Luis Díaz hat-trick helps Bayern thump RB Leipzig 6-1
Barcelona’s La Liga juggernaut rolled into Seville on Saturday and left with the scoreboard smoking, as the leaders beat Real Betis 5-2 to make it nine wins from nine, stretching their blistering league goal tally to 39.
Lamine Yamal lit the fuse with a dazzling opener before Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García and the substitute Dani Olmo joined the party, while Valentín Gómez and Ez Abde replied for Betis, who played much of the second half with 10 men after Facundo Bernal was sent off for head-butting Lamine Yamal.
The four Premier League clubs playing in the lesser continental competitions face each other on Sunday – but three are struggling domestically
The sun shone. The temperature was in the high 20s. There was a mood of great conviviality. If you were struggling with the official allocation, it turned out you could just email the president of Torreense and he’d sort you out. Were these “Nuno-tickets” real? It turned out they were. Not only that, but you could sit anywhere you wanted in a stadium too big for the game and, if you happened to have gravitated to the comfortable hospitality seating at the back of the lower tier, the beer was inexplicably free.
Locals in Leiria seemed bewildered but could hardly have been more accommodating. A beer pump had been installed outside a patisserie on the Praça Francisco Rodrigues Lobo, whose owner soon found fans happy to help stack empty barrels if that facilitated the free flow of Sagres. “There was a meeting at the town hall to explain these are not hooligans,” said the owner of a radical leftist flammkuchen restaurant between the square and the cathedral. “They told us the club comes from the labour movement and I found that very interesting.” And how had she found the fans? “Noisy, but with a quirky sense of humour.”
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 14: Nick Richards #8 of the Miami Heat and Day'Ron Sharpe #20 of the Brooklyn Nets boxes out during the game on October 14, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets ranked 30th in both offensive and defensive ratings last season and that was a good thing if you’re tanking to get a high pick. But if you’re trying to win some games in the next stage of the multi-year rebuild, one or the other will have to improve dramatically.
So far, based on Summer League and preseason, the offense looks improved. The addition of Julius Randle, a bona fide NBA scorer, looks like a big get. Playing next to Michael Porter Jr. both will their get shots. Two members of the Flatbush 5, Egor Demin and Nolan Traore, have grown in a number of ways as well. And even though he’s a rookie, Mikel Brown Jr. looks like he’ll be able to contribute. Here’s some data…
Teams With The Best Offensive Rating In The 2026-27 NBA Preseason :
Now let’s talk about defense. Judging by what we saw vs. the Miami Heat in the final preseason game, it is, to be most kind, a work in progress. Or as Brian Lewis described it Saturday, “sieve like.” MPJ had this to say.
“Yeah, that’ll be the most important thing. Offensively we’ll be able to score with the best of them,” Porter Jr. said. “I think offensively is not a problem. [But] if we want to be good, then defensively we’ll have to lock in.”
Jordi Fernandez, who prides himself as a defensive coach, agrees.
“There’s been two games that we were an aggressive and ball-pressure defensive team where I thought we were pretty good,” the head coach said. “And then two games where we were a poor defensive team with our transition, our rim protection.
“We’ve got to decide who we want to be, and the things that we can control … and do it every game. Don’t rely on shot-making, on things that don’t really matter. Rely on things that are going to make you a winning team.”
Indeed, if the Nets plan on shocking the world, matching last year is not the way to do it.
Although Fernandez noted there were positives in a couple of games, Lewis writes that that doesn’t tell the whole story about the preseason.
The Nets finished the preseason second worst in the league in opponent field goal percentage (.498) and effective field goal percentage (.588).
But their Defensive Rating wasn’t horrid, mainly because they were top 10 in opponent turnovers, turnover percentage and points off turnovers.
The Nets forced 47 through the first two games, allowing an average of just 99 points. And they harassed Washington into another 15 in the second half of Monday’s win, holding the Wizards to 50 points.
But when foes held onto the ball? Trouble.
The Nets forced just eight turnovers in that first half at Washington, and allowed 72 points. And when they only forced 15 in Miami, they allowed 144 points and 58.5 percent shooting.
The biggest defensive deficit in the Miami game was the lack of rim protection which has been pointed out since the Nets traded Nic Claxton in the deal that brought Randle to New York. Making it worse the other night was that Day’Ron Sharpe got into early trouble against Giannis Antetokounmpo, exposing a lack of bench in that area.
“[Fernández preaches] just executing our staples on defense, controlling that, controlling what needs to be controlled, and doing everything with a purpose, but doing it also hard,” Sharpe said. “So that’s the main thing he preaches. If we could do that for four quarters, we’d give ourselves a good chance to win.”
Is there a solution somewhere on the Nets current roster, somebody who could help in the short term? There’s been suggestions that Noah Clowney who once blocked 11 shots in two games over a four-day stretch could play small ball 5 in some situations. Two-way Grant Nelson also had some success blocking shots at Alabama. He is an athletic 7-footer. But neither seems likely to have much of an effect and there’s no indication Sean Marks & co. are working the phones looking for help.
Overall, Brown Jr. told the media that he believes there are fixes.
“Coach always preaches that we can play hard, but we’ve also got to play smart and attention to detail. That’s something that we’ve been inconsistent at, but we’re going to continue to work at it every single day and fix it,” Brown Jr. said.
“It’s just little mistakes we could correct. Just being clean in our shifts, being early and often. It’s not that we’re just completely blowing up on coverages; it’s just about having the right mindset, staying consistent throughout the game for all 48 minutes and keep applying that same pressure, that physicality that coach is talking about. It’s just the little things when it comes to that point. We clean those things up, we’ll be fine.”
Of course, Brown has yet to play his first real NBA game and what’s the definition of “fine,” anyway? If it’s only improvement over last season’s worst-in-the-league numbers, that’s not fine or encouraging. So we will see.
