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Jankowski, Kochetkov lead Hurricanes to 3-2 win over Blue Jackets

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Mark Jankowski scored in the third period for a three-goal lead, Pyotr Kochetkov made 24 saves and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Thursday night.

Kochetkov improved to 9-0-0 and set the franchise record for longest season-opening winning streak. Jordan Martinook and Logan Stankoven also scored and Seth Jarvis added two assists as the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes won for the fourth time in five games.

Jet Greaves stopped 24 shots for Columbus. Denton Mateychuk and Kent Johnson scored in the third period.

Jankowski's goal, 16 seconds into the third period, felt like added insurance, but turned out to be the difference in the game.

Martinook beat Greaves from the left circle to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with 4:09 left in the first period.

Stankoven made it 2-0 with his team-leading ninth goal of the season, 7:47 into the second period. Stankoven has five goals in six home games this season.

Up next

Blue Jackets: At Dallas on Saturday night.

Hurricanes: Host Winnipeg on Sunday.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Michael King has opted out

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 04: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres heads to the dugout prior to game two of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 04, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As was expected throughout all of baseball, San Diego Padres ace starter Michael King has opted out of his contract with the team. King signed a three-year deal before this season and had $58 million remaining over the next two years. By opting out, he receives a $5 million buyout for 2027, effectively giving him a 2026 salary of $22 million.

No quick contract agreement

His opt-out indicates that there was no quick resolution to the wish on both sides for King to remain a Padre. Widely considered the second-best pitcher to enter the free agent market, after Tarik Skubal, King figures to command a multi-year, high-value deal. 

In a recent article in The Athletic, Jim Bowden estimated a four-year, $118 million deal. If that is close to accurate, it is only somewhat more than the right-hander would have gotten with his Padres deal, but with the addition of two more years. At 31 years of age, King is still in his prime and could easily fulfill a four-year deal with that value.

What will free agency bring for King

After a less-than-enjoyable turn through free agency last year (King expressed his dissatisfaction with the process at his signing press conference), the process will most likely prove to be a more lucrative experience this time around. King had just come off an injury-plagued season in 2025 when he re-signed with the Padres during the last offseason. His performance this year, a 2.59 ERA over 100 2/3 innings, showed he is fully back from those injuries and is a staff ace.

Padres are short starters 

His value to the Padres is probably higher than with any other team that can make offers to the New York native. 

The Padres have Randy Vasquez as the only reliable starter on the roster. 

Joe Musgrove returned to the team with three postseason innings out of the bullpen, but his presence in the rotation next season is not assured.

Nick Pivetta has a $14 million team option after missing much of the season with a strained flexor tendon. This is the second season in a row that Pivetta has missed significant time with the same injury. His reliability and health are in question, and that large of an option has to be a major source of anxiety for the organization.

JP Sears is not an effective major league starter for the Padres. At best, he provides emergency depth in the minor leagues. Jhony Brito is unproven and recently completed rehab for his Tommy John surgery, certainly not a reliable option either.

All other pitchers who started for the Friars in 2026 are free agents as of Thursday morning.

Will anything change in the next five days?

There is a five-day window of exclusive negotiations for the team and the free agent. After that, the player is free to talk to any other organization.

If King wants a home prior to the uncertainty of the labor situation, he will have until Dec. 1 to make a decision.

The resources of the Padres are unknown at this point. In his season-ending media availability, general manager A.J. Preller alluded to the meetings that would be taking place within the organization to decide a budget and a plan for the offseason. No results from those discussions have been shared with the public.

It remains to be seen what financial flexibility the team will have for signing players before the new CBA is active. Preller hinted that there was some money to spend, but no one knows how much that will be.

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Preview: Hobbled Jazz host Trail Blazers’ red-hot wagon

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 28: Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 28, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It hasn’t been the start to the season that the Utah Jazz were hoping for. Let that be my late submission for Understatement of the Year, as the upstart Jazz have not only lost four of their first five games (their lone victory a one-point stand against a New Orleans team that remains winless at the time I’m writing this article) but have seen three members of their starting unit go down with injury.

Most notable of all were veteran bigs Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. making early trips to the locker room during the same half of play against Memphis. The two players head coach Will Hardy described as Utah’s best will both miss time, and the reserves haven’t been able to keep their head above water in their absence.

To be fair, Utah’s schedule hasn’t exactly been favorable to this point in the year. They had two dates with the Grizzlies, who might be the biggest surprise of the early year, as they sit with an unblemished record of 4-0.

It doesn’t help morale that Walker Kessler, who Utah could have retained this offseason had they been willing to pay top dollar, has been excellent in Los Angeles. The Jazz were forced to dip to their fifth-string center, Tony Bradley (always good to see a familiar face), in their second loss to the Grizz.

A glimmer of hope, however, has been the outstanding play from fourth-year point guard Keyonte George. Utah’s front office raised their hands in an overwhelming vote of confidence in Key by extending his tenure for five more years and a sizable stack of cash. Their investment is already paying off early.

Taking charge and planting his rear end in the director’s chair, George shouted into the megaphone as he dropped a season-high 31 points against the NBA Finals runners-up. They leaned on him, and they leaned hard. Hard enough that Will Hardy felt inclined to give his young point guard a breather at the beginning of overtime.

Keyonte has been exceptional this year, but the team became far too reliant on his scoring ability late into the game, and the wheels fell off in the critical stretch of added time.

