NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 24: Sunny Mehta and Connor Hellebuyck pose for a photo for the media after being traded to the New Jersey Devils from the Winnipeg Jets at Prudential Center on October 24, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On the Hellebuyck acquisition: “The fit seems obvious. New Jersey has been one of the NHL’s best defensive teams this season by every metric, except for goals against. Hellebuyck, meanwhile, has spent more than a decade establishing himself as the league’s most consistent performer at the position. But dig a little deeper into the numbers, and there’s reason to believe this could be an even better match than it appears on the surface. Perhaps Hellebuyck’s most valuable trait, especially in the eyes of Devils general manager Sunny Mehta, is his unmatched consistency.” [The Athletic ($)]
“If the Devils are serious about reuniting the three Hughes brothers over the next year, whether via trade or free agency, Mehta made the ultimate chess move. As of now, after checking in again this week, Hughes remains undecided on his future. He hasn’t told the Wild he won’t extend. However, he also hasn’t told them he will. He’s undecided, period.” [The Athletic ($)]
“By all accounts, this is the best goalie the Devils have had since Martin Brodeur. It couldn’t have come at a better time, either. As of today, the Devils rank 29th in the league in GSAx, with a blasphemously poor -5.8 in just ten games. Nico Daws and Jake Allen combined to put together some solid performances but have largely been subpar in the aggregate.” [Infernal Access ($)]
“Connor Hellebuyck is coming off a down season, but he should still be a sizable upgrade for the New Jersey Devils.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
Arseny Gritsyuk extended his goal streak to five games, as the Devils took a 3-1 win over the Kings on Saturday. [Devils NHL]
Hockey Links
Alexander Nikishin signs a one-year deal:
One year, $3M. Nikishin had asked for a trade but the Hurricanes had been trying to convince him to sign a one year deal and both sides could re-visit things next off-season if he still wanted out. He will also be eligible for an offer sheet next summer. He wasn’t currently. https://t.co/d5UYbofVBM
“The boys are fighting. According to the NHL, there has been an uptick in on-ice fisticuffs this season. Through 120 games, there were 34 games with one or more fights. That’s up over last season (25) and the 2024-25 season (26).” [ESPN]
A great moment:
Last game Michael McCarron apparently handed a fan $20 through a hole in the glass after knocking his beer over earlier in the evening. What a beauty 😂 #mnwild
It’s an interesting approach, this one. | NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders were leaky all over in Dallas, almost like they have a declining defense outside of Matthew Schaefer.
The 6-3 loss to the Stars was not surprising overall, but it did end a modest points streak and exposed some holes that Pete DeBeor has been working to cover.
Islanders News
It was six past Ilya Sorokin, though DeBoer said it was more about the defensive lapses. [LHH | Newsday]
DeBoer is focused on the process, not necessarily the points. (Last night was bad in both categories.) [Newsday]
The Post says the team speed was a key deficiency; Brayden Schenn says they have lots to clean up. [Post]
Takeaways: a “winnable” game thrown away with continued mistakes. [Isles]
Elsewhere
Sunny Mehta’s sudden urgency helped push the Connor Hellebuyck saga to conclusion before it got even more awkward. [Athletic]
Speaking of holdouts, Alexander Nikishin came to realize he has no leverage, settles for a one-year deal with the Hurricanes. [NHL]
Our next opponent in Nashville just knocked off the Avalanche with two goals from Steve Stamkos, four points from Ryan O’Reilly. [NHL]
The Kraken will miss Jared McCann for 8-10 weeks. [Sportsnet]
The Blue Jackets are forever cursed and screwed, can they possibly convince Zach Werenski to stay? [Sportsnet]
James Reimer rides again, in Manhattan at age 38. Spencer Martin’s career .881 wasn’t doing it for them. [NHL]
The Jets lost the Heritage Classic but made a show of it by mounting a comeback. [NHL]
More than you’d ever want to know about the Connor Hellebuyck trade. [Sportsnet]
Quinn Hughes was booed in his return to Vancouver, but he picked up his 500th point. Max Shabanov scored, too. [NHL]
