Cassell will eventually get a head coaching job in the NBA one day and even though it will be sad to see him leave the Celtics, he is more than deserving of an opportunity.
Sam Cassell on the Celtics starting a group who are mostly on E10s in the preseason finale:
“They pushed our guys in training camp…Joe was like, ‘Let’s reward them.’
Similar to Mazzulla and Cassell giving them the start, I wanted to highlight the contributions of the lesser known names from the starting lineup. Hayden Gray, Milos Uzan, Tucker Devries, and Gabe McGlothan all played a pivotal role in the Celtics win tonight with their play down the stretch of the fourth quarter and overtime.
Starting with Hayden Gray who finished with 7 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals on 3-6 shooting while also being a +11. Gray was impressive early, showing his two-man game with Celtics 2026 first round pick Chris Cenac Jr. We even saw a play similar to Rajon Rondo where after a steal, he made a behind the back pass to Cenac Jr. for an easy dunk. Gray was also a stabilizing force as a ball handler for Boston late in the game as similar lineups struggled when it came to getting the ball up the court. It feels like Gray will end up with a two-way contract at some point this season whether its with Boston or not and I am excited to see how his NBA career will unfold.
Milos Uzan was the leading scorer of the starting lineup, finishing with 14 points on 4-9 shooting. Uzan also had chemistry with his former Houston Cougars teammate Chris Cenac Jr. as Cassell seemed to stagger their minutes together. His biggest moment of the game came at the end of overtime where he hit a dagger shot as the shot clock was expiring to give Boston a 7 point lead, all but sealing the win. Uzan is another guy I can see on a two-way contract at some point this season and I hope we are able to see him play for the Maine Celtics this year because he is a solid player.
Tucker DeVries was another standout when it came to his shooting, finishing with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals and shot 3-5 from three in the fourth quarter. DeVries gave Boston their first lead after being down by 14 points midway through the third quarter and gave them life for the rest of the game. He will be another fun guy to watch with the Maine Celtics this year just for his ability to get hot from beyond the arc.
Finally, we have Gabe McGlothan who was an absolute monster on boards, finishing with 6 points and 13 rebounds, 5 of which coming on the offensive glass. McGlothan played a lot of small ball center for Boston at the end of the fourth quarter and overtime and did a great job keeping the Celtics alive. He felt like the guy that got the least amount of playing time this preseason but he made a name for himself when given the opportunity in this game. Another guy who will be a fun watch in the G League this year.
4. Gonzalez Shined Again
Hugo Gonzalez saved his best performance in his stellar preseason this year for last as against the 76ers he finished with a team-high 21 points with 4 rebounds and 3 assists on 6-10 shooting from the field and 3-7 from three. Gonzalez finished the preseason shooting an impressive 19-30 (63%) overall while also shooting 11-20 (55%) from beyond the arc. This is a great sign for the Celtics as we could be in store for a big Year 2 from Hugo.
His offense was the biggest standout for me in this game as he looked like a complete offensive player. His drives to the paint for tough buckets over taller defenders was impressive but his three point shooting was also great. Gonzalez was able to catch the ball in the corner and with no hesitation pull the trigger on a wide open three. His most impressive shot to me came in the second quarter when he hit a pull-up three over Tyrese Maxey who was draped all over him.
This is the type of shot creation we didn’t see last year and after not playing much in the Celtics game against the Hornets on Wednesday, Gonzalez was able to put his full skillset on display. I hope this means we get to see more of him in the rotation during the regular season because it feels like good things happen when he is on the court.
5. Harper Jr. First Full Preseason Action
After missing the first two games of the preseason with a shoulder injury, Ron Harper Jr. played in 6 minutes in the fourth quarter of the Celtics third preseason game against the Hornets. That changed a lot in this matchup against the 76ers where he played in 35 minutes, finishing with 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists on 7-20 shooting. Although the three point shot wasn’t there in this game and he finished with 5 turnovers, Harper Jr. was the main offensive option down the stretch, playing almost every minute of the fourth quarter and overtime. Harper Jr. shot 6-12 in the fourth quarter with a lot of great cuts to the basket and nice finishes.
