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Mavericks vs. Cavaliers Recap: Dallas struggles on the road, falls 127-117 to star-less Cavaliers

Nov 14, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Cooper Flagg (32) looks to pass beside Cleveland Cavaliers forward Mario Hezonja (33) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Dallas Mavericks (7-6) fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers (7-7), 127-117 in a Saturday night matchup on the road. The matchup followed Dallas’ 133-94 beatdown loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night. The Mavericks needed a bounce-back performance after Thursday night’s blunder, and failed to take advantage of a second-string Cavaliers team.

Max Christie, Sergio de Larrea, Dereck Lively, and Tarik Biberovic were out for the Mavericks. Cleveland was without Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, Jarret Allen, and Sam Merrill. The Cavaliers sat all their top players after being unable to leave Miami until 9 a.m. due to a nationwide FAA grounding, following their 133-121 loss to the Heat. The nationwide grounding led to a call from Mitchell to cancel the game.

Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 34 points, six rebounds, and five assists, with 28 of those points coming in the second half. Tyrese Proctor contributed 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, his first career triple-double, for the shorthanded Cavaliers.

The Mavericks struggled to defend the three early on, allowing Cleveland to make six threes in the first quarter, taking 58% of their shots from behind the arc. The Cavaliers, though shorthanded, had a hot hand early, allowing them to compete with the Mavericks in the first period. Caleb Martin was a bright spot for the Mavericks in this period, contributing nine first-quarter points as he continues to string together solid contributions in Dallas. Though the Mavericks couldn’t stop Meleek Thomas’s three-point shot early in the game, they walked into the second period at a 33-33 stalemate.

The Mavericks struggled offensively in the second period, letting their offensive mishaps affect how they defended the Cavaliers on the other end. The Cavaliers’ early hot hand from behind the arc faded away in the second quarter, but they were able to go inside, as the Mavericks continued to struggle to defend them. The Mavericks needed more from Cooper Flagg in this quarter, who went 1-of-6 from the field as the Cavaliers’ lead grew behind their 28-9 run in the quarter. Dallas walked into the intermission after giving up 38 points in the period, down 71-53, with a desperate need to punch back in the second half.

Dallas entered the second half uninspired to turn around its double-digit deficit, letting the lead swell to over twenty points. Dallas attempted to make a run midway through the third period, cutting the lead to 14, but continued to be unable to defend Cleveland to close the lead in any meaningful way. After a string of defensive stops, the Mavericks closed the gap with the Cavaliers, cutting the lead to 10. Irving provided a necessary 20 points in the third quarter when the Mavericks couldn’t find a bucket. Even then, the Mavericks entered the fourth quarter with a 14-point deficit to dig themselves out of. The Mavericks’ struggles seeped into the fourth quarter, despite everything Irving tried to do for Dallas. The Mavericks were unable to string together enough stops to fight back, falling 127-117.

Here are three takeaways from Saturday night’s loss.

Offensive woes on the road

The Mavericks’ offensive struggles continued on the road, shooting 39-of-94 from the field in the loss to Cleveland. Dallas needed someone to step up alongside Irving, but failed to take advantage of a less-talented group. This team needs more from guys like PJ Washington and Naji Marshall, who both shot poorly from the field in the loss to the Cavaliers. Off-nights from Flagg mean that someone else needs to answer the call, and the Mavericks failed to find someone to do so against Cleveland.

Cooper Flagg’s struggles

Cooper Flagg struggled in Saturday night’s matchup with the Cavaliers, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-19 from the field. He was unable to find his shot tonight, and it felt like he was trying to force himself out of his slump by trying to draw whistles that he didn’t get. He shot 0-of-6 from behind the arc tonight, though the Mavericks shot poorly from three as a whole. The Mavericks need more from Flagg, especially when facing a team missing its best players, because Irving can’t be left to do it on his own. Flagg’s youth showed tonight, and the Mavericks will need him to return to his All-Star-caliber self.

Kyrie Irving’s third quarter

Kyrie Irving’s 20-point third quarter gave the Mavericks a glimmer of temporary hope, with the Mavericks closing the Cavaliers’ lead to 10. He was able to find his shot in this quarter, giving the Mavericks the push they needed to try to close the gap on the Cavaliers. Irving finished with 34 points, with the Mavericks needing every last one. Irving has played like an All-Star since returning from his ACL tear, and tonight was another impressive showing, coming when Dallas needed it the most. The Mavericks were unable to find anyone to step up to the plate alongside Irving and play with some shame against the Cleveland B-team.

Up next

The Mavericks are back in action Sunday, as they travel to Boston to face the Celtics at the TD Garden. Catch the tail end of the Mavericks back-to-back at 5 p.m. CT on KFAA-TV and MavsTV.

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McDavid extends season-opening points streak to 21 games, Oilers beat Maple Leafs 1-0

TORONTO (AP) — Connor McDavid extended his season-opening points streak to 21 games with an assist, Devon Levi made 19 saves for his first NHL shutout and the Edmonton Oilers beat Toronto 1-0 on Saturday night to hand the Maple Leafs their sixth straight home loss.

