The Golden State Warriors got the chance to see their No. 11 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft make his league debut on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg got a taste of the NBA and earned his first 'welcome to the league' moment during the season-opening matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated the Warriors, 127-105.
Lendeborg played 29 minutes and scored 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting, adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal. However, the main lesson Lendeborg learned of the day is don't mess with Luka Dončić.
The rookie found himself guarding Dončić on multiple possessions during the game. Lendeborg accepted the challenge. He didn't back down, playing physical with the Lakers' All-Star and letting him hear it, too.
That might have been where Lendeborg messed up. Dončić scored 28 points on 7-for-18 from the field and added eight rebounds and seven assists.
The two went at each other, especially in the first half. But Dončić had the last laugh at the end of the second quarter where he banked in a half court shot from about 50 feet to beat the buzzer. Going into the locker room, he had some words for Lendeborg.
LUKA MAGIC ✨Beyond half-court at the buzzer to extend the Lakers' lead against the Warriors 🍿 https://t.co/RiPZVHk7gg
Lendeborg even received a technical foul for his back-and-forth with Dončić. After the game, Lendeborg discussed what happened on the court with him and Dončić.
Lendeborg described his debut as "interesting."
As for Dončić, he said he lost respect for him.
"I had a lot of respect for him," Lendeborg said. "I didn't watch the NBA much. I just watched highlights, seeing him kill people all the time. But then being in there first hand, just watching him whining and complaining, I lost all respect, man. Like, that was awful.
"Like me getting frustrated, it's not about the foul being called, it's about him complaining the entire game. And then you get foul call. Congratulations, bro," Lendeborg added. "And then you talk to me, like you did something great, bro. Come on, now. It kind of threw me off for a little while, 'cause, you know, like I said, I had so much respect for him. Gone."
On Dončić's end, it was business as usual.
"I think everybody knows when somebody starts talking, it (brings out) a different me, so that was it," Dončić said in postgame interview with ESPN.
Later, he told reporters that Lendeborg "was talking crazy" and Dončić wasn't trying to talk back.
"This season I'm not trying to get techs, so it's the first time that that was not a double tech because I didn't say nothing," he added. "So I'm working on it. As you see, I think it worked great."
Warriors support Lendeborg's 1-on-1
Head coach Steve Kerr's message to Lendeborg: "Better days ahead."
"I loved the back and forth," Kerr told reporters. "Yaxel's a competitor. This was a great welcome to the NBA game for him, having to guard Luka, who's as tough to guard as anybody in the world. Having to learn about all the little tricks that exist in the NBA. He probably had three fouls that probably wouldn't be called fouls in any other league in the world, but it's the NBA, and he's got to learn this stuff."
"It's his first game," Kerr added. "He is an unbelievable young guy, and great talent, and it was a frustrating night for him, but a lesson well learned, and he'll get better from here."
For what it's worth, Kerr thought that Dončić and Lendeborg should have received double technical fouls for their back and forth banter. However, it was the rookie that got whistled.
Teammate Draymond Green encouraged him to keep talking and was honest when speaking to reporters about how Lendeborg should approach guarding Dončić for the rest of the season.
"Everyone's going to say 'you should not talk to Luka' and I disagree with that (expletive)," Green said. "1,000%. You (expletive) gonna talk to somebody, you talk until you can't (expletive) talk no more. And if he bust your ass, guess what? You gotta play him again three more times and you go back at his ass again. Then you see him the third time and you go back at his ass again."
Green said you have to earn respect in the league at the end of the day.
"If you start talking to someone, then you got yourself into a battle," Green said. "When I lose respect is when you start talking to someone and you realize 'oh I'm into a battle' and you stop. You keep going. You get all my respect."
Draymond Green on Yaxel Lendeborg going at Luka Doncic: “Everyone will say the rookie learned his lesson. What he learn? The next time he see him, go at his ass again.”Full soundbite https://t.co/jb87fMCjJW
Bronx, N.Y.: New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge looks out from the dugout in the 4th inning as the Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York on Oct. 7, 2026. (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
The World Series is just a day away, though with the Yankees having been out of the running for a while now it feels like a distant finish line unreached. Instead, hope resides in rooting for the spoiler — or in this case, the team playing against their rivals in the Milwaukee Brewers. They’ll take on the Rays tomorrow night in what might be the final bit of MLB play we’ll get for a while with the threat of a lockout looming large on the horizon, so enjoy it while it’s around. I’m sure we’ll all be missing it come March if games aren’t anywhere close to returning.
We’ve got a fairly busy day laid out for you, starting with Matt handing out our latest report card to Paul Goldschmidt in what might have been his final season in pinstripes. Jonathan follows up with a look back at Robbie Cano and his complex legacy on his 44th birthday, Peter previews the offenses we’re going to see tomorrow in the Fall Classic, and Jeremy hits cleanup with his thoughts on Brian Cashman getting to lead the way again on another winter revision with more of the same results trailing him.