Coach JJ Redick discussed the roster shuffle as the Lakers look to trim the team from 16 to 15 players and specifically referenced third-year wing Dalton Knecht.
Lakers forward Dalton Knecht is expected to be the odd man out. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
“I think the biggest thing is the team changed,” Redick said. “The team changed. Needs changed, the fit changed. I think he’s gotten better as a player the last two years.
“I think, particularly last year, each guy got plenty of opportunities with the injuries we had. I just think coming into this year, we added a lot of wings, and he’s in a tough spot right now.”
The Lakers have an abundance of wings, including Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr and Jake LaRavia. Jarred Vanderbilt is also an option, but his name has been floated in trade rumors long before the offseason.
But as the Lakers begin the season in only a few days, Knecht seems like the most likely option to get cut.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick holds the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Golden State Warriors. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Knecht was traded by the Lakers in February 2025 to the Hornets, but the deal was rescinded when center Mark Williams failed his physical. Since the trade, Knecht has never played with quite the same confidence for the Purple-and-Gold.
Jarred Vanderbilt should have a legitimate shot at being in the Lakers’ rotation as the 10th man. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
A change of scenery would be beneficial for the 25-year-old, but there’s no guarantee the Lakers will be able to trade Knecht before Opening Night. Thus, the only alternative is waiving Knecht.
There is a reason why Aston Villa were so desperate to hijack Johan Manzambi’s proposed summer move from Freiburg to Newcastle. The tall, quick, tricky, clever and perfectly balanced 21-year-old Switzerland attacking midfielder looked worth every penny of the record £50m plus fee Villa ended up paying and duly delighted in showing Tynesiders what they missed.
For Newcastle and their disconsolate manager Matthias Jaissle there was a cruel irony that Manzambi ended up heading the winner on a day when the Premier League’s CEO, Richard Masters, was in the directors’ box to watch arguably the two teams most affected by the spending rules imposed during his tenure.
Earlier this week, in what can only be described as an encouraging sign, Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon met with City of Portland representatives after a Trail Blazers preseason game. Those two sides are negotiating Moda Center renovations and a new lease for the team that extends out 20 years. Earlier this summer, it would have been polite to call those negotiations "contentious," with a veiled threat of team relocation hanging over the talks, but the temperature appears to have cooled down.
"We are working to keep the team in Portland," Dundon said by text message. "That is the priority."
It hasn't always felt that way to Trail Blazers faithful/ Dundon's numerous penny-pinching moves since taking over the Trail Blazers have been an embarrassment and reminded people what they dislike most about private equity and billionaires. The most recent example was lowballing and pushing out the door beloved and elite television play-by-play man Kevin Calabro, hiring but not properly vetting 29-year-old replacement Braiden Bell, then firing Bell less than 24 hours later after old mysognistic/racists social media posts came to light, then eventually hiring Trail Blazers radio veteran Travis Demers but only on a temporary, game-by-game or trial basis. Even if the Trail Blazers eventually landed in the right place, they embarrassed themselves getting there.
Part of the concern about Dundon was that this was the movie Major League come to life — he was making moves to frustrate the fan base so he could move the team to a place he felt was a friendlier business environment. That was also always going to be a far more difficult process in reality than it was on paper.
"I want to be very direct about it: I would see it as a failure if we did not keep the team in Portland," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said this summer. "I've spent a lot of time in that community over the years. They've shown amazing support for the Trail Blazers. They're some of our best fans around the league."
Still, it's a negotiation between the Trail Blazers and Portland. While a series of government agencies at the state, county and city level have stepped forward with nearly $600 million for needed Moda Center renovations, the terms of the renovations and new lease with the city had sticking points. Among them:
• A $3 million annual rent charge. • The City of Portland gets a 6% tax on each game ticket sold as well as every parking fee at the building. The team believes this is too high. • The city wants the Trail Blazers to agree to hire union workers for the renovations and construction process, as well as for concession workers on game night. • The Trail Blazers want increased security in and around the arena on game night and for the city to pay for that.
The sides are talking, and the public rhetoric seems to have cooled, which is a good sign. The deadline is the end of the year, when the state money dedicated to the renovations would go away. Like most negotiations, don't be surprised if this one goes down to the wire.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 03: Drew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after pitching against the New York Yankees during the second inning in game one of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 03, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’re choosing not to watch the rest of the MLB postseason, I don’t blame you at all. However, something interesting happened in Game 2 of the NLCS, something that prompted me to reflect on the Yankees’ performance (or lack of) against the Rays.
Down 1-0 against the Brewers, the Dodgers started Yoshinobu Yamamoto to try and even up the series. Yamamoto, if you recall, pitched a complete game against those same Brewers in Game 2 of last year’s NLCS, a first-pitch Jackson Chourio homer the sole blemish on his ledger. This year, however, the Brewers were ready. Taking full advantage of a slightly off Yamamoto, they worked counts and grinded at-bats, chasing him after 2.2 innings, 75 pitches, and 3 runs allowed. Milwaukee went on to win 7-4, completing their revenge.
Here was an example of a smart team beating an excellent pitcher who had confounded them in the past. Contrast this with how the Yankees utterly folded against Drew Rasmussen in Game 1 of the ALDS. Why couldn’t the Yankees do as the Brewers did?
Now, I realize that overcoming elite pitching is a tall ask. It’s possible that not even the Brewers could have solved Rasmussen based on how good he looked that night. However, what irks me isn’t the end result, but the process. The Yankees had seen Rasmussen quite recently; he’d beaten the Bombers to clinch the division for the Rays on September 22. The Tampa Bay ace used the same gameplan for ALDS Game 1. However, the Yankees appeared to have done no homework, looking completely unprepared to counter his approach.
