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'Who doesn't like beer?' How Brewers owner fell in love with Milwaukee | Exclusive

MILWAUKEE — Mark Attanasio, sitting on a couch in his 14th floor office overlooking Lake Michigan, is wearing his Milwaukee Brewers shirt, Brewers socks and even team sneakers.

He was born in the Bronx, lived in Los Angeles, but after 21 years of owning the Brewers, is now a full-blooded Milwaukee resident, living in a downtown high-rise with his wife, Debbie.

When he purchased the Brewers in 2005, they were a downtrodden franchise, with decades of losing, on the field and at the box office, having gone without a postseason berth since 1982.

Now here they are, baseball’s model franchise, reaching the postseason eight of the last nine years, winning four consecutive National League Central titles, leading baseball in victories each of the past two seasons – including a franchise-record 103 victories this year – and joining the Dodgers as the only team to win 86 or more games every full season since 2017.

MLB PAYROLLS: Money isn't everything in 2026

Those rich, famous and powerful Los Angeles Dodgers are standing in their way, with Game 1 of their National League Championship Series taking place Sunday in the best-of-seven series, with everyone outside the city limits of Los Angeles, and perhaps Brooklyn, pulling for those lovable Midwest underdogs.

“Look, we’re an easy team to like," Attanasio tells USA TODAY Sports in his office. “Who doesn’t like beer and brews?

“Who doesn’t like a team that’s called the Brewers?

“Who doesn’t like [manager] Pat Murphy?

“Who doesn’t like a face like [team captain] Christian Yelich?

"Who doesn’t like a 23-year-old [Jacob Misiorowski] who throws over 1,000 fastballs 100-miles an hour, and likes Pokemon cards?"

Brewers owner Mark Attanasio in the dugout before an NLDS game.

These are your lovable Brewers, with a payroll that’s $200 million less than the Dodgers and a local TV contract paying $300 million less than the Dodgers.

The Brewers have just one player (outfielder Christian Yelich) on their active roster making more than $10 million. The Dodgers have 15 players earning more than $10 million, including eight earning more than $20 million.

The Brewers are the Major League Baseball Players Association’s best friend, and also their worst enemy. If the Brewers beat the Dodgers, there’s the proof the union needs during in labor talks that small market teams can not only excel in the regular season, but the postseason, delivering a blow to MLB’s competitive balance argument. But if the Brewers beat the Dodgers, there’s the proof, too, that you don’t need to spend big to win.

“I believe in the butterfly effect," Attanasio, 69, says. “I do think somewhat that things are interconnected, and there's an energy. The more folks root for us, the better."

When the Brewers defeated the Padres last week in the NL Division Series, a man approached Attanasio and told him that that he was the Brewers’ good luck charm, detailing how he also was in attendance in 1982 when the team beat the California Angels at old County Stadium to win the pennant.

Attanasio was so convinced the guy was telling the truth that he called over his executive assistant, and told her to provide him two tickets for each postseason game at American Family Field.

Perhaps the guy really is telling the truth, so why not try it, considering the last time the Brewers played the Dodgers a year ago in the NLCS, they not only were swept in four games, but didn’t lead a single inning?

Then again, maybe it’s just Midwest nice rubbing off on Attanasio, who was raised in Pelham Bay in the Bronx, with six family members residing in a two-bedroom apartment?

Attanasio, who had been to Milwaukee only once in his life – in 1999 for his brother’s wedding – before purchasing the team for $223 million in the fall of 2004, fell in love with the city at first sight. He originally was going to purchase just 10% of the team from Wendy Selig, commissioner Bud Selig’s daughter, only for the Selig family to put the entire team up for sale three weeks later.

Now, here he was, an Italian-American businessman from the Bronx trying to convince Bud Selig, a proud Milwaukee native, that he would take good care of his beloved franchise, but was so nervous being interviewed by Selig that he thought he blew it. He could barely talk, but got Selig’s blessing.

When it was announced that he was the new owner, instead of being viewed warily by the Milwaukee community, he was immediately embraced, with strangers walking up to him and welcoming him to town.

“I remember walking in the street one day and this guy was riding in a sanitation truck,’’ Attanasio says. “The truck stops, this guy jumps off, and says, “Sir, sir, welcome to Milwaukee.’

“He took his gloves off and shook my hand."

Certainly, it hasn’t always been a lovefest. Fans have clamored for a larger payroll. They’ve screamed at trading players a year before they hit free agency. They lost their minds when they traded All-Star closer and clubhouse favorite Josh Hader in 2022. They were sick when the Brewers traded Freddy Peralta, not only their ace, but fan favorite, in January to the New York Mets for pitcher Brandon Sproat and infielder Jett Williams. And they scratched their heads when they traded rookie third baseman Caleb Durbin in February to the Boston Red Sox for young lefties Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan, and infielder David Hamilton.

“When we made the Durbin trade, I remember Commissioner Selig calling me," Attanasio said. “He said, “Mark, will you explain that one to me?’

“I told him the same thing I’m always told when we make these moves, 'Hey, it’s a baseball trade.'"

It would have been no different than if the Brewers had pulled off the blockbuster by acquiring two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal at this year’s trade deadline. The Brewers made what they believe was a generous offer without severely damaging the future, knowing it would send shock waves throughout the sport. Instead, the Detroit Tigers sent him to the Dodgers, causing moans throughout the sport, with the rich getting richer.

Now, instead of having him pitch alongside prohibitive Cy Young favorite Misiorowski, they’ll have to face him Sunday in Game 1, and again in a potential Game 5.

“I’m trying not to think about it," Attanasio said. “But you might see other pitchers in this series that Detroit wanted (including Game 2 starter Logan Henderson).

“We’ll have those pitchers for awhile.

“We were going to have Skubal for only two months."

Yes, while the Dodgers can afford to keep Skubal, even if his price-tag soars above $400 million, that’s a bit out of the Brewers’ price range, to say the least. The Brewers’ largest free-agent signing was Lorenzo Cain to a five-year, $80 million deal in 2018, but they did lock up Yelich to a  seven-year, $188.5 million extension just days before the sport was shut down in 2020 with COVID.