Today’s Playoff Matchup:
Off-day
Questions/Prompts:
1. What are your thoughts on Brian Cashman’s expected extension that got announced yesterday?
2. Before the matchup gets underway tomorrow, get your picks in: will the Brewers or Rays win it all?
Australia started the day just six wickets away from a crushing second Test loss in Gqeberha, with South Africa eyeing squaring the series at 1-1 on Day 5. Live updates below!
So much can change over 44 years. And in the case of the Milwaukee Brewers, an equal and perhaps excessive amount can stay almost exactly as it was.
The biggest city in Wisconsin will host a World Series for the first time in 1982, when the Brew Crew tips off Game 1 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays Friday, Oct. 23 at American Family Field.
The ballpark is just across the lot but a generation removed from County Stadium, the city's multi-purpose ballyard that hosted the occasional Packers game and once witnessed the soon-to-be-crowned American League MVP pilot his motorcycle into the stadium to the delight of fans still mourning a loss in the 1982 World Series.
Since Robin Yount's ride in the wake of a crushing seven-game defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Brewers have switched leagues, left behind the ownership of the Selig family and established themselves as the most consistent postseason presence this side of Chavez Ravine.
And they've also brought an awful lot of lore with them to the new place.
From songs to slides, sausages to statues, Brewers culture is about to get a close-up thanks to its Fall Classic appearance. Here's a guide for what lore to look for:
Bernie Brewer and his slide
If Junior Caminero's extensive home run celebrations make you blush, a far quicker trip to glory is available in Milwaukee.
There are fewer more apropos mascots than Bernie Brewer, a keg of a man whose twirly mustache would've played well in Yount's era and seems destined to have a little beer froth flecked in it. He's got a little dugout looming high above left field where he just chills out, thinking Bernie Brewer thoughts, until a Brewer hits a home run.
Then, it's a windy, circuitous trip down his slide.
Fans can arrange to pay to take that trip down, but buyer beware: It can end painfully.
Then again, Bernie used to have a much frothier splashdown after his slides...
Bernie Brewer's Bavarian chalet
It doesn't get much campier than Bernie Brewer's Bavarian chalet, his little center field hideaway at County Stadium from 1973 through 2000, before the club moved into then-Miller Park. Back in the day, Bernie's slide would end with him disappearing into a gigantic beer stein.
The chalet did not make the cut when the Brewers moved to Miller Park, so the owner of Milwaukee's Lakefront Brewery posed a simple question to the ballclub:
"You, uh, doing anything with that chalet?"
The brewery purchased the chalet for somewhere north of $15,000 and it remains at the restaurant near the banks of the Milwaukee River. The interior of the chalet is available for dinner reservations and fans sign their names - and other messages - on the chalet, not unlike the fouls poles and interior of the Green Monster at Boston's Fenway Park.
The Famous Racing Sausages
Long before Racing Presidents and Beat the Freeze, the Brewers rolled out their sausage race, first in animated form, at County Stadium. On occasional Sundays, they'd do a real, live race involving humans at County Stadium until their final year there, when the racing sausages would emerge from the left field corner to home plate.
You never know who might be in those costumes; an occasional Brewer or an odd visiting media member might be tapped to play one of Brat, Polish, Italian, Hot Dog or Chorizo.
On the night of July 9, 2003, Italian was portrayed by Mandy Wagner, a 19-year-old Brewers seasonal employee. The sausages were hopping along as usual when they passed the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates dugout. That's when Randall Simon Jr., their slugging first baseman, decided to take a whack at Italian.
Wagner was knocked over by the bat swing/tap/whack, though as she recounted in the days and years to come, the sausage costume was so cumbersome that a stiff breeze might've knocked her over.
The news cycle vacillated between "serious matter" and "hilarious moment" for several days, with Simon getting questioned by police and fined and suspended by Major League Baseball.
Wagner was OK. And since, the great sausage race has largely stuck to the script.
'Roll Out the Barrel'
You don't need to listen to a Tony Robbins audiobook for life-affirming inspiration. Simply gather with 40,000 like-minded individuals and declare, "We've got the blues on the run."
So it goes every seventh-inning stretch at American Family Field, when the Brewers play "Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)," the lyrics on the big screen even though it seems every Wisconsinite might've had that playing in the mobiles hanging above their cribs after they were born.
Nearby Marquette University got into the spirit last week, chiming "Beer Barrel Polka" from Marquette Hall's Gothic bell tower. Maybe a little less uproarious, but pretty outlandish for the Jesuits.
Regardless, few franchises come harder with their theme strong than the Brewers. From mascot to song to the original name of the stadium, it seems the average fan will walk out of the place with a 0.15 BAC simply by osmosis.
Bob Uecker's statue(s)
There are two of them and it still probably isn't enough.
Bob Uecker called Brewers games for 54 years, the final two while battling small cell lung cancer in 2023 and 2024. He passed away at 90 on Jan. 16, 2025, leaving a massive legacy within the organization, from longtime executives to manager Pat Murphy and players nearly seven decades his junior.