Rasmussen’s style of pitching can be summed up as: throw strikes that are hard to punish. The first part is easy to quantify. This year, 49.7% of his pitches landed in the strike zone, while the league average was 41.5%. He likes to attack batters early, as he ran a 67.1% first-strike rate (league average was 61.4%). Consequently, Rasmussen is extremely stingy about issuing free passes: his 4.8% walk rate placed him in the 97th percentile among all pitchers this season. This is a guy that is comfortable challenging hitters in the zone.
It’s the second part that sets Rasmussen apart from mere strike-throwers. The Rays ace has both the stuff (110 Stuff+) and command (106 Location+) to avoid damage while challenging hitters. While he is generally average at getting whiffs and avoiding contact, he limits barrels and hard contact extremely well (79th and 83rd percentile, respectively), and generates grounders at a comfortably above average clip (65th percentile). This is not someone you go hacking against.
Rasmussen’s strengths were on full display in that September 22 start. Rasmussen pitched 6.2 innings of 1-run ball, striking out 11 in the process. Of the 114 pitches he threw that day, 45.6% were in the strike zone, down from his season average but still above league average. However, the Yankees flailed helplessly against his stuff, making contact only 35 times out of 53 swings for an abysmal 66% contact rate. Even when they did make contact, it was mostly harmless. The Yankees managed just two hard-hit balls in fair territory against Rasmussen, both by Heliot Ramos of all people: a 107.3 mph lineout in the fourth, and a 110.5 mph double in the seventh. I count only two positives from that outing for the Yankees: they managed to make Rasmussen throw 114 pitches, and they coaxed three walks out of him. Other than that, they got schooled.
Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that the Yankees just needed to do X, Y, and Z to solve Rasmussen. There are no obvious answers to counter a guy this good. But at the same time, business as usual doesn’t cut it, either. If you’re trying to win against elite pitching in October, you need a team-wide, concerted approach.
For what it’s worth, if I was calling the shots, I would have instructed the Yankees to be extremely passive. I would have implored them to run deep counts, wait for mistakes, and to avoid expanding the zone at all costs. Groundbreaking, I know. But at least this puts pressure on Rasmussen to consistently execute, and while he’s a great pitcher, he’s not a robot. This strategy is also rooted in an honest appraisal of the Yankees’ strengths and weaknesses at the plate: they sucked at making contact (75.1% contact rate, 27th in MLB), but they were above average at avoiding chase (31.9 O-Swing%, 9th best). And if nothing else, this would have likely meant a higher pitch count for Rasmussen. Yes, he throws strikes, but more than half of his pitches still land outside the strike zone. Laying off those even once per at-bat would have resulted in a markedly higher pitch total for Rasmussen, forcing the Rays to go to their bullpen earlier.
However, the Yankees did none of that in Game 1 of the ALDS. Instead, they went up hacking. Their overall swing rate was 50.4%, up from their season average of 46.3%. They kept chasing pitches out of the strike zone; their O-Swing% for the night was 36.5%, much higher than their seasonal mark. They made contact on those pitches just 39.1% of the time, with their overall contact rate dipping to a truly pitiful 60.3%. All this chase and whiff prevented the Yankees from being able to run deep counts; of the 25 plate appearances against Rasmussen that night, 10 ended in three pitches or fewer. And that’s how they let Rasmussen dominate them for 8 innings and 101 pitches.
Again, I’m not saying that the Yankees would have easily solved Rasmussen if only they had been a bit more patient. They ran up his pitch count to 114 on September 22, and he still ended up limiting them to one run. What irritates me is the perceived lack of strategy. Surely, they had to have known about Rasmussen’s strengths. They should have known their own strengths and weaknesses as a team. Why, then, was their plan to just swing away?
I don’t have any insight on the inner workings of the Yankees’ organization. Maybe they were planning on being more patient against Rasmussen, but the plan was just executed poorly. Or maybe their increased aggressiveness was a conscious strategy based on internal data I don’t have access to. But watching Game 1, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Yankees’ batters were just going up there with no real plan other than “try to hit ball”. It makes you wonder how the Yankees approached advance scouting and preparation for that all-important game – or whether they did so at all.
A: The East has caught up with the West. You have the 76ers, obviously, you have the Toronto Raptors, you have Giannis [Antetokounmpo] with Miami, I think they’re still a few pieces away. But to me, if I had to pick one, it would be the 76ers. Nick Nurse won a championship [as coach of the Raptors in 2019]. Nick Nurse had to figure how pieces worked when he was in Toronto. And when you have guys that have high IQs — Jaylen Brown is a Finals MVP, LeBron James is [not just] arguably the greatest player but one of the smartest players to play the game of basketball. That’s not going to be a hard adjustment. … Offensively I see them getting out and running. I could see them being probably the best transition team offensively in the league. But I also could see them figuring things out on the fly while they’re still winning games during the regular season. And I also see LeBron James bringing out the best in Joel Embiid.
Q: So do you think the Sixers are the biggest threat to the Knicks?
A: I do.
Q: Do you think they could overtake the Knicks?
A: I do.
Q: Is there another threat in the East?
A: I’m ready to see what Indiana looks like with their new center Ivica Zubac, I believe he’s a top 10 big in the league. Can they pick up where they left off two years ago?
Q: How about the Raptors?
A: I feel like Kawhi Leonard is the most feared, most dangerous player in the East. He’s a guy that’s going to bring out a different version of Scottie Barnes. They’re well-coached. They’re going to play with an edge defensively. They’re going to play nasty defensively. They’re going to play with a lot of physicality. And now he’s back home where he won a championship and where he wants to be at. They’re my darkhorse to come out of the East and win it all.
Q: The Cavaliers?
