PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 22: Florida Panthers goaltender Cooper Black (31) tends net during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Florida Panthers on October 22, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Florida Panthers goalie Cooper Black skated onto the PPG Paints Arena ice alone during pregame warmups on Thursday night, a time-honored hockey tradition given to rookies everywhere.
It took Black fewer strides to make the memorable lap than most.
Call it one of the upsides of being 6-foot-9.
Black made NHL history in his first career start when he became the tallest goaltender to ever appear in a regular-season game. Black is listed as two inches taller than Ben Bishop, Ivan Fedotov, Mads Sogaard and Mikko Koskinen, all 6-foot-7.
The 25-year-old from Alpen, Michigan, who started playing when he was 8 and had a 5-inch growth spurt between his junior and senior years in high school when he shot up from 6-0 to 6-5 and kept right on going, was excellent in his first period.
Black, called up from Florida’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte recently after Jacob Markstrom went down with a shoulder injury, stopped Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang with his blocker pad on a wrist shot about two minutes in. He also turned aside a breakaway opportunity by Penguins forward Rickard Rakell before giving up a goal to Nick Robertson, who beat Black to the glove side.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice praised Black’s development in recent years. Florida signed Black as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2024. Black blossomed last season in Charlotte, posting a 25-13-4 record with a 2.47 goals against average and a .903 save percentage.
“A man that size, it takes a long time to grow into that body,” Maurice said before adding with a laugh, “I think he’s done.”
Oct 20, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) plays the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
MONTREAL (AP) — Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is out 2-4 weeks with what the team called an upper-body injury, ending his ironman run of 546 regular-season games that was the second-longest active streak in the NHL.
Only Colorado’s Brent Burns at 1,017 has played more consecutive games. Suzuki’s streak dating to his debut in 2019 ranked 20th in league history.
The 27-year-old center was absent from practice Thursday as Montreal prepared to face Chicago on Friday without its leading scorer.
“It’s a huge loss,” winger Cole Caufield said. “Nobody can really fill Suzy’s shoes. We know that as a group. Everybody has to step up.”
Suzuki played just over 21 minutes in Montreal’s 4-3 overtime loss to San Jose on Tuesday, scoring a goal and adding an assist. He was struck on the left hand by a shot from Sharks defenseman Michael Kesselring with just over five minutes remaining in the third period.
Suzuki, who had 101 points last season, is tied for second on the Canadiens with five goals and has 12 points in nine games.
“He’s one of the biggest parts of this team,” winger Juraj Slafkovsky said. “We can’t do anything about it. We just got to wait and fight for him.”
The loss is another blow to Montreal, which is already without promising young forward Ivan Demidov. The 20-year-old has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since early October and was seen wearing a walking boot on his right foot Tuesday.
“I’m going to look at all the coaching, like I do every year, and yes, I’m definitely focused on the offense and on the hitting,” Steinbrenner said at the postmortem news conference Wednesday, when a potential target was placed on James Rowson and the staff under him.
For each of the past three seasons, Rowson has been the club’s hitting coach and Casey Dykes has been assistant hitting coach. Before last season, the Yankees moved on from another assistant, Pat Roessler, and added Jake Hirst.
Rowson, Dykes and Hirst led a 2026 attack that is difficult to assess. In the regular season, the Yankees finished tied for ninth in runs scored largely on the back of the second-most home runs slugged.
As has become expected, the Yankees were strong in drawing walks (fifth) and poor at collecting hits (a fifth-worst .235 batting average) while striking out too often (fourth most). In the postseason, the Yankees lineup was incredible against the Red Sox and inept against the Rays.
Of course, the above numbers were accumulated with just 383 total plate appearances from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, who left massive voids that are impossible to replace and, thus, were not replaced.
Nonetheless, the Yankees expected more from Jazz Chisholm Jr., whose regular-season OPS dropped 102 points from 2025. And from Trent Grisham (108-point plunge), Ryan McMahon (58) and Austin Wells (88). Anthony Volpe and Jasson Domínguez stagnated.