But that was just how it was for arguably the most charismatic man in baseball history, a light-hitting catcher who rose to national and eventually global fame thanks to campy Miller Lite beer commercials and then several star turns on screen, most notably as announcer Harry Doyle in Major League.
A Cleveland-Milwaukee World Series might have been too much; that was the matchup in Major League, and a Fall Classic pitting those two teams one year after Uecker's passing might have been life imitating art just a little too hard.
Instead, this matchup should provide the perfect window for Uecker appreciation, beginning with his pair of statues in and around American Family Field.
The first one is typical, outside and joined by Yount, Hank Aaron and Bud Selig. Inside, though?
It's all Ueck.
Uecker's likeness is not on a concourse or anywhere visible, but rather high in the sky, amid the obstructed view seats, an ode to the greatest of his Miller Lite spots, where he gets evicted from Yankee Stadium box seats and relocated to the upper deck.
"I must be in the front roooooow," says Mr. Baseball, irrepressible as always.
This week, Ueck and the city that made him famous most definitely will be.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Sam Hauser #30 and Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics high five during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 19, 2026 at Chase Center 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics trotted out a starting lineup of Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum, Paul George, and Mitchell Robinson in the team’s Opening Day loss — but it might not be the team’s best.
In fact, its best might look more like last year’s starting squad, just with Paul George instead of Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics’ most effective lineup of the game featured Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, Paul George, and Neemias Queta. It’s a small sample size, obviously, but the team was steamrolling Detroit while these five were on the floor for a 5-minute stretch in the second quarter.
At the point Queta subbed in for Luka Garza halfway through the frame and joined the others, the game was tied 39-39. By the time White and Hauser were subbed out with 1:11 to go in the quarter, Boston had broken ahead with a 18-4 run and taken a 57-43 lead. Unfortunately for the C’s, who eventually choked the lead in the second half and lost, that lineup didn’t see the court for the rest of the game. To be fair to head coach Joe Mazzulla — who was clearly experimenting with different squads throughout the game — only two other lineups saw more time on the floor, led by the starters, who played only 8 minutes together.
Over their short run together, the lineup recorded an absurd 172.7 offensive rating and an equally absurd 36.4 defensive rating, according to NBA.com. That results in a 136.4 net rating — the highest mark of the game for any Celtics lineup. Boston’s second- and third-best lineups finished with net ratings of 60 and 56.7, respectively, but only totaled 5 minutes combined. The starting lineup finished with a 146.7 offensive rating, a 106.3 defensive rating, and a 40.4 net rating. All impressive marks, but nowhere as dominant as the Hauser-Queta lineup.
Apr 12, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) and center Neemias Queta (88) react during a break in the action against the Charlotte Hornets in the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The lineup’s statistical success is completely unsustainable, but its early chemistry makes sense. With four out of five of last year’s starters reprising their roles, the lineup may have the most continuity and rapport of any potential starting five Boston could roll out, especially if George is locked in as a starter when he’s healthy. And slotting him in next to the other four is easy when he is such a perfect fit for Mazzulla-ball.
Talking about Mazzulla Ball, the Hauser-Queta lineup may fit better into the scheme than opening day’s starting lineup, at least in part due to the shooting Hauser brings to the table. The starting lineup against Detroit featured only one elite three-point shooter in Paul George, who shot 39.2% from distance last year and 38.4% over his career. Otherwise, neither White nor Tatum shot better than 33% from three-point range last year and Queta is a non-shooter despite a few long-range attempts this preseason. Walsh shot 38.4% from distance last year, but has yet to shoot at the volume that may be needed for a starting lineup (he shot a career-high 1.8 attempts per game last year, whereas Hauser put up 6.5 per game). If Tatum continues to struggle with his deep shot, Hauser’s level of high-quality volume shooting might be needed to make up for it.
The difference between Hauser and Walsh is pronounced, but the same can’t be said for Queta and Robinson. The 7-footers share a similar skillset and may have some level of interchangeability. While Queta was a part of the Celtics’ most successful opening day lineup, we didn’t get to see Robinson have a chance to run with the same crew, and — despite finishing -8 for the game — he played an important role in the starting lineup’s success. The gap between the two centers’ performances in Tuesday’s game may come down to a difference in rapport with Tatum and the others. Queta’s had years to develop chemistry with his Boston teammates. Give Robinson some time, and he might be just as effective alongside White, Hauser, George, and Tatum.
All in all, it’s a long season, and a one-game sample size means very little. Nevertheless, through one game, the Celtics’ best lineup to hit the court hasn’t been the starters. But, if its level of statistical prosperity balances out into sustainable success, it might just become the starting lineup.
