The Buffalo Sabres needed to a way to get in the win column after losing three straight and a number of narrow losses in the opening month of the season, and goalie Colten Ellis provided that push with a 23-save shutout in a 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
The Sabres goalie made an Olen Zellweger second period goal stand up, and Buffalo iced the win with Zach Benson scoring his first of the season late in regulation with Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov pulled for the extra attacker.
“Put (Ellis’ performance) in the excellent category. We mishandled the puck early, about a minute and a half into the game, and he made a great save….making a save like that early, probably helps a goalie.” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “(Colten is) a competitive kid. He’s given us some good hockey games. Today he gave us an excellent game. He made some timely saves at really big moments, that could’ve generated some energy for (San Jose) and he took it away from them.”
Is UPL the goalie of the present and future for the Sabres?
The victory moved Buffalo into a tie with Detroit for seventh place in the Atlantic at 5-4-3 (13 points), with two games against Anaheim and Los Angeles left on their four-game Western road swing. The question will now be if the Sabres give Ellis another start after a good performance against the Ducks on Thursday. The club has struggled with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen over his five consecutive starts, allowing 30 or more shots in the four of his five straight starts and going 1-1-3.
In other Atlantic Division news, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost winger Kirill Marchenko with a knee injury in a 5-2 loss in Calgary on Monday and on Wednesday it was announced that he will be out week-to-week. Marchenko had 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 14 games.
The Senators placed defenceman Cameron Crotty on waivers Wednesday afternoon, a move that strongly suggests captain Thomas Chabot is ready to return from injury.
Crotty, the 27-year-old Ottawa native, has appeared in just three games for the Senators this season, recording no points, a plus-one rating and averaging 11 minutes and nine seconds of ice time.
After Monday's skate, Thomas Chabot described his recovery and how the Sens have fared in dealing with injuries (Senators YouTube).
With all the injuries, the 6-foot-3, 212-pound right-shot defenceman probably would have logged even more NHL playing time if not for an illness that briefly landed him on injured reserve.
If Crotty clears waivers Thursday afternoon, he's expected to be assigned to the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League, where he'll have an opportunity to play more regularly.
Originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round, 82nd overall, of the 2017 NHL Draft, Crotty played his college hockey at Boston University before turning professional.
Crotty played six games for the Senators last season, collecting his first NHL point. He even made his Stanley Cup playoff debut against the Carolina Hurricanes last spring.
While Wednesday's news isn't good for the hometown boy, it does suggest that Chabot is ready to return to face the LA Kings on Thursday night.
Chabot has been out since suffering an upper-body injury during the Senators' 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on October 17. He's appeared in seven games this season, recording four points, along with a plus-five rating.
He opened the season with a goal and an assist in the Senators' 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, his first game since being named the club's new captain.
Chabot is coming off an injury-shortened 2025-26 season where he had 31 points in 57 games. While Jake Sanderson has emerged as the Senators' top defenceman, Chabot remains one of their most important players. .
The Senators have managed to get by during Chabot's absence, as they have with all their injuries this season. They're still without starting goalie Linus Ullmark, winger William Eklund, and as of Tuesday night, Warren Foegele, who suffered a knee injury in Vegas.
If Chabot returns on Thursday in LA, it'll be the first time all season the Sens have had their top six defensemen all healthy on the same night.
Naturally, that will allow the D to settle back in with partners, ice time and matchups that are more familiar and appropriate.
With the way the Sens' season is going injury-wise, it may not be long before Crotty is needed again. So, from that perspective, it's important to get him back playing again. Crotty hasn't suited up in almost two weeks and the return to Belleville will at least allow him to get back to playing meaningful minutes.
But now there are several roster issues at hand.
Will Crotty get claimed by another NHL club?
Which defenseman heads to the press box on Thursday? Sanderson, Chabot, Zub, Spence, and Kleven are all locked in. So either Olympian Nikolas Matinpalo or former first-rounder Carter Yakemchuk will have to come out.
And how will they replace Foegele? Will it be Hayden Hodgson or will someone from Belleville get called up for a look?
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Lawson Lovering #34 of the Memphis Grizzlies plays defense during the game against the Golden State Warriors on July 14, 2026 at the Cox Pavillion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In need of center depth after an underwhelming start from Kevon Looney, the Lakers have gone the route of a two-way signing for potential help.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Lakers have agreed to a two-way contract with Lawson Lovering, a big man who spent last season with the Grizzlies, splitting time with the parent club and their G League affiliate.
To free up a two-way roster spot, the team is waiving AK Okereke.