The only true step forward belonged to Ben Rice. George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones debuted with promise, but was that more a reflection of the Yankees’ player-development system or major league coaches?
“We do feel like there were guys that I feel like had, call it ‘down years’ or whatever — not to what I believe they’re capable of,” Boone said before exempting Wells, who began brutally but found his stroke by August. “Some of that is young players that go through it. … But there were a handful of guys that I feel like probably underperformed expectations. So you’re constantly looking into that.”
The Yankees’ offense struggled this past season under hitting coach James Rowson. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
In Boone’s mind at least, Rowson is not to blame.
“I think James leads a great hitting group,” he said. “I’ve been really impressed with the culture that he’s created year in and year out over the last few seasons. So there’s a lot of reasons that go into why there’s underperformance in certain areas of the club, and you try and address those all as best you can.”
Rowson took over for Sean Casey, who had taken over midseason in 2023 for the hit-strikes-hard, analytically minded Dillon Lawson.
The personable Rowson, a former Yankees minor leaguer and minor league hitting instructor, is popular in the clubhouse and regarded less for a hitting philosophy and more for his connection with the players.
Owner Hal Steinbrenner called out the Yankees’ offense for not being effective this past offseason. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
His greatest connection could be his greatest lifeline. Rowson is close with Judge, whose relationship dates back to Rowson’s days as the Yankees’ minor league hitting coordinator while Judge was just an intriguing prospect.
Judge vouched for Rowson upon being hired and certainly will be heard before the Yankees make decisions regarding their coaching staff. Steinbrenner said he and Judge “had a great conversation [Tuesday] over a number of subjects.”
In Rowson’s first two seasons as Yankees hitting coach, the club won the American League Silver Slugger award. Last October, the Yankees were knocked out by the Blue Jays predominantly because their pitching, and not hitting, failed them, but Steinbrenner believes the problem with the offense was not isolated to 2026.
“It wasn’t just a one-year deal,” he said of a club that led baseball in runs scored in 2025, but also struck out the third-most times and then fell to a team that hit better for contact. “It’s two years now, and I’m seeing some of the same things.
“And yes, we need to get to the bottom of it.”
There were more issues (and more significant injuries) in 2026, though Rowson, like all Yankees, will be ultimately judged for his offense’s performance in the postseason.
The Yankees scored 18 runs in a two-game sweep of the Red Sox. They then scored five runs on 12 hits in a three-game sweep at the Rays’ hands, when the long ball could not be found and there were little traces of small ball.
For the majority of the playoff run, Rowson was not around the team because he tended to a family medical emergency.
Steinbrenner said the team would look into “everything” regarding the hitting issues, which could mean personnel — the Yankees could conceivably add a new third baseman, second baseman and perhaps center fielder that could change the dynamic of their lineup — and could mean the coaches in charge of that personnel.
“I feel like overall, our offensive preparation is very good and how the table is set and kind of the program that J-Row leads,” Boone said. “But we didn’t perform what I believe is up to our capabilities offensively, and we got to look into certainly all of that.”
LeBron James was as still as a statue during the national anthem before Thursday’s game between the 76ers and Cavaliers.
Video from the Philadelphia Inquirer showed James straight-faced with his arms behind his back while the anthem played at Wells Fargo Arena, a stark contrast to his movements before Philadelphia’s season-opener against the Knicks.
President Donald Trump posted a video on his Truth Social platform on Thursday criticizing Sixers forward LeBron James for pregame stretching during the national anthem before Tuesday’s Sixers-Knicks season opener.
During the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Tuesday, video spread on social media of James swinging his arms and mimicking shooting motions.
President Donald Trump caught wind of the viral video and slammed the 22-time All-Star’s antics, saying that he should apologize for disrespecting the United States.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” Trump said in a scathing post on Truth Social Thursday afternoon. “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE.
“LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”
James, 41, has yet to publicly comment on Trump’s comments or why he was performing different movements during the national anthem.