Yelich, just like the owner, is a Los Angeles transplant who has fallen in love with Milwaukee and trusted that Attanasio would do everything possible to maintain their success when he signed his extension.

“It’s family environment around the team, where everybody really cares for each other and enjoys being around each other," Yelich said. “That's from ownership on down. They take care of the players, their families, the guys on the team are friends. The community supports the team. The fan base has been amazing. …

“You understand that your performance as a team directly impacts the happiness of the people in the state, in the city, and you don't take that for granted. It's been awesome playing here. I've really loved it the last nine years and looking forward to more.

“That's why these postseason runs are so special."

Golden era in Milwaukee

Certainly, Attanasio has helped create this golden era of Brewers’ baseball. The Brewers had gone 26 years without a postseason berth, and 14 years without a winning record. Now, they’ve been in the postseason nine times in the last 10 years, and join the Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies as the only teams to be in the playoffs each of the last four years.

“Let me say this, if you could ever orchestrate the perfect guy to own the Milwaukee franchise," Selig said behind his office desk, “it’s Mark Attanasio. I don’t say that lightly. I say this in great respect. It’s one of the most remarkable stories I’ve ever encountered in sports.

“The whole story is so remarkable, it’s hard to articulate what it means to everybody. The Brewers have become prominent in a classy, nice way. The dominance of the Milwaukee Brewers franchise is an amazing, amazing story.’’

Really, says Attanasio, who has become an avid baseball card collector with a Mickey Mantle rookie card and Lou Gehrig card as part of his prized collection, is follow the four principles he set out when he purchased the franchise and had his introductory press conference at the Pfister Hotel:

  • Have a perennially competitive team.
  • Great fan experience.
  • Have a great place to work.
  • Be a leader in the community.

‘I didn’t realize how hard it would be, especially being perennially competitive," Attanasio says, “but we’ve done it. I got lucky, too. Everything was set up with Doug Melvin as our GM. We had a great farm system with Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy and Corey Hart. Then in my first year, Doug drafts Ryan Braun with the fifth pick. It was set up for success. We just hadn’t had it yet."

Attanasio, of course, had to increase payroll and invest in the infrastructure for it work When he took over, the Brewers’ payroll was an MLB-low $22 million. Now, it’s $143.5 million, which pales in comparison to the big boys, but is 19th overall.

“There was a real burden to win, and I felt a real responsibility to win, to get back to the playoffs,’’ Attanasio said. “That just hung over everything. The guys got tired of looking at the video of the ’82 World Series running on the board non-stop.

“Doug used to always talk about not wanting to rebuild, and said, “If you rebuild, how do you ever know that you can ever come back. It was a fair point.’’

The lineage continued with David Stearns taking over as GM in 2015, and then passing the baton to Matt Arnold, who was voted the Executive of the Year by his peers the past two years.

It crushed Attanasio, Selig, and really all of Wisconsin when manager Craig Counsell fled for the Chicago Cubs after the 2023 season. Yet, after interviewing a few candidates, they decided to simply promote bench coach Pat Murphy. All Murphy has done is win back-to-back manager of the year awards while leading the Brewers to record franchise victory totals each of the past two seasons.

“You know, there’s a human element to all of this that the computer can't tell you,’’ Attanasio said. “There's a dynamic, and I'm telling you, he's really attuned to the human dynamic. Pat’s very focused on the clubhouse and how the clubhouse thinks, and Matt Arnold is appreciative of that.

“We know what the analytics say, but he really pays attention to what Pat says."

MLB's next commissioner?

They’ll also listen to Murphy this winter knowing that All-Star catcher William Contreras will be a free agent after the 2027 season, but instead of trading him away with the belief they won’t be able to afford to keep him, they just may make a run at keeping him.

That, of course, is a worry for another day

For now, they’ve got the big, bad Dodgers in town. The Brewers don’t have the same star power. They don’t draw the same media attention. Even Murphy calls them just a “bunch of average Joes.’’

But, oh, can they play, building a powerful efficient franchise that’s the envy of baseball, with several fellow owners believing that Attanasio just may be the ideal person to succeed commissioner Rob Manfred after his planned retirement in 2029.

“I’m humbled by that," Attanasio said. “This is an exceptional peer group. Rob’s in charge for several more years and I love running this team."

And, oh, how Milwaukee sure loves him, building a franchise that is no longer satisfied just to make the playoffs, but to be the last ones standing with champagne dripping off their bodies.

It was years ago, Attanasio says, when told his wife that when he dies, he wants to be buried in Wisconsin.

That still hasn’t changed.

But if the Brewers win the World Series, well, there may be a statue erected of him outside American Family Field one day before anyone is put to rest.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Who doesn't like beer?' How Brewers owner fell in love with Milwaukee | Exclusive

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Dodgers, Brewers NLCS rosters highlight state with huge baseball pipeline

The National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers that starts Sunday, Oct. 11 prompts a long-time baseball scout to share wisdom.

“It's all about fishing in the right pond,’’ Logan White, former vice president of amateur scouting for the Dodgers, told USA TODAY Sports.

When he joined the Dodgers in 2002, White said he studied every state to determine its history of producing major leaguers. More than two decades later, the postseason rosters for the Dodgers and Brewers reinforce White's findings: California rules.

Ten Brewers players on the team’s 26-man roster for the NLDS were native Californians, making up almost 40 percent of the roster. That includes Christian Yelich, the three-time All-Star, and Trevor Megill, a closer who made the All-Star team in 2025.

Five Dodgers players on the team’s 26-man roster for the NLDS were native Californians, making up almost 20 percent of the roster. That includes Freddie Freeman, the 10-time All-Star first baseman, and Tarik Skubal, the two-time Cy Young Award winner.

Population and warm weather give California an inherent advantage, of course. But Logan also noted, “They have always had a great infrastructure with youth leagues, Little League, everything else.’’

White, who left the Dodgers for the San Diego Padres in 2015, said his research helped dictate how he allocated resources.

“(In California), I had multiple crosscheckers that lived there, part-timers and area guys,’’ he said.

An MLB.com story published in 2020 showed California has a huge lead over other states.