Defenseman Evan Bouchard scored his 12th goal of the season for Edmonton (15-3-3). The Oilers are 7-1-1 in their last nine games.

McDavid picked up an assist to give him 50 points (11 goals, 39 assists) and add to his NHL lead.

Oilers coach Mike Babcock faced his former team in Toronto for the first time since being fired in November 2019.

Anthony Stolarz stopped 22 shots for Toronto (8-12-2), which suffered its sixth consecutive regulation loss to complete a disastrous six-game stretch at Scotiabank Arena.

The goaltender started consecutive games for the first time this season with Sergei Bobrovsky struggling to find traction after signing with the Maple Leafs in free agency on July 1.

Toronto dropped to 1-8-0 over its last nine.

Up next

Oilers: At Philadelphia on Sunday.

Maple Leafs: At Chicago on Tuesday night.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Senators Beat Penguins 4-1, Move Into Tie For First In Atlantic Division

Michael Amadio had a goal and an assist to lead the Senators to a 4-1 win in Pittsburgh on Saturday night. The Senators have taken 9 of a possible 10 points in the past five games and now share the Atlantic lead with 28.

Linus Ullmark made 16 saves for the Sens, who outshot the Penguins 34-17 and got goals from Claude Giroux, Tim Stutzle and Thomas Chabot.

The Penguins appeared to open the scoring at 7:01 of the first period when Tommy Novak was credited with a bizarre goal that featured a couple of strange bounces. However, video review determined that Pittsburgh's Egor Chinakhov was offside before the goal, wiping it off the board.

The Penguins did get on the board with just six seconds remaining in the first, thanks to a defensive breakdown by Thomas Chabot and Carter Yakemchuk, who put on a clinic in how not to defend a two-on-two.

Chinakhov lifted Chabot's stick as the Senators defenceman pinched and attempted to intercept a pass. As Chinakhov glided past Chabot, Yakemchuk veered toward him, and the Penguins forward slid the puck over to Novak, who had about two-thirds of the net to shoot at. He made no mistake, giving Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

The Senators tied the game at 8:04 of the second period following a terrible Penguins giveaway, reminiscent of Shane Pinto's overtime winner against Colorado on Thursday night. Michael Amadio made a good read to intercept a careless pass to the middle and beat the goaltender with a wrist shot.

With four minutes remaining in the second, Claude Giroux put the Sens ahead with his fourth goal of the season.

With the Penguins in the middle of a line change, Pittsburgh forward Ben Kindel committed the ultimate sin, failing to get the puck deep while his teammates were heading to the bench. Kindel tried to dump it in, but instead fired the puck off Yakemchuk's skate.

The puck caromed out to centre ice, where Giroux found himself on a breakaway. The veteran did a fantastic job of outwaiting Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov before tucking a backhand upstairs to give the Senators a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

In the third, with just over five minutes to play, Tim Stutzle put the game out of reach with a quick wrist shot from his knees that Murashov didn't seem ready for.

Chabot put it away with an empty-netter.

The win leaves the Senators with a record of 13-6-2, and with losses by Tampa and Montreal, the three clubs are suddenly tied for first place in the Atlantic with 28 points, one up on Boston, which also lost on Saturday. It should be noted that the Habs and Lightning do have a game in hand.

The Sens are back at it on Tuesday night in Winnipeg against the Jets, who've won six in a row.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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The Knicks are struggling to finish games to start the season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks prepares before the start of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It was just a few months ago that you could’ve turned a Knicks game off and celebrated within the last five minutes if it was a one-possession game: that’s how automatic they were in the clutch.

Led by the former Clutch Player of the Year and an impeccable supporting cast, it seemed like every time they found themselves in a late and close situation, it was automatic after those two CJ McCollum games. Even going back further than that, this team’s ability to dig deep when they need it most has been the defining characteristic of the Jalen Brunson era.

With an identical roster back in 2026-27, you’d expect it’d be the same… except it’s not.

In the Knicks’ 6-6 start, they’ve played seven clutch games. They’ve lost six of them.

Not all clutch games are created equal, but all of these games were winnable. Even last night’s loss against Indiana, which I was saying felt like a “fake clutch game,” as the Knicks got a few buckets late to make it look close, they somehow managed to have the ball with a chance to send it to overtime at the buzzer.

One way or another, the Knicks have failed to win these games. The lone win, the high-scoring thriller in Chicago, was the only game where it’s felt like last season’s Knicks that found a way.

Overall, in their 1-6 record in clutch games, the Knicks have a minus-17.4 net rating, ranking 22nd in the NBA. They don’t do anything truly bad in these games, but they do nothing well.

Their turnover rate is league average, as is their assist rate. Their rebounding goes from dominant to so-so, but the real culprit is the putrid 50.7 TS%, which ranks 23rd. That’s the catalyst behind an offense that hasn’t worked in these situations.

If you exclude the Chicago game, they have a minus-40 net rating with an 82.9 offensive rating and an even rougher 44.4 TS%. All six of those games have come against the type of teams they’ve excelled against in postseason settings, but it just hasn’t happened so far.

Going game-by-game, it’s just a mess of missed opportunities.