The situation also comes while the WNBA is facing heat for players on the Dream and Valkyries jogging off the court before the anthem during the Finals, with Vice President JD Vance calling the action “disgraceful.”
LeBron James standing for the anthem before the 76ers game against the Cavaliers on Oct. 22, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I think that you should not express some criticism of a public policy of a given politician by disrespecting the country writ large,” Vance said during an interview on the “Arroyo Grande” podcast Wednesday. “I mean, those women who play for the WNBA, think of the public safety, think of the incredible wealth and privilege, the amazing jobs that they have.”
Both teams, however, say that it’s a part of their routine before the game, claiming that they have left the court for the anthem all season.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before walking to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Oct. 22, 2026. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
“We’ve been doing that,” Valkyries guard Veronica Burton told reporters before Game 2. “That’s just our pregame routine.
The Minnesota Wild will be without forward Maxim Shabanov for Thursday night's game due to an upper-body injury.
Wild head coach John Hynes indicated following Thursday's morning skate that the team had one game-time decision among its forwards. That player turned out to be Shabanov, who will not suit up tonight.
The 26-year-old Russian winger has appeared in all 10 games for Minnesota this season, recording two goals and four assists for six points while averaging 14:57 of ice time per game.
Shabanov has been a productive contributor for the Wild early in the 2026-27 season, ranking fifth among Minnesota players in points.
Over his last five games, Shabanov has recorded one goal and two assists for three points. He scored against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 12 before registering assists in consecutive games against the St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets.
He was held off the scoresheet in Minnesota's 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.
Shabanov is in his second NHL season after joining the Wild from Russia. Through 54 career NHL games, the 5-foot-9 winger has recorded seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points.
His absence leaves Minnesota without another offensive contributor as the Wild continue to navigate injuries throughout their lineup.
The severity of Shabanov's injury and whether he will miss additional time beyond Thursday's game remain unclear.
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Backup guard Collin Sexton was taken off of the team’s injury report and is expected to be available for Friday’s home game against the Clippers after dealing with a strained right soleus (calf).
Sexton sat out of Wednesday’s season-opening win over the Warriors and the entire preseason with the injury.
The Lakers’ backcourt is about to get a lot healthier. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
He was a full participant in practice for the first time on Monday, but sat out against the Warriors.
“No setback, no setback,” coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. “Collaborative decision with performance, everyone involved. I always say this, with soft tissue injuries, the athlete has to have confidence and full confidence.”
Sexton’s debut will give the Lakers another reliable ball-handler behind superstar guard Luka Doncic and star guard Austin Reaves.
With the rotation being shortened, Quentin Grimes was used as a reserve on Wednesday and last Friday’s preseason finale loss to the Nuggets to give the Lakers another backcourt ball-handler off the bench.
Backup guard Collin Sexton was taken off of the team’s injury report and is expected to be available for Friday’s home game against the Clippers after dealing with a strained right soleus (calf). NBAE via Getty Images
“I definitely feel like when I’m watching the games, I’m more eager to get out there,” Sexton said earlier in the week. “I’m super excited to get out there, and I can see where I can fit in pretty easily. Even just on the defensive side, bringing that energy, bringing that juice and trying to disrupt. Not always turning the ball over and get someone to turn it over for just disrupt and bring the clock down.
“And then offensively, getting to the paint. That’s something that I’ve done really well in my career. And then spacing, making sure I’m spacing for the guys like Luka, AR, even just when Walker [Kessler] gets in the pocket, being ready to shoot on the back side. So, just finding ways that I can help the team, when I’m watching the game, and even just watching, I watched a few of the games after that just to see as well.”
More encouraging news came on the injury report with Jake LaRavia being listed as questionable because of a sprained right ankle he suffered during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s win.