Previewing tonight: The Kings are…not doing well, but they’ve had a lot of narrow losses! [Isles]
Mathieu Darche had a media availability and Mat Barzal is…“progressing every day.” As are we all, but that doesn’t really pay the bills now does it. [Isles writeup | Isles video]
This mysterious status for Barzal, it sure isn’t ideal. [Newsday]
Simon Holmstrom is on a bit of a heater. He was on NHL Network after Tuesday’s win. [NHL video]
Kyle MacLean and Mitchell Chaffee were “solid” in their season debuts. [Post]
Elsewhere
The Senators lost Linus Ullmark to injury but they blew out the Panthers in Brady Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa. [NHL]
And their fans just absolutely let Tkacuk have it, which is excellent. I hope the Toronto pearl-clutching media is okay with that, I know it’s difficult. [Sportsnet]
This sinus medication has signed a three-year extension with the Bruins. [NHL]
The latest on next summer’s top 12 UFAs. [Sportsnet]
Ben Kindel is stable after suffering a medical incident on a Penguins flight. [NHL]
Bourne: The Leafs aren’t necessarily terrible. [Sportsnet]
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 04: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins carries the puck against the Florida Panthers at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Coming off a difficult Western Conference road trip, the Pittsburgh Penguins return home this evening for a matchup with the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena. Sitting on a four game losing skid, the Penguins could certainly use some home cooking to get back on track and right the ship a bit after a tough go out west.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.
Pens Points…
Due to the medical incident suffered by Ben Kindel on the Penguins flight home from Salt Lake City, all team activities were cancelled on Wednesday. Kyle Dubas is scheduled to speak on Thursday ahead of the team’s gameday skate before taking on the Panthers. [Pensburgh]
A weekend split with Cleveland has the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins sitting at 3-2-1 through six games. Over that span, the Baby Penguins have totaled 25 goals, leading the AHL while Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes both sit among the Top 10 in scoring. [Pensburgh]
NHL News and Notes…
You can’t make the playoffs in October, but a good opening month can provide some cushion in case a team stumbles on tough times later in the season. This is also the case for missing the playoffs, where too big a hole early can prove a tough climb out. [Daily Faceoff]
Brady Tkachuk made his long anticipated return to Ottawa on Wednesday night after an acrimonious break up over the summer that saw the former Senators captain traded to the Florida Panthers. Upon his return, Tkachuk spoke highly of his former home and his time there. [NHL]
Barry Zito has a pair of Stanley Cups to his name as general manager of the Florida Panthers, but he’s hoping to add another title to his mantle, this one as a fan. In 1982, Zito was a bat boy for the Milwaukee Brewers the first and last time they played for a World Series. [NHL]
ALTOONA, PA - AUGUST 29: Murf Gray #23 of the Altoona Curve bats during the game between the Erie SeaWolves and the Altoona Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Saturday, August 29, 2026 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bryce Mosmen/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
In just his first season of professional baseball, Murf Gray put together a campaign that made him the undoubtable choice to be named the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year award winner.
2026 was an incredible coming out party for Gray who led all Pirates’ minor leaguers in home runs with 32. Overall Gray put together a complete season and was not limited to slugging. Through Bradenton, Greensboro and Altoona Gray slashed .305/.402/.567 and had a .969 OPS. He had 143 total hits, 97 RBIs and earned 66 walks.
Gray was selected out of Fresno State in the Competitive Balance-B round in 2025 and more than exceeded expectations in 2026. During his time with the Grasshoppers he led the South Atlantic League in total bases and also had a hold on having the most homers in the league before his promotion to Double-A.
At 6’3” and 230 pounds, Gray is a lot of hitter when he’s at the plate. He showed in his last season at Fresno State that he swings a lot and tends to chase too much. Although he still has some refining to apply to his swing, his approach at the plate in 2026 was mostly solid. He still found himself chasing, but it was certainly down from his last year in college. The nice thing to this point is that Gray chases, but does not miss often. His approach will need some more fine tuning as well to adjust to major league pitchers, but Gray has proved at the very least that he’s been able to adapt over the course of a full major league season.
Despite being just 22-years-old, Gray is looking like a top prospect in Pittsburgh’s Minor League system. In his debut year Baseball America named him the Pirates’ top prospect for 2026, and MLB.com ranks Gray as the organization’s fourth highest rated prospect. He’s much more than a slugger too because Gray definitely has the arm to play third base for the Pirates. Third base of course was a position in transition in 2026 for the Buccos, and with a projected debut date of 2027, Gray could have a real shot at competing for that spot in Spring Training. With that being said he might lack the desired speed and first step agility to play the hot corner in the major leagues, but he’s got solid tools all around and could make an impact at the next level very soon.
All eyes will be on Gray in 2027 to see how quickly the Pirates decide to call him up and him to Pittsburgh’s lineup.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 21: Kevin Durant #7 and Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets embrace during the second quarter of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center on October 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets got 30 points apiece from Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr., as they used a massive first half of basketball to build a lead, and then cruised home in the second half to a 128-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the season opener Wednesday night at the Toyota Center.
The Rockets were up 70-38 at the half behind 16 points each from Durant and Smith, and then emptied their bench by the fourth quarter giving Houston their first victory of the year.
Durant finished with 30 points on 10-for-16 shooting, 2-for-4 from deep, with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. While Smith’s 30 came on 11-for-17 shooting, 4-for-8 from deep, along with 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Durant had 4 turnovers while Smith had 1. Despite Ime Udoka’s preseason promise of less KD minutes, Durant led the team with 37. Is anyone suprised? Ime just can’t help himself, even in a bench-clearing blowout.