Scouting options galore

Tim Fortugno, a former major leaguer who scouts for the Tampa Bay Rays, was sitting inside Cal-Berkeley’s Stu Gordon Stadium Friday, Oct. 9. He rattled off names of some of the Cal-Berkeley players who became major leaguers, such as Hall of Fame Jeff Kent, three-time All-Star Marcus Semien and 10-year catcher Bob Melvin.

All three are native Californians.

“That’s just one college,’’ Fortugno told USA TODAY Sports. “You know, I could go down the street to Stanford. I could go down the street to Fresno State.’’

Or he could head south, where UCLA, USC and Cal State Fullerton produced a litany of major leaguers.

Changing landscape

White said he thinks California is losing college talent because of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) compensation, which took effect for college athletes in 2021. According to White, it’s not just sweeter NIL deals that have lured native Californians elsewhere, but also sellout crowds at schools like Tennessee and LSU and the ability for families to watch games livestreamed rather than needing to be near the school.

“That never used to happen,’’ White said of talented players leaving California.

As for youth baseball, California has won the Little League World Series championship eight times, more than any other state. But California has won only once since 2023.

White attributes that to the rise of elite travel baseball teams.

“I think they're just bypassing playing Little League because you have so many of these travel ball programs (that) want their kids playing year-round with their team so they don't let them go play Little League,’’ White said.

Cold-weather phenomenon

Cold-weather states produce pitching talent, White said.

His theory: young pitchers in states with large populations and warm weather get “pitched all year.’’

“I think you lose a lot of pitchers,’’ White said, “because they, I don't want to say they got abused, but they pitch so damn much that they get abused, right?

“I can't tell you how many kids I knew were great pitchers at 12 in Arizona, and even some I've heard of in California, and they were not that good when they're 18.

“It's because they play in the fall, the winter, and they were playing a lot, I think. And I like playing, but pitching all the time, year-round is tough.’’

Of the 15 native Californians on the Dodgers' and Brewers' NLDS rosters, eight are pitchers. And White also said, "California is always going to produce players because it's got weather, it's got population, great infrastructure, coaching, all that stuff. How might those numbers look in a decade?"

Sleeper states

In addition to studying the states producing the most major leaguers, White said he also studied the ratio of major leaguers to population. He said the highest ratio belonged to the state of Washington.

Sleeper states for producing talent include Georgia and Ohio, according to White, who also called the Carolinas “sneaky good,’’ with a wealth of Division 1 college programs between the two states.

Californians on Brewers, Dodgers rosters

The Dodgers and Brewers will have to turn in their finalized 26-man rosters for the NLCS Sunday, Oct. 11. Though that could lead to some adjustments, here are the native Californians (with their birthplace) who were on the NLDS rosters for the Brewers and Dodgers.

Dodgers

Kris Bubic, Cupertino, CA

Freddie Freeman, Villa Park

Tyler Glasnow, Newhall

Tarik Skubal,Hayward,

Alex Vesia, Alpine

Brewers

Jake Bauers: Newport Beach

Robert Gasser, El Dorado Hills

Kyle Harrison, San Jose

Trevor Megill, Long Beach

Garrett Mitchell, Orange

Joey Ortiz, Garden Grove

JoJo Romero, Camarillo

Brice Turang, Corona

Andrew Vaughn, Santa Rosa

Christian Yelich, Thousand Oaks

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers, Brewers NLCS rosters highlight state with huge baseball pipeline

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Shaikin: 'We responded to the moment': Fred Claire's lasting lesson for a former young assistant

Rick Monday dashes between two men in the Dodger Stadium outfield to snatch an American flag the men were about to burn.
Rick Monday dashes between two men in the Dodger Stadium outfield to snatch an American flag they were about to burn at a game in 1976. Soon after, Fred Claire directed that the stadium message board offer this salute: "RICK MONDAY … YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY." (Herald Examiner / Associated Press)

Fred Claire was calling. In April, when we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Rick Monday rescuing an American flag from protesters about to set it aflame, Claire wanted to share more of the story.

Claire, then the Dodgers’ publicist and later their general manager, had directed that “RICK MONDAY … YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY” appear on the Dodger Stadium message board.

As we talked, Claire made sure to drop the name of the college student earning $15 per game to operate the message board on game nights.

“I’m still in awe of how he met the moment,” Jeff Fellenzer told me after Claire died Monday.

Read more:Fred Claire, former Dodgers GM whose team won the '88 World Series, dies

“He just calmly turned to me. He was sitting two or three seats away. He said, ‘Jeff, just type these words.’ None of us really knew what was going on. It happened so fast.”

As extraordinary as it might sound for an executive to remember and elevate the work of a young assistant half a century earlier, the anecdote reflected three of Claire’s very best qualities: treat everyone with respect, share the credit and help whoever you could.

Claire and Fellenzer stayed in touch over the years. In 1999, when Fellenzer launched a sports business and media class at USC, Claire co-taught the class for the first three years, and since then he always made sure Fellenzer told his students they always could reach out for advice on pursuing careers in baseball or sports business.

“His door was always open to helping people realize their dreams,” Fellenzer said.

Two weeks ago, Fellenzer’s students took a midterm examination. Among the topics: Claire’s keys to building a winning sports franchise.

The bullet points included starting with strong, committed ownership; delivering a good product; establishing credibility and trust with fans and media; and hiring good people and letting them do their jobs.

Claire consistently took ownership of one of the worst trades in Dodgers history, when he swapped future Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez for infielder Delino DeShields. Coaches and scouts suggested the young and wiry Martínez might never develop into a pitcher as successful as his brother Ramon, but Claire did not fault them.

“The facts are the facts,” he said, “and those facts are, I traded Pedro.”

Compare that to whatever this is that New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns is trying to say in the wake of their apocalyptic season: “We and I made a number of decisions that created the potential for an uncapped downside scenario.”

I’m not picking on Stearns. He is far from alone in a new generation of executives comfortable deploying the verbiage of “trust the process” and “sustainable success” as defenses when the process has not resulted in success.

Claire spoke plain English, and he would go on “Dodger Talk” on Sunday mornings to speak directly with fans. When the Dodgers traded future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza in 1998, Claire led with integrity at the risk of losing his job: The Fox ownership had made the trade, he announced, not him. Sure enough, he was fired.

Fox treated the Dodgers more as television content than as a community treasure. This is not a misprint: Under Fox, the Dodgers never appeared in the playoffs.

