The Buffalo Sabres would be wise to browse the trade market for forward help.
Bringing in another skilled winger would be good for the Sabres, as it is clear that they could use more scoring.
When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, one player who could make a lot of sense for the Sabres to target is Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk.
DeBrusk's name has been floating around the rumor mill for a long time now. With the Canucks rebuilding and having a brutal season, it would be understandable if they finally moved DeBrusk at some point this campaign. Due to this, Buffalo should consider kicking tires on him.
If the Sabres acquired DeBrusk, he would offer them another proven winger for their top nine. The 2015 first-round pick has shown throughout his career that he can be an impactful scorer, so he could be a strong pickup for a Sabres team that needs a boost.
In 18 games so far this season with the Canucks, DeBrusk has posted five goals and 10 points. This is after he had 23 goals and 42 points in 81 games for the Canucks in 2025-26. He also scored a career-high 28 goals in 2024-25, so he can put the puck in the net.
DeBrusk would be more than a rental for the Sabres if acquired, too, as he has a very reasonable $5.5 million cap hit through the 2030-31 season.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Shane Pinto celebrated his 26th birthday by scoring his second goal of the game 2:08 into overtime and the Ottawa Senators beat Colorado 4-3 on Thursday night after the Avalanche lost superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar to injuries.
MacKinnon and Makar left in the second period because of lower-body injuries. MacKinnon left with just over eight minutes remaining after a check from Artem Zub in the hip area and was seen grabbing his right side. Makar was injured moments earlier.
Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson also scored for the Senators (12-6-2). Linus Ullmark returned to the lineup for the first time since Oct. 21 and made 26 saves.
Arturi Lehkonen, Parker Kelly and Gabriel Landeskog scored for the Avalanche (11-6-3). Scott Wedgewood stopped 22 shots.
The Senators tied it with 3:56 remaining in regulation when Batherson snagged a loose puck in the crease and buried his 10th of the season.
In OT, Pinto intercepted a pass in Colorado’s zone and fired in a wrist shot.
Caleb Wilson, perhaps the 1-9 team’s only bright spot through the first three weeks of the season, underwent surgery for a fracture in his right hand and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
He injured his hand during the third quarter of Wednesday’s loss to the Spurs as he tried to knock the ball out of Victor Wembanyama’s hands.
Wilson, the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, had kicked off his professional career about as well as Chicago could have hoped.
Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls shoots a free throw against the Philadelphia 76ers at United Center in Chicago on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Through 10 games, Wilson is averaging 18.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals in 30.8 minutes per contest, putting himself squarely in the early NBA Rookie of the Year conversation.
He was on his way to another big night Wednesday, scoring 15 points in 15 minutes before suffering the injury.
“I expect to have Rookie of the Year, honestly,” Wilson said in June. “I’m going to work hard. I’m going to do what it takes. I feel like this team is really good for me and how I envision to play.
Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls shoots as Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs defend, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Chicago. Getty Images
It’s not the first time Wilson has dealt with hand injuries in recent years.
His freshman year at North Carolina was cut short after he broke his right thumb while attempting a dunk in practice in March, just as he was nearing a return from a fractured left hand that had sidelined him for six games.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 29: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros celebrates after hitting a single in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on September 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
HOUSTON, TX – Tonight on MLB Network, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) named DH/LF Yordan Alvarez the 2026 American League Most Valuable Player. Alvarez won the award over the Rays 3B Junior Caminero and the Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr. in the voting.
Alvarez, 29, won his first career MVP award and became the third player in franchise history to earn the honor, joining 2B Jose Altuve in 2017 and 1B Jeff Bagwell in 1994. Alvarez batted .316 (179×567) with 105 runs, 34 doubles, one triple, 42 home runs, 106 RBI, 109 walks and a 1.033 OPS in 158 games. He led the AL in batting average, OPS, slugging percentage (.601), on-base percentage (.432), total bases (341), walks (109), intentional walks (33), wRC+ (181), OPS+ (190) and extra-base hits (77), while also ranking tied for second in home runs, second in RBI, second in hits, fourth in doubles and fourth in runs scored. Additionally, Alvarez was the only player in the Majors this season to post an OPS over 1.000.
