Australia has made a dominant start to its three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, cruising to a seven-wicket victory with 146 balls remaining in Brisbane.
‘Get the sandpaper out’: Smith’s unexpected reception in moment everyone was waiting for
It was the most highly anticipated return in cricket, one that had an admittedly meagre crowd in Durban on the edge of their seats as they warmed up their vocal chords.
Sixers' starters all together in preseason, take ‘first step in the journey'
Sixers' starters all together in preseason, take ‘first step in the journey' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers’ still-surreal starting five was fully intact Thursday night.
The team’s newly assembled, star-heavy unit played the first half together at Barclays Center. The final result was a 114-108 preseason loss to the Nets, but the Sixers led by two points at halftime and the evening certainly was not short on positive moments.
“I think there were some really good things happening right off the bat, a bunch of back cuts and good passing,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “We obviously turned the ball over a lot, which you can never do. Just a little clunky in segments, too.
“But it’s preseason, first time that they’re together. You look at what’s good and what are the learning experiences, things that we can improve on. And just try to get ‘em together as much as we can.”
The usual horde of bodies and cameras and phones surrounded LeBron James postgame in the visiting locker room following his Sixers preseason debut.
“It obviously feels a little different playing in a new uniform,” James said, “but the game is the game.”
At 41 years old, James remains a game-changing presence.
He’s a unique physical force when rumbling downhill. The four-time Finals MVP scored 10 points in 18 minutes on a single field goal attempt, finishing 1 for 1 from the floor and 8 for 8 on his free throws. He also posted five assists, four rebounds and a steal. James enhanced the Sixers’ offense in both the half court and transition, throwing inch-perfect hit-ahead passes, feeding cutters and spotting open shooters.
The 22-time All-Star continues to be extremely impactful in obvious and subtle ways.
“It’s both offensively and defensively,” VJ Edgecombe said. “Defensively, he’s loud, he’s talking, so you’ve got confidence in guarding. And then offensively, he just creates plays. He requires so much gravity, everybody else gets open. He doesn’t care about scoring. He’s already got the (NBA) record; he doesn’t care about scoring.”
The Sixers have plenty they’d like to sharpen before they’re back in New York for opening night against the Knicks on Oct. 20.
They didn’t play a poor game on defense, but the Sixers will have higher standards for themselves in the regular season. The young Nets scored 33 points in the first quarter.
“We’ve got to do better,” Joel Embiid said. “I think we over-helped a little bit too much. We’ve got to do a better job of stopping penetration. They drove all night. … A lot to watch and learn and get better.”
Embiid committed eight of the team’s 21 turnovers and looked exactly like a player in his first game since May. Brooklyn’s defensive aggression disrupted the Sixers at times.
“A team like that is very active,” James said. “Their job is to try to pressure you, make you play against the shot clock. Besides the pick-sixes and the turnovers we had, I thought we played some good ball and it’s good to go against a team like that.”
For James, Embiid, Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey, that’s one game down.
The hope is to have many to go as a first five. Brown called Thursday night “just the first step in the journey.”
“I think the more you get on the floor, the better you become,” Embiid said.
Pens Points: Pressing the panic button already?
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
After the Penguins traded forward Filip Hallander to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Spencer Stastney on Wednesday, assistant general manager Jason Spezza said Hallander was considered “expendable” based on past performance and future potential, while Stastney, 26, brings versatility and mobility to Pittsburgh’s defense corps. [PensBurgh]
The Penguins have several early-season concerns after four games, including a slow start from Sidney Crosby, inconsistent goaltending from Arturs Silovs and costly defensive mistakes. Is now the time to press the panic button? [PensBurgh]
Prospect Atley Calvert’s versatility and steady development with the team’s AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, have earned him a two-year entry-level NHL contract. The 22-year-old undrafted forward recorded 38 points in 70 regular-season games last season and added six points in 15 playoff games, including filling in at center when needed. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Three Canadian provinces — Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia — are staying on daylight saving time year-round, creating unusual NHL game start times this season. The change means the Calgary Flames have eight games scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. local time and the Edmonton Oilers have seven, while the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks also face schedule adjustments that could affect players’ routines and fans’ watching habits. [Associated Press]
At least 10 teams have expressed interest in acquiring Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. [TSN]
Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand is considered week-to-week with a leg injury, adding to Florida’s injury concerns after captain Aleksander Barkov was ruled out for six to eight weeks with a leg injury. [Associated Press via Sportsnet]
Celtics reminded not to overlook Luka Garza
The Boston Celtics took a conservative approach to begin the preseason.