In the season opener against Philly, the Knicks trailed by two with under three minutes to go. After giving up a dunk to VJ Edgecombe, OG Anunoby committed a back-breaking turnover in the open court that allowed Tyrese Maxey to score an easy layup. The Knicks never got closer.

The Boston game that followed it felt like a fake comeback at times, but the team got within one with 1:41 to go. While the Celtics never pulled away from there, Jayson Tatum never gave them a chance to come back with tough shot after tough shot.

The inability to get a stop, coupled with a bad moving screen by Karl-Anthony Towns in a crucial spot down three with 1:11 left doomed them to an 0-2 start.

Against Orlando, the game was tied at 91 at the five-minute mark, but the Knicks played so poorly over the next four minutes that they gave themselves no chance. On their next eight possessions, the Knicks went 0-for-3 from the field, 2-for-6 from the line, and had three turnovers.

In the NBA Cup game in Philadelphia, a stepback three from Brunson gave them a 90-89 lead with 1:32 left, but things would unravel after that. A clutch LeBron fadeaway and a triple from Edgecombe on the next two possessions hurt, but so did allowing a brutal offensive rebound after getting a stop with 12 seconds left.

Their biggest strength, rebounding, failed them.

Against Cleveland on Wednesday, it was tied entering clutch time and a one-point game with 3:26 left, but a peculiar decision to continue to blitz Donovan Mitchell at halfcourt allowed the Cavs to score on essentially every trip down.

One sequence that defined this one? Deuce McBride had a fastbreak layup down by five with 35 seconds to go, got stuffed, and Peyton Watson hit Jarrett Allen on an outlet for an and-1 to ice the game.

Then, last night in Indiana, the undermanned Pacers did everything they could to throw the game away, giving the Knicks the ball down by two with 2.8 to go. They drew up a post touch for Towns, but it didn’t go.

I don’t hate the idea, but I really wish they used Towns’ newfound playmaking ability to their advantage by trying to free up a shooter on the right wing. If I have any criticism of this team’s late-game offense for years now, it’s too much isolation. There was enough time for a pass to at least be an option.

The team is shooting 38.9% in the clutch, a continuation of what’s been annoyingly persistent struggles with efficiency. They haven’t shot enough free throws to make conclusions there, but the regression we’ve seen from Towns and Brunson at the line has killed them in games where every point counts.

All told, this is something you expect to eventually reverse itself, but we’re getting to the point in the season where samples are getting bigger and bigger.

At some point, they have to start executing in general and consistently play as a cohesive unit for all 48 minutes.

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Cavs beat Mavericks 127-117 behind Tyrese Proctor’s triple double

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: Caleb Martin #16 of the Dallas Mavericks goes to the basket against Tyrese Proctor #24 and Craig Porter Jr. #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Rocket Arena on November 14, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Dallas Mavericks 127-117 behind an inspiring effort from their reserves.

The Cavs played on a skeleton crew tonight, with most of their usual rotation sidelined after last night’s delay kept them in Miami longer than expected. Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Peyton Watson, and Jarrett Allen all sat out while Evan Mobley, Sam Merrill, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin were out with respective injuries.

The starting lineup tonight was Tyrese Proctor, Meleek Thomas, Jaylon Tyson, Mario Hezonja, and Thomas Bryant.

The trio of Proctor, Thomas, and Tyson, who have labeled themselves as ‘the pitbulls’, set the tone early by being hyper-aggressive and active on both ends of the floor. They combined for 41 points in the first half, doing a little bit of everything to help build an 18-point lead going into the locker room.

Proctor finished the game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. It was the strongest game of his career and proof of concept that Proctor is a foundational piece of this team’s future.

Rocket Arena, which began the night feeling scorned by the stars who sat out, gave a hefty round of applause for the young group that showed up tonight.

Bryant and Hezonja deserve credit as well for serving as the veteran leaders of a younger, more inexperienced lineup. Hezonja scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting while Bryant added 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

Kyrie Irving scored 34 points and was given a warm reception both when he was announced in the Mavericks’ starting lineup and after the Cavs played a video of his iconic Game 7 shot over the Warriors. It was nice to see Irving play basketball back in Cleveland.

The Cavs also saw support from two-way prospect Norchad Omier, who added 13 points and 8 rebounds by hustling around the court all night. It’s performances like this that made a double-digit victory possible despite being short-handed.

Overall, the Cavs’ youth showed that you can accomplish a lot by simply playing hard. The cohesion that was shown by this group tonight should be kept in mind moving forward.

Cleveland is back home on Monday against the Chicago Bulls.

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Daniil Tarasov Shines As Red Wings Pick Up Shutout Win Over Lightning

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The Detroit Red Wings badly needed to stop the bleeding after they'd dropped five straight games, the most recent of which was a nightmare 5-4 loss to the Florida Panthers after they initially enjoyed a 4-1 lead.

Thanks to goaltender Daniil Tarasov, they did just that against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tarasov stopped all 31 shots the Lightning fired his way, picking up his second shutout of the campaign in a 2-0 victory at Benchmark International Arena. 

With Detroit's win, they improved to 8-10-3 through the first 21 games of the campaign. 

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Following a scoreless opening 20 minutes of play, it would be the Red Wings breaking the ice thanks to a breakaway goal from Lucas Raymond, who picked up his eighth goal of the season and his second in as many games.