Read more:Plaschke: Fred Claire’s quiet impact on the Dodgers should never be forgotten

Under the O’Malley family, for whom Claire worked for three decades, the Dodgers did not win every year, as they do now. They fielded a competitive team at a fair price.

Parking was no more than $5 — that would be $10 today, after inflation — and the Dodgers nurtured the next generation of fans by offering free tickets to A students and a kids’ fan club that included six tickets for $2.

Fan loyalty? The Dodgers haven’t lost 100 games in 118 years. They just raised prices on season tickets, again. The Colorado Rockies lost 100 games for the fourth consecutive year — and they raised season ticket prices 12%.

In 1996, when Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan asked owner Peter O’Malley to abandon his plan to build an NFL stadium in the Dodger Stadium parking lot, O’Malley stood down. He then put the Dodgers up for sale, because he believed a family business would lack the resources of wealthier corporate ownerships, and the team might not remain competitive.

Compare that to today, when owners want players to help subsidize teams with fewer resources via a salary cap, and when analysts openly wonder how much the involvement of private equity in ownership might prolong the looming lockout, because trading short-term pain for long-term gain is a straightforward financial principle.

I’d love to discuss all of this with Claire. Fellenzer would too.

On the day before Claire died, as word spread of his imminent passing, Fellenzer sent him an email, thanking him for 50 years of friendship, for impacting him and so many of his students, and for living his life as “such a stellar role model and human being.”

Claire wrote back. His reply, shared with permission:

“Jeff. Thank you.

“A young student typed words that will live, RICK MONDAY … YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY

“We responded to the moment.

“Always do that, respond …

Read more:Shaikin: Rick Monday saved an American flag in 1976. Why the moment resonates 50 years later

“Make an impact …

“Respond with honesty, compassion, transparency, and [timeliness] … and a lack of fear.

“Love.

“Fred.”

Last words for Fellenzer to cherish forever. His reply:

“FRED CLAIRE … YOU LIVED A GREAT LIFE.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Today on Pinstripe Alley – 10/11/26

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 05: Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on October 5, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We have our LCS matchups, and though we already knew this, they do not involve the Yankees. The Dodgers and Brewers will square off in the NLCS for a second-straight year, and after erasing an 0-2 deficit in the ALDS, the Guardians advance to the ALCS for a second time in three years, where they’ll clash with the Rays. It was a fairly scintillating comeback for Cleveland, who saw Gavin Williams strike out 12 to help propel them to a decisive Game 5 victory last night.

On the site today, Andrew recaps last night’s ALDS Game 5, and also profiles the enigmatic Orlando Hernández, who turns 61 today. Later, Matt delivers his All-September Yankees team, and John spins through a somber week in Yankee social media.

Today’s Playoff Matchup:

National League Championship Series Game 1

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
(RHP Jacob Misiorowski vs. LHP Tarik Skubal)

Time: 8:00 p.m. EST

TV: FOX/FOX ONE

Venue: American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI

Questions/Prompts:

1. As noted by Matt in the news today, the time might be now for the Yankees to consider what the future holds for Giancarlo Stanton. Will Stanton play for New York in 2027?

2. Which Ace do you think will perform better tonight, Misiorowski or Skubal? 

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Jayson Tatum got a ‘surreal’ first look playing alongside Paul George

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 10: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 10, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For the first time in his professional career, Jayson Tatum wasn’t alongside longtime co-star Jaylen Brown.

It was different. Not bad. But different.

Instead of taking the floor with the other half of the Jays, Tatum shared it with 36-year-old Paul George — a future Hall of Famer nearing the final stage of his career. Tatum grew up watching George torch the Eastern Conference during his heyday and welcomed PG-13 with open arms as Boston thrashed the Sixers 144-106 in a preseason win at TD Garden on Saturday night.

“It’s kind of surreal, a little bit,” Tatum told reporters, per CLNS Media.

Change, most times, can be difficult. It can even be uncomfortable. But for Tatum, having George along for the ride this upcoming season is a change the 28-year-old superstar is looking forward to.

While Tatum began molding his identity as a young prospect coming out of Chaminade College Preparatory School in Creve Coeur, Missouri, he watched George closely from afar. By the time Tatum declared for the 2017 NBA Draft coming out of Duke, George’s name was repeatedly floated as a suitable comparison for Tatum.

“I was in high school, kind of modeling my game after him and watching film of him when I was in high school. In college, I remember I had to be the first player in college to wear PG-1s. I remember that. … That was 2016 or early 2017. So, like, I’ve always been a fan of PG and just to be able to be his teammate and learn from him, him to take on the role of being a mentor of assistance to myself and other guys, who’ve obviously watched him play for a long time, it’s cool to be a part of.”

It took a while for George to get going. He missed his first four shot attempts before knocking down an open top-of-the-key 3-pointer, extending Boston’s lead to 18 points late in the second quarter and forcing Philadelphia into a timeout. George immediately crouched down, looking directly at the parquet as if letting out a sigh of relief after finally getting on the board for the first time as a Celtic.

Although he finished with only 3-of-10 shooting for 13 points in 24 minutes, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla already envisions what George will bring to the team this upcoming season.

“He’s got great instincts,” Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Great instincts. Great technique. Great positioning. It’s something he takes pride in, but I do think it’s very contagious.”

George grabbed five rebounds, tallied four assists, and recorded five steals in the win. Meanwhile, Brown joined Sixers teammates Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Anfernee Simons, and Tacko Fall in sitting out the preseason duel and instead watched Boston’s offensive clinic — supposedly from Philadelphia’s locker room — elsewhere.

Before the game, Brown warmed up alongside Tatum, albeit on the opposite side of the court. The scene reinforced what had already become official, marking the beginning of a new chapter in both their respective careers and the next page in the historic Celtics-Sixers rivalry.

It’s not only a challenge for the millions of Celtics fans still mourning Brown’s departure and struggling to bear the sight of him playing alongside LeBron. It’s an adjustment for Tatum, too, who spent years sharing the spotlight with Brown and is now Boston’s undisputed alpha.

For the first time in his NBA career, Tatum will enter a season without Brown by his side. The expectations, however, remain unchanged. They didn’t leave with Brown for Philadelphia.