A: We saw the Knicks snatch their souls in a conference finals and they never recovered. I got to see that they have the heart to get it done.
Kendrick Perkins is seen prior to Round 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026, in New York. Getty Images
A: KAT is an emotional guy. And if I’m Mike Brown, the biggest thing is from a personal side, I would just want Towns to know that he’s loved on a day-to-day basis. That don’t mean that there’s not going to be times where you have to call him out in film, but if I’m Mike Brown, I’d go the extra mile to extend my love, whether that’s on the road, him meeting him for breakfast before shootaround, maybe dinners, just to let him know his value. And to let him know that he’s a huge and the most important part of this team. … It would be through actions and less through words.
Q: KAT as the hub again?
A: I think it’s going to be a mixture. But I know he will be highlighted even more, and KAT is going to want to be highlighted even more. Because you could hear through his frustrations about his contract extension that he’s like, “Hey what else do I have to do?” And so when a player gets to that type of mindset, the next thing is, “I’m going to show you what I’m going to go do, and I’m going to do it between the lines.”
Q: You won the 2008 NBA championship with the Celtics. What are the challenges of defending an NBA championship?
A: The first thing is health, obviously. The second thing is getting through the regular season knowing that everywhere in every game that you play, you’re going to get everyone’s best shot. But last but not least is having everyone continue to lose themselves in the team and play agenda-free basketball. Because what ends up happening is when you win a championship, because of the praise that you get in the offseason, everyone starts to believe that they were the reason and guys come back and want a bigger role, instead of staying and playing and being a star of that role that helped them win the championship.
Q: What did you like best about the Knicks last year?
A: I just love how they were able to adjust in different series. We saw at times where in the Atlanta series, they adjusted their style of play offensively, that’s No. 1. We saw Karl Anthony-Towns running more of their point center position. In Atlanta he was dishing out the rock and dropping dimes. Getting to the NBA Finals, we saw Jalen Brunson become more ball-dominant, and they went back to what they were accustomed to. Karl Anthony-Towns, not being in foul trouble, guys stepping up, guys not having egos. We saw at one point, Josh Hart, he was benched for a game and then all of a sudden he came back and lit it up. That’s what I saw last year, was their ability to adjust, to pay attention to details, and their ability to lose themselves in the team and do what’s best for the team and be coached. The one thing we witnessed and we saw was that Mike Brown had the ears of their locker room throughout the their entire postseason.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown stands on the baseline during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post
Q: How did you think Mike Brown would do in the New York spotlight replacing Tom Thibodeau?
A: One thing about Mike Brown is he grew up under that Greg Popovich tree. Mike Brown was a champion with Golden State as an assistant coach. If you look at the direction of the league, all the old-school coaches — whether it’s Rick Carlisle, Greg Popovich before he had to step down because of his health — they all had to make adjustments to this new generation. And the one thing that we see and witness, when listening to Mike Brown in his postgame interviews, is he had the personality that resonates with this generation of players. Cool coaches are getting the job done.
Q: Describe Jalen Brunson’s evolution.
A: Offensively, I believe that Jalen Brunson over the last three years before Giannis was injured, has been consistently the best player in the Eastern Conference. But last year we saw him take that leap of accountability. We saw him doing the little things of fighting to get over screens. We saw him doing things of getting back in transition and getting extra possessions by taking charges. We saw him take over a Game 4 in Madison Square Garden in the second half to direct traffic and get buckets. We just saw leadership, right? We saw a guy in probably the hardest market to play in, have composure, have leadership and be able to perform on the biggest moments. But I think the most important thing is that he accepted the challenge of actually playing defense and playing enough defense where he wasn’t a liability. But also playing defense where the Spurs couldn’t hunt him out on the big stage. … He’s one of if not my favorite players in the NBA, but history tells us that we haven’t had a back-to-back champion in the last 8-9 years.
Q: What role should he play helping Brown deal with the KAT and Hart contract issues?
A: The only thing that he can do is continue to be the guy that he is, and on the floor, I told him the next step for him is empowering guys to reach their individual goals. Empowering a guy like OG Anunoby to become a first-time All-Star. Empowering a guy like Josh Hart to have his best season of his career. Empowering a guy like Karl-Anthony Towns to go out and show why he’s not leaving a total of $76 million on the table. That’s the next step for Jalen Brunson — can you go out there and continue to play at an MVP level? But also when we look up it’s three or four other guys that are headed with you to the All-Star break.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Jalen Brunson (11) react to a call during the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post
Q: What did OG Anunoby mean to that team last year?
A: OG Anunoby is the best 3-and-D guy in the league. It’s disrespectful at this point if anybody was to call OG Anunoby a role player. He’s not a role player. OG Anunoby is an All-Star-caliber player. His value is higher than a lot of guys that made All-Star games or third-team All-NBA. If the Cleveland Cavaliers were to make Evan Mobley available right now, OG Anunoby’s value is higher than Evan Mobley.
Q: How big of a loss to the Knicks is Mitch Robinson?
A: It’s a huge loss. When you think about Big Mitch, you think about being a force on the glass, offensive rebounder, helluva screen setter, big body, causing havoc — it’s hard to replace a guy like that. The one thing is that the Knicks have established a culture that they have there, and so Big Mitch will be missed tremendously, he helped them a lot throughout the course of their NBA championship run. But I think it’s a void that can be filled, but I also think it’s an opportunity for KAT to say, hey, KAT is one of the top leaders in the NBA as far as minutes played.
Q: What do you think about Andre Drummond?
A: I think Drummond is good, man. … Andre Drummond is a hell of a rebounder. Andre Drummond could be a hell of a rim protector. It’s about him just embracing that and buying into it and being a star in his role. And I believe he has no choice, and I believe that he will.