CRISIS?! Gavin McKenna played only two shifts in the third period, OMG let’s call his agent to see if he’s okay with that… [Athletic]
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Justin Brazeau (16) skates with the puck in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on September 21, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
Penguins forward Hendrix Lapierre is making the most of his opportunity on a line with Ville Koivunen and Evgeni Malkin after spending a recent stretch of games as a healthy scratch. [Trib Live]
Forward Rickard Rakell knows he needs to produce more offensively after a slow start to the season. The veteran winger said he has been generating scoring chances but struggling to finish, while general manager Kyle Dubas expressed confidence that Rakell will break through as he continues to play alongside Sidney Crosby and on the top power-play unit. [Trib Live]
Forward Justin Brazeau is getting closer to returning from a lower-body injury that has kept him out since the preseason. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
The New York Rangers signed veteran goaltender James Reimer to a one-year contract Sunday, adding depth after starter Igor Shesterkin was ruled out for the season with a lower-body injury. [NHL]
The Carolina Hurricanes made an aggressive push to acquire then-Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, even exploring trades for forwards on other teams that they could then flip to Winnipeg, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. [Sportsnet]
Speaking of the Hurricanes, the team announced the signing of defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year, $3 million contract, ending a contract impasse between the player and team. [TSN]
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes hinted that a decision about his long-term future with the team could be coming soon, saying he is enjoying his time in Minnesota and believes the team has the potential to contend for a Stanley Cup. [TSN]
Nic Maddinson’s brief stint as Australian opener is officially over while Steve Smith is in doubt for the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
Montreal Canadiens (6-3-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. St. Louis Blues (5-5-1, in the Central Division)
St. Louis; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues play the Montreal Canadiens in a non-conference matchup.
St. Louis has a 5-5-1 record overall and a 3-1-1 record on its home ice. The Blues have gone 4-1-0 in games they score at least three goals.
Montreal has gone 2-1-1 on the road and 6-3-2 overall. The Canadiens are 2-2-2 when they commit more penalties than their opponent.
Tuesday's game is the first time these teams match up this season.
INJURIES: Blues: Adam Jecho: out (personal), Torey Krug: out (ankle), Ross Johnston: out (lower body), Alexey Toropchenko: out (upper-body), Tyler Tucker: out (knee), Dillon Dube: out (neck), Logan Mailloux: out (hand).
Canadiens: Ivan Demidov: out (lower-body), Lucas Condotta: out (undisclosed), Nick Suzuki: out (upper body), Bryce Pickford: out (undisclosed), Samuel Montembeault: out (lower-body).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Ottawa Senators (8-4, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (8-4-1, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights will try to end a three-game losing streak when they take on the Ottawa Senators.
Vegas has an 8-4-1 record overall and a 5-2-0 record in home games. The Golden Knights are sixth in league play with 46 total goals (averaging 3.5 per game).
Ottawa is 3-2-0 on the road and 8-4 overall. The Senators have committed 59 total penalties (4.9 per game) to rank second in league play.
The teams meet Tuesday for the first time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Stone has eight goals and seven assists for the Golden Knights. Jack Eichel has five goals and eight assists over the past 10 games.
Claude Giroux has two goals and six assists for the Senators. Drake Batherson has six goals and five assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 6-3-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.6 assists, 3.5 penalties and 9.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.
Senators: 6-4-0, averaging 2.9 goals, 5.1 assists, 4.9 penalties and 11.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: Mitch Marner: out (personal), Parker Wotherspoon: out (upper body), Victor Olofsson: out (undisclosed), Kai Uchacz: out (undisclosed).