It was also the 350th point of his NHL career.

While the Lightning continued to press for the tying marker, Tarasov denied them at every turn; he stopped four attempts from Brandon Hagel and five attempts from Nikita Kucherov.

NHL Insider: Simon Edvinsson "Prepared" To Play In Sweden This SeasonNHL Insider: Simon Edvinsson "Prepared" To Play In Sweden This SeasonAccording to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, unsigned Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson is "prepared" to play in Sweden this season if a contract in the Motor City isn't worked out.

With goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy on the bench for an extra attacker, forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård took a feed from Raymond and buried his fourth tally of the season, sealing Detroit's win. 

Vasilevskiy made 20 saves for the Lightning, who were unsuccessful on both of their power play opportunities; the Red Wings never got a chance with the man advantage. 

The Red Wings, having concluded their four-game road swing, return home to face another divisional rival, the Boston Bruins, on Wednesday evening at Little Caesars Arena; they'll play six of their next seven games in Detroit. 

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Stars captain Jamie Benn records his 1,000th career NHL point vs the Sabres

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas captain Jamie Benn scored a second-period goal during Saturday night’s game against the Buffalo Sabres for his 1,000th career NHL point, all with the Stars.

Benn, 37, and in his 18th NHL season, is second to Hall of Famer Mike Modano (1,359) in career points for the franchise that began as the Minnesota North Stars in 1967 and moved to Texas in 1993.

The Stars’ bench emptied to celebrate the moment when the longest-tenured captain in Stars history snapped a scoreless tie with his goal.

Benn — a native of Victoria, British Columbia — was drafted in the fifth round in 2007 and made the Stars’ opening night roster in 2009, recording his first league point on an assist in his second game.

He won the league’s 2014-15 Art Ross Trophy for leading the NHL with 87 points (35 goals, 52 assists).

He scored a career-high 41 goals the following season, when he was selected for the second of his two All-Star teams.

Benn’s 1,272 career regular-season games played are the most of any Stars skater since the team relocated to Dallas and ranks second in franchise history behind Modano’s 1,459.

Benn missed the first 20 games last season when he had surgery for a collapsed lung on the eve of the opener. He was re-signed to a one-year contract in July.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Is Austin Reaves playing Sunday? Injury status for Lakers-Suns

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves will not play Sunday after suffering an injury on Nov. 11.

Reaves has a bruised heel and is considered day-to-day, coach JJ Redick said. Reaves and the Lakers’ medical staff opted against having imaging done on the injury.

Reaves is listed as "out" for Sunday's game on the NBA's injury reports released on Saturday, Nov. 14. It will be just the second game that he will have missed this season. He did not play in the Lakers’ 124-114 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 9 due to illness.

The initial injury diagnosis had left the door open for Reaves to potentially play against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, Nov. 15. But, he will not be suiting up.

How did Austin Reaves get hurt?

He suffered the injury in an awkward landing on his left heel after missing a transition dunk attempt in the third quarter Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Reaves and the Lakers had several days off to recover between games, but it apparently wasn't enough for the guard to be ready.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Austin Reaves playing Sunday? Injury status for Lakers-Suns

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Mets talk with Ty France’s camp to fill glaring hole at first base

San Diego Padres player Ty France bats during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres flies out off of the roof during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 3, 2026.

The Mets’ search for first base help extends all the way to France. 

The Mets have touched base with Ty France’s camp, a source familiar with the situation said this weekend, as they hunt for perhaps the only lineup spot they plan to upgrade this offseason. 

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With a position-player group that is largely filled apart from Pete Alonso’s old position, where the Mets have a lefty-hitting platoon option in Jared Young and a mystery in Jorge Polanco, they appear to be turning over plenty of rocks. 

The Athletic reported last week that the Mets met with corner infielder Alec Bohm’s camp at the GM meetings. They are also among the many clubs that have engaged with the representative for France, an excellent defender and righty hitter coming off the best season of his career. 

An eight-year journeyman who has played for the Padres, Mariners, Reds, Twins and Blue Jays, France had a disappointing 2025 offensively (.681 OPS) but excelled at first base, where he won a Gold Glove. 

Last offseason he had to settle for a minor league deal and did not sign until February with the Padres, with whom he became a true bargain and even received a down-ballot NL MVP vote. 

The Mets have touched base with the free-agent first baseman’s camp. Getty Images

A Gold Glove finalist who hit both righties and lefties, France batted .295 with 21 home runs en route to an .865 OPS this past season. Perhaps trading some contact for power — with his exit velocity (89.5 mph to 91.5 mph) and bat speed (71 mph to 72 mph) jumping while his strikeout percentage (16.9 percent to 21.6 percent) ticked up — France consistently hit the ball harder and in the air more. 

Ahead of his age-32 season, France likely will receive a multiyear major league deal this time around. 

With Jake Bauers off the board, France and Bohm are likely the best first basemen still on the free agent market (with the possible exception of Teruaki Sato, whose position is up for debate). It is possible that the Mets will need an answer from Tarik Skubal, with whom they are set to meet next week, before determining whether they will play at the top of the first base market. 