Q: Would you like to have played with Josh Hart?
A: Oh, for sure. Any guy that has a high motor. Any guy that has the passion. Any guy that has the will to want that Josh brings. I’ve said this time and time again: Jalen Brunson is the best player on the Knicks. Karl Anthony-Towns was the most important player. But Josh Hart is the heart and soul of that team.
Q: What did Mikal Bridges mean to the Knicks?
A: If I’m Mikal Bridges, obviously he’s a champion, but he should want to come back and play better. He should want to perform better. I think we will see a better version of Mikal Bridges. I think we will see a different version of Mikal Bridges. I would love to see the Mikal Bridges that we saw in Phoenix when they made their Finals run. That Mikal Bridges was looked at as one of the best two-way wings in the NBA. I would love for Mikal Bridges to get back to thinking that, “I’m a defender first with the capabilities of getting buckets second.”
Q: What do you think of Oklahoma City and San Antonio in the West?
A: I haven’t picked who I got coming out of the West, but I wouldn’t sleep on Minnesota.
Victor Wembanyama (1) of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of a preseason game at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in San Antonio. Getty Images
Q: How can Victor Wembanyama get better?
A: I want to look up and see that Wemby is at least one or two in leading the league in points in the paint. This past season he finished 19th, and I believe that’s unacceptable for a guy that was second in the league as far as catching lobs, a guy that’s a generational talent at 7-[foot]-6, a guy that dominated the defensive end. I would love to see Wemby dominate the paint. The conversation that needs to be had come February or March is: Is it Wemby or Giannis who’s the most dominant player in getting to the basket in paint points?
Q: Where would you rank Kendrick Perkins on the all-time list of enforcers?
A: Top 10.
Q: Who’s No. 1?
A: Is Dennis Rodman labeled an enforcer? I probably would put him No. 1. Draymond [Green] would be high on my list as well.
Q: How devastating was that for you when you tore your knee up in Game 6 of the 2010 Finals against the Lakers?
A: It was the worst, because Game 7 was even harder, when you had to sit on the side, you had to watch your guys go through the battle on the road, knowing that our starting five of Ray Allen, K.G. [Kevin Garnett], Paul [Pierce], [Rajon] Rondo and myself, had never lost a playoff series healthy. And the one thing that goes to your mind is that you never know if you’ll ever get back to that moment again, meaning being in the NBA Finals being able to compete for a championship. And the hardest part of it was that the team that won those games in that series, they won the rebuilding battle.
Q: Do you think your 2009 Celtics would have repeated if Garnett hadn’t wrecked his knee in February?
A: I don’t know. I think to be honest, we were actually set up to win three in a row, but you got to stay healthy is the key part of it.
Spike Lee and Kendrick Perkins talk before Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. NBAE via Getty Images
Q: What was it like playing [2017-18] for the G League Canton Charge?
A: It was one of the best experiences of my basketball career. It was humbling, but I got an opportunity to see how many guys pass up overseas opportunities, six-, seven-figure jobs, just to get a 10-day to get a jersey to say they made it into the NBA.
Q: What was the impact your grandparents had on your life?
A: Without them there’s no me to be honest with you. Words can’t even explain the impact that they had on my life, and the love that I will always have for them. Nothing I’ve ever done for them financially, no words that I’ve ever spoke to them out of my mouth, could ever let them know my real appreciation for them of what they’ve done for me.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Tom Brady.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Sandlot.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Martin Lawrence.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Angela Bassett.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Anything seafood.
Q: What are you most proud of about your career?
A: To be honest with you, you can’t ever take away being a starter on a championship team. You can’t ever take away from being able to share a locker room and share a floor with the amount of Hall of Famers that I did. It was probably an 8-9-year window where I was the starting center on teams that were actually labeled contenders.
After only playing five games last season because of season-ending shoulder surgery, Walker Kessler was expected to have a few cobwebs this preseason.
They didn’t show in his preseason debut when Kessler shined with 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting, nine rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal in the first half of the Lakers’ 101-89 exhibition loss to the Warriors on Tuesday.
But Nikola Jokic unearthed them.
Walker Kessler (14) of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense on Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during a game at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles on Friday, October 16, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Walker finished with six points on 2-for-8 shooting, six rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and one steal in 31 minutes in the Lakers’ 121-106 exhibition loss to the Nuggets on Friday.
Meanwhile, Jokic, a three-time MVP and one-time champion with the Nuggets in 2023, poured in 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the field, 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals in 31 minutes.
“It knocked off a lot of rust,” Kessler said of playing against Jokic, flashing a smile. “Yeah, there was a pile in my locker. There’s a reason why he is who he is. He’s arguably the best big in the league and best player in the league. I would argue Luka’s better, obviously, for obvious reasons. But, yeah, he’s an exceptional player and for a preseason game, getting a regular-season game feel in that first half was really good for me and I think it was good for the team.”
Kessler, who suffered a torn left labrum in November, went 347 days without playing basketball before this preseason.
The Lakers acquired him this offseason in a sign-and-trade with Utah, giving up two future unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps on top of a four-year, $130 million contract.
Kessler is considered one of the league’s elite rim protectors and rebounders. In the five games he played last season, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, three assists, 1.8 steals and 1.4 blocks.
In 2024-2025, Kessler contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim, per NBA.com, which tied him for fifth most in the league.
Against the Warriors, Kessler showed the type of difference he can make for the Lakers, who were 20th in defensive rating last season.
In the 16 minutes Kessler was on the court? The Lakers outscored the Warriors by 15 points. In the 32 minutes he was on the bench? They were outscored by 27.
The challenge level was dialed up in intensity against Jokic, who finished third last season in MVP voting, ahead of the Lakers’ season opener against the Warriors on Wednesday.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve really competed against someone like that. I mean since November basically of last year,” Kessler said. “So definitely it was nice to get that in before it actually counts.”