Senators: Linus Ullmark: out (lower body), William Eklund: out (ankle), Thomas Chabot: out (undisclosed).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Bournemouth’s transfer nous puts United to shame, Araújo is winning admirers at Anfield and Suzuki adapts swiftly at Villa
The three Bournemouth goalscorers cost a combined £85m, joining from Vasco da Gama, Middlesbrough, and Porto. The Cherries are smart at investing, far more so than Manchester United, who have wasted a lot of money by failing to look outside the box for players like Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson. United may not have the wealth they previously showed in the transfer market but Bournemouth are showing what can be done within a budget and, more importantly, will be able to make a profit on signings. United, however, only know losses as everyone’s price tag diminishes the moment they come through the Old Trafford door. Jason Wilcox and others can point to certain factors that are against them but there are quality signings to be made at the right price if you have the ability to find them. Will Unwin
Sixers skipper Ash Gardner says the past few weeks have been “challenging” and have taught her plenty, with the star all-rounder thanking the club and those close to her for sticking by her and helping her shift her focus back to cricket.
From head coach Mike Brown’s perspective, it’s mostly a combination of the following:
1. Missing quality shot attempts
2. Not enough physicality/pace on either side of the ball
3. A lethal combination of careless turnovers and poor transition defense.
There are many other reasons why the defending champs are 0-3. But those three are the most glaring – and fixable – issues Brown sees at the moment.
During shootaround on Sunday morning, Brown talked to his players about each of the three issues listed above. He hit on them again before Sunday night’s game against Orlando.
“We're not quite there yet,” Brown said late Sunday night, shortly after New York fell to 0-3 in a loss to Orlando.
The good news for the Knicks? They believe the issues at hand are fixable. (Also, they won the NBA title last year and will have a well-earned grace period with fans/media. Imagine if the Knicks started 0-3 last year? It would have been total chaos.)
Jalen Brunson says the lack of crisp cuts/actions on offense is on him.
“Organization on my part and making sure we’re in the right place to execute what we need to do; everything falls on my shoulders,” Brunson said late Sunday. “I just got to be a better leader in making sure our guys are ready to go and are in the right spots. There are a lot of little things but that’s the main thing. Organization on my part.”
Turnovers (16 against Orlando, 49 over the first three games) and poor transition defense (Orlando, missing Paolo Banchero to injury, had 23 points off turnovers on Sunday) hurt New York against the Magic. The Knicks, by Brown’s count, also lost five of six 50-50 balls (loose balls where the ball can be corralled by either team) in the fourth quarter.
“That’s hard to overcome,” the coach said.
Of course, the Knicks aren't going to go 0-82 this season. They will win plenty of games. But losing to a Magic team missing Banchero is not ideal -- no matter what time of year it is.
Brunson has said several times this season that the first two weeks or so of the year will reveal a lot about this Knicks team. Every opponent will get up for games against the defending champs (particularly at the Garden).
And then there’s the championship hangover.
“Everyone has been telling us what a great job we did, how fun it was, what we did for the city, the constant praise (for winning the title),” the Knicks captain said. “So now we need the opposite.”
Fortunately for Brunson and the Knicks, “the opposite” is never hard to find in this town.
BENCH ROLES UP FOR GRABS
Andre Drummond played just seven minutes against the Magic – the same amount as third string center James Wiseman.
Wiseman also played a couple of minutes in place of Drummond on Friday against Boston.
Brown says Drummond will be the Knicks’ backup center on Tuesday against Detroit. But the coach also made it clear that all rotation spots off the bench are up for grabs.
“We have our starting five. Other than that, anybody can play,” Brown said before tipoff on Sunday. “When you’re a backup in this league, that doesn’t mean you’re always gonna be the seventh man or you’re always gonna be the eighth man. No, no, no, no, no, no. It’s competitive. And it’s less so with the starting group if your starting group is established, which ours is, but everybody else after that starting five, I can throw in front of the next guy in a heartbeat.”
Brown was responding to a question about Wiseman playing against the Celtics. He then referenced the Knicks’ standards, which are spelled out in a document signed by all staffers.
“We will make sure that everybody embraces it, not just accepts it,” Brown said.
KNECHT-ING IN WESTCHESTER
New two-way player Dalton Knecht will initially spend time with the Knicks’ G League club, the Westchester Knicks. The thinking is that Knecht will have ample opportunity to play in G League games. Knecht will certainly garner consideration to play in NBA games with the Knicks. But Brown and the organization want Knecht, an ex-Laker, to get acclimated.