Perhaps rolling out Isaiah Collier over Darryn Peterson was a sound decision on paper — putting the ball in the hands of the more experienced player is logical — but the offense stalled as Collier pounded the air out of the ball, and costly turnovers saw Utah’s early three-point advantage give way to a rapid 12-0 run. It was miraculous to see what was essentially the Jazz’s second and third unit go wire-to-wire against a healthy San Antonio side, but it’s clear Utah’s sculpture has plenty more rough edges to carve away.

And they can start by taking down a frisky Portland team in the Delta Center.

The Blazers are unbeaten behind a core of players that fascinates and perplexes me. On the surface, it’s a roster that is well-balanced and carries some real firepower.

Deni Avdija was silently one of the best forwards in the NBA last season, a master of rim-pressure and free-throw trips. He’s running the show again this season, averaging a team-high in minutes, points, and steals.

But he’s not alone this year; Portland’s front office upgraded the backcourt significantly. Shifting the uneven Scoot Henderson to the second unit in favor of Damian Lillard, who’s picking up right where he left off before being traded to Milwaukee two seasons ago. Torching the net for nearly 43% from three-point land through three games, he’s averaging 21.4 points per game.

And he’s got a running mate in Ja Morant. Morant, who was dumped from the Grizzlies’ sinking ship (which is floating quite comfortably today, interestingly enough), has played very well with his new team and, shockingly, has been shooting the leather off the basketball at 44.4% from three.

Add Jrue Holiday, Donovan Clingan, and Toumani Camara to the mix, and it’s no wonder why the Blazers opened the year 3-0 — this is a frisky, dangerous team.

So how will the Jazz fare against their Northwest Division rivals in Salt Lake City? The inertia doesn’t bode well.

Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk and a Utah Jazz columnist for the Standard-Examiner. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently writes from his desk in Japan.

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Knicks begin NBA Cup title defense with shot at revenge against LeBron James, 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3).
Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York.

CHICAGO — The Knicks will start their secondary title defense like they began their primary — against LeBron and the 76ers. 

The group stage of the NBA Cup kicks off for the Knicks on Friday night in Philadelphia, a rematch of the regular-season opener from 10 days prior. 

The Knicks lost that matchup, 106-100, because Tyrese Maxey took off and LeBron finished. This time, the Knicks (2-3) are coming off consecutive victories — against the Pistons and Bulls — while Philadelphia (4-1) is still riding the pace and skill of Maxey, the reigning Eastern Conference player of the week. 

LeBron James looks to make a move on Josh Hart during the Knicks’ season-opening loss to the 76ers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“We just need to obviously not do what we did [the last time we played them],” Jalen Brunson said. 

Brunson broke out of his shooting slump in Wednesday’s victory over the Bulls, reeling off 38 points with six treys. 

The Knicks are in the toughest NBA Cup group with the Sixers, Pacers (game on Nov. 13), Cavs (Nov. 25) and Heat (Nov. 27). The winner automatically advances to the quarterfinals, along with two wild cards from the six groups. 

Last year, the Knicks won the tournament, with the semifinals and finals held in Vegas. This year, if they advance, the semis are at the home team’s arena and the final is at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indiana, the historic basketball site from “Hoosiers” and home of Butler University. 

Despite winning the NBA Cup, Knicks owner James Dolan declined to hang the banner until they won the NBA Finals. 

NJalen Brunson drives past Tyrese Maxey during the Knicks’ loss to the 76ers in their season opener. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Pacôme Dadiet will hit free agency in the summer because the Knicks, as expected, are declining to pick up his $5.4 million team option for next season, a source confirmed. 

Dadiet, a 2024 first-round pick, has been out of the rotation again and is worth more to the Knicks as a trade chip on an expiring deal than on the books for over $5 million next season. 

The 21-year-old Frenchman has logged one minute this season. For his career, Dadiet is averaging 1.6 points on 33 percent shooting. He’s the lone Knicks first-round pick on the roster. 

ESPN first reported that the Knicks were declining Dadiet’s option. The deadline is Saturday. 

Sixers star Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable for Friday with knee soreness. Neither Joel Embiid nor LeBron James are on the injury report. 

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Mets claim INF Kyren Paris off waivers from Angels, DFA OF Cristian Pache

With the MLB offseason officially underway, the Mets kicked things by claiming infielder/outfielder Kyren Paris off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. 

To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, New York designated outfielder Cristian Pache, who played in 15 games for the Mets last season, for assignment.

Paris played in just eight games with the Halos in 2026 after appearing in 44 games the year before where he hit six home runs in 126 at-bats. The youngster also added four doubles, one triple, seven steals and 20 runs scored to give him a 0.8 WAR as a reserve player. 

About to turn 25 years old in November, Paris has spent his entire four-year career in Los Angeles where he's slashed .147/.238/.272 in a super utility role. In 88 career games (72 starts), Paris has played second base, shortstop and all three outfield positions, although the infield is where he's the best defensively.

Paris has spent the majority of his career in the minors, splitting time last season between Double-A and Triple-A. Despite a lackluster performance in Double-A, Paris shined in 62 games for Triple-A where he slashed .307/.427/.554 and showed off his power and speed with 31 extra-base hits, a .981 OPS and 16 steals.

In 455 career games in the minors, Paris has hit .243 with a .779 OPS and 150 steals.