The presence of Fred VanVleet added a floor-setter for the Rockets, but he was just 2-for-8 from the floor for 6 points in 30 minutes of action, but he did add 11 assists and 0 turnovers. That didn’t stop KD’s 4 give-ups or the 4 turnovers by Alperen Sengun, so it appears those two can still rack up some turnovers even with FVV back. But Sengun had a solid game despite the turnovers, going for 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists on 9-for-15 from the floor and 2-for-2 from deep.
Amen Thompson added 16 points, 10 boards, and 4 assists, while Marcus Smart had 10 points and 2 assists in 26 minutes off of the bench to round out Houston’s double-digit scorers.
Tari Eason was ejected after receiving a flagrant 2. He played just three minutes and scored 2 points. Reed Sheppard struggled with his shot, going just 1-for-6 from the floor with 3 points, 4 assists and 2 steals. We also saw what Ime’s plans are for Reed when his shot isn’t falling, and that was just 16 total minutes for Reed, even in the blowout. Newcomer Bogdan Bogdanovich had 5 points in 13 minutes and hit a three.
Houston shot 16-for-36 as a team from deep, a respectable number, and they shot 53 percent from the floor. They also won the rebound battle against the Mavs at 42-33.
Dallas was led by 32 points from Cooper Flagg, who I think is about to have a monster season. Heads up if you’re into fantasy basketball at all. But the Rockets might have an emerging player of their own. Jabari looked good this preseason and has now carried that over to the start of the regular season. Breakout incoming?
The Rockets will be back in action Friday night against the San Antonio Spurs.
Tampa, FL: New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner speaks during a press conference regarding changes to the Yankees facial hair policy during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida on February 21, 2025. (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
New York Post | Grace McCarron: Hal Steinbrenner held court yesterday with members of the Yankee beat, albeit by Zoom which in and of itself is an interesting decision. The managing partner of the Yankees publicly backed GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone, proclaiming that both men did their jobs in the 2026 season and publicly announcing that Cashman’s new contract is all but signed. Hal placed the blame for a disappointing season at the feet of the players on the roster, especially a “detrimental” offense.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Continuing with the Steinbrenner Address, Hal was asked directly about comments made by current and former Yankees regarding the now-17 year World Series drought. In particular, he seemed to be a little chesty about Aaron Judge’s remarks that the team hasn’t gone “all in” and should, with George’s son pointing to the richest payroll in franchise history as evidence of his commitment. If Judge was more of an extrovert he might point across boroughs to another team that spends like mad and doesn’t have the results expected as an example that money misallocated is as bad as money unspent.
SNY | Danny Abriano: Finally, Mr. Steinbrenner set the table as one of the more powerful owners in baseball, admitting that he’d like to see a salary cap implemented in this round of CBA negotiations. It’s the most important thing for the group of thirty monopolists, and it needs to be the most important thing for the union to remember too.
NBC Sports | Eric Samulski: We also got news that Aaron Judge’s rib is still a bit of a question mark. The Yankee captain will have followup tests and surgery seems unnecessary, Brian Cashman telling us that he expects Judge to be ready in time for Spring Training, whenever that is.
FanGraphs | Ben Clemens: We get a final piece that’s a little more pan-baseball, with the Fielding Bible Awards being announced today at 3 p.m. Eastern. Clemens gives us the breakdown of his ballot, with Cody Bellinger being his winner in left field, as a more-statistically-driven recognition of the best defender at each position.
Montreal Canadiens (4-3-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (3-6, in the Central Division)
Chicago; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks host the Montreal Canadiens in a non-conference matchup.
Chicago has a 3-2-0 record in home games and a 3-6 record overall. The Blackhawks have a 1-4-0 record in games their opponents serve fewer penalty minutes.
Montreal has a 1-1-1 record in road games and a 4-3-2 record overall. The Canadiens serve 11.8 penalty minutes per game to rank 10th in NHL play.
The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two clubs.
INJURIES: Blackhawks: Andrew Mangiapane: out (lower-body), Ryan Ellis: out for season (back), Bowen Byram: out (upper-body).
Canadiens: Florian Xhekaj: out (lower-body), Ivan Demidov: out (lower-body), Mike Matheson: day to day (lower-body), Lucas Condotta: out (undisclosed), Bryce Pickford: out (undisclosed), Samuel Montembeault: out (lower-body).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Lakers center Walker Kessler, looking to pass while under pressure from Warriors center Graham Ike, finished with 26 points on 12-for-12 shooting from the field in the season opener on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
He spent the offseason admiring the great Lakers centers that came before him. He pondered how he could possibly continue such a legacy.
Turns out, Walker Kessler makes it look easy.
The new Lakers center scored 26 points on 12-for-12 shooting with nine rebounds, one assist and two blocks in his purple and gold debut to help the Lakers (1-0) to a dominant 125-105 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena.