Tatum is now set to share the floor with a player he grew up idolizing — one he’s eager to learn from as the Celtics enter a new era.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Tatum told reporters.

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MMBets: The Blazers Continue To Confuse

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 27: Scoot Henderson #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 27, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

I really don’t have much hope for Portland this year.

That is not because the roster lacks talent. It is almost the opposite.

There might be too many talented players who need to do the same things.

Portland surprised everyone last season by winning 42 games and making the playoffs, and a huge reason why was that they could basically run the offense through Deni Avdija all game. His usage jumped to 28.5 percent, he became an All-Star and the Blazers finally had a clear offensive identity. Now Ja Morant and Damian Lillard are walking into that offense, while Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson are still on the roster.

Portland Trail Blazers: Over/Under 41.5 wins

Over: -110
Under: -115
To win NBA Championship: +7000
To win Western Conference: +3500
To win Northwest Division: +3300

Last season: 42-40, eighth in the West, lost in the first round

Key additions: Ja Morant, Damian Lillard returning from injury, Jeremy Sochan, Branden Carlson, Micah Potter
Key losses: Jerami Grant, Kris Murray, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley
Coaching change: Micah Nori replaces Tiago Splitter.

My biggest problem is that I do not understand how the offense is supposed to work.

Morant needs the ball. Lillard has spent his entire career with the ball. Avdija just had the best season of his career because Portland finally gave him the ball. Scoot still needs developmental reps, and Holiday averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 assists last year and is still expecting a real role. Even Portland’s own preseason coverage has centered around how crowded this backcourt is and how many players need touches.

The spacing does not make me feel much better. Morant shot 23.5 percent from three last season. Avdija is much more effective getting downhill than standing around. If you put those two next to Clingan and another non-shooting big or wing, it becomes really easy to picture the same kind of offensive issues Dallas had when it tried to play Anthony Davis with a bunch of wings and limited shooting.

That is why I think Portland went away from what made last season work. Instead of continuing to build around Avdija, Clingan and Camara, they added another ball-dominant guard to a roster that already had too many guards. They may have added talent, but I am not convinced they made themselves a better basketball team.

I do love Nori, and he is probably the thing that gives me the most pause. If he figures out the hierarchy quickly, this could work. But asking a first-time head coach to balance Morant, Lillard, Avdija, Holiday, and Scoot while also maintaining the defense is a lot.

Portland slightly overachieved last season anyway. They went 42-40 despite finishing 20th in offensive rating with a negative net rating, and their expected record was closer to 40-42. I think they are talented enough to hang around the Play-In. I think last year was more their ceiling than the start of a huge jump.

Prediction: Under 41.5 wins (-115)

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Golden Knights take on the Wild following overtime victory

Vegas Golden Knights (5-1, in the Pacific Division) vs. Minnesota Wild (3-1-1, in the Central Division)

Saint Paul, Minnesota; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights visit the Minnesota Wild after the Golden Knights took down the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in overtime.

Minnesota has a 1-0-0 record in home games and a 3-1-1 record overall. The Wild have a +six scoring differential, with 15 total goals scored and nine given up.

Vegas is 5-1 overall and 2-0-0 on the road. The Golden Knights have a 4-1-0 record in games their opponents serve more penalty minutes.

The teams meet Monday for the first time this season.

INJURIES: Wild: Filip Gustavsson: out (hip), Nick Foligno: out (upper body), Olli Maatta: day to day (lower body), Zach Bogosian: day to day (lower body), Marcus Foligno: day to day (lower body), Brock Faber: out (skull).

Golden Knights: Ben Hemmerling: out (undisclosed), Lukas Cormier: out (undisclosed), Victor Olofsson: out (undisclosed), Kai Uchacz: out (undisclosed).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Rockets vs. Mavs in China, part deux

MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 9: Kevin Durant #7 and Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets high five during the game against the Dallas Mavericks as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 9, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks

October 11, 2026

Location: The Venetian Arena Macao, China

TV:NBA TV and Space City Home Network
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)

Probable Starting Lineups

Rockets: Fred Vanvleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun

Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flag, P.J. Washington Jr. Dereck Lively II

The Rockets looked good in game one. The Mavs looked like, well, the Mavs. Let’s see if it continues.

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Misfits Managed: 3 Observations as Golden Knights Beat Kings in Low-Scoring Anniversary Game

Las Vegas, N.V.– When I spoke to James Neal on Thursday, the original Golden Misfit repeatedly used the word “fun” to describe the Vegas Golden Knights’ inaugural season. In fact, Neal said that season was the most fun year of his hockey career. So, it’s pretty ironic that the game celebrating the ninth anniversary of that 2017-18 team was slow, boring, and not very fun at all.

Actually, maybe it was fitting– this game was a nice callback to the first playoff series that the Golden Knights ever played, which was also against the Los Angeles Kings. There wasn’t much offense to be found in that four-game series; there were only 10 total goals.

On a night celebrating the original Golden Knights team, it didn’t really matter how ugly the game was. What mattered was that in the end, they came out on top. 

“There was a lot of back and forth,” said Shea Theodore following the Golden Knights’ 2-1 overtime win. “You know, I didn’t think there was a ton of action, but it’s good to get the win, especially in overtime.”

1. Big Time Kill

Historically, the Golden Knights aren’t an undisciplined team. Tonight, however, they took two back-to-back penalties in the first period, which gave the Kings a full minute and 31 seconds of 5-on-3. With Nic Dowd and Brayden McNabb– two of the Golden Knights’ best penalty killers– both in the box, things didn’t look great for the home team.

The Kings only managed two shots on goal.

“I liked their compete,” said goaltender Carter Hart following the win. “They got in lanes and tied up sticks, so [the Kings] weren’t getting second opportunities, and got a lot of big clears. Our PK's been solid.”

After LA’s power play expired, the Golden Knights looked like the more inspired team. For the rest of the night, they collectively outshot the Kings 27-19.

“[The 5-on-3 kill] energized us,” said head coach Ryan Craig. “I thought the building got alive after that. Our guys did a real good job, and our game kind of took off there. I liked our start; we just ended up getting a couple penalties. But Carter came up big when we needed him to make a save.