As for Pache, he joined the Mets last offseason on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training before eventually signing a one-year deal worth $850,000. The soon-to-be-28-year-old fought for the club's fourth outfield spot in spring training and despite a solid showing, Pache began the season in the minors.

After making his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2020, Pache has been a journeyman and has played for six different organizations. He's never been able to produce consistently at the plate and even struggled across 93 games with Triple-A Syracuse this season.

The outfielder was called up by the Mets in early August for depth and went 1-for-8 at the plate.

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Winless Nets think they’re close to shaking 0-4 albatross

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Chaney Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics battle for control of the ball during a game, Image 2 shows Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum celebrates with teammates after hitting the game-winning basket against the Brooklyn Nets

The Nets came up just short of beating the Celtics in Boston in their last game, but the end result is they fell to 0-4. 

For a team that’s trying to change the direction of a franchise that knows tanking all too well — and lost its first seven games a year ago — they know the results have to change. 

And they believe they’re close. 

Moritz Wagner reacts during the Nets’ overtime loss to the Celtics on Oct. 27, 2026 in Boston. Getty Images

“We haven’t won yet, so obviously we want to get the zero out of that column and get a one right there,’’ Michael Porter Jr. said after practice in Brooklyn on Thursday. “It’s important. That’s why that loss the other day hurt. We felt we were in a position to win the game, but if we play like that and can continue to improve, then we’ll get there.” 

Their next chance comes Friday at Barclays Center against the Pistons, followed by games on the road versus Indiana and the Knicks, so it won’t come easily. 

Unlike the previous two seasons, when the Nets could have benefited from losing but did not fare well in the draft lottery, this year their first-round pick goes to the Rockets as a result of the trade that sent James Harden to Brooklyn. 

So the time to start winning is now. 

“We’ve just got to get that first win,’’ Day’Ron Sharpe said. “Once we get that first win, we can use it as momentum.” 

And the lack of a victory is on the players’ minds. 

They entered Thursday as the only winless team remaining in the Eastern Conference and one of just three in the league. 

Jayson Tatum (center) celebrates with teammates after hitting the game-winning basket against the Nets in overtime. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

“For sure,’’ Sharpe said of whether the record was something the team thought about. “You don’t want to have a zero on the board. Last year, we started 0-7 and we’re not trying to do the same thing this year.” 

To prevent another round of Groundhog Day — without the silver lining of a potentially high pick — the Nets will have to play like they did in Boston — without the late-game miscues that ended up costing them. 

“We’re almost right there,’’ coach Jordi Fernández said. “It came down to late-game execution.” 

But he added, “I think games like this in the future will lead to more wins.” 

As Porter noted, the Nets are again playing with some key new players, from veterans like Julius Randle to rookie Mikel Brown Jr. 

“It’s gonna take some time to develop some chemistry and I think from Game 1 to the last game, there’s been some growth,” Porter said. “Teams that are brand-new like this, it takes a while. We understand that and I think we’re willing to be patient with the process and continue to stack days and it’ll turn around for us.” 

Fernández agreed and doesn’t want his team to press. 

“We want to play with an edge, not anxiety,’’ Fernández said. “I just want to see continuity from what we did in the game against Boston. There’s no doubt in my mind, the first [win] is gonna come … I believe in the process. Right now, I’m not anxious about a win. I want to play consistently the right way. That [Boston] game is a clear example of who we want to be.”

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Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Bruno Fernandes owes Manchester United a performance, Mathys Tel has arrived at Spurs and Liverpool are improving

Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes held clear-the-air talks this week. Fernandes was an unused substitute against Bournemouth after criticising Carrick’s tactics during the Champions League defeat by Como but it seems the situation has been resolved – for now. Dropping Fernandes did not do United any good against Bournemouth, who ran riot at Old Trafford, and the captain is expected to return to the starting lineup for the trip to Chelsea. If that happens, he owes Carrick a performance. Fernandes has been poor this season and it is time he did his talking on the pitch. Jacob Steinberg

Chelsea v Manchester United, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)

Manchester City v Brighton, Saturday 3pm

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ESPN ranks Tigers seventh best in first postseason power rankings

Aug 18, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (left) and Detroit Tigers center fielder Max Clark (middle) and third baseman Kevin McGonigle (right) pose for a photo before their game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

This really shouldn’t be that surprising. The Tigers have one of the better core groups in baseball now, and while their rotation has question marks due to injury and inexperience, it’s certainly a pretty talented group with Framber Valdez as the veteran, and Jackson Jobe, Troy Melton, Keider Montero, River Ryan, and Reese Olson lined up behind the veteran lefty. Obviously they need to build a much better bullpen, but this shouldn’t really be that hard. We’ll see how hard the front office decides to make it.

The Tigers were 14th in run scoring, and 11th in team wRC+ in 2026, despite getting gutted for a good six weeks by a huge wave of injuries from mid-April through May. Max Clark has only just arrived, while Hao-Yu Lee and Eduardo Valencia broke out with the bats in the second half. They still have plenty of young hitting talent coming behind them as well. They were also 6th best in team ERA and 10th best in team fielding independent pitching (FIP). The defense got better as Clark and other young outfielders were added to the mix. It would really help that cause if John Peck can insert himself into the mix next year.

The Brewers are number one on the power rankings, as you’d expect. The Dodgers and Yankees check in second and third. The Rays, Red Sox, and Braves round out the 4-6 slots, with the Tigers in seventh.