Just In: The Los Angeles Lakers and Lawson Lovering have agreed to a two-way deal, agent Drew Kelso of @OneMotiveSports told @hoopshype. The 7-foot center averaged 7.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in two games with the Memphis Grizzlies last season. pic.twitter.com/SlxuL6oKo0
The Lakers have added C Lawson Lovering on a two-way deal and are waiving AK Okereke. Team desperately needed another C in the building. @MikeAScotto was first on this
Lovering played just two NBA games with the Grizzlies, the better of which being an 11-point, 11-rebound showing in a late-February win over the Jazz. That came while on a 10-day contract which the Grizzlies did not re-up after it expired.
In 30 games with the Memphis Hustle, Lovering averaged 7.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 59.2% from the field. He did not take a three and was 25-61 (41%) at the free throw line.
Lovering signed a training camp deal with the Grizzlies before being waived. The Lakers swooped him up before he could rejoin their G League roster.
Okereke was always the likeliest of the Lakers’ two-way signings to be cut. A project player, he didn’t flash nearly as much in Summer League or during limited preseason minutes. Lovering also has the makings of being a project player, but he also fills more of a need.
While the Lakers need a backup center, the trade market likely won’t offer a solution in the near future. Signing him doesn’t mean he’ll automatically play, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for the team to try something.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Walker Kessler #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 27, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After a stingy showing to open the year against the Golden State Warriors last week, the Los Angeles Lakers have increasingly struggled defensively and reached an early season nadir Tuesday night when they allowed 136 points to the Portland Trail Blazers, good for a 132.0 defensive rating (fourth percentile among all 2026-27 performances, per Cleaning the Glass).
Following the team’s dismal performance, its interior anchor, Walker Kessler, held himself accountable and didn’t think he set the tone necessary for everyone else.
“I got to personally be a lot better on the defensive side. I pride myself on kind of being the leader on the defense and I didn’t perform tonight,” Kessler told reporters. “But we’ll figure it out … It’s a good learning point because our offense looks good. Scoring almost 130 points is pretty efficient, but we shouldn’t have lost scoring 130. Giving up almost 140 is not acceptable.”
While Kessler occasionally struggled with his pick-and-roll positioning and rotations against Portland’s dynamic attack (No. 1 in offensive rating thus far!), plenty of other Lakers labored in their efforts to contain the ball on the perimeter or properly execute help responsibilities. More often than not, the Blazers broke through the initial line of defense and thrust Los Angeles into rotation for open 3s or finishes inside.
Head coach JJ Redick recognized these issues and believes it’s something everyone involved can learn from to be better.
“We just got broken down a lot. I thought the game plan discipline, [know your personnel] discipline wasn’t where it needs to be,” Redick said postgame. “I think sometimes, early in the season, these are good learning lessons that we can all apply both as coaches and as players. How can we teach the scheme better?”
Although the back-to-back nature of Wednesday’s game may complicate things, the Clippers’ 20th-ranked offense shouldn’t present as grueling of a test for the Lakers. Regardless, this matchup is still a chance to bounce back and rectify some of Tuesday’s recurring problems that ultimately sunk them in their first loss of the season. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 17: Luis Arraez #1 of the San Francisco Giants and Mauricio Dubón #14 of the Atlanta Braves hug in the first inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park on June 17, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, The Athletic put out a list ranking the top 40 free agents with predictions on where each will land. The San Francisco Giants were mentioned at least a few times, and the most prominent one was probably Brandon Lowe, who had a tremendous power season in Pittsburgh (35 homers) to go with a triple slash of .260/.331/.493 (121 wRC+) — gosh, the Tampa Bay Rays could’ve used a hitter like him in the World Series. Anyway, rather than examine all the times the Giants were mentioned, it got me thinking about which hitters the team could target.
I’ve already rundown thepitching market, but rather than make a tiered analysis of the entire free agent group expected to be available, I thought I’d zero in on players who made it through what I think is a pretty reasonable filter, just based on what we’ve learned from this season of Buster Posey’s President of Baseball Operations tenure: contact! The team craves contact! The lineup wants the hit tool, and it’s willing to sacrifice walks for them.
At first, I thought that put Lowe at a disadvantage with a .260 batting average, but the Giants hit just .245 as a team and the sport hit .244; AND, even in that famous May through July stretchwhere the Giants had the 7th-best offense in MLB, they hit .256/.316/.434, so, it’s not like they’re necessarily focused on Luis Arraez types. So, let’s set the bar at .256 and be scrutinize the position mix a little bit. I think the Giants are set at first, short, third, center and right field. Casey Schmitt and Marcelo Mayer are definitely answers for second base (and left field, in the case of Schmitt), but let’s consider those spots upgradeable, with the upgrade pushing one of these two into a firm position. And, just for fun, since Daniel Susac will be optionable in 2027, I included a catcher.