“We want him to play as much as he can,” Brown said of Knecht, a 2024 first-round pick.
To make room for Knecht, the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2024, the Knicks waived two-way player Kevin McCullar Jr. McCullar Jr. was beginning his third year with the Knicks this season.
“Kevin, first of all, he's a fantastic young man and we're gonna miss him, obviously,” Brown said. “But he's been here (two years; three including this season) as a two-way player so we have a pretty good feel for him. He has a good feel for us and you know being able to try to get to know a guy like Dalton Knecht at this point of the year, it's something that we need to take a look at.
“So (getting waived) wasn't anything that Kevin didn't do. He was great and he is an NBA player and I think he's gonna get a shot someday; and it could be with us – who knows -- down the road. But (the decision to waive McCullar Jr.) was more so having the opportunity to bring a guy like Dalton on just to get to know him a little bit better.”
DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson scored twice and the Dallas Stars had a three-goal third period in a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday night.
Robertson’s breakaway at 9:45 of the third period came five minutes after Wyatt Johnston’s tiebreaker. Mikko Rantanen added a goal four minutes after Robertson with his team-high sixth goal of the season.
Tyler Seguin and Justin Hryckowian also scored for the Stars, who have won five consecutive games. Jake Oettinger made 16 saves.
Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Kyle Palmieri and Brayden Schenn scored for the Islanders, who erased three one-goal deficits only to lose two straight (0-1-1) for the first time this season. Ilya Sorokin stopped 32 shots allowing a season high in goals.
Johnston scored from the slot 4:10 into the final period on a feed from Nils Lundqvist. After scoring a career-most 45 goals last season, Johnston has goals in consecutive games after going goalless in his first seven outings.
PANTHERS 3, BLACKHAWKS 2
CHICAGO (AP) — Lars Eller’s first goal of the season, with 2:23 left in the third period, lifted Florida to a win over Chicago.
Eller beat Spencer Knight with a high shot just inside the left post as he raced down right wing and took advantage of Chicago line change. Matthew Tkachuk and Sandis Vilmanis also scored for Florida, which ended two-game losing streak.
Roman Kantserov and Ryan Greene connected for Chicago, which has dropped three straight.
Akira Schmid made 19 saves, while Knight stopped 29 shots.
The Blackhawks failed to score on seven power-play chances, including two brief 5-on-3 advantages, lowering their NHL-worst conversion rate to 8.33%.
CANADIENS 2, JETS 1
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Jacob Fowler made 33 saves and Montreal held off Winnipeg in the NHL Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium.
Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle scored and Cole Caufield had two assists to help Montreal improve to 6-3-2. The Canadiens opened a four-game trip Friday night with a 4-1 victory over Chicago. Fowler has won his last five starts.
Isak Rosen scored for Winnipeg with 4:46 remaining at home of the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Stuart Skinner stopped 19 shots for the Jets (4-4-3).
The Jets became just the second Canadian team after Edmonton to host two outdoor games. The Jets also were blanked 3-0 by the Oilers in the first one, but spoiled Calgary’s 2019 outdoor game at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan, with a 2-1 overtime win.
It was Winnipeg’s first game since trading franchise goalier Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Dawson Mercer, who headlined the return from the Devils, had two shots and one blocked shot in 15:22 of ice time.
PREDATORS 6, AVALANCHE 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ryan O’Reilly had two goals and two assists, Steven Stamkos added two goals and an assist and Nashville beat Colorado.
Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists, and Jack Drury also scored for the Predators, who had lost their previous two. Justus Annunen made 19 saves for his first victory of the season.
Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews scored and Scott Wedgewood made 29 saves for Colorado, losers of three of four.
Nashville converted on four of seven opportunities on the power play in the game, including both of O’Reilly’s goals. The Predators had just one opportunity with the man advantage in each of their previous three games.
Forsberg scored the game’s first goal at 4:01 of the opening period.
With the Predators on the power play, Stamkos blocked an attempted clear and the puck went to Roman Josi, who sent a pass to Forsberg, who beat Wedgewood with a wrist shot from the high slot.
Josi had three assists.