“I liked our pressure,” Craig continued. “I liked how those guys that were on the ice closed and didn’t allow them to reset the puck. So for me, it was a huge moment of the game and gave us a chance for our power play to take advantage.”

2. If You’re a Goaltender…

It’s still early in the season, but so far the Golden Knights have enjoyed solid performances in net from both goaltenders. Tonight, goaltender Carter Hart earned third star of the game after stopping 26 of the 27 shots he faced.

“It’s our expectation with both of [our goaltenders],” said head coach Ryan Craig. “Tonight, Carter, right from the start, including during the 5-on-3 kill, was consistent. I thought he saw the puck well. He let the game come to him. They didn’t have much there in the 2nd period, and sometimes you can get chasing the game, looking to get involved. He was ready when we needed him in the third.”

You can tell when a team isn’t confident playing in front of their goaltender. For the Golden Knights, that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

“We have so much confidence in our goalies,” said Mitch Marner following the win. “And they have so much confidence in themselves, no matter what happens in small moments.”

3. KillaTrav? Nah, KillaTrev

Not many 20-year-old rookies find themselves on the top power play unit with only six NHL games under their belt. But with Victor Olofsson sidelined with an injury, Trevor Connelly is getting the opportunity of a lifetime on the top power play unit. 

​​“It’s a shooter spot because of how our power play is set up,” said head coach Ryan Craig. “You can’t defer in that spot. Trevor can make plays— we’ve seen it a few times. That’s what we wanted to continue to do. Those four guys support him 100% with what he’s doing there. 

“He can’t just be a shooter,” Craig continued. “We have to recover pucks and look to attack. 
Yes, it’s all most likely going to run through Jack as we start a power play, Jack and Mitch. But where it goes from there, and off puck recovery, your second-chance opportunities… Trevor’s got to attack, right? 
From the weak side, we don’t necessarily just need to reset it back to the other side. We can attack, and he can make plays off that side.”

Two nights ago, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky sprawled out to deny Connelly his first NHL power play goal. Tonight, Connelly converted on a very similar play.

“I loved [seeing] it,” said Mitch Marner following the 2-1 win. “I’ve really enjoyed hanging out with him. Super great kid. He loves the game and has so much fun out there… He’s a great hockey player. You see his hockey sense out there. He just reads the plays so well. He makes so many great offensive plays, and he’s really building his defensive game as well.

“It’s been great to see, and he’s only going to get better,” Marner finished. “If he’s got questions to ask, I’ll answer them, and always try to help him out.”

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Takeaways from the Ducks 4-2 Win over the Flames

To wrap up their brief early-season Canadian road trip, the Anaheim Ducks were hosted by the Calgary Flames on Saturday evening in Calgary. 

The Ducks entered Saturday with a 3-1-0 record and a day removed from defeating the previously undefeated Winnipeg Jets on Friday by a score of 5-1.

Their opponent in this game entered having lost all four of their games to open the season in regulation by a combined score of 23-6.

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-1 Win over the Jets

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-2 Loss to the Oilers

Having made seemingly successful wholesale changes to his depth chart ahead of their game against the Jets, Joel Quenneville only made one change in this game: inserting Frank Vatrano onto the listed third line in place of AJ Greer. 

Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game: 

Sennecke-Carlsson-Colangelo

Nesterenko-Granlund-Gauthier

Vatrano-Poehling-Killorn

Malott-Washe-Caulfield

LaCombe-Warren

Mintyukov-Mitchell

Hinds-Luneau

Ville Husso got his first start of the year. His first action of the year came in relief in the third period of the Ducks’ loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, where he stopped both shots he faced. In this one, he saved 27 of 29 shots. Opposing Husso in Calgary’s crease was Dustin Wolf, who stopped 24 of 28. 

This was a costly two points for the Ducks, who had to play without star forward Cutter Gauthier for the final 50 minutes of the hockey game, after he left for the locker room with an upper-body injury. 

Center Ryan Poehling scored the game-winning goal, shorthanded, with 14:25 remaining in the game, but after the puck went into the net, he was tripped, and he crashed into the post, right leg first. He was helped off the ice by the training staff and did not return. 

Game Notes

The Ducks played the majority of this game with 11 forwards and the last 14 minutes with ten. Jackson LaCombe was seemingly benched for the final ten minutes of the second period, so for that stretch, they relied on just five defensemen. 

Calgary was by far the fresher and hungrier team of the two, as they were physical from puck-drop, orchestrated lengthy offensive zone sequences, and generated scoring chances off Anaheim’s mistakes. Fortunately for the Ducks, their talent won out, and Ville Husso made numerous difficult saves when the Flames were pressing.

Jackson LaCombe: As mentioned, LaCombe sat for ten minutes to end the second period. He carried the highest percentage of responsibility on Calgary’s first goal, finding himself too aggressive and deep in the offensive zone when the Flames had clear possession, moving up ice. A lackadaisical effort led to a second puck crossing the Ducks’ goal line, but it was called back, and the play was ruled offside. 

He notched his first goal of the season early in this game, but the Ducks will need a more dogged effort from their No.1 defenseman when they’re facing adversity and up against stiffer competition. 

Breakouts: After seemingly solving their d-zone exit issues during their last game against Winnipeg, the Ducks again struggled to get pucks into neutral ice from their end. Defensemen did well to draw forecheckers low before sending pucks to their outlets, but those second touches out of the zone were often bobbled or turned over, leading to several extended cycle sequences. 

Frank Vatrano: Vatrano was reinserted into the Ducks lineup and put forth an effortful performance, highlighted by a significant goal late in the first period to give his club a 2-1 lead. He was impactful on the forecheck, finished his hits, and, as displayed by his tally, he battled hard in the small, dangerous areas of the ice. 

Due to the injuries sustained, his ice time was limited as he was often the odd-man out of the 11-forward rotation. However, he was rewarded with three big shifts in the final five minutes of the game when Calgary was pushing to tie. 

Tristan Luneau: With LaCombe sitting for so long, Luneau was the Ducks’ de facto top defenseman in this game, as he led the team in TOI (23:42) and received heavy defensive minutes, not starting a single shift in the offensive zone. Though there were a few instances of hurried retrievals and outlets, he did well to dictate play from the backend and handled his assignments well in the defensive zone. 