And before you stomp into the comments to declare that only you see the wisdom in the Giants aiming to lose another 97 games, please note that there’s no reason for the Giants to do that. They’ve somehow managed to improve their farm system despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars to produce one of the worst professional sports teams in the world today that’s a total disgrace to the fans in the actual city where they play. Yes, it’s improbable for a team to buy a 20-win improvement, but I’d rather the Giants spend their money on baseball talent. And, who knows, maybe it’s not about buying 20 wins. It’s about buying 7 or 8 and expecting some dead cat bounces and some gradual improvements from the younger players — you know, the same plan as this season lol.
Randy Arozarena — RHH/LF/32
2026: .281/.381/.484, 10.1 BB%, 21.6 K% (151 wRC+) What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth
A teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrible outfield defender (-5 Outs Above Average, -11.7 Defensive Runs Above Average) who posted a career year heading into free agency for the first time. This is a classic STAY AWAY free agent hitter profile of a guy who elevated himself in a platform season but is also on the wrong side of 30. The Giants used to be tempted by these types of guys all the time.
On the other hand, Arozarena is energetic and a quality hitter. Sort of like a potential best case scenario for Heliot Ramos. But the prior three seasons (which included being traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle) show a player not far off from the contract run of 2026: .237/.343/.413, 10.8 BB%, 25.7 K%, 120 wRc+. He will absolutely cost the team a win over the full season because of that terrible defense (he’s averaged -11 Defensive Runs in every full season of his career), but his bat makes up for it.
If you put him in left, then Schmitt and Mayer become the second base duo or middle infield backups. Arozarena would be the best of the group that’s only Jung Hoo Lee, Jonah Cox, technically Harrison Bader, Scott Bandura, Turner Hill, Grant McCray, etc.
Still, a Scott Boras client and someone whom Boras-connected media figure Jim Bowden predicts will get a 5 year, $124 million deal (or in that range). I don’t think the Giants would pony up $25 million annually for a hitter who has been 20% better than the league average for his career. He would be a good addition at the right price, and I don’t think that’s necessarily the right price for the Giants.
Mauricio Dubon — RHH/LF-CF-SS-2B-3B/32
2026: .276/.321/.399, 5.7 BB%, 11.8 K%, (99 wRC+) What area of the roster would he improve: Position player depth
Compared to Arozarena, the Giants could spend significantly less to get Dubon (Bowden projects 2 years, $16 million) for similar value (both 2+ fWAR players). He is a lot of batting average with little power (career .118 ISO). A scrappy underdog utility guy who is a plus defender up the middle — +17.1 Defensive Runs Above Average, +19 OAA in Houston last season; +6 in Atlanta this year and that’s with most of the value coming from shortstop and center — might be the kind of veteran steadying force Tony Vitello could use if the injuries pile up again.
The depth chart analysis gets a little trickier because he does sort of rain on Jonah Cox’s parade, since he can play second and center. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Cox struck out 65 times in 169 PA (38.5 K%), Casey Schmitt is often hurt, and Marcelo Mayer has yet to prove himself. Even though all the Giants’ top prospects are middle infielders, again, it’s Dubon’s versatility that adds the value and makes him a good fit. Not as a big offseason move, but as a potentially important one — especially if the Giants fail to upgrade their pitching staff’s stuff and rely again on dudes who pitch to contact.
Seiya Suzuki — RHH/RF/32
2026: .270/.368/.473, 12.8 BB%, 24.4 K% (134 wRC+) What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth
Probably because the Cubs’ outfield was pretty amazing, Suzuki’s defense numbers this year look great. He’s +5 Outs Above Average and 88th percentile in outfield defense. He’s got some speed (63rd percentile sprint), but mainly, he has a lot of power from the right side. His .204 ISO ranked 33rd among qualified MLB hitters (just slightly ahead of Arozarena’s .203), so, you’d get heaps of power on top of the average.
Again, because of free agency, he’s on the wrong side of 30, and the projected 5-year deal for $120 million takes him to his age-37 season. Not advisable for a team like the Giants, but he’s closer to 30% above the league average. He’s more like a 3.5-win player to Arozarena’s 2+, so, if you had to choose between just those two guys, Suzuki makes more sense if the money’s about the same.
Also, except for Petco Park (.691), Suzuki has a .760 or better OPS in all the NL West parks. He’s only played right field in his MLB career, so imagine flipping Jung Hoo Lee to left to put Suzuki in right with Cox/Dubon/Gilbert in center.
Brandon Lowe — LHH/2B/32
2026: .260/.331/.493, 9.5 BB%, 28.8 K% (121 wRC+) What area of the roster would he improve: Infield depth
There’s probably a version of this post that makes more sense because I break this down by position. With Casey Schmitt and Marcelo Mayer (and, to a lesser extent, Jonah Cox and Gavin Kilen) in mind, the second base group of free agents worth discussing is made up of Luis Arraez, Jazz Chisholm, and Brandon Lowe. All left-handed hitters, by the way.