Here is ESPN’s argument for the Tigers in 2027.

1. Their plus-71 run differential was fourth in the AL, not that far behind the Rays (plus-86) or Red Sox (plus-78), and that’s a positive indicator for the following season.

2. They have key young players to build around in Kevin McGonigle (7.1 WAR as a rookie) and Max Clark (1.2 WAR in 51 games), plus several rookies ready to contribute in 2027, including Ryan, who came over in the Tarik Skubal trade.

3. Troy Melton (2.76 ERA in 20 starts), Jackson Jobe (3.91 ERA in nine starts) and Ryan are ready to fill the spots of Skubal and Casey Mize.

Yes, Detroit will need to address the bullpen, but this is still a deep roster that underperformed in 2026.

The Tigers have Max Anderson, Zyhir Hope, and Josue Briceño all close to pushing their way to the major leagues. The big question remains having enough pitching to be able to construct a better bullpen. We certainly wouldn’t hate the addition of a good all around position player into the mix, but that doesn’t seem very likely right now. Maybe the picture will look a little different once the CBA is complete.

Ask the Guardians how they feel about this and they’ll say it doesn’t matter. They’re right, but there is a good argument for the Tigers if they can clean up their weaknesses this offseason. How do you feel about the Tigers getting ranked seventh overall heading into the offseason after a very underachieving sort of season in 2026?

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4 Trick or Treats to know before the Mavericks battle FOR THE CUP against the Rockets

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game on October 21, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Halloween weekend is often synonymous with candy, costumes, scary movies and haunted houses. Well, this year the only thing that matters is THE MARCH TO THE NBA CUP BEGINNING. That’s right, the NBA’s convoluted, definitely not confusing Cup is once again up for grabs. The group stage begins in earnest on Friday evening, with the Mavericks and Rockets kicking off West Group A competition.

Looking at the group, it’s shaping up to be the West’s group of death. Houston is maybe the best team in the league. Denver still has Jokic and Murray. Utah has a lot of talent, although some injuries have taken their toll in Salt Lake City. Dallas has gotten off to a shockingly good 3-2 start, and Phoenix still has talent, even without a real point guard. It’s a tough draw, and Dallas getting off to a 1-0 start in group play would be very helpful towards getting them through into the knockout rounds.

Knowing what’s at stake, here are a few tricks or treats to know before Houston faces off against Dallas.

TRICK: The first game between these two teams

It was just last week when the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets last met. In case you selectively forgot the result of that one, Dallas found themselves down by as many as 37 points in an eventual 18-point loss. However, just because that result exists doesn’t mean the Mavericks are doomed against this Rockets squad.

Yes, the Rockets do present some unique challenges that Dallas will have to solve. The Mavericks had a challenge simply running any sort of offense against Houston in the opener, as the defensive intensity that the Rockets brought simply overwhelmed the Dallas guards. In the four games since then, Dallas has won three of four with tenth best offensive rating in the NBA. That’s not to say that all of their issues will be solved here, as Houston has a top five defense in the NBA in their four wins since the opener, but expect Dallas to be more comfortable in this one on that end.

Conversely, the Houston offense has only been held under 120 points once, a 114-110 win over the San Antonio Spurs last Friday. Dallas got absolutely shellacked in Houston during the opener, as Houston completely dominated transition play. Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense, and Dallas will need both to hang with Houston in this one.

Treat: Tournament Dusty May

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 06: Head Coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines cuts the net after defeating the UConn Huskies in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images

When it comes to tournament play, Dusty May is the best coach in the business. In the last calendar year, Dusty May has won two basketball tournaments (2025 Players Era, 2026 NCAA Tournament). Ime Udoka hasn’t won a tournament as a head coach EVER. Only Mike Brown of the Knicks (2026 NBA Cup, 2026 NBA Finals) has a comparable resume to the incomparable Dusty May. To steal a line from the late, great Stacey King: Big time coaches win big time games!

Trick: Dealing with Amen Thompson

The Thompson twins are both unquestioned freaks, and what Amen has done to start the year should not be overlooked. At 18 points, over eight boards and nearly four assists per contest, the offensive counting stats are right near career bests. What’s scary is that the defensive impact on counting stats (one steal and just under a half block per game) are at career lows. You’ve got to assume that the counting stats will begin to increase at some point, and the Mavericks will have to be very good with the ball to ensure that Amen doesn’t wreck this contest.

Treat: The NBA Cup

LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 16: Luke Kornet #7 of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks go up for a jump ball during the game during the Emirates NBA Cup Final game on December 16, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It had to feel good for Adam Silver that last year’s cup featured the two teams who eventually played for the Larry O’Brien trophy in June. The regular season can be quite a grind, so even a contrived, convoluted and confusing tournament such as the Cup is a welcome change of pace. The outrageous courts, the group play, the insistence of separating every single thing by conference, it all adds to the nonsensical nature of it all. My interest in the Cup first started out as a bit, just because everyone else on the planet hated the idea. But honestly at this point, I do like the Cup, regardless of how ridiculous it is made by Adam Silver. It’s just good, clean, harmless fun.

How to watch

<p>(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)</p><br> | Getty Images

Tipoff is set for just after 7:00 p.m. at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. I hope to see many costumes in the arena for this Halloween special! If you’re tuning in for this one, KFAA Channel 29, Mavs TV or NBA League Pass will have you covered for the broadcast.