The Ducks will travel home to Southern California, where they’ll host this same Flames team on Tuesday at 6:45 pm PST. 

What's the Plan for Ducks Rookie Nikita Klepov?

Takeaways from the Ducks 3-2 OT Win over the Panthers

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Win over the Golden Knights

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Jazz Fan Hatewatch Rankings for 2026

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 8: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

“ Hate” is a strong word and doesn’t quite fit here, but “teams that you root against the most” doesn’t have a great ring to it. This isn’t real hate, just sports hate. That said, the season is long, and if you’re an NBA head with a League Pass subscription, you sometimes need something to watch on nights the Jazz aren’t on. Here are the top five teams to hate-watch, or root against, this season. Some are for standings/playoff-race reasons, and some are for petty reasons, but both are valid.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

I know, I know. This isn’t a team Jazz fans find easy to hate. Most Jazz fans root for Rudy Gobert, and now they can root for Cody Williams too. While those players are fun to root for, there are real reasons to hope this team loses. In the upcoming draft, Utah gets the second-best pick of Utah, Cleveland, and Minnesota. This means that Jazz fans should root against all these teams because the worse they do, the better it is for Utah come draft night in 2027. So, even though it’s fun to root for Rudy Gobert, who still has strong roots in Utah, it helps the Jazz in a small way each time they lose. This includes next year, when Utah will still be receiving picks from the Rudy Gobert trade.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

This is for purely petty reasons. I have no problem admitting that I am a hater. I remember last season when the Oklahoma City Thunder tried to ruin the Jazz’s tank to keep their pick. Instead of letting other teams do the same, Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City Thunder tried to meddle, nay, snitch, on the Jazz for what they were doing. You can absolutely attribute the fine the Jazz received to the Thunder and the outside pressure not to continue the tank. That pressure might have folded lesser, weaker-minded front offices like the Kings or Pelicans, but the Jazz held strong, and it worked. Now, Sam Presti has to watch as the Jazz turned the pick that could have been his into Darryn Peterson, who will start competing for the playoffs and beyond for years to come. For that disrespect and act of war, I will enjoy every Thunder loss. Every time the cheap-o Thunder ownership forces the front office to trade off players to save a little cap, I’ll enjoy it. Every time the Thunder fall short, I’ll be there, absorbing the Presti tears like a hate-plant needing water.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

Yes, Donovan Mitchell quit on the Jazz in the Dallas Mavericks series to force a trade he was pushing for behind closed doors. Yes, every time he loses a playoff series, it validates the trades made four years ago. Those are reasons alone to hate-watch the Cavaliers. But on top of that, the Jazz still have 1st-round picks and swaps from the Cavs for the Donovan Mitchell trade. Every loss helps the Utah Jazz in a real way. This upcoming season, Utah has the second-most favorable of the three picks in the UTA/MIN/CLE group. They have a first-round swap in 2028, plus the two most favorable picks in the UTA/MIN/CLE group in 2029. So, hate-away Jazz fans, because the Cavs losing helps Utah a lot.

2. Washington Wizards

This is for the most unhinged haters. We have nothing against the Wizards, really. The Jazz and Wizards are in two different conferences. Both have been seeking a cornerstone star, and both likely have one now. But because of the rumors this summer that the Wizards front office tried to stir up (the ones pushing Ace Bailey and the Jazz’s pick for the #1 pick), and because they drafted AJ Dybantsa regardless, it’s enough to create a real hate watch. Also, for some reason, as fans, you just want to see your pick play better than theirs. I don’t know why, I don’t understand it, but there’s been a lot of animosity between the Wizards and Jazz fanbases. Both want to say their player is better. On top of that, the BYU connection has created some fans internally who have rooted for AJ to somehow prove the Jazz should have traded up for him. All this adds up to me watching a lot of Wizards games and enjoying it when things don’t go well.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

The easiest choice of these. First off, it’s the Lakers. That is immediately a valid reason to have him the Lakers near the top. It’s in the Jazz fan charter or something. On top of that, they traded for a player who didn’t want to be here. Walker Kessler didn’t accept any offers from the Jazz that would have kept him here and made him a core part of this exciting Jazz core. The offers were more than fair and would have made him one of the highest-paid non-all-stars in the league, and at a position that typically doesn’t get overpaid. This is probably my own theory, but I’m guessing Kessler kept turning down Jazz offers until he knew the Jazz’s limit, then leveraged a move to the Lakers because Luka Doncic wanted him on the team. Once again, good on the Jazz for fleeceing the Lakers in the deal. Sure, you can be happy for Kessler getting paid, but I’m a real Utah Jazz fan and will happily root against the Lakers and any player who chose to move to that team. Aside from the Jazz winning, nothing would give me more satisfaction than a dissapointing Lakers and Walker Kessler season.

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Will Shohei Ohtani decide Dodgers' fate in NLCS?

Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the National League Championship Series for a third consecutive season.

The Dodgers will be tasked with beating the Milwaukee Brewers, who produced the best record in the league this season. This is the second consecutive season the two teams have met in the NLCS.

Los Angeles managed to sweep Milwaukee in 2025, holding the Brewers' offense to just one run in each game. Ohtani was named the series MVP, having delivered a strong two-way performance.

The Dodgers’ superstar closed out last year's NLCS by pitching six shutout innings while striking out 10. He also hit three home runs in the game.

Will Shohei Ohtani need another strong performance for Dodgers to win?

Ohtani has not been healthy for a good portion of the 2026 season.

He was limited as a pitcher, and hasn’t pitched at all since July 3 due to his injuries. It is unlikely that he will pitch during the postseason.

Ohtani will remain available as a designated hitter, despite dealing with knee inflammation and biceps discomfort. 

The lack of pitching from Ohtani will not diminish Los Angeles' chances of making the World Series. Ohtani did not pitch during his first season with the Dodgers in 2024, but the team captured the World Series title anyway.

He spent the entire 2024 season recovering from right elbow surgery he underwent in September 2023. The four-time MVP reached several career milestones that year and created the 50-50 club after producing 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.