Luka Garza didn’t get the memo.
Facing the Cleveland Cavaliers, without stars Jayson Tatum, Paul George, or centers Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, Garza got the starting nod for substitute head coaches Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay.
In the game’s opening 2:21, Garza picked up right where he left off last season. He grabbed an offensive rebound, knocked down a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer off an inbound pass from Hugo González, and blocked Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen.
Garza carried that tenacity throughout Boston’s 124-113 win over Cleveland, and the second-year Celtic explained afterward that it’s the standard he intends to uphold night after night moving forward.
“That’s how we can help this team. That’s how you can make an impact every single night,” Garza told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin postgame. “Crashing the glass, creating second shots for our team. We’re a dangerous offense, so the more shots we can get, the better we’re gonna do.”
With the entire offseason spotlight shined on whether or not Queta or Robinson will be the starting five, Garza issued a reminder of his impact the very first chance he could. Garza’s ongoing battle for second chances plagued the Cavaliers and quickly became contagious among the rest of the Celtics. Every starter contributed to the team’s 21 offensive rebounds while Garza (4) himself nearly matched Cleveland’s total of six.
Last season, Garza made snagging second chances his forte as a first-year Celtic. He finished with 146 offensive rebounds, the fifth-most of any bench player in the league.
“It’s something I just learned when I was young,” Garza told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I’m a guy who wants the ball in my hands, and when I was younger nobody would throw it to me, so I had to go get it off the glass. So that’s what started it, and since then, it’s become who I am as a basketball player.”
Garza finished off the Cavaliers with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. He knocked down three 3-pointers and tallied three blocks in his 26 minutes on the floor.
Competing against veterans Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Allen, alongside reserves, newcomers and unproven players, Garza stood out. He didn’t take a single moment on the court for granted and did everything he possibly could to stay off the bench.
Coming to Boston fresh off a three-year stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he averaged just 6.3 minutes per game, Garza understands the value of making the most of every nod he gets.
“These opportunities don’t come around often,” Garza continued.
“All those guys tonight, I’ve been in that position. I’ve been an Exhibit 10 (contract), I’ve been a two-way, now I’m a rotation player. You just don’t get those chances all the time. So when they come, no matter who it’s against, you wanna take advantage of it. You wanna go out there, play as hard as you can, play free, and show what you can do.”
Garza was relatively unknown to Celtics fans when he arrived over a year ago. It took a season filled with the relentlessness that’s become his trademark for that to change. On Thursday night, Garza served as an example for those in Boston also fighting to prove themselves this upcoming season.
“That is my guy,” MacLeay told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Just the joy that he creates with the motor that he has. I don’t think you can replicate how hard he plays — it’s truly a skill. It’s a special ability that he has. He puts so much pressure on the defense with how physical he consistently is.”
“He just goes and goes and goes and goes and it’s great.”
With Queta and Robinson headlining the center rotation, Garza will have to earn every minute he gets in 2026-27.
Still, it’s clear he’s ready for the challenge.
Rockets start postseason versus Dallas
Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks
October 9th, 2026
Location: The Venetian Arena Macao, China
TV:NBA TV and Space City Home Network
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)
Probable Starting Lineups
Rockets: Fred Vanvleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flag, P.J. Washington Jr.Dereck Lively II
Finally, after a long offseason, NBA basketball is back! (Yes, I am aware it is preseason (LET ME HAVE THIS).