The day after Ottawa's pro football team ended their long winless streak, Sens fans would rather not see another winless team end its drought on Saturday night.
After the Redblacks snapped their 0-16 start with a dramatic, last-second 40-39 victory over the Toronto Argonauts on Friday night, the Senators are in Philadelphia to face the winless Flyers.
The Flyers will hit the 10-game mark of their season on Saturday night, and they're still looking for their first victory. At 0-6-3, Philadelphia has endured a miserable start, one that's already set a franchise record for the longest winless streak to open a season.
And the pressure is mounting on head coach Rick Tocchet.
After guiding the Flyers to their first playoff appearance in six years last season, nobody would have expected the 2024 NHL Coach of the Year to be feeling the heat this early. But that's what happens when a team opens with nine straight losses.
The Flyers' biggest problem has been their offence. They've scored just 11 goals in nine games, making it awfully difficult to win regardless of how well the defence or goaltenders perform.
Despite their record, the Flyers will be a desperate team on Saturday, and earlier this month, they gave the Senators all they could handle. But the Sens eked out a 2-1 win at Canadian Tire Centre on October 8.
Carter Yakemchuk scored the winner on a third-period power play in that game, blasting home a one-timer to break a 1-1 tie. It was also the game in which William Eklund suffered his ankle injury. He'll be out 10-12 weeks after surgery this week.
The Flyers' latest disappointment came Thursday night in Detroit, where they fell 2-1 to the Red Wings.
The Senators enter the game with a 6-2-0 record after Thursday's 2-1 shootout victory over the New York Islanders at Canadian Tire Centre.
Long Island native Shane Pinto scored the only goal of the shootout, while Linus Ullmark continued his outstanding start to the season, improving to 6-0-0. The victory was a welcome response to Tuesday's ugly 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
The Senators welcomed back defenceman Artem Zub, who made his season debut after missing the opening seven games with an injury. They'll now get another healthy body back on the blue line with Nikolas Matinpalo returning from an upper body injury.
But they remain without Jake Sanderson (lower body) and as long as they keep banking wins, they can afford to be conservative with his return to play. Sanderson has already reinjured himself twice this season, once in the preseason finale and again in the season opener.
The Flyers may be without some key players too. Forward Owen Tippett has an upper-body injury and did not take the morning skate. Tocchet says he's a game time decision. Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York were also absent so they're likely not ready to return.
Ottawa's Oliver Bonk, son of former Senator Radek Bonk, will play in his fifth career NHL game, paired with Canadian Olympian Travis Sanheim.
Here's how Philly lined things up at practice, as per Jordan Hall NBCS Philadelphia.:
The Redblacks finally shook off their drought at home on Friday. The Senators would like to prevent the Flyers from producing a similar story 24 hours later.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News Ottawa
This story first appeared at The Hockey News Ottawa. For more Senators coverage from THN Ottawa's Steve Warne, click one of the headlines below:
LOS ANGELES — After their earliest postseason exit in three years, the Los Angeles Dodgers head into the offseason facing uncertainty over next year.
Shohei Ohtani was dogged by injuries to his left knee and right biceps over the second half and into the playoffs that rendered him ineffective at the plate. The two-way superstar also didn’t pitch after the All-Star break.
Whether Ohtani needs offseason surgery remains to be seen, although he acknowledged it’s possible after Thursday’s loss to the Brewers that completed Milwaukee’s sweep of the NL Championship Series. If he does, would the recovery bleed into the start of next season?
A potential MLB lockout is looming with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on Dec. 1. Team owners have proposed a salary cap — something the sport has never had — and the players’ union has adamantly rejected the idea.
A work stoppage would give Ohtani extra time to heal, although during such time the Dodgers would be cut off from communicating with any player, leaving Ohtani to rehab either from possible surgery or from his injuries on his own.
Communication between Ohtani and the team on his health during the season was “awesome,” Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, said last month, but he added: “The fully sharing exactly how he’s feeling, maybe not so awesome.”
Ohtani said he plans to resume pitching next year, when he’ll turn 33 in July. He’s already had two Tommy John surgeries.
“What he’s doing is unprecedented, and it takes a real toll,” Friedman said. “And as you get older, I think us just being very dialed is going to be really important.”
Roster turnover is likely, even without big changes in MLB spending rules
The Dodgers had baseball’s second-highest opening day payroll this year at $323.3 million, behind the New York Mets at $358.4 million. If a salary cap were to be imposed, the Dodgers’ spending would be constrained when play resumes.
Some of the roster could look different next year, too, with nine players set to become free agents after the World Series, led by two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, who is expected to command a huge deal.
The Dodgers acquired Skubal from Detroit just before the trade deadline in August. The left-hander was 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 10 regular-season games for his new team. In the postseason, he was 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 14 Ks. Skubal didn’t want to discuss his future Thursday, although he expressed enthusiasm for the organization, his teammates and the fans.
Other impending free agents are infielder Miguel Rojas, utility player Kiké Hernández, and relievers Kris Bubic, Brusdar Graterol, Eric Lauer, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia.
As expected, Rojas announced his retirement Thursday, saying, “This is it, guys. That was my last game played.” He’ll still be around, though, to work in a player development role.
Dodgers add a bit of youth with De Paula
The Dodgers got a glimpse of the future when they promoted Josue De Paula directly from Double-A to the majors in September. His energy and at-bats at designated hitter during Ohtani’s stint on the injured list made an impression, and the 21-year-old was added to the postseason roster as a pinch-hitter.
The team will look to De Paula to further improve as an outfielder in 2027, although finding playing time for him will be challenging given the trio of veteran starters: Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages and Kyle Tucker. De Paula is also blocked at DH by Ohtani.