Yes, Lowe has played some outfield (160 innings in LF, 171 innings in RF) as well as 1B (155 innings), but he’s basically a second baseman (6,148 innings). He’s also the oldest of the entire bunch of names I’ve mentioned in this blurb. He also has the most power (66 home runs the past two seasons).
But like Arozarena, he really picked it up a notch in his final season before free agency. It wasn’t his career year (that was 2021: 39 homers, 136 wRC+ in 615 PA), but it was his best since 2021. It was also a career high in games played (150).
Meanwhile, Chisholm had a down year offensively (98 wRc+; career: 108) but his defense was still great, putting him in the zone of the 3.5-4 fWAR player he has been throughout his career. He’s also the youngest of this bunch (29) and steals a lot of bases (171 in 716 career games). He’s just a .245 career hitter and he doesn’t need Ron Washington’s tutelage to improve his defense, but he’s like Arozarena in that he’s a charismatic, fun personality type to add to the mix and coming off a down year there might be some value to be had.
Or, the Giants could just reunite with Luis Arraez. The only real problem with that is he’s basically second base and first base, that batting average, while good, is basically it. He can be about as valuable as Chisholm.
If you add any of these players, then Casey Schmitt becomes the de facto left fielder, which I think is probably for the best. He can also be a great fill-in for Matt Chapman for when he gets hurt (as he is entering his IL era).
Austin Hays — RHH/LF/32
2026 season:.280/.305/.400, 3.8 BB%, 25.7 K% (93 wRC+) What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth
He actually ended the season with the Padres and hit .316/.344/.456 in 26 games (61 PA). I mention this because, for his career, he’s a .263/.313/.434 hitter (105 wRC+). His career ISO of .171 is just a bit above the league average over the span of his career. The White Sox signed him to a 1-year, $6 million deal before the season and wound up releasing him due to lots of time missed with leg injuries. This would be the depthiest of depth moves for a team that ignored Hays once already in favor of Will Brennan and Jared Oliva. But he fits the contact approach, has been a decent defender at times (according to Statcast) when healthy and has meaningful MLB experience (86 HR in 720 games, All-Star in 2023).
TJ Friedl — LHH/CF-LF/31
2026 season:.172/.255/.255, 8.1 BB%, 23.2 K% (43 wRC+) What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth
The diminutive (5’8”) Pleasanton native got MVP votes in 2023 and heading into 2026 had a career slash of .257/.344/.414, a 9.5 BB% and 15.9% strikeout rate (108 wRC+). He’s an okay defender with not as much speed as you’d think — fast, but not elite — and his career batted ball profile is suboptimal: 86.9 career exit velocity. The Reds DFA’d him in September.
But I keep looking at that batting average and that low strikeout rate and I wonder if Hunter Mense could come up with a plan for him and if his age-31 season on the horizon might create a situation where the Giants could get him for a year and for not very much… just to see if there’s something in there they could unlock. Like Hays, it’s some really good MLB experience. It’s not like the Giants need a lot of experience at every position, but this post isn’t advocating for the Giants to get every player mentioned. Like, if they only added Friedl to the hitting group, you could see the reasons why and projected a modest success because of them.
Ryan Jeffers — RHH/C/30
2026 season: .256/.353/.461, 12.5 BB%, 17.9 K% (128 wRC+) What area of the roster would he improve: Catching depth
Now, I’m inclined to believe that Buster Posey can size up a catcher just by looking him in the eye, so, maybe he’s already passed judgment on Ryan Jeffers. But just from an offensive standpoint, he would backstop the lineup in so many ways. Over the past 4 seasons, he’s been about 20% better than the league average albeit in a part-time role (429 games, 1,632 plate appearances). As a catcher, that’s really important. His time as a DH is less important, given the Devers-Eldridge of it all.
But Bowden’s blurb speaks to the downside risk of signing him:
On the defensive side, he’s an average pitch blocker but doesn’t control the running game well.
I would think that if you’re a catcher you have to be able to do one of those things really well and, ideally, be at least “okay” doing the other thing. Susac, for example, is 29th percentile in Blocks Above Average, but 80+ percentile for all of Statcast’s other catching metrics (CS Above Avg, Framing, Pop Time). In 2026, Jeffers was 51st in Blocks, third percentile in CS Above Avg, 37th in Framing, and 33 in Pop Time. Even the blocking number is an illusion because it had never been that high before in his career. Unless the team felt like it could coach up some element of his defense, I fear that his inclusion on this list is a folly on my part.