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Cavs at Hawks game thread

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 28: Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks handles the ball as Jarrett Allen #31 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers play defense during the 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup in the second quarter at State Farm Arena on November 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking for their fourth straight win as they take on the Atlanta Hawks.

Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!

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2026-27 offseason: important dates for the Arizona Diamondbacks

Well, that was quick. It feels like almost before it started, the World Series was over. But the good news is, we can now start looking forward to the 2026 campaign, because the wheels are in motion. The bad news? Nobody known when or in what form that’ll take place. But below, you’ll find an overview of some of the important dates on the calendar, and what they mean for the Diamondbacks. I’ll pin this just off the front page for reference over the winter.

October 29: Free Agents File

Eligible players file for free agency today, the day after the World Series ends. It begins a five-day “quiet period” where teams can negotiate with their own free agents, but the players are unable to sign anywhere else. They also come off the 40-man roster at that point. Those in question are:

  • Taylor Clarke
  • Zac Gallen
  • Kevin Ginkel
  • Jonathan Loaisiga
  • James McCann
  • Dennis Santana
  • Michael Soroka
  • Ildemaro Vargas

In addition, Ryan Thompson and A.J. Puk will become free agents, but are currently on the 60-day Injured List, so do not free up 40-man spots. That’ll take our 40-man roster, currently at 39, down to 31 spots.

Teams must decide whether to extend one-year Qualifying Offers to any free agents. To be eligible for a QO, a player must have spent the entire 2025 season with his team and never previously received one. There’s only one potential candidate for Arizona, in Soroka. But as we’ll see below, that seems unlikely. Any player that does get one will have 10 days to accept or decline it. If a player declines and signs with a new team, then his old team will receive draft pick compensation. I trust we all remember what happened last winter with Gallen.

November 1: Rawlings Gold Glove Winners announced

As discussed, Arizona have four candidates among the final nominees. Gabriel Moreno at catcher; Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop; Corbin Carroll in right field; and Ildemaro Vargas as a utility player. I think we’ll end up with just one, Moreno and Carroll probably being the most likely.

November 3: Free Agency Opens

Free agency begins and players are free to sign with clubs. This is also the last day that teams can issue Qualifying Offers to eligible free agents.

November 3: 60-day injured list reinstatement

Players that are currently on the 60-day Injured List must also be added back to the 40-man roster five days after the World Series ends. In addition to Puk and Thompson, mentioned above but departing as free agents, we have Andrew Saalfrank, Cristian Mena and Tyler Lockler on the 60-day IL. Adding that trio back in, brings the roster up to 34. At least it’s less of an issue than the D-backs had last winter, when we had nine players for whom room needed to be found.

November 3: Contract options deadline

The same day is also the deadline for clubs and players to execute or decline any options built into their current contracts. This means the mutual option on Soroka, and Corbin Burnes deciding whether or not to opt out. Odds seem very high that neither of those will be executed. Soroka will want to test free agency after an impressive 2025 campaign, while after ten innings of less than whelming baseball, Burnes isn’t going anywhere. And while not formally official, Bob Nightengale confirmed today that Corbin will be staying.

November 9-12: GM Meetings in Las Vegas

November 9-12: Awards Week

This is when the bulk of the honors get handed out, with the Rookie + Manager of the Year, Cy Young and MVP in each league announced over these four days. Though the Silver Slugger Awards are announced on November 17, and the Heart & Hustle Awards are November 6. Be interesting to see where any D-backs end up. Though I wouldn’t expect any winners, I would not be surprised to see Gabriel Moreno and Eduardo Rodriguez get some down-ballot mentions for the MVP and Cy Young respectively. At least it seems we will be spared another Ohtani love-fest this year.

November 17: Rule 5 Draft Protection deadline

The team will need to make decisions on which prospects they need to add to the 40-man roster, to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. However, there is a real question as to whether there will be a Rule 5 draft this year, as it is scheduled to take place after the expiration of the CBA. Last time it happened, the entire event was simply wiped from existence, so that’s a very real possibility this winter too.

November 17: Qualifying offer deadline

This is the day when players have formally to accept or reject their qualifying offers. Any player not accepting by this date will be considered to have declined, therefore granting his former team draft pick compensation, if they change teams in the off-season. The precise nature of the pick will depend on the value of the contract he signs, and where the team stands in regard to things like revenue sharing and whether they pay Competitive Balance Tax. But this winter, it’s not likely to be of much relevance to the Diamondbacks.

November 20: Tender deadlines

This is the deadline for teams to offer the pre-arbitration and arbitration eligible players a contract for the 2026 season (whatever and whenever that might be!). Players who don’t receive an offer are considered non-tendered and become free agents. Just four D-backs fall into the category this winter. Here’s who Arizona will have to decide on, with their service time and projected salaries for 2026.

  • Lars Nootbaar (5.076): $6.3m
  • Pavin Smith (4.144): $2.5m
  • Gabriel Moreno (4.061): $6.1m
  • Ryne Nelson (4.020): $3.4m

There’s probably just one candidate to be non-tendered, in Pavin Smith. But he may yet stick around. I kinda hope he does, purely to see the incandescent rage which results from the Twitteratti.