Harper Jr. being the leader at the end of the game felt fitting considering he was in a similar position to a lot of the guys he played with on the court. Starting in the G League with the Celtics before eventually working his way up to a two-way contract and then eventually a long term extension this offseason. In his postgame interview with Abby Chin on NBC Sports Boston, he highlighted this work ethic by saying, “Nobody expected us to win, especially when we roll out that (starting) lineup and they see who’s playing and not playing, but we don’t really care. We just go out there and play Boston Celtics basketball and find a way to get it done.”
Ron Harper Jr. knows what it takes to play for the Celtics and it feels like he is in store for a big season this year. It would not surprise me if we see a handful of games where due to injuries or rest, Harper Jr. puts up some big performances for Boston off the bench.
Ron Harper Jr. to @tvabby: "Nobody expected us to win, especially when we roll out that (starting) lineup and they see who's playing and not playing, but we don't really care. We just go out there and play Boston Celtics basketball and find a way to get it done." pic.twitter.com/dE71pODUHk
Similar to Gonzalez, another guy who has had an impressive preseason for the Celtics has been Luka Garza. In this game he finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds on 3-6 shooting from the field, 2-4 from three, and 5-7 from the free throw line. Garza is once again showing why he deserves some time in Boston’s rotation. Garza finished the preseason averaging 14.3 points and 6.0 rebounds and it felt like every time he was on the floor for Boston he made his presence known.
The first quarter was what impressed me the most about Garza’s performance. In 6 minutes he had 7 points and 4 offensive rebounds, all in quick succession. The best coming off of a fast break for the Celtics where he grabbed the board over three 76ers in the vicinity. He might not be as skilled as Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, but his ability to crash the offensive glass is special and much like Ron Harper Jr, he will win Boston a few games this year with his effort alone.
7. Cenac Jr. Best Game
After an electric Summer League the Celtics 2026 first round pick Chris Cenac Jr. was a name to watch throughout the preseason. In his first game against the Cavaliers he got a ton of minutes but shot 3-13 and after that got fourth quarter minutes once Boston’s starters started playing. However, against the 76ers in this game, Cenac Jr. was in the starting lineup for the Celtics and played well, finishing with 12 points and 8 rebounds on 6-10 shooting despite fouling out in the fourth quarter.
At 19 years old, Cenac Jr. held his own against the likes of LeBron James and Joel Embiid on defense, even getting a block on Tyrese Maxey. On offense he was a great play finisher, a noteable improvement from his first game. He did a great job rolling to the basket and cutting out of the corners that lead to a ton of easy dunks. It’s a part of his game that has me the most excited because of the Celtics great history of developing big men. I wonder if he starts the season in Boston or ends up with Maine to get more playing time? Either way he will be a fun piece for the future of the Celtics.
8. Sharp Shooter Mitchell
When Dillon Mitchell was at St. John’s this past season for college basketball, he was known as being a crazy athlete but he was not known as a shooter at all. In fact, in his senior season, he only attempted 15 shots from three and making only 1. It was going to be a real test to see if the Celtics could fix his jumper so he could hit it at even an average level. In the Summer League there were good signs as he finished shooting 3-8 from beyond the arc in 3 games played but there were still questions.
In the preseason, Mitchell only attempted 1 three before this game but in this game he attempted 2. One came in the fourth quarter where he missed but the second came in maybe the biggest moment of the game in overtime. With 1:31 left, Mitchell pulled a three that looked to shock everyone and cashed it to put the Celtics up by 5. This is a great example of the hard work paying off for Dillon Mitchell and hopefully we are able to see him shoot the ball with even more comfortability as the season goes on.
9. Brown vs Boston Looked Weird
After playing 10 years for the Boston Celtics, developing into a 5 time All-Star, a 2 time All-NBA player, a 2024 NBA Champion, and 2024 Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown played his game against his former club and I won’t lie to you, it was really weird to see. Brown played in parts of all four quarters in this game, finishing with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks on 8-14 shooting and I hated watching every second of it. Watching him size up his former teammates that he mentored all last season just looked uncanny.
Postgame, all of those same teammates like Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr. went up to him to say good game and Brown had some words for them as well. “He said we’re still ugly, that just means he misses us” Harper Jr. said in his postgame interview when asked about his conversation with Brown and that just hit me all in the feels.