Alvarez won the American League and Major League batting titles, becoming the third player in franchise history to win a batting title, joining 1B Yuli Gurriel (2021) and 2B Jose Altuve (2014, 2016-17). He also became just the third player since 1970 to win the AL batting title while hitting 40-or-more home runs, joining NYY OF Aaron Judge (2025) and DET 1B Miguel Cabrera (2012-13). Alvarez set the Astros franchise record with 33 intentional walks, which was just three shy of the all-time AL record, set by Judge in 2025 (36).
This season, Alvarez won three AL Player of the Week honors along with two AL Player of the Month honors. He was also selected to his fourth career All-Star Game, and it was the second time that he was voted as a starter (also, 2024).
Last night, Alvarez received the AL Hank Aaron Award, the AL Comeback Player of the Year, the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award and was an All-MLB First Team selection.
The Detroit Red Wings entered Thursday's contest against the Florida Panthers having lost four straight games, but by the midway point of the second period, they appeared to have everything well in hand and were on their way to ending that streak.
What followed after they took a 4-1 lead was the stuff of nightmares, and one the Red Wings never woke up from.
The Panthers scored four unanswered goals, starting with a late second-period tally and capped by two goals within 51 seconds late in the third, ultimately hanging on for a stunning 5-4 regulation victory.
For the Red Wings, it was nothing short of a devastating gut-punch of a loss.
The Red Wings, who are now 7-10-3, have now lost five straight games, with Thursday's collapse marking the second time during that stretch they've failed to protect a multi-goal third-period lead.
The loss will sting even more, knowing they came away with zero points in the standings despite having led at one point by a 4-1 score, which in years past would have been a virtually impenetrable lead for the club.
It was the Panthers who struck first thanks to a backhand tally from Sam Reinhart, only to have J.T. Compher respond for the Red Wings soon afterward.
Andreas Englund, whom the Red Wings picked up on waivers in late September, then scored his first goal since joining Detroit, giving them their first lead of the night.
Lucas Raymond scored 17 seconds into the second period, as his shot deflected off defenseman Seth Jones. Marco Kasper then increased the lead to 4-1 by deflecting William Wallinder's shot past goaltender Akira Schmid.
However, Florida began their comeback in the waning seconds of the period, as Gustav Forsling beat John Gibson through a screen, giving them life.
Anton Lundell started to make Detroit sweat with a goal less than three minutes into the third period, eventually setting the stage for goals from Lars Eller and a second from Lundell 51 seconds later, giving the Panthers the lead.
The stunned Red Wings pulled Gibson for the extra attacker, but couldn't come up with the equalizer.
Gibson finished with 24 saves on 29 shots, while Schmid turned aside 24 shots on the 28 he faced.
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Evan Phillips is on the move. The 32-year-old right-handed relief pitcher signed a three-year, $35 million deal with the Atlanta Braves on the Thursday, Nov. 12, putting an end to his six-year run with the Los Angeles Dodgers that began when they claimed him off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays in August 2021.
In that time, Phillips became one of manager Dave Roberts' most trusted high-leverage arms, posting a 2.37 ERA over 224 innings pitched with 256 strikeouts compared to just 58 walks and a 0.95 WHIP. Phillips finished in the top 10 in the NL in saves in both 2023 and 2024.
His best work, however, came in October.
He has not allowed a run over 18⅓ innings in 17 career postseason outings with 24 strikeouts and was a key member of the "Dawgs" bullpen that carried the Dodgers to the 2024 World Series. Phillips missed most of 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery that May, but returned to form in July, posting a 1.08 WHIP with a 3.46 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 26 innings in 31 appearances.
Phillips' fastball looked better than ever in 2026, averaging a career-high 96.9 mph and topping out at triple digits for the first time in his career. His sweeper, however, is where he does the most damage, drawing a 39.5% strikeout rate and a 34.3% whiff rate while holding batters to just .059 against it.
But more than any stat that can be quantified, the Dodgers are losing a clubhouse leader in Phillips, and they could soon lose even more than that considering Alex Vesia's robust free-agent market. There are free agents out there for the Dodgers to pursue, though top-end names such as Adrian Morejon and Raisel Iglesias seem unlikely. Brusdar Graterol hasn't pitched in a game since 2024, but he could be a candidate to return.
The Dodgers do have other high-leverage arms already in-house that they trust as well. Jack Dreyer and Edgardo Henriquez, in particular, could both be in line for more responsibilities.