TBD: Hall of Fame Ballot released

None of the returning names reached even sixty percent on last year’s ballot. Chase Utley did jump from 40% to 59%, so if that’s repeated this time, he could be going to Cooperstown. Otherwise, the focus might be more on the new names joining the ballot. They’re likely headed by Buster Posey, with Jon Lester, Brett Gardiner and Ryan Zimmerman also in the 40+ bWAR club. Former D-backs who might be mentioned are mostly a “What, they played for us?” Gambo’s favorite catcher Alex Avila is eligible, as are Will Harris, Jon Jay and Joachim Soria. And a Cy Young winner, in the shape of some guy called Trevor Bauer. No possibility for controversy there…

December 1: CBA expires

Yep, at the end of the first day in December, everything seems to indicate that we will be heading for a lockout, as the players and owners butt heads, about who gets to stick their heads deeper into the trough of MLB revenue. I really don’t care about that. I just want a landscape on the far side, where teams do not need a $400 million payroll to have a chance of competing in the NL West. If the price for that is a summer where I get through my Tubi queue instead, I am fine with it.

Therefore, everything below is potentially likely to be rescheduled and/or canceled.

December 7-9: Winter Meetings in Orlando

December 8: MLB Draft Lottery 

With Arizona having had the best record of the teams who did not qualify for the postseason (as well as a better record than some who did, grumble grumble), their odds of a good pick in the draft are slight. According to Tankathon, the Diamondbacks have a 2.3% chance of moving up for a pick in the top six, but only a 0.23% of getting the #1 overall choice. Hey, weirder things have happened. It’s better than no chance at all, which would have been the odds before the draft lottery. The Rockies (surprise!), Angels and Athletics are the favorites for the top pick each having about a 19% chance.

December 9: Rule 5 Draft

Minor League players not on a team’s 40-man roster who have been in professional baseball for four (for college players) or five (for high school players) are eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. During the Major League portion of the draft, any player selected must remain on that team’s active roster for the entire season or be offered back to their original club (with some stipulations around time spent on an Injured List). This has been a point of pain for Arizona in the past, losing Dan Uggla. We haven’t picked anyone in the major-league portion since Zach Pop in 2020, and he was immediately traded to the Marlins. If you’re asking “Who?” though, that’s kinda the point…

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A Reliever Who’s Hard to Pin Down

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Kyle Hart #68 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on September 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability). 

A Reliever Who’s Hard to Pin Down

Kyle Hart is a tough nut to crack. Prior to 2025, his big-league career was limited to just four games (three starts) with the Boston Red Sox. He spent the remainder of his career in the minor leagues with a short stint in the KBO. That year with the NC Dinos revitalized his career. Hart won the Choi Dong-won Award in 2024 (KBO’s equivalent of the Cy Young award) with a 2.69 ERA over 157 innings. That led to the Padres signing him to a one-year deal in 2025. He was mostly solid but couldn’t hack it as a full-fledged starting pitcher, eventually becoming a bulk reliever for the club.

Overall Grade: D

His solid production as a bulk reliever in 2025 led to San Diego re-signing Hart ahead of the 2026 season. That includes a $2.5 million club option for 2027 that the Friars seem likely to exercise. If nothing else, Hart covers innings well. He’s not elite by any means, but he can eat innings and has shown flashes of dominance throughout his tenure with San Diego.

Hart did improve markedly on his 2025 season. In 21 more innings, he lowered his ERA by almost a full run. None of his marks were particularly incredible (4.92 ERA, 1.20 WHIP), but he still showed improvement. Command was his biggest problem. Hart walked a career-high 26 batters despite a .218 opponent batting average. If he could find the zone a little more often, Hart could develop into a better relief weapon in the San Diego ‘pen.

That being said, Hart underperformed in 2025 and ‘26. In both years, his expected ERA was more than a full run lower than his actual ERA. That gap was more noticeable in 2026 since he threw more innings, with Hart’s serviceable 3.65 xERA compared to a 4.92 actual ERA. This could be due to a handful of things (defense, environmental factors, etc.), but Hart’s stuff could finally prove up to snuff in 2027 if the Padres give him a chance.

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Artem Duda Makes NHL Debut With Mammoth

Artem Duda officially made his NHL debut with the Utah Mammoth on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Duda was originally drafted 36th overall in the second round by the Arizona Coyotes in 2022. He split time between the KHL and the VHL after being drafted, and opted to head to North America the following season.

However, due to those 14 games in the KHL, Duda’s appeal to play in the NCAA with the University of Maine was denied three times despite taking classes at the university and practicing with the team. Funny enough, a couple of seasons later, players with pro experience started to be allowed into the NCAA, including Jack Beck, Connor McClennon, and Hudson Thornton.

With all options in the United States exhausted, Duda played the rest of the 2023-24 season with Toronto Metropolitan University. He then turned pro and played his first full season in the American Hockey League with the Tucson Roadrunners in 2024-25, producing 29 points in 70 games.

His sophomore season with the Roadrunners was a bit tougher. Duda injured his knee in the middle of the season, forcing him to undergo surgery and ending his year prematurely. The defenseman had 13 points in 27 games up to that point.

This season, after regaining all the strength in his leg, Duda has been excellent to start. He had a very solid preseason which kept him up in Utah until the very end of camp. He started the season with the Roadrunners, putting up three points in six games on the top pairing with Robbie Russo.