Abby asked Ron Harper Jr. what Jaylen Brown said to the guys after the game: "He said we're still ugly, that just means he misses us" 😂 pic.twitter.com/rv38zM5Ca9
When asked if the trip to TD Garden and playing against his former team tonight made the emotions of playing the Celtics go away, Jaylen Brown said in his postgame interview, “I played there for 10 years, so it’ll never be out of the way.” Safe to say the feeling is mutual when it comes to both Brown and Boston fan’s as a whole. His time in Boston will never be forgotten even if he’s wearing a 76ers jersey now. It still feels insane that the NBA scheduled Brown’s regular season return to Boston on January 21st.
10. Perfect Preseason
With their win over the 76ers, the Celtics finished with a perfect 4-0 record in the preseason this year. The last time Boston finished with a 4-0 record in the preseason was all the way back in the 2019-20 season. That team went on to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, so surely there is a direct correlation to an undefeated preseason and postseason success right? Probably not.
Celtics finish 4-0 in the Preseason for the first time since the 2019-20 season pic.twitter.com/oQ94LnqcVu
Either way this was a fun preseason to watch for a new look Boston Celtics squad. We got to see the new guys like Paul George and Mitchell Robinson showcase a little bit of their talents. We saw the young guys like Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh show real improvements. Finally, we got to see what could be the start of some great seasons by guys like Payton Pritchard and Jayson Tatum. Either way, preseason is finally over and that means we finally get some real Boston Celtics basketball once again.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 16: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The past three months have been all about preparation for Hugo González.
In July, González joined the Spain national team for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers, logging appearances against Denmark, Georgia, and Greece. In Las Vegas, he joined the Boston Celtics and began to impress, leading the team in scoring (18.3 points) throughout Summer League — putting his offseason strides on full display.
Friday night was no different. The 20-year-old, poised to make a major leap this season, placed his cherry on top against the Philadelphia 76ers with another elite performance. This time, facing a star-studded Philadelphia squad that started LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey, González stole the spotlight at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Fighting from behind a 14-point deficit in the second half, González was Boston’s difference-maker in their 125-120 overtime win over Philadelphia.
González scored a team-leading 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 19 minutes off the bench. He went 3-of-7 from beyond the arc and didn’t commit a single turnover, unveiling his polished 3-point shot and improved ball-handling.
Philadelphia countered Boston’s starting lineup of Hayden Gray, Milos Uzan, Gabe McGlothan, Tucker DeVries and Chris Cenac Jr. with four of its top players. With Jayson Tatum, Paul George and Boston’s other regulars sidelined, the Celtics had every reason to struggle against a lineup riddled with future Hall of Famers in a game that counted towards absolutely nothing.
But González didn’t approach the team’s final competitive opportunity before Opening Night with that thought in mind.
Much like the Celtics saw during Summer League, González carries himself with greater confidence. You can see it in his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and his drives to the basket. He has a different kind of swagger when he attacks the rim, which pairs well with the boldness he enforces defensively.
In the first quarter, González picked Brown’s pocket and flushed a wide-open two-handed dunk on the other end.
While the disengaged, such as James, cruised, González hustled and sparked the Celtics. For the second time this preseason, Boston didn’t need its regulars to take care of the best their opposition had for them. In the opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as Boston sat its most-rotated veterans, González came through with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, helping put away Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
The same way González embraced the Celtics’ stay-ready culture as a rookie last season was the same way he approached Friday night’s finale.
Just because stakes are minimal for both teams involved doesn’t mean González needs to take his foot off the gas. That’s his approach. He’s constantly in attack mode, and it’s a part of him he can’t turn off when he’s suited up and on the floor.
After the final buzzer, Brown went straight to González to shake his former teammate’s hand.
“It was good to see some of the young guys,” Brown told reporters postgame. “I spent a lot of time with those guys. To see them develop and get better, it’s good to see.”
If the version of González we’ve seen in FIBA, the Summer League, and preseason shows up this season, the Celtics have a lot to be excited about. González earned president of basketball operations Brad Stevens plenty of brownie points last year for snipping him 28th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, but that was just the start.
Boston now has a better idea of González’s potential, along with a clear role for him to fill.
So far, all signs point toward González taking that next step. He’s returned an upgraded version of his rookie self with the same hard-nosed motor that earned him immediate respect and admiration from Celtics fans last season. Now, all that’s left is to put it all together.
Boston Bruins (6-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (0-3-2, in the Pacific Division)
Los Angeles; Saturday, 9 p.m. EDT
LINE: Kings -138, Bruins +113; over/under is 6
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Kings take on the Boston Bruins as losers of five straight games.