Jake LaRavia could play against the Clippers after a scary injury against the Warriors. NBAE via Getty Images
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1979: Ron Duguay #10 of the New York Rangers skates against the New York Islanders during an NHL Hockey game circa 1979 at Madison Square Garden in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Duguay’s playing career went from 1977-99. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NEW YORK (AP) — Ron Duguay, whose long, wavy hair made him stick out on the ice during an era when helmets were not mandatory in hockey and who played nearly 1,000 games in the NHL from the late 1970s through the ’80s, has died of cancer. He was 69.
Duguay for several years has been dating Alaska governor and 2008 Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who announced his death after being by his side throughout the illness. A spokesperson for the New York Rangers also confirmed Thursday that Duguay’s family informed the team of his passing.
“It’s with a shattered heart but also deep peace knowing Ron is with Jesus now,” Palin posted on social media. “He fought so hard. Love never ends.”
Duguay’s first six seasons came as a fan favorite with the Rangers, including an appearance in the 1979 Stanley Cup Final, after they selected him with the 13th pick in the ’77 draft.
The Sudbury, Ontario, native was an All-Star as a point-a-game producer in 1981-82.
A series of trades led him to spend time with the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings with another Rangers stint, as well. Duguay finished his career in the league with 673 points in the regular season and playoffs, then played in Germany and the minors.
“The New York Rangers organization mourns the loss of Ron Duguay, one of the most popular players in franchise history,” the club said in a statement. “Ron’s signature skating style — with his hair flowing as he moved down the ice — captivated the (Madison Square) Garden faithful, and his skill, tenacity and charisma earned him the admiration of all New Yorkers. We join the hockey community in sending our condolences to Ron’s friends, family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Palin and Duguay’s daughter, Shay Thomas, posted several times over the past several months asking for prayers for him. His family started a GoFundMe earlier this year to offset the costs of travel and treatments.
The NHL Alumni Association in a post memorializing Duguay called his dedication and passion for hockey unwavering.
“It was a part of who he was, a lifelong love that he carried with pride and shared so generously with others,” the NHLAA said. “He will be remembered not only for the player he was, but for the extraordinary person he was.”
Long after his playing days, Duguay was known to another generation of Rangers fans for his role on broadcasts from 2007-18.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Florida Panthers goalie Cooper Black skated onto the PPG Paints Arena ice alone during pregame warmups on Thursday night, a time-honored hockey tradition given to rookies everywhere.
It took Black fewer strides to make the memorable lap than most.
Call it one of the upsides of being 6-foot-9.
Black made NHL history in his first career start when he became the tallest goaltender to ever appear in a regular-season game. Black is listed as two inches taller than Ben Bishop, Ivan Fedotov, Mads Sogaard and Mikko Koskinen, all 6-foot-7.
The 25-year-old from Alpen, Michigan, who started playing when he was 8 and had a 5-inch growth spurt between his junior and senior years in high school when he shot up from 6-0 to 6-5 and kept right on going, was excellent in his first period.
Black, called up from Florida's AHL affiliate in Charlotte recently after Jacob Markstrom went down with a shoulder injury, stopped Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang with his blocker pad on a wrist shot about two minutes in. He also turned aside a breakaway opportunity by Penguins forward Rickard Rakell before giving up a goal to Nick Robertson, who beat Black to the glove side.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice praised Black's development in recent years. Florida signed Black as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2024. Black blossomed last season in Charlotte, posting a 25-13-4 record with a 2.47 goals against average and a .903 save percentage.
“A man that size, it takes a long time to grow into that body,” Maurice said before adding with a laugh, “I think he’s done.”
The Dodgers won the trade deadline with the acquisition of Tarik Skubal — but that doesn’t mean they ultimately prevailed.
The Brewers were reportedly in the mix to land Skubal in a blockbuster trade, but Milwaukee managed to sweep the Dodgers despite losing out on the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner.
“This team was built, not bought. It’s critical to look at how we got here, and because I want to have sustained success, we had to do that by being careful about how many prospects we gave up,” Attanasio said.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) reacts during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I thought a lot about it. If we had not won that Game 4, we would’ve seen Skubal and [Yoshinobu Yamamoto] again, and we could’ve been looking at Game 7.”