From admiring Lakers legends, Kessler can now be mentioned in the same breath. His 12 made field goals without a miss were the most by a Laker since Wilt Chamberlain in 1969. His 10 dunks are the most for a Laker since Shaquille O’Neal in 2003.
O’Neal, for one, welcomes the company.
“Walker Kessler is the best big man in the NBA,” O’Neal proclaimed on “Inside the NBA” after the game where he also christened Kessler “Milk Chamberlain” and officially dubbed him a member of the “Big Man Alliance.” “You heard it here. And I’m not playing.”
Kessler deflected his success, crediting the play of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The dynamic guards who scored 28 and 23 points, respectively, combined for 13 assists. Doncic connected with Kessler on an alley-oop on the game’s first play. He hit him with a behind-the-back pass wrapped around Draymond Green. He looked for Kessler even when the center wasn’t looking back. Kessler admitted one lob went down as just a layup because he didn’t see the pass in time.
“It’s not what I saw,” Kessler said of his sizzling debut. “It’s what Luka and AR [Austin Reaves] and all the other guys saw, throwing me the ball, honestly. Again, I wish I could tell you it was [that] I did something crazy, but I think just being in the right spots and being vertical and just trying to dunk everything. That’s really the biggest thing is having the attitude and mentality to try to dunk everything.”
Doncic, who had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, understood it was more than just Kessler being 7-foot-2. He praised the center for his activity and how he reacted to the game. When Doncic drove, Kessler knew to step up. When the star point guard got doubled, Kessler expertly played in the pocket.
Kessler did his part. Trailing a play in transition during the third quarter, Kessler saw Doncic methodically probing the lane. Passing the three-point arc, Kessler shouted Doncic’s name. Doncic answered with a no-look, backwards bounce pass.
“He’s just smart,” Kessler said, still stunned from his first competitive game with Doncic. “He’s just wicked smart. His basketball IQ is crazy.”
After playing together for just one half during the preseason, Kessler and Doncic said there would be an acclamation period during the regular season. But from the first lob Kessler caught from the star guard — when the team was playing pick up during a five-day trip in Slovenia this summer — the 25-year-old Atlanta native sensed something special building.
“I could get used to this,” Kessler said with a smile of his first alley-oop connection with Doncic.
The Lakers hope so. They sent two first-round draft picks and two first-round pick swaps to pry Kessler, a restricted free agent, from Utah. The organization was desperate to pair Doncic with a rim-running, lob-catching center to maximize the star guard’s offensive capabilities as he enters the prime of his career. The move was a significant risk. The Lakers now don’t own their first-round draft pick until 2032. They signed Kessler to a four-year, $130-million contract, which places him among the top-10 paid centers this season. The elite group includes NBA champions (Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis), defensive players of the year (Victor Wembanyama) and former NBA most valuable players (Joel Embiid).
Kessler, meanwhile, has not even approached the All-Star conversation while toiling with Utah.
Kessler acknowledged the investment the organization made to get him. It motivated him to live up to the expectations of a franchise that exists under a spotlight he’s rarely seen. Just as he’s growing more comfortable with Doncic’s unexpected passes, Kessler is accepting the scrutiny that comes with playing with a team like the Lakers.
Walker Kessler is about to slam home two points off of a lob from Luka Doncic on Wednesday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
“I wish I could say I’ve always been comfortable with it, but I haven’t,” Kessler said. “When I was younger, going to college, I definitely let the pressure and kind of let outside voices and stuff kind of dictate how I felt. But I’m a big believer in what an opportunity. … When you count your blessings and give thanks giving, it’s really hard to focus on the negativity when you actively do that.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Kessler’s end-to-end transition running that led to his instant impact. Kessler said running keeps him engaged in the game, so much so that he will sometimes run needlessly, searching for any spark. By the time the Lakers subbed him out with six minutes remaining in the fourth and a 30-point cushion, Kessler looked exhausted. Teammates gave him extra hugs on the bench. Forward Matisse Thybulle massaged Kessler’s shoulders.
After his historic debut, Kessler sat down at a table in front of a room packed with reporters. More than half a dozen TV cameras were lined up at the back of the room.
“Wow. Big crowd,” Kessler said as he picked up the microphone. It was the first time he remembered to hold the microphone at a formal Lakers news conference without being prompted.
And the Slovenian superstar made it clear that whatever the Warriors rookie said was out of bounds.
Yaxel Lendeborg defends Luka Doncic during the Lakers’ 127-105 season-opening win over the Warriors on Oct. 21, 2026 in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
“He was talking crazy,” Doncic said.
The trash talk started when the Lakers 6-foot-8 guard picked up a shooting foul against Lendeborg late in the second, with Doncic laughing as the No. 11 pick in June’s NBA draft became frustrated with the call.
Luka Doncic drives past Yaxel Lendeborg during the first half of the Lakers’ season-opening blowout victory over the Warriors. Getty Images
Even after Lendeborg subbed out, Doncic kept talking to the 6-foot-9 forward out of Michigan while he was on the bench after knocking down a fadeaway against Will Richard, and once again while Sandro Mamukelashvili was shooting free throws.