The Mets, who have their outfield and left side of the infield set and will give Marcus Semien a chance to earn second base playing time in camp, only have first base and arguably DH as lineup spots in which they could bring in immediate outside help. 

“I do expect us to supplement that [first base] position,” Stearns said at the GM Meetings, adding that they could add a righty bat to complement Young or seek a player who would command everyday playing time at the spot, in which case Young likely would become the usual designated hitter. 

Ty France fields a ground ball against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 25, 2026. France won a Gold Glove at first base this past season. Getty Images

The unknown in this equation is Polanco, who was either injured or ineffective all of last season and underwent left ankle surgery in August. 

“Polanco’s rehab so far is going very well,” Stearns said, adding that the team would have to see how he looks in spring training — whenever that is — before determining his role. 

Apart from Bohm and France, the righty-hitting Paul Goldschmidt also could make sense for the Mets. 

If not free agency, the Mets — who acquired many prospects at last season’s trade deadline and could deal from that depth — could target first basemen such as St. Louis’ Alec Burleson, Detroit’s Spencer Torkelson or Texas’ Jake Burger on the trade market.

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2027 South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 87: Riley Eikhoff

Riley Eikhoff’s first pro season hit an injury detour, but there’s still plenty to like about the road ahead. | (MLB)

Riley Eikhoff
Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
5´10´´
185 pounds
Age: 25
2026 South Side Sox Top 100 ranking 92
2026 High Level Winston-Salem (A+)
Age relative to high level +0.8 years
SSS rank among all right-handed starters in the system 13
Overall 2026 season stats (Low-A/High-A) 4-5 ⚾️ 16 games (14 starts) ⚾️ 83 2/3 IP ⚾️ 3.76 ERA ⚾️ 1.157 WHIP ⚾️ 81 K ⚾️ 17 BB ⚾️ 1.2 WAR

The White Sox selected righthander Riley Eikhoff out of Coastal Carolina in the ninth round of the 2025 MLB Draft. On paper, it looked like they’d landed a sleeper. And his first professional season, in 2026, gave that idea a little more life — even though an injury cut the introduction short.

Eikhoff was a vital member of the Chanticleers rotation in his last year of eligibility, one that saw the program put together one of the most remarkable runs in recent Division I memory. Coastal Carolina won 26 straight games on its way to the College World Series finals, and Eikhoff took the ball twice in Omaha. He helped the Chanticleers beat Arizona and Louisville, putting them two wins away from a national championship. LSU swept the best-of-three final, but if the series had reached a decisive third game, Eikhoff would have been the scheduled starter. That’s an obvious testament to how much trust the Coastal staff placed in him.

What Eikhoff lacks in eye-popping raw stuff, he consistently makes up for in discipline and command. Under first-year Coastal pitching coach Matt Williams, Eikhoff reshaped his arsenal and took a significant step forward. Williams swapped Eikhoff’s four-seamer for a sinker that better matched his lower arm slot. The new sinker sat at 90-92 mph and touched 94. The change unlocked an improved version of the righthander, helping him produce a career-best 3.10 ERA and just 11 walks across 90 innings in 2025.

His slider, a low-80s sweeper with late horizontal action, seems to be his best pitch, and his mid-80s changeup allows him to keep both lefties and righties off-balance. The package doesn’t scream future frontline starter, but there’s something to be said for a pitcher who knows what he has and how to use it.

Eikhoff got his first chance to put that mix to work against professional hitters with Kannapolis in 2026. In 13 appearances (11 starts), he went 4-5 with a 3.84 ERA over 65 2/3 innings. It was enough to earn him a June 17 promotion to Winston-Salem, where he wasted no time making himself comfortable.

In his High-A debut, Eikhoff gave the Dash seven innings of two-run baseball, allowing five hits and striking out seven without issuing a walk. Of his 91 pitches, 68 went for strikes. That’s a pretty good way to introduce yourself to a new coaching staff.

Unfortunately, the Dash didn’t get to see much more. Eikhoff made just three total starts, pitching to a 3.50 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 18 innings before injury landed him on the 7-day IL on July 3 and being transferred to the 60-day IL on July 31, taking him out of action for the rest of the year. Just as he was getting a chance to show what he could do at the next level, his season came to a halt. We’re uncertain of the nature of Eikhoff’s injury, a stint on the 60-day IL is never a good thing.

Still, there was plenty to like about the work he did get in. Eikhoff entered pro ball with questions about whether his size and less-than-elite velocity would eventually push him to the bullpen. That could still be where he lands, but he gave the White Sox a reason to keep handing him the ball as a starter.

He’s a compact righthander with mound savvy, ground-ball potential and a clear aptitude for adjusting his game as the competition rises. Getting healthy and picking up where he left off will be the next order of business, with more advanced hitters providing the next test of how far his command can carry him.

For now, Eikhoff remains a veteran competitor with a sturdy statistical résumé and the kind of reliability that coaches love. It’s precisely the sort of under-the-radar arm that sometimes becomes more than expected. Providing his arm injury in July wasn’t devastating, Eikhoff will likely open 2027 back with the Dash, with a chance at Birmingham sooner rather than later.