Though losing Phillips is a blow to LA's pen, they do have other avenues to explore at the position.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 19: Alex Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Capital One Arena on March 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards’ struggles continued Thursday night, as they fell to the Detroit Pistons 144-140 in double overtime (8-3) at Capital One Arena to extend their losing streak to six games.
Playing the second night of a back-to-back after a 114-101 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Washington (4-9) once again could not close out a close game in the fourth quarter, first or second overtime periods, which led to its second loss to the Pistons in the past four days after Monday night’s 122-111 loss in Detroit.
Washington got out to an early 17-10 lead thanks to triples from Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Trae Young – which looked to be a positive sign from a team that entered the contest shooting 29.8% from distance.
Sarr started the game a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, quickly notching 10 points in the first quarter. His counterpart in the front court, Anthony Davis recorded 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting in first-quarter, to join Sarr in double-figure scoring.
However, in a lineup starring Trae Young, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly and Deandre Ayton, Washington’s 10-point lead dissipated as the Pistons completed a 11-point swing to take a 33-32 lead over the Wizards to end the first quarter. After protecting the ball for the first nine minutes of the game, Washington coughed up four turnovers in the final 3:15 of the quarter to contribute to the Pistons run.
Washington steadied the ship before halftime with the help of Young, who scored eight second quarter points to help the Wizards stay within three and trail 64-61 entering the half. Davis paced Washington with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Sarr tacked on 14 points and Young scored 12. The trio combined for 69% of the Wizards first half points, and Sarr shot a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.
Rookie AJ Dybantsa appeared to truly struggle for the first time this season when matched up with Ausar Thompson. Dybantsa shot 0-of-2 from the field and looked uncomfortable with the ball in his hands when guarded by Thompson. Yet, the BYU product managed to record two assists and not turn the ball over in the first half, to finish with a team-high +11 when he was on the court.
After keeping the game close in the second quarter, Detroit erupted for an 11-point lead of its own with the help of Duncan Robinson who shot a perfect 3-for-3 from three point range during the run. Cade Cunningham also tacked on seven third quarter points to keep Washington at an arms length throughout the period.
The Wizards cut the lead back to four thanks to Alex Sarr, who remained perfect from the field, tacking on seven third quarter points to enter the fourth with 21 points and four rebounds. Tre Johnson was also in rhythm in the third, scoring six of his 13 points at the time while shooting 3-of-4 from the field.
Washington entered the fourth quarter trailing 94-90, with a chance to snap their five game skid in front of an energetic home crowd in D.C. — and Young matched the energy in Capital One Arena. He scored a quick nine points in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to give Washington a 103-102, and found Coulibaly streaking down the court for an assist on a fast break.
But head coach Brian Keefe subbed Young out for a two-minute rest, and Detroit capitalized immediately with a 6-0 run to take a 108-103 lead. Washington kept it close, including taking a 118-117 lead with 31.5 seconds remaining thanks to a three from George. But Cunningham drew a foul from Dybantsa on the following possession, and knocked down two free throws to essentially seal the game. But 1.8 seconds remaining, Young buried a three at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, knotted at 121.
Redemption. Trae Young ties the game at 121 at the buzzer to send it to OT. https://t.co/mtfidIZFUS
George knocked down a triple to give Washington a 124-121 lead in OT before picking up his sixth foul and being forced to sit the rest of the game. But in his absence, Young found Davis in the paint for a floater, and then drew a charge on the ensuing possession, which lead to Davis finding Sarr for the alley-oop to start overtime on a 7-0 run.
Detroit responded with a 6-0 run of its own led by Cunningham — who finished with a game-high 52 points and a team-high 11 assists. He sealed the game on back to back possessions, both in transition. First he nailed a triple to tie the game at 130, and then assisted Robinson on the break for a jumper to take a 132-130 lead with nine seconds remaining in the extra period.
Dybantsa, the rookie, took matters into his own hands and drove to the paint and pulled up for a jumper that tied the game at 132 at the buzzer to send the game to double-overtime.
Davis fouled out early in the second overtime, which led to Detroit taking a 137-132 lead without Washington’s primary big — one they would hold for the remaining of the game.