“I think the experience he got being up here and watching what our guys do on a daily basis just helped connect some dots for him,” Friedman said. “And so, physically, he is capable of being a good corner outfielder, and we’re going to continue to tap into that.”
Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Ohtani, Tucker, Max Muncy and Will Smith will remain the Dodgers’ veteran core. But some supporting players could be offloaded, like Kiké Hernández. Playing on a one-year deal, the 35-year-old was limited to 41 games while recovering from injuries and he didn’t provide his usual postseason pop.
Manager Dave Roberts refused to blame an aging lineup for getting swept by the Brewers, whose 103 regular-season wins were three more than the Dodgers.
“We got beat,” he said. “There’s no because we’re too old or whatever. Every facet of the game, if you kind of unpack it, we were bested.”
There’s drama off the field, too.
Owner Mark Walter was noticeably absent from the team’s playoff games. He is facing multiple federal investigations into his business empire for possible financial improprieties involving insurance companies he controls. Walter has denied any wrongdoing. Since August, he sold his controlling interest in the Los Angeles Lakers and last month he unloaded his share in Chelsea of the Premier League.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets poses for a portrait during Brooklyn Nets Media Day at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on September 28, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It feels a little different this time, right? The Brooklyn Nets begin their 2026-27 season this week! We’ve got Julius Randle, a bigger Egor Dëmin, a darn good prospect in Mikel Brown Jr., and a whole lot else to be excited about now. In this season preview pod, we share our predictions for the year, some bolder than others, and touch on what the fans should be excited and concerned about. We also hop in the time machine and look at the team’s starting lineups over the past 15 years, some crazier than others. How about those new uniforms too? We’re covering it all here.
In Episode 49 of The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin, we also touch on:
Mikel Brown Jr.’s preseason debut
Predicting the team’s MVP, DPOY, and MIP this year
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after striking out during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
To be clear: The two-way star was the second-best player in the National League this year, hitting 30 home runs and posting a sub-2.00 ERA in 14 starts on the mound. Even in a relatively down year for him, he finished fifth in the majors in FanGraphs’ version of wins above replacement. He remains, undoubtedly, MLB’s foremost star player and the Dodgers’ most potent weapon.
What mattered most for the Dodgers this year was having Ohtani –– especially as a hitter –– at full strength come the postseason. By trying to play through right arm and left knee injuries, he wasn’t.
In his 17th MLB season, Freeman earned his 10th career All-Star selection, finished 13th in the majors in total hits, and continued his march towards Cooperstown. But, the 37-year-old also saw his total production (measured by WAR) decline for a fourth straight year.
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a single during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Getty Images
What was shaping up to be a lost year for Betts instead finished with signs of renewed life. On Aug. 4, he was hitting .223 with a .670 OPS. In 46 games after that, he posted a .315/.399/.562 slash line while nearly doubling his home run total from 13 to 23.
It was the best he had looked since the first half of 2024 and a reminder that, even at 34 years old now, there is a superstar level he is still capable of reaching. The Dodgers will be hoping that’s what they get from him in 2027.
Max Muncy: B+
This was a resurgent season for Muncy, who returned to the All-Star Game for the first time since 2021 while hitting for his highest average (.252) since 2018. He stayed healthy, playing 149 games and hitting 29 home runs.
He also improved his defense, earning a nod as a Gold Glove finalist at third base. He’ll be back at third next season, in the final guaranteed year of his contract.
Andy Pages: A-
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages (44) celebrates after defeating the Atlanta Braves in game four of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Pages didn’t sustain his torrid pace from early in the year (he had a .303 average and .899 OPS on May 27, then a .254 average and .751 OPS thereafter) but still cemented himself as the youngest core piece of the roster, earning an All-Star nod with his improved approach and stellar center-field defense. His postseason was an improvement from 2025, too.
Teoscar Hernández: C
A late surge at the plate helped save some of Hernández’s season-long numbers (.267 average, .759 OPS) following a prolonged slump upon his return from a hamstring strain.
But after being bandied around in potential trade discussions last offseason, it’s possible his future with the club could be in question again this winter.
Kyle Tucker: D
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (23) reacts after a double during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The only thing saving this from being an F is the way Tucker finished his otherwise dismal debut season, highlighted by a team-best .333 batting average in the playoffs. Still, the 29-year-old played nowhere near expectations after his $240 offseason signing, setting career lows in average (.233), OPS (.715) and home runs (17).
The Dodgers will be desperate for him to return to form next year, when he will play an even more vital role in their still-aging lineup. If not, those $60 million player options in 2028 and 2029 will start to feel like poison pills.
Will Smith: C
This is a relatively incomplete grade, given Smith was limited to just 73 games by a three-month neck injury. But even when he did play, the veteran backstop took a step back. His .260 average and .781 OPS were the second-lowest marks of his career (ahead of only 2024). He went just 3-for-31 in the playoffs, salvaging only so much with his Game 3 double in the NLCS.
Tommy Edman: C
After missing the start of the year recovering from ankle surgery, Edman did little more than meet expectations in his utility role with the Dodgers. He was a streaky .247 hitter, finishing with a just-about-league-average .714 OPS. He played good defense and shifted around the diamond. But any more profound impact was limited.
Kiké Hernández: C
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Enrique Hernández (8) throws to first base to force out Milwaukee Brewers’ Brice Turang (2) during the sixth inning in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Getty Images
Injuries derailed Hernández’s year. And though he had another big October moment –– hitting a home run off Chris Sale in the NLDS –– there was little else to take from his 13th big-league campaign. Once again a free agent, he will represent one of the more intriguing questions of the Dodgers’ winter.