Los Angeles is 0-3-2 overall and 0-2-0 in home games. The Kings have given up 21 goals while scoring 11 for a -10 scoring differential.
Boston has gone 3-1-0 in road games and 6-2 overall. The Bruins have a +12 scoring differential, with 30 total goals scored and 18 given up.
Saturday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season.
INJURIES: Kings: Jakub Dvorak: out (upper-body), Mats Zuccarello: out (undisclosed), Kevin Fiala: out (leg), Jan Jenik: out (undisclosed), Alex Turcotte: out (undisclosed).
Bruins: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Jayson Tatum #0 and Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics sit on the bench during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics are deep. Really deep.
Heading into Opening Night, there’s a possibility that Mike Conley who started fifteen games last year in Minnesota may not even see the floor. Ron Harper Jr. signed a three-year contract over the summer and he might be the odd man out. Fifteen points and six rebounds a night over the preseason? That may not be enough for Luka Garza to get off the bench in Detroit next week.
As the poll results suggest, playing time and pecking order don’t really matter because “the vibes are good.” But we asked anyway, “who will be the Celtics’ second leading scorer” presumably behind Jayson Tatum?
Conventional wisdom suggests that veterans Derrick White and Paul George would pick up the mantle of being Robin to JT’s Batman. That might still happen, but our readers resoundingly voted for Payton Pritchard to be the #2.
I clicked on “Doesn’t matter, vibes are good” but I agree it’s likely PP, not only because he’s a talented scorer but also because I expect PG & DW will be more focused on being all-around “contributes to winning” players than on scoring.
So far in the preseason, the former Sixth Man of the Year has returned to the bench with head coach Joe Mazzulla opting to start the more complementary Jordan Walsh. There’s no guarantee that that’s what it will look like on October 21 against the Pistons, but for now, Pritchard becomes the designated scorer of the second unit.
After a 4-0 preseason and Pritchard falling into a familiar role, Our friends at FanDuel remain bullish on Boston and still have the Celtics (+1400) with the fifth highest odds to win a championship behind the Thunder (+240), Spurs (+270), Knicks (+1000), and Sixers (+1000).
Rasmus Andersson has moved on from Calgary, but he hasn't stopped caring about the people he left behind.
As the Flames stumble through the early stages of a rebuild, the former Calgary defenceman has a message for fans: have faith.
Andersson spent nine seasons with the Flames before joining the Vegas Golden Knights, giving him plenty of firsthand experience with the expectations that come with playing in Calgary. He knows how much the team means to the city, which is why watching it struggle isn't easy.
But speaking with Sportsnet’s Eric Francis, Andersson pointed to a reality that can get lost when losses start piling up. Calgary made the decision to rebuild, and that process was never going to be pretty from the start.
“You just can't have it both ways,” Andersson said, addressing fans calling for changes amid the team's disastrous opening stretch.
The Flames have stumbled out of the gate, going 1-6 through their first seven games. They’ve scored just 14 goals, the second-fewest in the league ahead of only the Los Angeles Kings (11), while their 35 goals against are also the second-most, trailing only the Vancouver Canucks (41).
The 29-year-old isn't dismissing the frustration. He's simply reminding supporters that building a contender takes more than a few good weeks, particularly when a roster is going through significant changes.
Andersson still keeps tabs on his old club, even if he doesn't follow the day-to-day conversation as closely as he did while playing there. Seeing familiar faces in a very different lineup has been an adjustment, but his feelings toward the organization haven't changed.
He remains in touch with his former teammates and the coaching staff, while hoping to see Calgary’s younger players develop into established NHL talents. The bonds he formed during his nine years with the Flames haven’t faded just because he’s moved on.
“They’re all gonna be friends for the rest of my life,” Andersson said.
Life in Las Vegas has treated him and his family well. He signed a seven-year, $59.5-million contract this summer and is settling into his new surroundings, but Calgary hasn't become just another stop in his career.
The Scotiabank Saddledome, where his son took his first strides on skates, still holds plenty of memories. With the Flames nearing the end of their time in the building, Andersson is looking forward to returning in February.
He may be on the other side now, but there's no hard feeling toward Calgary. If anything, he wants to see the rebuild work — and give the fans who supported him for nine years a reason to celebrate again.