Young and Davis both finished in double-double territory, but it was not enough to halt Washington’s losing streak. Young scored 37 and dished out 14 assists — both season-highs — while Davis scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Sarr also tacked on 30 points and seven rebounds, while George scored 14 points and Johnson finished with 13.
Washington is off until Sunday, Nov 15 when it hosts the Houston Rockets at Capital One Arena at 7 p.m. ET on MNMT.
Australian cricket captain breaks silence over allegations in Usman Khawaja’s book about 2018 ball tampering in South Africa
After a torrid week, Australia’s Test captain, Pat Cummins, promised he would answer every question thrown at him in one of the most eagerly anticipated press conferences in recent sporting memory.
And, over the course of 70 minutes at Cricket Central in Sydney, he did just that, covering a range of topics from sandpaper and ball tampering to Australian cricket culture and his friendship with Usman Khawaja, whose book Sabr, released on Tuesday, has caused ructions in the Australian cricket community.
AJ Dybantsa collided with Cade Cunningham during the Washington Wizards' game against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, Nov. 12 and was bloodied on the play.
With 26 seconds left in regulation and the Wizards up 118-117, Cunningham was dribbling the ball and attempted to twirl and switch directions. The Wizards rookie and 2026 No. 1 overall pick was guarding him and, when Cunningham spun back around, his jaw smacked into the side of Dybantsa's face.
AJ Dybantsa was left bleeding after colliding with Cade Cunningham 😳
Dybantsa fell backwards onto the court and grabbed his mouth as he laid on his back. Blood started dripping from his mouth. A trainer tended to him as he continued lying on the hardwood.
He then got up and returned to action.
The game went into overtime with the score tied at 121 at the end of the fourth quarter. Dybantsa even sent the game to a second overtime, seemingly no worse for wear.
Both suffered lower-body injuries in the second period, the Avalanche said.
MacKinnon was cross-checked by Senators defenseman Artem Zub. The forward went down and grabbed his side.
Makar limped off the ice during the second period. He had left practice early on Sunday and was playing in his second game since then.
Makar is a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy as top defenseman, and MacKinnon won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2023-24.
The two were dealing with injuries last season in the Western Conference finals, one of the reasons that the Avalanche were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Behind Matt Boldy's sixth career hat trick, three assists from Kirill Kaprizov and another strong performance from Jesper Wallstedt, the Wild defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena.
The victory improved Minnesota's record to 14-3-4 through 21 games, giving the Wild 32 points and placing them second in the NHL standings. Minnesota is tied in points with the Carolina Hurricanes (15-3-2).
The Wild have now earned points in 10 consecutive games, going 8-0-2 during that stretch. They have also improved to 9-3-2 on the road this season.
But Thursday's victory was about more than just two points. Several Wild players continued to climb the franchise and NHL record books.
Boldy Continues Making Wild History
Boldy stole the spotlight Thursday with his second hat trick of the season and sixth of his NHL career.
The 25-year-old winger now ranks third in Wild franchise history in career hat tricks, trailing only Marian Gaborik (9) and Kaprizov (7).
According to NHL Stats, Boldy also became the fastest player in franchise history to record multiple hat tricks in a single season, accomplishing the feat in just 21 games.
Gaborik previously held that distinction after recording his second hat trick of the 2002-03 season in his 22nd game.
Boldy also reached two additional franchise milestones Thursday.
His first goal of the night marked his 348th career point, moving him past Pierre-Marc Bouchard for ninth place on Minnesota's all-time scoring list.
Later, Boldy scored his 40th career power-play goal, passing Brian Rolston for seventh place in franchise history.
Minnesota now has three hat tricks this season, tied with Anaheim for the second-most in the NHL behind Florida's five.
Kaprizov Extends Point Streak to 10 Games
While Boldy provided the goals, Kaprizov continued his remarkable offensive production.
The Wild superstar recorded three assists Thursday, extending his point streak to 10 games.
Kaprizov has registered six goals and 12 assists for 18 points during that stretch.
It marks the second time in his NHL career that Kaprizov has recorded a point streak of at least 10 games. His previous career-best streak lasted 14 games during the 2022-23 season.
Matt Boldy’s eighth goal of the season breaks the ice for the Wild in Toronto 👊 pic.twitter.com/j1zD7EuFWV
Kaprizov became just the fifth player in Wild history to record multiple point streaks of at least 10 games, joining Mats Zuccarello (3), Mikael Granlund (2), Boldy (2) and Kevin Fiala (2).