Full 2027 South Side Sox Top 100 White Sox ProspectsStorystream

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Kyrie Irving was recognized in Cleveland, in honor of his Game 7 shot to secure the 2016 NBA Finals

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks smiles before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 14, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Kyrie Irving got a moment in the spotlight during the first timeout of Saturday’s game between the Dallas Mavericks (7-5) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (6-7) at Rocket Arena.

The home crowd roared in appreciation as Irving’s step-back 3-pointer to seal the Cavaliers’ Game 7 win over the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals was replayed on the video boards at midcourt.

Irving tapped his chest and thanked the crowd as the Mavs left their huddle to return to the floor with 7:32 left in the first quarter. He may not have left the Cavaliers on the best terms a season later, but that shot proved to be the clincher in the franchise’s first and only NBA Championship. He asked for a trade in the 2017 offseason, and the Cavaliers sent him to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Žižić, and a 2018 first-round draft pick.

The Cavs won Game 7, 93-89, scoring just 18 points in the fourth quarter that night. They held Stephen Curry and the Warriors to just 13 points down the stretch. Irving scored five, and someone named LeBron James had 11 as Cleveland claimed the title behind their own version of Batman and Robin.

“I wanted to prove everybody wrong, and I wanted to prove myself right,” Irving said in an interview with NBA.com before the game. “What a time. Shoutout to all of my teammates that were part of that team. It was a hard-fought season. I was coming off injury, going through a lot of emotions throughout the year and just being uncertain whether I could get back to the level I believed I could get back to. After we won, I was still like, ‘Is there more?’ Now when I look at this [shot], there’s just this appreciation of my youth, my fearlessness — things I attribute my success to today. Game 7, NBA Finals — that’s the pinnacle of any player’s career. ”

He rose up over Curry, kept his right elbow tucked and sank one of the most historic shots in NBA Finals history as a 24-year-old that night, just five years into what has blossomed into a 15-year, Hall of Fame-worthy career. He scored 26 points and pulled down six rebounds that night, just two games after putting together a 41-point masterpiece in the Cavs’ win in Game 5.

James, who scored a matching 41 points in Game 5 that year, would win NBA Finals MVP as he and Irving brought a title to his hometown team.

The Cleveland crowd also gave Irving an ovation when his name was called during the pregame introductions for the starting lineups.

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Today in White Sox History: November 14

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 09: Starting pitcher Chris Sale #49 of the Chicago White Sox delivers the ball against the Houston Astros at U.S. Cellular Field on June 9, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox defeated the Astros 10-1.
On this day 14 years ago, Chris Sale finished sixth in Cy Young voting. | (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

1900
The aggressively-improving American League was rejected as an equal major league by the established National League. Although there were multiple major leagues more often than not in the course of organized baseball over the latter half of the 19th Century, at this juncture the NL felt it was the sole top circuit in the game, and it was especially irked that the AL was ignoring the National Agreement to compete head-to-head in NL cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

How did this affect the White Sox, a newly-formed AL team relocating from St. Paul? The 1900 pennant, the first awarded by the new league, was won by the White Sox, whose 82-53 record was 4 1⁄2 games better than the Milwaukee Brewers. But it, along with the records of the 1900 players, are not consider “major league”; Baseball-Reference, for example, begins its White Sox franchise history at 1901, the first year the AL was regarded as “major.”

However, the White Sox had just four of 28 players without prior major league experience, and half of the players cut from the National League (the circuit had shrunk from 12 to eight teams for 1900) ended up in the AL, legitimizing its major status. And before the season had even begun, the Chicago Tribune observed that “the American League is not, after all, much behind the old, cumbersome National League.” 

The 1900 triumph was the first pennant won by a Chicago team in 14 years.

The White Sox, mostly intact and even bolstered from 1900, went back-to-back in winning the AL pennant in 1901, the first season the AL was considered a major league. In fact, Frank Isbell, Roy Patterson, Ed McFarland played on the 1900 and 1901 pennant winners and 1906 World Series winners.

1977
The move was overshadowed by the failure of Ron Blomberg (signed three days later) falling flat as heir apparent slugger after the South Side Hit Men season, but in some sense, signing pitcher Jim Hughes hit harder. Injuries limited Hughes to just two games out of the pen in 1977, making him a perfect candidate for Bill Veeck’s shoestring Rent-a-Player scheme; plus, perhaps Hughes would fare as well as Twins third baseman Eric Soderholm did for the White Sox under similar circumstances a year earlier. However, Hughes was cut at the end of Spring Training and never pitched a single game for the White Sox, or any other MLB team, after that.

1995
On the strength of a career-best 2.2 WAR season while working off of a prove-it, one-year deal, Dave Martinez re-signed with the White Sox for two years and what turned out to be just shy of $2 million.

Martinez did not sit back after getting paid, putting up a stellar 4.4 WAR season in 1996 and getting on base nearly 40% of the time. While that year would stand as the very best of Martinez’s 16 years in the majors, he followed it with his second-best season, 3.1 WAR in 1997. All told, the outfielder’s three best career years came in his three years with the White Sox.

And somehow, the club didn’t interview him for its manager role after Ozzie Guillén bolted Chicago in 2011.