DENVER — Sports are largely the theatre of the unexpected.
We’ve seen it throughout history, from Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson to the Arizona Diamondbacks beating the New York Yankees in the World Series. More recently, the Milwaukee Brewers reminded us that money doesn’t guarantee success, spending $146.2 million less than the two-time reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers before sweeping them out of the National League Championship Series.
The Colorado Avalanche are coming off a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ball Arena. T.J. Hughes scored his first goal, Nathan MacKinnon had a four-point night, Artturi Lehkonen is off to the best start of his professional career, and Mackenzie Blackwood is making his critics look foolish.
Things are going well for Colorado. But Monday’s matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers is the kind of game the Avalanche cannot afford to take lightly.
Philadelphia has yet to win through its first nine games. Suggesting that a winless team could pose a serious threat might sound ridiculous, but I’ve covered sports long enough, particularly boxing, to know that records don’t always tell the whole story.
Just ask Anthony Joshua.
When Andy Ruiz Shocked the Boxing World
In 2019, Joshua was widely considered the king of the heavyweight division. The British fighter and 2012 Olympic gold medalist held three of boxing’s four major world titles, with Deontay Wilder holding the fourth. Despite years of anticipation, Joshua and Wilder never fought.
Joshua was preparing to make his American debut against undefeated contender Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller in New York. Miller, who was promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions, was supposed to be Joshua’s opponent for a major world title defense.
I had a personal connection to the promotion through my friend Clifford Mass, an investor in the company who also served as its vice president of business development.
On April 16, 2019, I received information from multiple sources that Miller had scored a pair of hat-tricks—but not the kind celebrated on the ice.
Miller failed three separate drug tests, testing positive for three different performance-enhancing substances: EPO, human growth hormone, and GW1516. He had previously failed a drug test as a kickboxer and had refused testing on another occasion.
I texted Mass what I knew to be true. His response, following a string of profanities, was memorable: “You just delivered the worst news I’ve gotten in a long time. Oh well.”
Miller was pulled from the card, leaving promoters scrambling for a replacement.
Enter Andy Ruiz Jr.
Ruiz was undefeated and had remarkably fast hands, but his physique didn't fit the typical image of a heavyweight champion. Some observers made jokes about his build, comparing it to a stack of jelly rolls. Few expected him to beat Joshua.
What happened in the ring, however, was nothing short of stunning
Joshua scored an early knockdown, and it looked as though the fight might go according to plan. But he became reckless, at times appearing to admire his own work rather than remain focused on Ruiz. The challenger took advantage, dropping Joshua four times before stopping him in the seventh round in one of the biggest upsets in modern sports history.
Ruiz became an instant celebrity. Credit: USA Today
That's what makes this story relevant to Colorado.
The Flyers Have Already Burned Colorado Once
On paper, the Avalanche have a significant advantage over Philadelphia. Colorado's 36 goals are tied for the NHL lead with the Vegas Golden Knights, the same team that swept the Avalanche out of the Western Conference Final this season.
The Flyers, meanwhile, have scored just 11 goals through nine games, the fewest in the league. Their 33 goals allowed also ranked third-worst in the NHL as of publication, behind only the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
But a struggling team can still have players capable of changing a game in a hurry. And the Flyers have already shown Colorado what that looks like.
On January 23 at Ball Arena, Philadelphia handed the Avalanche a 7-3 loss. Owen Tippett recorded a hat trick and an assist, while Matvei Michkov had two goals and an assist. Denver Barkey and then-Flyer Bobby Brink also scored.
Colorado fell behind 2-0 in the first period but fought back, scoring three times in the second to tie the game at 3-3. Then everything fell apart. Philadelphia scored four times in the final period, turning a competitive game into a blowout that head coach Jared Bednar described as “horrible.”
The Flyers were 23-17-9 at the time, so they weren't the winless team we're seeing now. Still, the result should serve as a reminder that Philadelphia can hurt Colorado when the Avalanche make mistakes.
And that's been a concern for Colorado at times. The Avalanche have occasionally played down to their opposition, leading to costly turnovers and defensive breakdowns. Against a team desperate for its first win, those mistakes could be all the encouragement Philadelphia needs.
The last thing Colorado wants is to hand the Flyers their first victory of the season. A 7-3 loss to a winless opponent would be an ugly result, especially for a team with championship aspirations.