Milwaukee Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasio speaks at a press conference before a workout session prior to the World Series, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers had the highest payroll of MLB’s final four teams, but were eliminated in four games by Milwaukee.
Attanasio’s comments ring true, the Brewers have taken years to build a winning team and it appears the squad has a strong chance of hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy. But many of the Dodgers’ biggest critics tend to overlook the team’s top farm system.
While money is no object for the Dodgers, the team wouldn’t have won back-to-back World Series if the organization didn’t have the ability to make blockbuster trades because of its top prospects.
Milwaukee Brewers players react to winning NLCS Game 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Skubal didn’t guarantee the Dodgers another ring, but it certainly improved their chances.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after being called for a foul during the first quarter of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.
Karl-Anthony Towns provided a reminder of one of comedy’s greatest lessons.
“I feel like all jokes,” Towns said after Knicks practice Thursday, “have some truth to [them], right?”
Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after being called for a foul during the first quarter of the Knicks’ season-opening loss to the 76ers at Madison Square Garden. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
This joke once again has become a Knicks reality.
Towns got into early foul trouble during the season-opening 106-100 loss to the 76ers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. It limited him to just 23 minutes — and only six in the first half.
It was a recurring flaw last season. Towns, due to foul trouble, only played 23 minutes and had just two points in the Knicks’ championship-clinching win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Most maddening is that often Towns’ fouls aren’t preventing layups or making an opponent earn it at the line. He is picking up cheap, avoidable ones on the offensive end.
Head coach Mike Brown believes he’s too good to be doing that.
“This is known because we talk about it, and he got better [last season], to his credit,” Brown said Thursday. “He got better as the year went along. This is a new year, new team, new challenges, but I don’t want him to take 10 steps backwards. But if he takes a couple steps backward, and we gotta figure it out, I’m OK with it.
Karl-Anthony Towns looks to make a move as Joel Embiid defends during the Knicks’ season-opening loss to the 76ers. NBAE via Getty Images
“And where I’m going with it is, the 3-pointer that he shot with [Tyrese] Maxey closing out to him, he did [commit a foul]. He stuck his leg out, trying to [draw a foul]. He’s a good enough player to where he doesn’t need to look for and/or try to draw the foul; just make the basket. Some guys say, you’re like, ‘Hey man, try to get fouled here when you’re doing it.’ No, no, no, KAT, you’re a freaking perennial All-Star. So just make the bucket, and if he happens to foul you, then great.”
Andre Drummond filled in admirably in the first half Tuesday with Towns forced to the bench.
But that expanded workload is not ideal for the 33-year-old Drummond, who Brown said looked fatigued in the second half.
Towns’ foul woes are a big reason the depth behind him at center was such a talking point this past offseason.
“Obviously, I never want to put my team in that kind of position,” Towns said. “So I have to do a better job, not only in the regular season but in the postseason, to make sure I’m available for my team.”
Todd Benzinger of the Cincinnati Reds plays during the 1990 World Series against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif.
Todd Benzinger, a key member of the Reds’ 1990 World Series championship team, died on Wednesday, the team announced.
He was 63.
“Todd will forever be remembered by Reds fans for catching the final out of the 1990 World Series, but those of us who had the privilege of knowing him will remember so much more,” Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame Museum, said in a statement.
“Todd remained close to the Cincinnati community and was a tremendous friend to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, generously participating in our events and sharing his time with fans. We will miss his friendship, his kindness and his presence in our community.”
Cincinnati Reds’ Todd Benzinger in action at first base. Sporting News via Getty Images
The first baseman’s cause of death has yet to be announced, but Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin, a Reds teammate of Benzinger, said that his death came as a “shock.”
“I saw him at an event this past summer in Cincinnati and he looked good. It’s kind of a shock out of nowhere,” Larkin told MLB.com. “I know he’s got some young kids, so I feel really bad for his family.”
A Cincinnati-area native, Benzinger was drafted by the Red Sox out of high school in 1981 and spent two MLB seasons in Boston before being traded to his hometown Reds during the 1988 offseason.