But what do you think? Should the Giants aim for 95 losses and hope for many more? Or, expect that most of the same hitting group will be as good (for the veterans) or better (for the developing players) if left mostly intact and not worry so much about bringing veteran hitters into the group? Do you think that I’ve misinterpreted that Giants’ emphasis on batting average? What players would you suggest who don’t need to be traded for?
In recent days, the Washington Capitals have reportedly been shopping forward Ivan Miroshnichenko and the Detroit Red Wings may be interested.
The 20th overall pick in 2022, who has been off to a slow start to his NHL season with six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 55 games. At 22, Miroshnichenko has yet to make his mark at the NHL level, despite seeing his role grow as high as the top line in Washington, but he has still been unable to break through with one goal but no assists through three games this season.
The Russian left winger could slot into Detroit's top six, where he could experiment in roles alongside Emmitt Finnie and Alex DeBrincat, or with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.
Risk would be minimal adding Miroshnichenko as he carries a very manageable $925,000 cap hit this season and next, so he shouldn't cost much to acquire, and if it doesn't work out, Detroit could part ways with him without much trouble.
The Red Wings would not be alone in their interest. Several teams have reportedly already inquired about Miroshnichenko, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.
Detroit would be joining a loaded group and may have to outbid others for a chance to land him, but if successful could find a cheap solution and key piece to their lineup.
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 24: Justin Champagnie #9 of the Washington Wizards celebrates against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on October 24, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Washington Wizards wing Justin Champagnie underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot, The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins reported Wednesday.
Wizards wing Justin Champagnie underwent surgery today to repair a fracture in his right foot, @TheAthleticNBA has learned. The Wizards are hoping that Champagnie will be able to return by the All-Star break. Champagnie suffered the injury during Monday's game in Charlotte.
The Wizards hope Champagnie will return by the All-Star break, according to Robbins. The All-Star break is scheduled for Feb. 19-24, 2027.
Pacers forward Obi Toppin fractured his right foot on Oct. 31 last season. He underwent surgery and returned on Feb. 26. Former Lakers forward Maxi Kleber fractured his foot on Jan. 25, 2025, and returned April 30, 2025 — 95 days after suffering his injury.
Champagnie injured his foot late in the first quarter of Monday’s 110-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. He attempted to play through it, but the injury overruled that determination. The 6-foot-7 wing intentionally fouled to stop the game and hobbled to the Wizards bench, where Khris Middleton and a team staffer helped him to the locker room.
“[Justin] is going to recover, and whatever he’s going through, we’re going to be right there with him, and he’s going to be right there with us throughout his recovery,” Trae Young said. “We’re going to make sure he’s right. We’ll hold down the fort while he’s gone.”
The Wizards quickly ruled him out with a right foot injury. Champagnie was one of Washington’s best players through the first three games.
Washington was a +36 with him on the floor and a -30 with him off. through the first three games He tallied 11 points and 14 rebounds and was a +18 in the team’s win over the Bulls.
Oct 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (15) stands on the court during the second half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
You know what sucks about NBA scheduling? And stop me if you’ve heard me complain about NBA scheduling before… The Suns played Monday night, and they don’t play again until Friday against the Denver Nuggets. By the time that date finally rolls around, the Suns will be the only team in the league with only 3 games played. Would’ve been nice to have a Wednesday game tonight, wouldn’t it? But instead, we’ll get some weird, wonky stretch of five games in seven nights later in the season to make up for it.
Because of all that time off, combined with the fact that Devin Booker scored only three points on 1-of-7 shooting against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, we’re left sitting around overanalyzing his performance. Questioning his body language at the end of the game. We’re so bored, we’re hitting up our local trade machines to pass the time. That can be a dangerous thing…
I could never cover football for this exact reason. You get one game a week, then you have to wait an entire week for another, leaving you to sit there and stew over everything that went wrong the previous Sunday. Seeing as I’ve spent the past couple of days doing exactly that, watching Booker footage over and over again, I figured it was time to put my thoughts together on the debacle.
I’ll start by acknowledging one simple fact. I don’t believe I’m somebody who coddles our superstar, primarily because, in my opinion, he hasn’t been a superstar over the past few seasons. That’s not a knock on Devin Booker, personally or professionally. It’s the reality of where he currently stands within the NBA landscape. We’re talking about a player who hasn’t won a playoff game since 2023 and failed to make an All-NBA team since 2023-24. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by suggesting that Devin Booker isn’t currently among the league’s premier players.
That’s not to say he doesn’t possess the ability to be one, because we’ve seen what he’s capable of throughout his career. He has a unique skill set, is an elite midrange scorer, and can pour in points with the best of them. We literally just witnessed this, as evidenced by his 43-point performance against the Golden State Warriors last Saturday. But consistency is what defines superstardom. It’s the ability to rise above the competition at every turn, or, in the case of Monday night’s game against Oklahoma City, to rise above three defenders at once.