It will be exciting to see the new additions to the roster play, and the return of Fred Vanvleet and Steven Adams. It will also be exciting to see the return of Kyrie Irving, and how he fits in with Cooper Flag.
We will have the postgame recap for you after the game, so make sure to check back for the recap in case you don’t wish to watch basketball at 7 am.
Braves News: 2026 season reactions, offseason improvements, and more
The Atlanta Braves are heading into an important offseason after another NL East title ended with a disappointing postseason exit. While the team put together a 94 win season, there is still work to be done if Atlanta hopes to make a deeper playoff run in 2027. With plenty to evaluate from the past season, it’s time to look at what went right, what fell short, and what changes could help the Braves get back to the World Series.
MLB News:
Major League Baseball has proposed a shorter regular season and changes to the playoff format. The Players Association is working to review the proposals.
The ALDS is headed to Game 5 after Thursday’s matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox.
The offensive glass is going to be a big advantage for the Celtics
The Celtics finished 5th in offensive rebounding rate last year at 31.8%, according to Cleaning the Glass. That number plummeted to 30.4% and 11th in the league in the playoffs, which played a part in why the Celtics lost to the 76ers in Round 1.
In their first preseason game on Thursday night, a 124-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cs once again dominated the offensive glass. They had 21 offensive rebounds, grabbing 46.9% of their own misses in the game. It was another showing that the offensive glass is going to be a big advantage for Boston yet again this season.
They didn’t even have Mitchell Robinson in this game, who is the best offensive rebounder in the league last season. Robinson rebounded 21.2% of Knicks misses when he was on the court.
On Thursday, the charge was led by Luka Garza along with rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell, who each had four offensive rebounds.
A lot of the Celtics offensive rebounds come from crashing on the wings. Guys like Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez made a habit of it last year. I expect that to be a big part of the Celtics offensive rebounding approach this season as well.
The Celtics had a few rebounds like this in this game.
— #LetsGoCeltics (@gobosceltics) October 9, 2026— #LetsGoCeltics (@gobosceltics) October 9, 2026
— #LetsGoCeltics (@gobosceltics) October 9, 2026— #LetsGoCeltics (@gobosceltics) October 9, 2026
Luka Garza was also an animal on the offensive glass early in the game. He had three of his four offensive rebounds in the first five minutes of the game. Garza is a smart player who does get himself into good positioning on some of these opportunities but on others, like the play shown below, it is just pure effort from Garza to get the rebound.
— #LetsGoCeltics (@gobosceltics) October 9, 2026— #LetsGoCeltics (@gobosceltics) October 9, 2026
It is really fun to see Garza make plays like this. He became a very good offensive rebounder in his first year as a Celtic and I am excited to see how he adds to it in Year Two in green. His effort always stands out, as seen by how much he sweats.
Nobody: Luka Garza at any point in a basketball game: https://t.co/CENziId6RQ
— Trey (@TA1297) October 9, 2026
The Celtics should be really good this year and the offensive glass is going to be a reason as why.
They’ll need it to carry over to the postseason this year if they want to make a deep playoff run and I think adding Robinson boosts the chances of that happening. The way they struggled creating second chance opportunities during the first round loss was slightly alarming. On Thursday though, we saw how much of a factor the offensive glass is going to be.
MMBets: The Wizards Attempt Good Basketball
The Washington Wizards have spent the last few seasons doing exactly what a rebuilding team should do. They lost a ton of games, added young players, took swings in the draft, and waited for something that could actually change the franchise’s direction.
That finally happened.
Washington landed the No. 1 pick and used it on AJ Dybantsa, who I think has a chance to make the same kind of immediate impact Cooper Flagg had in Dallas last year. They also enter this season with Trae Young and Anthony Davis available after acquiring both last season, while Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, and Will Riley give them one of the more interesting collections of young talent in the East. NBA.com specifically pointed to Washington’s mix of established veterans and young players as the reason this should finally be the year the win total starts moving upward.