2012
Chris Sale finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting, the first of seven straight years he would finish in the Top 6. Sale, on the strength of 5.7 WAR, a 17-8 record, 3.05 ERA/3.27 FIP, 1.135 WHIP and 192 strikeouts, earned 17 votes, an 11% share. The battle for the award itself was very tight, with David Price edging out Justin Verlander, 153-149.

In all five of Sale’s starting seasons on the South Side, he earned Cy Young votes.

2024
White Sox All-Star lefthander Garrett Crochet was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.

Crochet, 25, was 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 32 starts and 146 innings in 2024, his first season as a starter after missing most of 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. In fact, he joined a short list of players in baseball history when he made his first career start on Opening Day.

Among pitchers with at least 140 innings, Crochet led the A.L. in strikeouts with 12.88 per nine innings and was second in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.33).

Crochet became the third Sox player to win the Comeback award, joining righthander Liam Hendriks in 2023 and designated hitter Jim Thome in 2006.

Alas, less than a month after receiving the honor, Crochet was dealt to Boston as the headliner in a five-player swap.

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Dodgers may have something to worry about as Padres make top free-agency priority clear

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows A.J. Preller speaks with the media at the MLB General Managers Meetings, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers, Image 3 shows San Diego Padres players watch from the dugout during the seventh inning in Game 4 of the National League Division Series

The Padres are going all in on their starting rotation this offseason.

President of baseball operations A.J. Preller has made the unit its top priority, and the Padres put teams on notice at the general managers meetings in Las Vegas earlier this month. San Diego is reportedly considering all starting pitchers on the market, from Tarik Skubal and beyond.

President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller of the San Diego Padres speaks with the media during the 2026 MLB General Managers Meetings at Aria Resort & Casino on November 10, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images

In recent years, the Padres have been limited in their spending under former ownership. Preller essentially had to be creative with constraints on the budget.

It doesn’t look like that will be the case for the 2027 season.

The Dodgers are at an interesting point of their dynasty as the team’s three-peat aspirations didn’t work out. The direction of the NL West champions is sort of in limbo, and the Padres can capitalize on their rivals’ ambiguity this offseason with a couple of big splashes on the free agent market.

Dodgers free-agent relievers Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia have garnered interest from San Diego’s front office, and the latter remains available. But the starting rotation comes before anything else this winter.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws against the Milwaukee Brewers during Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Milwaukee. Getty Images

The Padres have added quick fixes or temporary additions to the rotation since 2023, but that appears to be on the cusp of change as the team is looking to invest in starters.

“The last three years, really, since, you know, since Peter (Seidler) passed, it’s been, in terms of our budget and our payroll, it’s been pretty much — haven’t had a ton of ability to go add on the free-agent market,” Preller told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune this week in Las Vegas.

“You know, we were able to line up with Michael King last year, but a big part of that was what Yu Darvish did. He knew he probably wasn’t going to be able to pitch this past season and wanted to give us the opportunity to go spend money elsewhere. Kind of unheard of.

San Diego Padres players watch from the dugout during the seventh inning in Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in San Diego. AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan

“But I think for us, the last three years have been more about making our money work for us and finding some players that are hungry that might maybe overperform the contracts that we gave them. That part doesn’t change.

“You’re always looking for players that you feel like are gonna outperform what we’re paying them and guys that go out and overachieve. But hopefully [the ability to spend more money on players] just opens up some other doors and avenues that we haven’t had in the last three years.”

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Next Man Up: Avalanche Take Down Canadiens 4-1 Without MacKinnon and Makar

No Nathan MacKinnon? No Cale Makar? No problem.

The Colorado Avalanche (12-6-3) showed they have plenty of firepower to go around Saturday night, earning a convincing 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens (12-4-4) at the Bell Centre. Playing without two of their biggest stars, Colorado got goals from four different players to hand Montreal its first regulation loss in a month.

Fedor Svechkov and Brock Nelson provided the early offense, while former Canadien Artturi Lehkonen continued his impressive season with his team-leading 15th goal. Nicolas Roy added an empty-netter late in the third period, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 22 shots to help Colorado secure the road win.

Nick Suzuki scored the lone goal for the Canadiens and Jakub Dobeš made 23 saves in a valiant effort.

Blackwood in a recent interview.

First Period: Avalanche Strike Twice

Colorado made the most of its opportunities in the opening period, scoring twice despite being outshot 10-5 by Montreal.

Fedor Svechkov opened the scoring after beating Jakub Dobes on a two-on-one rush, with Adam Engstrom unable to get across in time to disrupt the play.

The Avalanche doubled their advantage on a delayed penalty call when Brock Nelson found the back of the net, extending his goal-scoring streak against Montreal to four consecutive games.

Despite being outshot, Colorado took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission, while Mackenzie Blackwood stopped all 10 shots he faced.

Second Period: Suzuki Gets Montreal on the Board

The Canadiens responded in the second period, with captain Nick Suzuki providing the offensive spark.

After Juraj Slafkovsky helped create several opportunities, including chances on the power play, Suzuki delivered a highlight-reel goal. The Montreal captain pulled off a spectacular spin-o-rama in front of the net before beating Blackwood with a backhand to cut Colorado's lead to 2-1.