Through 21 games this season, Kaprizov has recorded 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points.
He is averaging 1.67 points per game and continues to establish himself as one of the NHL's most productive offensive players.
Hughes Joins Elite NHL Company
Quinn Hughes also extended his point streak to 10 games Thursday, reaching another significant NHL milestone.
It marks the third time in Hughes' career that he has recorded a point streak of at least 10 games.
According to NHL Stats, Hughes became just the ninth defenseman in NHL history to accomplish that feat.
He joins an exclusive group featuring Paul Coffey (11), Bobby Orr (7), Ray Bourque (6), Denis Potvin (4), Brian Leetch (4), Larry Robinson (4), Al MacInnis (3) and Phil Housley (3).
Hughes previously recorded an 11-game point streak during the 2025-26 season and another double-digit streak in 2023-24.
His continued production has been a major factor in Minnesota's success this season, particularly during the team's current 10-game point streak.
Wallstedt Keeps Winning
While Minnesota's offensive stars continue to produce, Wallstedt has provided stability in goal.
The 23-year-old netminder improved to 13-2-3 following Thursday's victory.
Wallstedt has emerged as a significant contributor to Minnesota's impressive start, helping the Wild remain among the NHL's top teams despite injuries throughout the lineup.
His performance has been particularly important with Filip Gustavsson sidelined.
Wild Among NHL's Best
Through 21 games, Minnesota has established itself as one of the league's top teams.
The Wild have collected 32 of a possible 42 points, earning 76.2 percent of the available points.
Their current 10-game point streak has helped them climb to second in the NHL standings, tied with Carolina in total points.
Minnesota has also earned points in 18 of its first 21 games, losing just three contests in regulation.
The Wild will look to continue their impressive run Saturday when they visit the Boston Bruins.
With Boldy scoring, Kaprizov and Hughes extending their point streaks, and Wallstedt continuing to win, Minnesota has plenty of reasons to feel confident about its start to the season.
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OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — The Avalanche’s top two stars, forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar, were ruled out after getting hurt in the second period of Colorado’s 4-3 overtime loss to Ottawa on Thursday night.
The team said both sustained lower-body injuries with coach Jared Bednar having no immediate update on their status. Bednar said the two will travel with the team but are uncertain to play for Colorado's game at Montreal on Saturday night.
MacKinnon, who’s 30 points in 19 games ranked fifth in the NHL entering Thursday, left with 8:15 remaining in the period. He went down to his knees holding his right hip after being shoved by Artem Zub while the two battled for the puck.
Makar left favoring his right leg in what appeared to be a non-contact injury. Makar is a two-time Norris Trophy-winner as the NHL’s top defenseman and entered Thursday ranking third among blue-liners with 23 points in 18 games.
When Roman Josi assisted on Shane Wright's first goal with the Nashville Predators during the third period of last night's game against the Anaheim Ducks, he made history when he became the first Swiss player to record 800 career points in the NHL.
Josi, 36, has been the face of a generation for Swiss hockey fans. He's set a number of firsts as the first Swiss player to play 1,000 games in the NHL, the first Swiss player to record 500 assists, and of course, now he's the first Swiss player to ever record 800 career points in the NHL. Even more impressively, he did it as a defenseman.
Many of those milestones also marked the same firsts for the Predators organization. Josi was the first player in Predators history to surpass 1,000 games played with the team and he's now the first player to record more than 800 points while wearing Predators Gold.
The coming generation of Swiss and Nashville-born hockey players will undoubtedly have one thing in common: they were all inspired by the Predators' captain Roman Josi.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 12: Head Coach Darko Rajakovic and JaKobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 12, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors continued a challenging stretch of their schedule tonight, facing the Philadelphia 76ers on the second night of a back-to-back, this time on the road. After coming apart at the seams despite an early lead against Boston, the Raptors’ intention to move on was thwarted by a Sixers team that handed the Raptors a similar loss. A significant early lead dwindled by the half, ultimately leading to Toronto falling, this time 112 to 123.
To no surprise, Philly’s big names of Joel Embiid (20 points), Jaylen Brown (18 points), VJ Edgecombe (15 points), and TJ Maxey (27 points) carried the Sixers. Anfernee Simons was their most productive bench player, offering clutch long-range shooting that gave the rest of the team space to operate, finishing with 17 points in the process.