Shohei Ohtani's NLDS stats

Ohtani produced just two hits and a run in four games against the Atlanta Braves in the 2026 National League Division Series. He did not hit a home run but did steal a base. He was walked twice and struck out four times.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Shohei Ohtani decide Dodgers' fate in NLCS?

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Game Recap: The Suns take down Wemby, Spurs, 102-98

Oct 10, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

On a rainy October night in Downtown Phoenix, the Suns locked in and played one of their most complete games of the preseason.

The Suns are now 1-2 and have two more preseason games left on the schedule before their season opener on October 21st. Phoenix was without Devin Booker and Miles Bridges in this one.

Luke Kennard led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-10 shooting from deep. He also chipped in with 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 25 minutes. Jalen Green scored 18 points, and Dillon Brooks added 15. Overall, it was another strong showing from the starting unit, even if it was a different starting five this time.

Khaman Maluach got his first start of the preseason, and certainly took advantage of it. He finished with 10 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal on 4-for-9 shooting in 23 minutes. Man Man finished plus-14.

Game Flow

First Half

The Suns decided to start Luke Kennard and Ryan Dunn in place of Devin Booker and Miles Bridges. The original plan was for guys not to play in all 5 games, so this was the game off for those two, per Jordan Ott.

Khaman Maluach also drew his first start of the preseason with the Suns going up against Wembanyama’s length. He pulled in 10 boards in his first 11 minutes of action, making the most of his time on the glass.

Jalen Green was aggressive early, hunting for his shot and making plays for others. He has looked really encouraging off the bounce this preseason.

The Suns jumped out to a 22-11 start, led by blistering shooting from Jalen Green, Luke Kennard, Jordan Goodwin, and Dillon Brooks.

Suns started 6-of-8 from three on their opening eight attempts. Jalen Green led the way with a dozen points in the opening quarter.

Luke Kennard let it fly early and often, and showed that he is indeed far more than just a shooter. He was drilling threes, but also attacking closeouts, getting to his spots and cutting without the ball.

Phoenix led after the opening quarter, 35-25. The Suns were actually getting “out-tempoed” in fastbreak points, with the Spurs scoring 15 compared to their 4 in fastbreak points. But it did not feel like it, because they were scoring off turnovers and generating plenty of second-chance points.

The Suns led by as many as 15, but the Spurs fought back to close out the half and trim it to single digits.

Phoenix entered the half leading 58-51. Jalen Green led all scorers with 16 points, and Dylan Harper led the Spurs with 13.

Luke Kennard certainly took the “shoot it more” to heart in this one, as he aggressively looked to get his shot both off the dribble

Second Half

Wembanyama did not start the second half initially, but checked in one minute and four seconds into the quarter.

Maluach had a nice offensive board over Wemby and a put-back two. The very next possession, after he ripped down his 12th rebound of the game, he finished at the rim, going right at Wemby… again! Then he drained a three.

It was the Khaman Maluach show to open the third. The Suns outscored the Spurs by five in the 3rd quarter to extend their lead to 12 points.

Brooks and Green each went for about 9 minutes of action before heading to the bench for the remainder of the game, handing the rest to the bench crew.

After three, Phoenix led 85-73.

In the fourth quarter, there was a whole lot of Jamaree Bouyea, Haywood Highsmith, and Rasheer Fleming. We even got a Koby Brea and Koa Peat sighting!

Then it got to the sloppy “garbage time” part of preseason, even by preseason standards. The Suns held on despite a late-game run from the Spurs to cut the lead down to four with 12 seconds left.

Up Next

Phoenix will travel to San Antonio to face this same Spurs squad for Game 4 of the preseason on Wednesday. We shall see you all then!

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Darcy Kuemper's Heroics Wasted In Kings Overtime Loss

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, back on the crease, delivered one of his best games in a long time, posting his best season performance with several big saves against the Vegas Golden Knights and easing pressure on the Kings' defense. 

The 36-year-old posted 30 saves on 32 shots on Saturday night, anchoring LA's defense on the road against a Western Conference opponent. But it still wasn't enough to give the Kings their first road win of the season in a tough environment. 

The Kings have now started the season off 0-2-2 for the first time in franchise history. Somehow, though, even though they played arguably their best against a quality team, this loss feels much harder to swallow given how close the match came down.

By all means, this was a very winnable game for the visiting team; despite never leading, the Kings were in position to take the lead, especially with Kuemper's crease play giving the offense plenty of chances to take over.  

The game was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes, thanks to Kuemper's strong goaltending, and Artemi Panarin tied the score with a power-play goal in the second period. 

The final period mirrored the opening, with both teams struggling to score and their defenses tightening to stretch the game as long as possible. LA was doing a solid job on the rush, especially on the 3-on-2 break-up, with Drew Doughty stopping a dangerous situation. 

Neither team could control the game or take the lead in the third period to break the tie. For the second time this season, the Kings were headed to extra periods in T-Mobile Arena. 

In overtime, back-to-back plays by Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfeild looked like they would lead to a game-winning goal and head home, but a big save by Knights goaltender Carter Hart kept the home team alive. 

All those chances, the door was left open for the home team to convert, and they did. Off the faceoff, Mitch Marner spotted the traffic and nailed a shot down the middle, converting on the Knights' power play and finishing 2/3. 

After the game, winner Kuemper, who left it all on the ice, walked off, disappointed, shrugging in disbelief after his best game of the season. 

“We hate losing. We want to win. We've got to use that feeling the right way, find that extra level to be difference makers to find wins, Kuemper said after another close loss.’’

A disappointing season last year and an ugly start to this one, despite playing better tonight, have turned up the volume about ownership and whether this team should move towards rebuilding rather than staying in the middle for the last 10 years already.

Despite the defense playing its best this season, holding Vegas to a season-low two goals, the Kings' offense let them down, especially in the final period, after the defense made quality saves and stops; they failed to capitalize. 

While the Kings played another close one and looked like they wanted it more, the box score didn't show it. They once again struggled on the power play, finishing 1-for-3 and scoring just one goal in their second straight game. 

The positive takeaway from this game was that Kuemper looked excellent on the road against the Knights. If he continues this play, all LA needs to do is work on their offense, and the team will be fine. 

Los Angeles returns to Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers beginning their two-game homestand at 7:30 PM PT. 

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