Duda was given his first NHL call-up by the Mammoth on Oct. 20. A couple of days later, he signed a two-year extension with the team.

The defenseman is the fourth player to make his NHL debut with the Mammoth alongside Maveric Lamoureux, Daniil But, and Dmitri Simashev, whom Duda will be paired with against the Penguins. He is the 82nd overall player, the ninth Russian, and the fourth player drafted by general manager Bill Armstrong to play an NHL game who was drafted in 2022.

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Sharks' Filip Bystedt Finally Gets NHL Opportunity

San Jose Sharks forward Filip Bystedt made the move to North America nearly four years ago. Despite being Mike Grier's first draft pick, and being a highly-touted prospect in his draft year, quite a few players drafted after him, even one in the same draft class, Cam Lund, got their NHL debut before him.

Now Bystedt's time has finally come, as the Sharks recalled him and defenseman Libor Hajek on Wednesday and the 22-year-old is set to make his NHL debut tonight. 

According to Bystedt, he found out the news on Wednesday morning: "I got called in by [John McCarthy] into his office, and he basically told me I'm going up here." 

It's been a long-time coming for the 22-year-old to make his NHL debut, but he isn't bothered by how long it took him to get an opportunity. "I wanted to play NHL games, but I'm just trying to go every day, trying to prove to them that to get the call up," Bystedt said. "You can't be sad that you're not getting it. You've just got to keep going every day."

Regardless of how, or when, the chance finally came, Bystedt was overjoyed by the news. "Obviously a lot of joy, happiness in my body," he said. "I wanted to give mom and dad a call and tell them." 

"They were full of joy and wondering when they can get over here and meet me," Bystedt said of his parents. "So it was awesome."

According to Sheng Peng, it appears that Bystedt's family should be in attendance for Thursday night's game against the Vancouver Canucks:

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NBA Cup 2026: How does it work, schedule, format, bracket, odds, location for NBA's in-season tournament

Last December, the New York Knicks defeated an overwhelmed-looking young San Antonio Spurs team to win the NBA Cup.

Sound familiar? It foreshadowed what would happen in June, when the Knicks won their first title in 53 years. Now the NBA Cup is back starting Friday night, Oct. 30, so which teams are going to make a run and stake their claim to follow in the Knicks ' footsteps? Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 edition of the NBA Cup.

What’s the format for the 2026 NBA Cup?

The format hasn't changed since the NBA Cup launched four years ago. The one big change this season is that the NBA Cup semifinals will take place on a team's home court (the higher East and West seed remaining), and the NBA Cup Final will be played at the Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home to the Butler Bulldogs — and the place where the real-life game the movie "Hoosiers" was based on was played.

All 30 teams have been drawn into one of six groups (five teams in each group, three East groups and three West groups). Each team plays the other teams in its group once — four games total — and those games count double as both regular season games and NBA Cup games.

The six group winners plus a wild card from each conference — determined by head-to-head record and point differential — go into an eight-team knockout round bracket (East vs. East, West vs. West, similar to the NBA playoffs where the conferences are separate until the Finals). The knockout round games are single-elimination.

The Final two teams, one East and one West, will head to Indianapolis for the Dec. 11 championship game.

Thanks to the bright, specially designed courts, fans will instantly recognize these as NBA Cup games when they tune in every Friday starting Oct. 30 and running through Nov. 27 (on Amazon Prime), with Cup games on NBC and Peacock on Nov. 24 (Celtics at Wizards, then Mavericks at Nuggets), as well as on ESPN Nov. 25.

NBA Cup games will be played on specially designed courts with the home team wearing their Statement Edition uniforms.

No one will confuse these with standard regular-season games.

What are the NBA Cup 2026 groups?

Here's a look at the NBA Cup 2026 groups (with some analysis added at the end).

Western Conference

West Group A: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz

West Group B: LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder

West Group C: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs

Analysis: As with much of this early NBA season, injuries are robbing us of some of the joy of these matchups. Specifically in Group B, where the Timberwolves and Thunder would have been a real showdown, but with no Anthony Edwards, Jalen Williams or Cason Wallace, it's not the same. Even with the injuries, OKC is the team to beat in Group B.

Group C has some interesting matchups with the Lakers, Spurs, and fun-to-watch Warriors, but I expect San Antonio will win out in the end. In Group A, Denver will be the favorite, led by Nikola Jokic. Cooper Flagg makes Dallas dangerous. Yet, for my money, the best team in this group is the Houston Rockets, so look for Kevin Durant and company to advance.

Eastern Conference

East Group A: Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors

East Group B: Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers

East Group C: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards.

Analysis: Group B is the "Group of Death" (to borrow a soccer term): Cleveland, New York or Philadelphia could take this, and while Miami may not advance, on a given night it can beat anyone behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. If Tyrese Haliburton were healthy, this group would be impossible to predict. As it is, give me the Cavaliers, who are playing well to start the season.

Group A would have been a lot more interesting if Kawhi Leonard were healthy (and maybe he returns in time to impact games), but this group feels like Detroit's to lose. In Group C, Boston is the obvious favorite, but sleep on Atlanta and Washington at your own peril.

What’s the schedule for the NBA Cup 2026?

Most NBA Cup games will be played on Friday nights starting on Oct. 30, and running through Nov. 27, with games highlighted on Amazon Prime (which will also broadcast the semifinals and Cup Final). Cup games will air on NBC and Peacock on Nov. 24, and on ESPN on Nov. 25.