Lendeborg picked up a technical foul with 22 seconds left in the first half after he and Doncic, presumably, kept chirping at each other.
“Nobody understands what he says,” Austin Reaves quipped of Doncic. “He’s not speaking English. I didn’t understand anything and barely knew anything was going on. So, I know we need an article to come out and I’m going to start paying people to talk s— to him so gets [into] another gear when people start trying to talk to him.”
The most impressive part of the back-and-forth was Doncic not picking up a technical foul during the whole ordeal after being assessed 16 technical fouls last season.
Luka Doncic and Yaxel Lendeborg look on during a break in the action in the Lakers’ season-opening blowout win over the Warriors. NBAE via Getty Images
“I wasn’t trying to talk back this season,” Doncic said. “I’m trying to not get techs. So it was the first time that [it] was not a double tech, because I didn’t say nothing. So I’m working on it. But as you see, it worked great.”
“It’s a lot better when you’re on his side than the other side, for sure,” Williams said. “I mean, the rookie, he was talking a lot of smack, too. Shout out to him for not backing down. Luka definitely had the better day. At least he didn’t back away from the challenge.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 21: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21, 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
Well, Wednesday sure was a bad day for Bay Area basketball. A should-have-been thrilling doubleheader began with disappointment when the Golden State Valkyries were blown out by the Atlanta Dream in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, and ended with disappointment when the Golden State Warriors were blown out by the Los Angeles Lakers in their first game of the season.
It can only get better from here … I hope. Maybe I just jinxed things.
With the first game tragically in the books, it’s time to break out the red pen for the first time this season, and dole out some grades. Spoiler alert: they won’t be very good!
As is always the (admittedly strange) rubric around here, grades are based on my expectations for each individual player, with a “B” grade considered the average for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Last year, league-average TS was 58.1%.
Statistically, Santos had one of the better games for the Warriors. But it’s hard to get over just how much he was alone on a haunted island every time Luka Dončić attacked him. Mind you, Dončić is one of the greatest scorers to ever live, so having a rough go defending him is not exactly a fatal flaw; if it were, there wouldn’t be enough players to field an NBA team, let alone 30 of them. But this was a particularly uncompetitive matchup, which is part of why Steve Kerr tried so hard to make sure that Santos didn’t end up with that assignment throughout the game.
Good energy and hustle as always, but not a very competitive showing until the white flag was coming out.
Grade: C- Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in rebounds
From a strictly basketball standpoint, Lendeborg had a lot to like and a lot to work on in his NBA debut. But from an entertainment standpoint? He already appears to be the savior we’ve been searching for. The No. 11 overall pick was the most entertaining part of an otherwise dreadful game, and if it weren’t for a Steph Curry flurry in the first quarter, the Michigan product might have been the only entertaining part of the game.
He wasted no time getting into it with Dončić. He trash-talked him all night long, and even picked up a technical foul in the second quarter — with an accompanying fine that I have zero doubt will be covered in full by Draymond Green.
Yaxel Lendeborg with great defense on Luka Doncic, causing him to miss, continues with a trash talk and he receives a technical foul (with replays) pic.twitter.com/8jsW1B95WH
I’m not sure the trash-talking worked, as it seemed to light a fire in Dončić, but it was hardly reckless, either. It was the type of mentality the Dubs are sorely missing, especially with Jimmy Butler III sidelined. How do we know it wasn’t reckless trash-talking? Because after the game, Green, Curry, and Kerr all commented on how much they loved it. You’re not going to get those comments — especially from Kerr — if the team sentiment was that Lendeborg was running his mouth detrimentally.
It unfortunately looks like the Warriors might have a rough season, but thanks to their first-round pick, it certainly figures to be an endlessly entertaining one. Thank you for that, Yaxel; you not only will make this season far more fun, but you’ll make my job so much easier.
With the important stuff out of the way, let’s talk about how he played. There were some bumps and bruises along the way, and it was clear that he has an adjustment to make with the size and physicality of the league. Lendeborg had said during the preseason that rebounding was easier in the NBA than in college because pro players don’t try as hard, but in this game it was clear that facing a motivated Walker Kessler in a meaningful contest was a different experience. He only grabbed three rebounds, and there were a few instances where he was caught ball-watching and out of position.
That’s stuff he’ll learn, and there’s still some growth to do within the offensive system, as well. But, critically, I thought he not only stood up to Dončić in the verbal department, but played strong defense against him as well. He didn’t shut him down — no one does — but Lendeborg’s defense was very solid, I thought.
Luka Doncic scored 23 PTS in the first half but Yaxel Lendeborg was the only Warrior to slow him down 😤
According to ESPN's tracking, Doncic scored 2 points on 0-of-4 FG with Lendeborg as his primary defender in the halfcourt in the first half. https://t.co/LifqHA3rA4
And a hot mic suggested that Kerr thought Lendeborg was playing against more than just five players, too (a sentiment he repeated on a normal mic in his post-game presser).