No Game Is Won on Paper
The Avalanche have more than enough talent to win this matchup. MacKinnon and the offense are producing, Hughes is finding his footing, Lehkonen is playing some of the best hockey of his career, and Blackwood has been answering his critics.
But none of that matters if Colorado takes its foot off the gas.
Joshua was the heavyweight champion, and Ruiz was the replacement almost nobody expected to win. Yet Ruiz seized his opportunity, and Joshua never recovered.
Colorado doesn't need to fear Philadelphia, but it does need to respect the matchup. The Flyers have struggled badly, yet they've beaten the Avalanche convincingly before. That alone should be enough to get Colorado's attention.
Monday should be a game the Avalanche expect to win. The challenge is making sure they don't start playing as though they've already won it.
Because sports have a funny way of punishing teams that underestimate their opponents. And the Avalanche have already seen what can happen when the unexpected becomes reality.
All Blacks secure 13th straight win against Wallabies
Barrett and Moorby score two tries each at Accor Stadium
It’s skipper Codie Taylor that is out onto the field first though, leading his players past Nathan Charles, allowing every All Black to shake the former Wallaby hooker by the hand.
Damien McKenzie is responsible for the final prematch rev-up. Vision of his address appears to show every member of the New Zealand squad wearing bright coral pink boots to sign off their otherwise entirely black outfit. It’s a very strong look.
LeBron James had completed two NBA seasons by the time VJ Edgecombe was born.
More than two decades later, the two are expected to start alongside each other when the Sixers open their season Tuesday night against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
James and Edgecombe bookend a projected starting five assembled from opposite ends of the NBA timeline. Its members were drafted across 22 years, from James at No. 1 in 2003 to Edgecombe at No. 3 in 2025.
All five were first-round picks. Four were selected within the first three picks of their respective drafts.
James went first overall in 2003. Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown were each selected third in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Tyrese Maxey went 21st in 2020. Edgecombe became the third overall pick in 2025.
That collection of draft pedigree is exceptionally rare.
An NBC Sports Philadelphia review of the starting lineup each NBA team used in its first regular-season game over the past 30 seasons found only three with at least four players selected within the first three picks of their drafts.
That is three of 892 team-season opening lineups from 1996-97 through 2025-26, or 0.34 percent.
The 2007-08 Denver Nuggets opened with No. 1 picks Allen Iverson and Kenyon Martin, No. 2 pick Marcus Camby and No. 3 pick Carmelo Anthony. Yakhouba Diawara completed the lineup.
A decade later, Boston opened consecutive seasons with the same four top-three picks. Kyrie Irving was selected first overall, while Al Horford, Brown and Jayson Tatum each went third. Gordon Hayward, the ninth pick in 2010, was the fifth starter in both 2017 and 2018.
If and when the Sixers use their projected five Tuesday, they will join those three modern-era examples. Their exact arrangement of one No. 1 pick and three No. 3 picks would match Boston’s.
Brown provides the link between the groups. He appeared in both Boston lineups and would become part of three of the four qualifying opening fives identified in the study.
His place within them has changed dramatically.
Brown was 20 years old and beginning his second season when Boston first opened with four top-three picks in 2017. Nine years later, Edgecombe is the 21-year-old entering Year 2, while Brown is the accomplished veteran expected to help him navigate that position.
The opponent for Brown’s 2017 opener was James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Brown scored a team-high 25 points. James finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists in Cleveland’s 102-99 victory.
It was the last time James opened a season as a member of an Eastern Conference team. When he returns to the East for another opener Tuesday, Brown will no longer be the young opponent attempting to stop him. He will be the veteran starting beside him.
The Sixers’ group is decorated beyond its draft positions.
The five players have combined for 36 All-Star selections, five regular-season MVP awards, five NBA championships and five Finals MVP awards.
Edgecombe is the only member without an All-Star appearance. He earned All-Rookie First Team honors and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting last season.
Each player represents a different stage of an NBA career and a different chapter in the Sixers’ history.
James, 41, is preparing to become the first player in NBA history to appear in a 24th season. He made his NBA debut on Oct. 29, 2003, recording 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals for the Cavaliers.
Embiid was 9 years old at the time and had not started playing basketball. Brown was 7. Maxey was 2, six days shy of his third birthday.