Benzinger spent parts of three seasons with the Reds before they dealt him to the Royals midway through the 1991 season.
His most famous moment in Cincinnati was catching the final out in Game 4 of the 1990 World Series to seal the Reds’ most recent championship.
Oakland Athletics’ Jose Canseco is almost picked off by Boston Red Sox first baseman Todd Benzinger during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif. AP Photo/PAUL SAKUMA
Across his nine-year MLB career, Benzinger put up a slash line of .257/.301/.386 with 733 hits and 376 RBIs in 924 games.
After retiring in 1995, Benzinger maintained a close relationship with the Reds and was a regular at select events and team camps.
He also managed the Dayton Dragons, Cincinnati’s High-A affiliate, from 2009-10.
“He was a super nice guy,” Larkin said. “He was always a hard worker, not real loud. Just about doing his business. He was just a steady, consistent contributor. There was no craziness about him. He fit in well with the team.
SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 06: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Three of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com at Petco Park on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via 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).
The Veteran Shortstop
When Xander Bogaerts was signed to an 11-year, $280 million contract prior to the 2023 season (wow, that’s still insane to think about), he was expected to man shortstop for the next several years for San Diego. He’s done so faithfully and has been available for the majority of his tenure thus far. Bogaerts has played in 130-plus games in three of four seasons with the Padres. However, he has yet to perform better than his first year in San Diego (4.2 Wins Above Replacement).
Overall Grade: C+
Bogaerts’ production has continued to decline year by year. This season was no different, with the shortstop posting a .231/.332/.344 slash line and 13 home runs. The homer total was an increase from the last two seasons, but his batting average took a sharp downturn. Bogaerts’ bat was downright anemic apart from certain portions of the year.
That being said, Bogaerts ended the season batting .315 in September and slashed .286/.348/.476 with a home run in the playoffs. His defense took a step back from his stellar performance in 2025 (+6 Fielding Run Value, +7 Outs Above Average), but he was still solid at the position with +4 FRV and +3 OAA. Bogaerts manned shortstop faithfully for the Friars, playing in 151 games for San Diego.
The biggest question for Bogaerts is whether his offense can return to form. Since joining San Diego, he has yet to prove he can make a difference with his bat apart from a solid 2023 campaign. That being said, Bogaerts was somewhat unlucky in 2026. The veteran shortstop batted .231 with an expected batting average of .248. That’s not a great deal better, but it’s certainly an improvement.
James Harden got a very Philly welcome in his first game of the 2026-27 NBA season.
Philadelphia 76ers fans booed loudly at tipoff on Thursday, Oct. 22 when the 11-time All-Star started the game with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His teammate, Jarrett Allen, tipped the ball back to Harden and Harden dribbled the ball forward for the first possession of the game as the jeers rained down from the rafters at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
He was booed again when he took his place at the free throw line at the 9:19 mark after he was fouled by VJ Edgecombe. Harden missed the first free throw, but made the second to make the score 7-5 for the Cavaliers.
At the end of the first quarter, Cleveland was up 35-18.
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks look 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets opened their 2026-27 campaign against a familiar foe on Wednesday. The Rockets welcomed the Dallas Mavericks to Toyota Center to open the season after facing the same team twice in China to open the preseason. The Rockets split those two games, with both teams resting starters, so little can be taken from them.
Ime Udoka spoke to the media before the game and gave an update on Steven Adams, stating he was a game-time decision as he was dealing with a sore calf that first appeared after Tuesday’s practice. Udoka also stated to SB Nation that the double big lineup the Rockets have implemented the past two seasons will be more matchup-based this season, but that he still feels confident in that lineup and will use it throughout the season.
Adams was eventually ruled out right before game time, with the hope that he would return for either Friday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs or Sunday’s game vs. the Atlanta Hawks. The Rockets went with their preseason starting lineup as Fred VanVleet made his first start in over a year. The Rockets were hoping to get off to a fast start in Wednesday’s game as they kicked off a very important season.
Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Rockets didn’t get off to the best start, falling behind 0-4 before making three straight baskets, including back-to-back 3-pointers from Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet. Both teams eventually found their footing as the lead went back and forth early. There were also early fireworks as Tari Eason shoved PJ Washington, which led to a flagrant-two foul and an ejection for Eason only three minutes into his 2026-27 season.
A couple of areas stuck out early in the game. Kevin Durant seemed to be able to get a lot of easier shots now that he doesn’t have to initiate so much of the offense. Also, the Rockets seem to get whatever shot they want in the first quarter.
The Rockets were able to pull away slightly at the end of the quarter as Durant took over late in the quarter, scoring 13 points in the first quarter. The Rockets shot 52 percent, scoring 32 points and leading 32-26 after one quarter.
Rockets started to break the game open in the second quarter as they continued to push the pace, led by Jabari Smith and Kevin Durant. The Rockets went up 17 points after a Smith dunk, which gave him a game-high 16 points. Rockets continue to apply pressure as the Mavericks start to cool off, but the Rockets continue their hot shooting. Rockets led by 32 points, 70-38, after one half of play
The second half was more of the same as the Rockets continued to dominate on both sides of the court. The Mavericks had a brief moment of hope as they cut the Rockets’ lead down to 17, but that is the closest they would get as the Rockets cruised in the fourth quarter winning 128-110 The Rockets were led by a couple of 30-point games from Jabari Smith and Kevin Durant. Alperen Sengun also finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Postgame
After the game as expected the Rockets were in a good mood as Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet, Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith all spoke to the media. Udoka talked about the Rockets playing at a faster pace finishing with 29 fast break points something he has spoken on ofted leading up to the season.
The biggest story was the return of VanVleet after missing all of last season and everyone said how happy they were to have him back in the lineup. Durant especially spoke on how much of a calming force VanVleet is for the entire team.
Here KD talks about how it was being on the court with Fred for the first time.
VanVleet finished with a game high 11 assist with zero turnovers which is the type of point guard play the Rockets missed all last season. However VanVleet also did well as he has his entire career as a screener especially with Alperen Sengun in the inverted pick and roll. SB Nation asked VanVleet about his chemistry with Sengun.
The Rockets ran a inverted pick and roll a few times tonight with Fred and AlP that led to points.
I asked Fred about the chemistry between him and Sengun.
“It really was natural from the first time we did it. Its some chemistry that yo have with players where it doesn't take… pic.twitter.com/733SegmCyd
The Rockets had 32 assist in their win over the Mavericks and SB Nation asked Durant how much easier does it make it when the ball is moving around the court and everyone is touching the basketball.
The Rockets had 32 assists tonight and I asked KD how much easier does it make it on everyone when the ball is moving like that.
Wednesday’s season open win was the Rockets’ first since their 2017-18 win over the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, which was led, of course, by Stephen Curry and current Rocket Kevin Durant. The Rockets are back in action Friday as they travel to Austin to take on the San Antonio Spurs as they look to start the season 2-0.
The Knicks are among the teams interested in free agent forward Dalton Knecht, according to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, citing league sources familiar with his market.
Knecht, 25, was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers before the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The 17th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Knecht is eligible to sign a two-way deal.
Knecht appeared in just 54 games with the Lakers last season, averaging 4.2 points on 45.5 percent shooting (34.2 percent from three) with 1.4 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game.
He saw much more time in his rookie campaign, with 78 appearances (16 starts) as he averaged 9.1 points on 46.1 percent from the floor (37.6 percent from three on 4.4 attempts) with 2.8 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game. But Knecht was out of Los Angeles' playoff rotation with just 22 career minutes over seven games.
New York currently has a full slate of two-way players (Tyler Nickel, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Jaden Akins), but still has a 15th spot on the roster available.James Wiseman beat out Bruce Brown for the 14th "final" spot, as both could not be kept due to the organization's salary cap considerations.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have also expressed an interest in the forward, according to Marc Stein.