Each of the last three offseasons, they have re-signed him to a one-year deal. Whether they do so again could be a signal for how much, or little, of a shakeup they’re planning for next year.
Dalton Rushing: B
For Rushing, it was a year of promising highs (seven home runs in March/April, .288 batting average in July) and frustrating lows (emotional outbursts early in the year, his spat with Ohtani on the mound in June, and a late-season elbow injury that sidelined him for the playoffs) for the former top prospect. He has more to prove entering Year 3 in 2027.
Alex Freeland: C
Another ex-prospect, Freeland didn’t capitalize on increased opportunity this year, hitting just .234 with only 13 extra-base hits in 89 games. Though still only 25, he remains on the fringes of the team’s long-term plans.
Alex Call: C
The backup outfielder survived the trade deadline. But after hitting just .233 in his reserve role, he might not be a lock to return in his reserve role next year.
Josue De Paula: B+
Josue De Paula of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a triple during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Getty Images
In his brief MLB debut, De Paula did everything right as a hitter, reaching base at a .500 clip in 11 regular-season games before drawing two key walks as a pinch-hitter in October. Offensively, he seems ready for everyday big-league duties. But the gigantic question mark about his outfield defense leaves his 2027 role unclear entering the winter.
Hyeseong Kim: D
Time will tell if the Dodgers still see something in Kim. But the way he was buried in triple-A this year, after playing just 43 games in the majors in April and May, was not a good sign as he enters the final guaranteed year of his contract.
Hunter Feduccia: B
The former Dodgers farmhand returned to the club in a deadline day trade and was perfectly adequate as the backup catcher over the final couple months of the season. Whether there’s a role for him in the organization again next year remains to be seen.
Miguel Rojas: A
We’re grading on a curve here, in what was a fittingly effective send-off season for the now-retired veteran infielder. Rojas did his job by menacing left-handed pitching (.293 average against them), playing stout defense and serving as a vocal leader in the Dodgers’ star-studded clubhouse. After an accomplished 13-year MLB career –– highlighted by his season-saving home run in Game 7 of last year’s World Series –– his presence will be missed in the clubhouse.
Let's be honest with ourselves: Part of the concern basketball fans have with LeBron James' helicopter commute to Philadelphia games and practices is a shared PTSD from the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. Those emotional scars remain.
While fans in Philadelphia and beyond have made a big deal of LeBron commuting from a home in New York to Philadelphia via helicopter, his comments downplayed it, via Tony Jones at The Athletic.
"Yeah, I've done it before," James said. "Just another, just another way of transportation. That's all."
LeBron has been using a helicopter — provided by the sports apparel company Fanatics, according to Pablo Torre Finds Out — to commute from New York to the 76ers practice facility in Camden, N.J.
As the Dan LeBatard show pointed out, LeBron chose the 76ers, not Philadelphia. For Philly fans, that's not much of a distinction, but it is one. LeBron isn't the first person to do this commute, as noted by Jones former 76ers guard and current Lakers coach JJ Redick used to live in New York, although he hired a car service to do it. That drive is around two hours (more on bad traffic days), by helicopter, it's more like half an hour.
LeBron isn't changing his plans, and he is unconcerned about the discourse around his commute.
Check out LeBron's official debut as a 76er on Tuesday when he makes a shorter commute to Madison Square Garden with his teammates for the season opener, trying to spoil ring night for Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, a game you can watch on NBC and Peacock. It's the anchor game of a triple-header — Celtics at Pistons at 3 p.m. Eastern, and Thunder at Spurs at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — with all the games shown on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
AJ Dybantsa (4) of the Washington Wizards is fouled by Karlo Matkovic (17) of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a preseason game at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.
The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has suffered an ankle injury, putting his regular season debut on Wednesday in doubt.
Dybantsa sprained his left ankle in the second quarter of Washington’s preseason finale against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. He landed awkwardly after a mid-range jumper, and his teammates helped him to the locker room.
The rookie sat out the rest of the game as a precaution. He finished with 12 points, three rebounds, and one block in 15 minutes.
AJ Dybantsa (4) of the Washington Wizards is fouled by Karlo Matkovic (17) of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a preseason game at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. Getty Images
Social media footage showed the rookie walking down the tunnel on his own and mouthing, “I’m good”.
“We’ll look at it more when we get more information,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe told reporters.
Across four preseason appearances, Dybantsa is averaging 12 points, four rebounds, and one assist while shooting 43 percent from the field.
The injury delivers a blow to fans eager to see Washington’s first No. 1 pick since 2010—and sets back a Wizards team that, players have acknowledged, actively tanked last season to land the BYU forward.
AJ Dybantsa just rolled his ankle and went back to the Wizards locker room.
He walked off under his own power and seemed to say “I’m good” but still a very scary moment for Wizards fans. pic.twitter.com/nZZldhf8Iv
Observers expect the 19-year-old to play a key role as the Wizards look to return to competitive basketball. After extending Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million deal this offseason, Washington enters the season with an intriguing mix of veterans and young talent.
Anthony Davis, Khris Middleton, Deandre Ayton, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, and Tre Johnson round out the roster.
Dybantsa is confident in the support around him. At media day, he said his situation differs from that of other No. 1 picks because he can learn from established stars and Hall of Famers.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) drives on Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa (4) in the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. AP Photo/Morgan Simmons
“I have All-Stars and Hall of Famers on my team that I can really get some knowledge from, (such as) Khris Middleton, Trae Young, AD (Anthony Davis), DeAndre Ayton, so I don’t have to come in and carry this huge load,” he said. “I think I can just kind of bond with these guys, learn it slowly and learn how to play the right way instead of just getting put into a situation where I have a lot on my back.”
Washington will monitor Dybantsa’s availability as it prepares to open the regular season against the Bucks on Wednesday.