“I’ve got to look at it back,” Booker stated after Monday’s loss when asked how he’ll evaluate his performance. “Shoot over three people?”
"I've got to look at it back. Shoot over three people?"
Devin Booker after 3-point effort (1-of-7 FG) in Suns loss tonight at OKC after scoring 43 points in Saturday's win over Golden State.
"I don't know. We'll see. Like I said, be more creative and finding spots where I get… pic.twitter.com/iGzex8x4wM
Yeah, based on that footage, I see why all the body-language doctors out there are writing prescriptions.
It’s troubling to see Booker go 1-of-7 against the Thunder, especially when you consider that two games earlier against the Portland Trail Blazers, he didn’t attempt a single three-pointer. While the Suns were getting their asses handed to them, their best (and highest compensated) player didn’t attempt a shot from beyond the arc, the very shot that could have helped his team get back into the game. That still befuddles me.
When you combine those performances with his postgame body language while sitting on the bench looking visibly distraught, and the fact that he didn’t appear willing to force the issue offensively, it catches your attention.
Devin Booker looked defeated sitting alone on the bench during a Phoenix Suns timeout 👀
I don’t care what opposing defenses are doing to Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or Jalen Brunson. Those guys are going to get their shots up regardless of what the opposition throws at them. If they see a triple team coming, they’re going to find a way to get that shot off before the triple team arrives.
In the same breath, I can understand what Booker was attempting to do against Oklahoma City. This is a team that historically, and especially as we witnessed in last year’s postseason, has done an excellent job of game planning to get the ball out of his hands. Their entire objective is to force the rest of the Suns to beat them, and when you consider that Phoenix has surrounded one of the best midrange talents in the game with a roster lacking reliable spot-up three-point shooters, that objective becomes even easier to accomplish. We miss you, Grayson.
When you watch this compilation from Kellan Olson, you can see Booker fighting to get open, finding his spots, and creating opportunities. But it’s the defense imposing its will rather than Booker imposing his.
To aid the discourse and help you form your own conclusions off the basketball, here is every half-court possession from last night when Devin Booker got a ball screen. pic.twitter.com/4n0ZGNlXa5
So what does he do instead? He goes into Point Book mode, recognizing that Oklahoma City is selling out to take him out of the game and relying on his teammates to pick up the slack. To his credit, he finished with seven assists and zero turnovers.
And much like trying to break down the 2-3 zone, something the Suns were unsuccessful in doing Monday night, the solution requires his teammates to start knocking down shots. If they do, the defense has to adjust, opening up opportunities for Booker to operate. But his teammates didn’t. Booker ended the game with a team-high 13 potential assists.
Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, and Jalen Green combined to shoot 6-of-23 from beyond the arc, a miserable 26%. Sure, they combined for 56 points, but they did so on 43.2% shooting on 44 shot attempts. Scoring continues to be a struggle for this Suns team, especially when opposing defenses can dictate where the ball goes and who gets to shoot it.
By the end of the game, Booker’s body language appeared to be that of somebody who was exhausted and frustrated with the outcome, his own performance included. At least that’s my interpretation. You’re out there battling an opponent that eliminated you from the playoffs the year before, and they’re successfully taking you out of your game, forcing you away from your preferred spots and making every possession a struggle. And when you look around for somebody to help alleviate that pressure, nobody is efficiently stepping up.
Look at the notes Barstool’s Sam Vecenie had on Miles Bridges and Jalen Green following this game:
I hate everything about what this Phoenix team has done to its starting lineup. They were without Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro tonight, so Maluach had to start. But really, the problem here is that Jalen Green and Miles Bridges are the antithesis of what made this team fun last year. They were so selfless and played for one another on defense last season. They moved the ball quicker and made better decisions. This group doesn’t do that with the starters. Coming into tonight, Phoenix’s starters had a negative-35.5 net rating and tonight might make that slightly better, but not much better. They got their ass kicked.
Green’s stat line looks about as good as it could. He had 20 points, four assists, four rebounds, only one turnover and shot 8 for 13 from the field. I wouldn’t say that he played poorly, but I didn’t love his game. I counted at least five possessions where he brought the ball up the court and shot the ball without passing, one of which was a pretty egregious one at the start of the second half where Phoenix clearly set up a Spain/stack action with Maluach and Booker, and Green just rejected the screen, drove to the rim, overpenetrated, and got stripped by McCain. Midway through the first, he had another no-pass possession where he settled for a contested midrange shot with 15 seconds left on the shot clock without trying to create anything for his teammates. When Green keeps it simple, attacking driving lanes when they come available as a slasher with his athleticism, taking open catch-and-shoot 3s, and cuts to the rim, he’s an effective player. He can attack mismatches well. The problem is when he tries to isolate or play in ball-screens against high-level defenses or defenders. He also doesn’t process it quickly enough and holds the ball too long upon catching it, allowing rotating defenses to catch up while he surveys. I don’t think he’s a fit with Devin Booker in the starting lineup.