WILD 4, CANUCKS 2
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Former Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes had a goal to reach 500 NHL points and added an assist in his return to Rogers Arena in Minnesota's victory over the Canucks.
Traded to Minnesota in December, Hughes was booed throughout the night.
He scored on a power player midway through the second period to make it 3-0, and set up Kirill Kaprizov’s NHL-leading 13th goal early in the third for a 4-0 advantage. In 13 games this season, Hughes has three goals and 13 assists.
Picked seventh overall by the Canucks in 2018, Hughes played 6 1/2 seasons in Vancouver before the blockbuster trade sent him to Minnesota. The deal saw Vancouver acquire Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium and the Wild’s first-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft.
Kaprizov and Maxim Shabanov also each had a goal and assist, and Bobby Brink scored.
Calvin Pickard made 15 saves as the Wild improved to 8-3-2, following up a 5-1 victory over the Kraken in Seattle on Saturday.
Max Sasson and Brock Boeser scored for Vancouver. Leevi Merilainen stopped 30 shots.
Vancouver dropped to 2-10-1 with its 10th straight loss.
Hughes became the second-fastest American defenseman to reach 500 NHL points, achieving the feat in 520 games. Brian Leetch hit the milestone in 496 games with the New York Rangers.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Former Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes had a goal to reach 500 NHL points and added an assist in his return to Rogers Arena in the Minnesota Wild’s 4-2 victory over the Canucks on Sunday night.
Traded to Minnesota in December, Hughes was booed throughout the night.
He scored on a power player midway through the second period to make it 3-0, and set up Kirill Kaprizov’s NHL-leading 13th goal early in the third for a 4-0 advantage. In 13 games this season, Hughes has three goals and 13 assists.
Picked seventh overall by the Canucks in 2018, Hughes played 6 1/2 seasons in Vancouver before the blockbuster trade sent him to Minnesota. The deal saw Vancouver acquire Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium and the Wild’s first-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft.
Kaprizov and Maxim Shabanov also each had a goal and assist, and Bobby Brink scored.
Calvin Pickard made 15 saves as the Wild improved to 8-3-2, following up a 5-1 victory over the Kraken in Seattle on Saturday.
Max Sasson and Brock Boeser scored for Vancouver. Leevi Merilainen stopped 30 shots.
Vancouver dropped to 2-10-1 with its 10th straight loss.
Hughes became the second-fastest American defenseman to reach 500 NHL points, achieving the feat in 520 games. Brian Leetch hit the milestone in 496 games with the New York Rangers.
Opener played through pain to establish himself as a Test cricketer
‘I didn’t want anyone to use it against me,’ he says
Usman Khawaja has opened up on why he kept the rheumatoid arthritis that threatened his playing future a secret for his entire Test career.
The former Test star releases his autobiography, Sabr, on 10 November, which he said he wrote “for people who do love cricket and for those who don’t”.
The next test for the Rangers’ perfect home record — the next possibility to play spoiler to a start nearing the point of being a historic one — will involve a pair of Garden returns.
Former head coach Peter Laviolette, who led the Rangers to the Presidents’ Trophy and the Eastern Conference finals in 2023-24 before getting fired one year later, is nine games into his first season as head coach of the Kings and will return to the Garden for the first time since his exit. And Artemi Panarin, the star who was dealt last year before the Olympic roster freeze and made his return in March, will play his second game back at the Garden as a member of the Kings.
Access the Rangers beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting withMollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.
Laviolette’s 114-point campaign with the Blueshirts was followed up by an 85-point one, and the Rangers missed the playoffs in 2024-25. He helped them set records for points and wins (55) during that first year, bringing the franchise to the cusp of a return to the sport’s ultimate stage — while becoming the first coach in NHL history to guide six different teams to the playoffs — before a collapse followed the next season.
But in the offseason, the Kings reunited Laviolette with Panarin, who had his best individual season under the coach in 2023-24 with 120 points (49 goals, 71 assists). When Panarin was dealt to Los Angeles last year in exchange for Liam Greentree and a third-round pick, he left Broadway in ninth place all time for most points by a Ranger (607), eighth all time for most assists (401) and first for points-per-game (1.26).