Washington Wizards: Over/Under 35.5 wins
Over: -105
Under: -120
To win NBA Championship: +15000
To win Eastern Conference: +6500
To win Southeast Division: +1700
Last season: 17-65, 15th in the East
Key additions: AJ Dybantsa, Deandre Ayton, Tre Mann, Khris Middleton, Felix Okpara
Key losses: Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, Cam Whitmore
The case for the over
I love a lot about this Wizards team.
For the first time in years, the roster actually feels like it is starting to fit together instead of simply being a collection of young players waiting for the next draft.
Dybantsa is obviously the biggest reason why. Washington took him first overall after his one season at BYU, and I think he is ready to help immediately. He is 6-foot-9, can create his own shot, attack the rim, defend across positions, and play with or without the ball. He scored 27 points in his Summer League debut and followed that with 23 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks two games later before Washington shut him down.
I do not think this is a normal rookie who needs two or three years before he affects winning. I think he is that good.
The fit with Trae Young is also really interesting. Trae gives Washington something every young team needs: someone who can actually organize an offense. Dybantsa doesn’t have to become the full-time creator immediately; Sarr should get easier looks around the rim, and Washington’s young wings can spend more time attacking advantages instead of trying to manufacture everything themselves. The Wizards clearly believe in that pairing too, giving Young a four-year deal this summer.
Then there is Sarr.
He quietly averaged 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and two blocks last season, and I think another step from him makes this roster much more interesting. Add in Tre Johnson, Coulibaly, George, Carrington, and Washington, and you suddenly have real depth around your stars instead of just theoretical upside.
The wild card is Anthony Davis.
I will get to the fit concerns, because I have plenty, but a healthy Davis is still a really good basketball player. Even if he misses games, Washington is not asking him to be the entire team. That matters.
They won 17 games last season.
Getting to 36 would require a massive improvement, but this is also nothing close to the same roster. Trae played only five games for Washington last season, and Davis never played one after being acquired. Now they add Dybantsa on top of that.
I think the Wizards are too talented to stay in the teens or low 20s again.
If Dybantsa is as ready as I think he is, this could get interesting quickly.
Prediction: Over 35.5 wins (-105)
Yankees news: The ALDS loss autopsy
The Ringer | Ben Glicksman: The Yankees have, famously, not beaten a team seeded higher than them in October under Aaron Boone’s leadership*. There are a number of structural problems with the organization, and it’s never entirely clear how much influence any manager has in MLB in 2026, but a case is starting to be made on the beat that it’s time to move on from Boonie. He still has a year on his contract, but any manager on a one-year deal should feel some shaky ground anyway.
*Save for a best-of-three 2020 Wild Card Series in Cleveland with no fans in attendance. Make of that what you will.
New York Daily News | Peter Sblendorio: Anthony Volpe nearly had the biggest moment of the Yankees’ playoff run, a home run that tied the decisive Game 3 at four runs apiece. Upon further review, that fourth run was taken back, and Volpe was sent to second base. It was at best a mercurial season for the former top prospect, who with Jazz Chisholm Jr. set to hit free agency now finds himself as a potential Opening Day starter at second base in 2027, even after losing the shortstop job. (Chisholm says he wants to stay, but at least right now, it seems like it won’t be a match.) On a roster with so many question marks for this winter, Tony Fox is one of the bigger ones.
New York Post | Dan Martin: Speaking of question marks, here’s a helpful list! The biggest cloud to clear is how many games the 2027 season features, as labor strife needs to be resolved before anything else starts to matter. The Yankees have to agree to new contracts with both Brian Cashman and Matt Blake, as well as QO decisions for Chisholm and David Bednar. That’s just the start of the to-do list for a very busy, very uncertain winter.