Bridges was even worse largely because he can’t defend anyone. He gets caught in no-man’s land in help way to often. He can’t move his feet quickly enough on defense to deal with guards in switches. He ends up having to play too passively and is too far off of them, allowing them to get space and time to shoot. He also isn’t a good enough shooter to take advantage of when he’s open. He’s made 33 percent from 3 over his last four years, and only has one year in his career over 35 percent despite taking six per game over the last six years. He did a nice job moving without the ball, particularly in some moments where OKC was in zone coverage. Again, he had 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. The box score looks great. He did not play well.
My real issue with everything Phoenix is doing here with this group is that none of it is in service of accentuating Devin Booker or the scheme Jordan Ott found success with last season. Gillespie makes life easier for Booker by spacing the court, being an aggressive point-of-attack defender, and making good decisions. Goodwin and Brooks take really tough matchups on defense and are physical. Ighodaro was out tonight, but he moves the ball quickly. But Green and Bridges just have not looked like a fit at all. Maybe it gets better as the season continues, but their careers to this point would not suggest it.
Um. Yikes?
If I’m Devin Booker, I’m frustrated too. You’re a star in your prime, hoping that the organization is doing everything it can to build a competitive team around you. Not by trying to buy a championship by surrounding you with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, but by finding a way to construct a roster around you while navigating a difficult dead cap situation. And so far, it doesn’t look good. The connectivity doesn’t exist, the chemistry is flawed, and the schemes aren’t working.
I can understand the blanket statements from the fan base expressing frustration that Booker should be able to rise above everything happening around him. He’s the $57 million man, and scoring three points is unacceptable. I understand exactly where you’re coming from because, on the surface, I concur. But when I dig a little deeper, I see a player who wants some help around him. Defenders who actually defend. Rebounders who actually rebound. Shooters who actually shoot. Is that too much to ask?
Devin Booker had the body language of somebody who recognizes that the road ahead is going to be long and difficult, and that the only way this team can remain competitive is if he goes out there and scores 43 points every night. That’s something a younger player might embrace, but on Friday, Booker turns 30. And sure, that’s what the contract is for. I get it. But that doesn’t make things any easier when the roster that’s been constructed around you, albeit incredibly early in the season, has been an utter catastrophe thus far.
Booker deserves criticism for Monday night. Three points from your franchise player is unacceptable, regardless of the circumstances. But expecting him to overcome every deficiency around him isn’t a sustainable formula for winning basketball. The Suns need to find ways to make his life easier, and that responsibility belongs to the players, the coaching staff, and the front office. Booker needs to be better. So does everybody around him. Because if this is what turning 30 looks like in Phoenix, it’s going to be a long damn season.
Matt Renshaw declared after Australia’s strongest batting performance on this South African tour that he is neither a doctor nor a curator. But he confirmed his status as Australia’s incumbent opener and clearly remains a very loyal mate.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) gathers his game plan during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on October 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Lakers’ first back-to-back of the season will be without Luka Dončić.
After falling to the Blazers on Tuesday, the Lakers released their injury report hours before Wednesday’s game against the Clippers with Luka included on it. The superstar will be out with back tightness, the first game he’ll miss in the young season.
Ziaire Williams will also be out with left foot soreness. Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr both remain out.
Lakers say that Luka Dončić (back tightness) and Ziaire Williams (left foot soreness) won’t play in the second half of the back-to-back vs. Clippers.
Luka did miss time during the preseason, but it was never for any actual injury. Back tightness is a vague enough term to not raise too many concerns, at least not yet. For now, it mainly just seems like an opportunity to get him some rest.
Tuesday’s game against Portland was the start of five games in seven nights, so it’s not a surprise that the team is finding some rest for Luka. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if Austin gets the same treatment during the span, too.
A source says the Lakers are being cautious with Dončić and the back tightness as the team plays Game 2 in a stretch where the Lakers play five times in seven days. No longterm worry about his health at this time. https://t.co/HaLAZsL4zD
For Williams, a foot injury did limit him during the preseason, though it’s not clear if this is the same foot. Again, this early in the season and given the context, it’s fair to assume this is management and rest.
Carr did have an optimistic update on his status from head coach JJ Redick prior to Tuesday’s game. He took part in practice with Coachella Valley, which Redick said was an “important step” toward returning. He was assigned to Coachella Valley again on Wednesday afternoon, which is encouraging as well.