Toronto saw excellent performances from RJ Barrett who finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists, Immanuel Quickley who had 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Collin Murray-Boyles chipping in 14 points, 4 assists, and 5 blocks.
The Raptors had their hands full early, needing to answer for a number of offensive weapons on a Sixers team that is building plenty of hype for a championship contender. They didn’t need to face LeBron James who sat due to sciatica, but the remaining four of their starters remained a formidable challenge.
Toronto targeted Embiid early, forcing him into awkward defensive coverages that required speed and lateral movement that he struggled with as a result of his laundry list of injuries. After knee-to-knee contact, Embiid briefly visited the locker room but returned a few minutes later.
RJ and Quickley were quick to answer their less-than-savory performances last night. Quickley worked hard to distribute the ball and get everyone going early while RJ hit a pair of threes on consecutive possessions.
Just like last night, their offense was running smoothly. They built a significant 33-16 lead, and it felt like everything was going in the Raptors’ favour until in the final two minutes of the frame, the tide slowly started to turn. Philly went on an unanswered 8-point run to close the quarter.
In the second quarter, the Sixers were able to close the gap and draw ahead, making much of the second frame a back-and-forth contest.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Anfernee Simons showed their abilities from beyond the arc, creating spacing for the Sixers’ starters to operate in the paint where they’re comfortable. Tyrese Maxey was almost unstoppable from virtually everywhere on the floor. Jaylen Brown started to come alive as well, an equally challenging offensive player to find an answer for.
Toronto had contributions from everyone, with CMB, Barrett, Martin, and Battle all making long range shots. Their ball movement helped limit poor shot selection, and even when they were missing shots, Walter stood out as having a motor, with a phenomenal put-back that showed the Raptors were going to fight through the fatigue. By the end of the half, the game was all tied up.
The third quarter mirrored the second, going blow-for-blow with Philly. Ties and lead changes riddled the period, with neither team able to build any kind of momentum or separation.
Alijah Martin has impressed with his continued active defence and fearless scoring, willing to take the ball through anyone. At times, the minutes with mostly bench players on the floor actually felt more cohesive and productive than without.
Despite best efforts, Philly’s top four firepower was hard to contend with. Late in the third, a series of costly turnovers allowed the Sixers to get out in transition, managing a 8-0 run to build their largest lead, a 9-point advantage before the final twelve minutes of play.
Toronto’s fatigue might have played a role as this game started to get away from them. Second effort isn’t enough when you’re struggling to make second and third shots, and despite their effort, a lot of them rolled off the rim and couldn’t be recovered. Murray-Boyles’ effort, however, should be celebrated. On one end, he was blocking shots and playing tough defence, and on the other, good screening and off-ball movement helped him be a standout on the court.
In the end, it wasn’t enough to overcome Philly, and Toronto continues to seek their first win against a team over 0.500. Next, they’ll face New York twice, with the first of the matchups on Sunday at 6 pm.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 11: Marcus Smart #36 of the Houston Rockets and Charles Bassey #28 of the Golden State Warriors are separated during the third quarter of the game at Toyota Center on November 11, 2026 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. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart has been suspended by the NBA for three games after an attempted punch against Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The NBA is suspending Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart for three games for punching Golden State center Charles Bassey on Wednesday night, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/QOQFFyBd7I
After Bassey and Smart were jostling for a rebound, Smart rushed toward Bassey as they were jogging toward the other end of the floor. Immediately confronting the big man, Smart subsequently threw a right straight that Bassey rolled and slipped in Floyd Mayweather fashion.
Look at that man. Mayweather/Canelo-esque lmao https://t.co/OpsIRAkLIT
After the game, Bassey — addressing media — characterized Smart as ‘fake toughness.’
Charles Bassey on Marcus Smart throwing a punch at him: “Fake toughness.”
“I don’t think he was trying to play. I think he was trying to get himself out of the game.” https://t.co/ZxbgvUDeY9
Smart’s absence from the game did not affect the Rockets’ chances, as they were able to comfortably win against the Warriors — albeit, a Warriors team without Steph Curry, who exited the game early in the first quarter due to an oblique abdominal tear.