"They call all that sh*t here; they wouldn't call it in any other arena."
All in all, a very successful debut for Yaxel, who looks like he will more than hold his own on both ends of the court, while being wickedly entertaining on and off it.
Grade: A for the defense, the debut, and the trash talk
Draymond dropped some dimes early on, as his playmaking was excellent in the first quarter. As is so often the case with Green, his performance and effort seemed to wax and wane with the team’s competitiveness. Once the game started to slip away, Draymond stopped playing well, and started turning the ball over with less disciplined defense. He was a non-factor scoring.
Grade: D+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists, tied for the worst plus/minus on the team
Melton wasn’t supposed to start this game, but was pressed into a different role due to Brandin Podziemski’s sore back. And all we can really say is: heal up, Podz. Melton is better than this — much better than this — but it helps to play the role you’re supposed to play. Hopefully he looks better when he returns to the bench. It wasn’t really that Melton did anything awful in this game, so much as that he played nearly half of the contest and I don’t seem to remember him ever actually being on the court.
The first quarter was absolute vintage Curry. It was a reminder that the Warriors can never be counted out, because they have one of the 10 greatest players to ever step on the hardwood court. Steph had 14 of the Warriors’ first 17 points, which was both a reminder as to how great he is, and a warning about how reliant on him the Dubs are. He finished the first quarter with 16 points, but then only had seven more for the rest of the game (though his minutes were very limited due to the blowout).
He was better than usual and then he was worse than usual. For that, we give him an average grade.
Grade: B Post-game bonus: Led the team in points, tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
Some good stuff from GPII scoring and keeping the ball alive. As is often the case, his work on the glass was better than the rebounding total suggests. But it wasn’t a very impactful game. Much of his scoring came with the outcome already decided, and he wasn’t able to have his usual defensive impact.
I’m optimistic about Niang’s impact this year, and you could see glimpses of it. He made a handful of winning plays that required either high effort or high IQ, and those didn’t slow down even as the game got out of hand. At the same time, he looked a little bit like it was still the preseason, and let’s be honest: his best skill is his three-point shooting, so when he goes 0-for-4 there, it’s going to be hard to have an impact.
Horford’s role just got a lot larger now that it appears the Warriors’ future doesn’t include Kristaps Porziņģis. Unfortunately, the Warriors are going to need a lot more from Horford than they got on this night. He looked a touch slow and still in preseason rhythm and, like Niang, couldn’t make his jumpers.
I’m not sure if I’d call this a “good” game from Williams, per se, given the lack of efficiency. But my goodness was it an exciting glimpse of what he can bring to this team. You have to go back to Jordan Poole’s tenure to find someone on the team who was that quick with the ball in his hands, and that explosive. It’s simply an element that has been missing from Golden State’s offense for years, and it was exciting seeing it return. Williams was an instant spark plug when he entered the game, breaking down the defense and getting wherever he wanted on the court. He sought out contact, was crafty with the ball, and did a good job playmaking as well.
He brings something the team desperately needs, and that was evident even amidst his shooting struggles.
It seemed like Richard might be on the outside of the rotation looking in after the preseason, but Podziemski’s injury opened up a lot of minutes for the second-year guard, and he certainly made the most of them. To my eye, Richard looked a little larger and more physical than he did as a rookie, and he put that to use by attacking the rim both with and without the ball, and also while attacking rebounds. As is almost always the case with Richard, he played in control, made smart plays, and didn’t make mistakes. A quality opener for him.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in rebounds.
Leons, who is on a two-way contract this year, got a steady run to end the game once the outcome was determined. He didn’t do much statistically, but I thought he played really good defense.
Cryer, another two-way contract, also got some good run to close out the game, and he really made the most of it. The sharpshooter impressed last year, and picked up where he left off in his season debut. It’s hard to see Cryer getting playing time early in the year — he needed garbage time to see action in this game, and that was with Podziemski, the starting shooting guard, injured — but he certainly made a strong audition. If he keeps playing like this, it will give Kerr the option to elevate his role should Melton, Payton, or Williams struggle at any point.
I thought we might see Ike earlier in the game. Kerr had been open about how much the undrafted rookie deserved playing time, so with both Porziņģis and Charles Bassey sidelined, I thought the Gonzaga product might get into the game before it was determined.
Instead, Ike had to wait until the start of the fourth quarter, with the team trailing by 34 points, to make his NBA debut. And then he stayed on the court the entirety of the 12 minutes, was arguably the best player on the court for either team during that stretch, and made one hell of a case that he should get more meaningful minutes the next time out (he’ll certainly play this weekend, as the Dubs have a Friday/Saturday back-to-back and Horford will only play in one of those games).
Ike’s offense was smooth, his defense was strong, and he was constantly in the right place. He was physical and athletic, and the game didn’t appear to move too quickly for him. I’m excited to see what he can do the next time out.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team
Wednesday’s inactives: Charles Bassey, Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Kristaps Porziņģis