Suzuki continued his strong history against the Avalanche, recording his 12th point in his last eight games against Colorado.

Both goaltenders made important saves as the period progressed, but the Avalanche maintained their one-goal advantage heading into the third period. Montreal outshot Colorado 18-15 through 40 minutes.

Third Period: Lehkonen Extends the Lead

After Blackwood helped Colorado weather Montreal's push, the Avalanche delivered a crucial insurance goal.

Nazem Kadri got the initial shot off from the low slot, and former Canadien Artturi Lehkonen was in the right place to capitalize on the rebound, batting the puck past Dobes for his 15th goal of the season. Lehkonen's tally extended his team lead in goals and gave Colorado a 3-1 advantage.

Montreal appeared to have an opportunity to get back within one when Alex Newhook redirected the puck into the net. However, following a lengthy video review, the goal was waved off after officials determined the deflection was made with a high stick.

Colorado continued to hold off the Canadiens before Nicolas Roy sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with just 13 seconds remaining.

The 4-1 win extended the Avalanche's remarkable streak to 52 consecutive victories when leading after two periods.

Final Thoughts

It wasn't a perfect performance from Colorado, particularly after being outshot in the opening two periods, but the Avalanche demonstrated their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and protect a lead.

Playing without MacKinnon and Makar, Colorado received contributions throughout the lineup. Svechkov and Nelson provided the early offense, Lehkonen continued his outstanding goal-scoring season, and Roy put the finishing touches on the victory.

Blackwood was also a key factor, making 22 saves as the Avalanche handed Montreal its first regulation loss in a month.

Colorado leaves Montreal with a 4-1 road victory and another strong team performance to build on.

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Practical, possible, and unlikely trades for Jalen Green

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 06: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball against Dejounte Murray #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 06, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Pelicans 118-116. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Phoenix Suns are starting to work things out.

Winners of five of their last six, after a 1-5 start, the team is now 5-6 and recently beat the streaking Houston Rockets after outplaying them down the stretch. However, questions remain about starting guard Jalen Green’s fit as he continues to average career lows as a scorer and from three, and the team is lacking a starting-level point guard alongside Devin Booker.

Questions have further arisen about his future in Phoenix after NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported Friday that the Suns have interest in acquiring point guard Dejounte Murray from the Pelicans, who recently requested a trade. With the two making similar amounts, the teams could trade them for each other without including any additional salary. But with heightened expectations after a surprising 2025-2026 campaign, the Suns could be looking to deal Green to more than just New Orleans to help their point guard problem. His $36 million salary gives the franchise some flexibility if they can find a good trade partner.

Three trades for Jalen Green

Practical

Suns Receive: Jalen Green

Pelicans Receive: Dejounte Murray

A common trade structure, the aforementioned deal is a classic “my problem for your problem” type of deal. Similar to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers swap of Darius Garland and James Harden back in February, Green and Murray fit each other’s situation better than their current ones.

Now 30 years old and coming off a torn Achilles, Murray better fits a team looking to compete for the playoffs this season, and since Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver took over leadership in New Orleans, the Pelicans have been acquiring young players such as Jermiah Fears and Derik Queen to build for the future.

With rumors continuing to heat up about both guards’ futures, this seems like the most likely and easiest deal the Suns could pull off.

Possible

Suns Receive: Tyler Herro

BucksReceive: Jalen Green, 2027 First-Round pick (least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota, and Utah)

While Herro would create the same problem Green does from a point-guard perspective, he’s a significant upgrade and would give the Suns a more efficient, reliable scorer. With the Bucks already out most of their future picks because of their failed efforts to build a competitive roster for Giannis Antetokounmpo during his final years in Milwaukee, and potentially facing punishment for the contract they gave Gary Trent Jr., the Bucks could be looking for every opportunity to add future draft compensation.

In the last year of his four-year extension he signed back in 2022 when he was with the Heat, the Suns would likely need some assurance that Herro would be willing to stay in Phoenix before making the deal, but he would be a major talent upgrade over Green and had the same college coach as Devin Booker in John Calipari.

Unlikely (But would be perfect for the Suns)

Suns Receive: Jrue Holiday

Trail Blazers Receive: Jalen Green, 2027 First-Round pick (least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota, and Utah)

The Portland Trail Blazers already have too many guards, and adding another inefficient, G League Ignite alum guard alongside Scoot Henderson would not make sense for one of the league’s biggest surprises through the first four weeks of the season, even if it got them a first-round pick; acquiring Holiday would make a world of difference for the Suns.

Playing alongside Booker in multiple Olympics and facing off against him in the 2021 NBA Finals, Holiday is a proven veteran playing in a bench role because of the Blazers’ guard-heavy roster. He doesn’t need the ball to score and knows how to win at the highest level. He’s the only NBA player this decade with multiple Olympic Gold Medals and Finals victories. He’s made the playoffs six straight seasons and helped both the Bucks and Celtics break their 15+ year title droughts. Many consider him to be the piece that made Boston’s 2023-2024 team such a dominant one.

From June:

Who else should the Suns consider for Green?