Here is the full schedule for the NBA Cup 2026 (All times Eastern):

Oct. 30:
Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards (7 p.m. ET)
Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET)
Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET)
New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 p.m. ET)
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET)
Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat (8 p.m. ET)
Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks (8 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET)
Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET)
Nov. 6:
Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks (7 p.m. ET)
Boston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets (7 p.m. ET)
Philadelphia 76ers 2 Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m. ET)
Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks (8 p.m. ET)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies (8 p.m. ET)
Toronto Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks 8 p.m. ET)
Minnesota Timberwolves at New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m. ET)
Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET)
San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings (10 p.m. ET)
Nov. 13:
New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers (7 p.m. ET)
Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat (8 p.m. ET)
Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls (8 p.m. ET)
Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m. ET)
Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets (8:30 p.m. ET)
Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET)
Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings (10 p.m. ET)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET)
Nov. 20:
Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks (7 p.m. ET)
Orlando Magic at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET)
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m. ET)
Toronto Raptors at Detroit Pistons (7:30 p.m. ET)
Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls (8 p.m. ET)
New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ET)
Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz (9:30 p.m. ET)
Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets (10 p.m. ET)
Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET)
Nov. 24:
Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET)
Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards (8 p.m. ET)
Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets (10 p.m. ET)
Nov. 25:
Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers (5 p.m. ET)
Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets (7 p.m. ET)
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder (7:30 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies (8 p.m. ET)
Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks (8 p.m. ET)
Phoenix Suns at Houston Rockets (8:30 p.m. ET)
Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET)
San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers (10 p.m. ET)
Nov. 27:
Miami Heat at New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET)
Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons (7:30 p.m. ET)
Philadelphia 76ers at Indiana Pacers (7:30 p.m. ET)
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET)
Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics (8 p.m. ET)
Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves (8:30 p.m. ET)
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns (9 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET)
Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz (9:30 p.m. ET)
New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers (9:30 p.m. ET)
Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers (9:30 p.m. ET)

Knockout Rounds:

• Quarterfinals on Dec. 4-5 (home court of higher-seeded team)
• Semifinals on Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9 (home court of higher-seeded team)
• Championship on Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Ind.)
The six group winners plus two wild cards (one from each conference) advance to the knockout rounds. Starting with the semifinals, the entire show moves to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

NBA Cup 2026 odds

Here are the odds for the top 10 teams to win the NBA Cup 2024, via our partners at DraftKings:

San Antonio +425
Oklahoma City +550
Boston +700
Philadelphia +1200
Houston +1300
Detroit +1300
New York +1600
Denver +1600
Toronto +2000
Portland +2200

What does the NBA Cup winner get?

The players get money — and make no mistake, that is the biggest motivation. Players talk openly about it.

There is a trophy, and teams will hang a banner. Even the Knicks. Eventually. For fan bases, winning the NBA Cup can be celebrated as a sign the team is on the right track, like the Knicks a year ago. However, for the players, it's about the money.
Each player on the championship team will receive more than half a million dollars. Each player on the NBA Cup runner-up team gets more than $200,000. Players from the two teams that advanced to the semifinals but lost will each receive more than $100,000. Players on teams that advanced out of group play but lost in the quarterfinals will get more than $50,000 each.
While even the championship money is comparable to another game check for a star like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it can be a meaningful bump for players on minimum salaries at the end of the bench. The stars realize who they are playing for when things get serious.

Who won the 2025 NBA Cup?

The New York Knicks, behind stellar play from NBA Cup MVP Jalen Brunson. As noted, they handed Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs a Cup Final loss that would be echoed next June.
In 2024, Milwaukee bounced back from an ugly 2-8 start to the season to find its footing in NBA Cup games and went on a run behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, reaching the Cup Finals against Oklahoma City. Once there, Antetokounmpo had a 26-point triple-double, completely controlling the game on both sides of the ball. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament (before it was officially branded as the NBA Cup).

Where is the NBA Cup 2026 Final being held?

The NBA is moving the NBA Cup Final to Indianapolis's iconic Hinkle Fieldhouse, the home of Butler University.

Famously, Hinkle Fieldhouse hosted the 1954 Indiana high school state championship game that inspired the 1986 movie "Hoosiers," and climactic scenes from the film were shot there.

What is the point of the NBA Cup?

The NBA Cup is Commissioner Adam Silver's baby.

He pushed for this and got the owners to buy in — and Silver has largely been proven right. The fact that broadcast rights for the NBA Cup were part of the league's massive $7.6 billion new television deal was a huge win for Silver (and means the Cup isn't going anywhere for a long time). At the end of the day, the NBA is a business and adding the Cup brought the league and its players more money.

When first promoting the Cup idea, Silver listed a few reasons he believed it would work for the NBA. First, drawing on the European soccer model, the idea was to create a second trophy of value — clearly not as important as an NBA title, but still meaningful — for teams to compete for and fan bases to cheer. It was something to combat the "championship or bust" mentality of some fans.

Additionally, Silver and the league office have been exploring ways to increase casual fan interest in regular-season games. Silver wants to end, or at least diminish, the idea that the marathon NBA regular season doesn't start until Christmas, or that teams have to get through it to reach the "real season" of the playoffs. The NBA Cup helps with that.