FanGraphs | Ben Clemens ($): We close with a little more pan-baseball news, as Clemens breaks down the optimal ways to deploy a starting rotation in October. The Chris Sale Wild Card decision loomed large at the time, and didn’t end up mattering in Atlanta’s NLDS loss to the Dodgers. FanGraphs has made their playoff coverage a subscriber-only feature, but it’s still a worthwhile read.
Aussies reeling after fiery quick’s three-ball burst ends resistance — LIVE
Anrich Nortje struck twice in three balls to put Australia in deep trouble as the tourists limped to 6/149 at tea on day of the first Test against South Africa in Durban. Live updates below!
Nashville visits Ottawa after Edstrom's 2-goal game
Nashville Predators (2-1-1, in the Central Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (3-1, in the Atlantic Division)
Ottawa, Ontario; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Nashville Predators visit the Ottawa Senators after Adam Edstrom scored two goals in the Predators' 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens.
Ottawa went 44-27-11 overall and 23-14-6 in home games last season. The Senators allowed 3.0 goals per game while scoring 3.4 last season.
Nashville had a 38-34-10 record overall and a 17-17-7 record on the road last season. The Predators committed 309 total penalties last season, averaging 3.8 per game and serving 8.8 penalty minutes per game.
INJURIES: Senators: Artem Zub: out (knee), Jake Sanderson: day to day (lower-body), William Eklund: day to day (lower body), Cameron Crotty: day to day (illness), Andre Burakovsky: out (upper-body), Kurtis MacDermid: out (undisclosed).
Predators: Justus Annunen: out (undisclosed).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Hurricanes try to keep win streak alive, visit the Blackhawks
Carolina Hurricanes (3-1-1, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (1-4, in the Central Division)
Chicago; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes aim to keep their three-game win streak alive when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago has a 1-4 record overall and a 1-0-0 record on its home ice. The Blackhawks are eighth in NHL play serving 11.0 penalty minutes per game.
Carolina is 3-1-1 overall and 2-0-0 on the road. The Hurricanes rank fifth in NHL play with 18 total goals (averaging 3.6 per game).
The matchup Saturday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
INJURIES: Blackhawks: Andrew Mangiapane: out (lower-body), Teuvo Teravainen: day to day (undisclosed), Ryan Ellis: out for season (back), Connor Bedard: out (shoulder).
Hurricanes: Seth Jarvis: out (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Golden Knights in action against the Kings following shootout victory
Los Angeles Kings (0-2-1, in the Pacific Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (4-1, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Saturday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Los Angeles Kings after the Golden Knights took down the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in a shootout.
Vegas had a 39-26-17 record overall while going 19-7-6 against opponents from the Pacific Division last season. The Golden Knights gave up 3.0 goals per game while scoring 3.2 last season.
Los Angeles has gone 0-2-1 overall with a 0-0-1 record in Pacific Division games. The Kings have given up 15 goals while scoring nine for a -6 scoring differential.
The teams meet Saturday for the first time this season.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: Raphael Lavoie: day to day (undisclosed), Ben Hemmerling: out (undisclosed), Lukas Cormier: out (undisclosed), Victor Olofsson: out (undisclosed), Kai Uchacz: out (undisclosed).
Kings: Jakub Dvorak: out (upper-body), Kevin Fiala: out (leg), Jan Jenik: out (undisclosed).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Will Carlos Baleba fix Manchester United? Three big questions ahead of potential debut
As the Premier League returns, we dive into the signing who could boost United’s midfield – or confuse things further
Carlos Baleba cost Manchester United $88.7m (£65m) plus $6.8m (£5m) in add-ons when they signed him from Brighton in August. He may be worth even more now despite the fact that the Cameroonian has yet to debut for his new club. Many United fans are counting on Baleba to be a one-man solution to their early-season problems. No pressure.
An ankle injury kept Baleba on the sidelines as Michael Carrick’s side struggled against Everton, Manchester City and Fulham. The 22-year-old joined United just a few days after the opening-weekend defeat to Hull City, so he’d already had a preview of his new team’s troubles to come. The scale of Baleba’s task has grown since then.
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