There has been no further updates about Thiero after Redick said he would be shut down for a couple of days in the opening week of the season.
Dončić led the Lakers in scoring in a 136-129 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The point guard nearly produced a double-double with 41 points, nine assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes played against Portland.
It followed his 52-point game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, Oct. 25. Dončić scored 39 points through the first three quarters of play before tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 10 career 50-point games, which is the 11th most in NBA history. The Lakers guard passed Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who each have nine.
Dončić added his name to the franchise record books, becoming the fastest player to score 3,000 points in a Lakers uniform. The six-time All-NBA selection accomplished the feat in 95 games, beating out George Mikan (106) and Abdul-Jabbar (109).
Luka Dončić injury update
Dončić has been ruled out with back tightness.
He was not listed on Monday's injury report ahead of the game against Portland.
Coach JJ Redick is expected to talk to the media before tonight's game against the Clippers and may provide an update.
Luka Dončić injury history
Doncic does have a history of back injuries during his career. He most recently was listed with a back injury in March 2025. He was also listed with back-related injuries during the 2019, 2021 and 2024 seasons.
Where does Luka Dončić rank among NBA's best?
Dončić enters his third season with the Lakers as the unquestioned star and leader. His accomplishments and achievements are why he was ranked No. 4 on USA Today's top 100 player rankings ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Luka Doncic (back tightness) and Ziaire Williams (left foot soreness) are out against the Clippers on Wednesday in the second night of a back-to-back following the Lakers’ 136-129 loss to the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Damian Lillard (0) of the Portland Trail Blazers and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers hug after a game at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic is leading the league in scoring with 36 points a game. He had a 41-point, five-rebound, nine-assist performance against the Trail Blazers in the Lakers’ first loss this season on Tuesday, following finishing with 52 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in the Lakers’ 132-123 win over the Jazz on Sunday.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. NBAE via Getty ImagesZiaire Williams (11) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers will also be without Cameron Carr (right oblique strain) and Adou Thiero (left knee injury management).
The Clippers will be without Bradley Beal (right knee management), Rui Hachimura (left quad soreness), Brandon Ingram (right heel surgery), Jordan Miller (left rotator cuff surgery), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right lisfranc surgery) and Max Strus (right plantar fascia partial tear).
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 23: The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during second quarter of the Celtics Home Opener at TD Garden on October 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 23: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center on October 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors registered their first win of the season on Monday, surprisingly blowing out the Denver Nuggets 134-114 on the road. And now, after the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a devastating injury to Anthony Edwards, the Dubs are in prime position to post a winning record on their three-game winning streak.
Needless to say, Edwards is not the only player who is injured in this game, as neither team is particularly healthy right now. Here’s the full injury report.
Warriors
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL repair surgery) Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon repair surgery) Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(not with team)
No new news on Butler and Moody. Not much new news on Porziņģis, either, other than an ESPN report today that suggested that Golden State doesn’t expect the former All-Star to play another game for them. For the foreseeable future, these three will remain on the injury report.
Lendeborg, who is off to a dream start to his career (he’s averaging 21.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game) got a little banged up during his dominant performance on Monday. You know it’s going to be hard to keep him off the court, and the Warriors aren’t in a back-to-back, so hopefully he’s able to play. It will be fun to see Lendeborg and Jonathan Kuminga play against each other, both for the basketball itself, and for the narrative.
Timberwolves
Out — Anthony Edwards (right knee injury management)
Edwards’ injured knee requires arthroscopic surgery, which should keep him out until sometime around the new year. It’s a bummer for him, for the Wolves, and for NBA fans. In the meantime, it should mean an increased role for Kuminga, who becomes Minnesota’s secondary scorer behind LaMelo Ball.
Out — Donte DiVincenzo (right Achilles tendon repair surgery)
The former Warrior played all 82 games for the Wolves last year, then tragically tore his Achilles during the playoffs. He has expressed confidence that he’ll be able to make it back on the court at some point this season but, if so, it would surely be towards the end of the year.
Enjoy the game, everyone. It tips off at 5:00 p.m. PT on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Bottom side Venezia beaten 2-0 after two late calamities
Samuel Mbangula strikes three in Bologna’s win at Milan
Inter returned to the Serie A summit with a nervy 2-0 win at bottom side Venezia, while a Samuel Mbangula hat-trick sealed a 4-2 win for Bologna at San Siro to inflict a first league defeat of the season on Milan.
Champions Inter drew level with Lazio on 25 points at the top ahead of a hotly anticipated Milan derby meeting with their rivals on Saturday. Ruben Amorim’s side will go into that game on the back of losing their unbeaten streak after Alphadjo Cisse’s double was not enough to avoid defeat.