Edgecombe would not be born for another 640 days.
By the time Edgecombe arrived on July 30, 2005, James had completed two NBA seasons and won Rookie of the Year. He was preparing to begin his third.
Edgecombe’s first NBA game would eventually create the most direct connection between them.
He scored 34 points in his debut last October, the third-highest total by a player in his first NBA game. His 14 first-quarter points surpassed James’ record for the most scored in the opening quarter of a debut.
Edgecombe’s career began by erasing a small part of James’ history. His second season will begin alongside him.
That debut also connected nearly the entire projected lineup before it had been assembled.
Oct 22, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (77) celebrates with guard Tyrese Maxey (0) and forward Dominick Barlow (25) after they defeated the Boston Celtics 117-116 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Maxey scored 40 points beside Edgecombe. Their 74 combined points tied the second-highest total by a duo in an NBA season opener, one shy of the record set by James Harden and Christian Wood in 2020.
Embiid started at center for the Sixers. Brown scored 25 points for the opposing Celtics.
James was the only member of the new five who was not in the building, though Edgecombe still managed to break one of his records.
Their careers intersected in other ways before converging in Philadelphia. The years in which the other four entered the league also measure the different stages of James’ career.
The Sixers selected Embiid third overall on June 26, 2014. Fifteen days later, James announced that he was leaving Miami and returning to Cleveland.
Brown was drafted third overall on June 23, 2016, four days after James led the Cavaliers past the Golden State Warriors to secure Cleveland’s first major professional sports championship in 52 years.
When the Sixers selected Maxey 21st in November 2020, James was 38 days removed from winning his fourth championship and first with the Los Angeles Lakers. James congratulated Maxey publicly on draft night and declared that Philadelphia had gotten a good player.
Six years later, James identified his relationship with Maxey as one of the central reasons he chose to join the Sixers.
Edgecombe was drafted after James had completed his 22nd NBA season. He then opened his career by breaking James’ first-quarter debut record.
The other relationships within the lineup carry their own history.
Brown and Embiid spent much of the previous decade on opposite sides of one of the NBA’s oldest rivalries. They faced each other in four postseason series.
Boston eliminated Philadelphia in 2018, 2020 and 2023. The Sixers finally broke through last spring, overcoming a 3-1 deficit and beating the Celtics in Game 7 in Boston.
Embiid recorded 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in the deciding game. Brown led Boston with 33 points.
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) following game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
A little more than two months later, the longtime playoff opponents became teammates.
The projected Sixers lineup has an average age of approximately 30.3 years, calculated using each player’s exact age on opening night.
The range within it is more revealing.
James and Edgecombe will be separated by 20 years and 212 days on opening night. James is entering his 24th season. Edgecombe is entering his second. Embiid, Brown and Maxey fill nearly every stage in between.
It would not be the widest age difference within an NBA starting lineup. Vince Carter and Trae Young started together for Atlanta on Oct. 17, 2018, separated by 21 years and 236 days.
Should James start Tuesday, he would rank as the second-oldest player to start a season opener. At 41 years and 294 days, he would surpass Carter, who was 41 years and 264 days old when he started Atlanta’s 2018 opener. Only Robert Parish, who started an opener at 42 years and 65 days, was older.
The lineup contains three players selected No. 3 in drafts spanning 11 years, but their responsibilities could hardly be more different.
Embiid is the Sixers’ longest-tenured player and final direct connection to the Process. Brown is an established champion beginning a new chapter after 10 seasons in Boston. Edgecombe is a developing second-year guard whom the organization still considers an important part of its future.
Maxey connects Philadelphia’s previous era to its new one. He developed from the 21st pick into a franchise centerpiece, endured several major roster changes and ultimately helped attract James to Philadelphia.
James represents something the league has never seen before. He is not merely occupying a roster spot in his 24th season. The Sixers signed him to help a contender win immediately.
That makes the group difficult to describe with one label.
The Sixers are old enough to carry enormous urgency but young enough to care deeply about internal growth. They must maximize what remains of James’ career without interrupting Edgecombe’s development. They must integrate Brown while continuing to operate around Embiid and Maxey.
They are not choosing between the present and the future. They are attempting to play both at once.
The five arrived in Philadelphia through different drafts, different eras and, in several cases, opposite sides of the same court.
Tuesday night, their careers converge in the same starting lineup.