Artemi Panarin (10) of the Los Angeles Kings skates during the second period of a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
The Kings struggled to start the season and have collected just two wins, but in an overtime win against the Islanders last week, Panarin scored a pair of goals and is already up to six goals and nine points. In a way, that’ll turn Monday into a reminder of what could’ve been for the Rangers if they didn’t fall to the Panthers in the 2024 conference finals — and if their longtime core didn’t take a major step back the following season.
The Rangers have already won six games at the Garden while managing just one victory and three points on the road, and they entered play Sunday with the most goals per game (4.83) and the second-most total goals (29) at home this season. With a win, the Rangers will open a season with seven consecutive home wins for the first time since an eight-game streak in 1990-91.
The Kings — now led by Laviolette and Panarin — will test that and have a chance to end that run.
“We’re trying to build a team game that sets the group up for success regardless of where we play it,” head coach Mike Sullivan said Sunday of the Rangers’ home success and road struggles, “and we’re trying to dictate the terms of how we play the game every single night — regardless of which rink we play it in. And so it’s not like we have a game plan for home and a game plan for the road.”
Head coach Peter Laviolette of the Los Angeles Kings looks on against the Florida Panthers during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. Getty Images
“And so obviously our guys have played extremely well at home, and we’ve had some success, which is great, and we gotta continue to build on that.”
Defenseman Adam Fox will skate in his 500th career game Monday. … Mats Zuccarello, who spent parts of nine seasons with the Rangers from 2010-19, has one assist through five games in his first season with the Kings.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 25 : Auston Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after sinking a shot against the Utah Jazz during the second half of their game at the Delta Center on October 25, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
Instead of Sunday being a tale of two halves, the Lakers’ win over the Jazz felt more like a tale of four quarters. Or, more specifically, one quarter vs. three quarters.
The first quarter is going to rank up there with one of the worst LA plays this season. The Jazz shot unsustainably well, as we would see, they also were just outworking the Lakers, too.
They had a staggering 24-4 advantage in points in the paint. They had 16 second-chance points on six offensive rebounds. Everything they did seemed to work.
The benefit of having a superstar, though, is that they can paper over your shortcomings on any given night. And from the second quarter on, it was Luka Dončić’s world with Austin Reaves playing an overqualified Robin.
They still struggled rebounding. They still lost the battle in the paint. But they hit 11 more threes and six more free throws over the final three frames to overcome that.
The end result was a gritty win that leaves the team with much to work on, but they get to do it in higher spirits.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
As uncertain as I remain about the long-term viability of starting both Thybulle and Williams, if they’re going to play and shoot like this, then it’s hard to also argue for going away from it. They offer the Lakers the chance to cross match on defense, which can also lead to confusion on the other end as well.
There are still a few too many times when he goes to the rim without much of an idea of what to do and hopes his athleticism can bail him out. But he’s shooting the ball well and is an active defender. He really seems to have solidified his spot in this lineup.
After the game, he admitted that he let his emotions get the best of him and it impacted his play. It showed, because he was a relative non-factor in this one. Considering the circumstances, and the way he played in the first two games, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Reaves will be a bit of an unsung hero in this one for about 52 reasons, but his second quarter was as important as any stretch of this game. He had 15 points on 4-5 shooting from the field while making all four of his free throws and pulled the Lakers back into the game.
Fresh off one of his worst games as a Laker, he has one of his best. He pretty much epitomized the Lakers overall in this game. He started the game 3-8 from the field and 0-5 from three, meaning he hit 14 of his final 22 shots and eight of his final 13 threes.
After a couple of strong games to open the season, Grimes wasn’t as productive on Sunday. The benefit of having a deep team is that they don’t need to rely on him if he’s struggling.
The Lakers have gone to lineups fairly often with Mamu at the five with Looney really struggling. It’s not his best option against most opponents, but it seems they’re going to have to make do. It was nice to see him get to the line for six free throws.
Considering it’s his second time suiting up at all this season, an unexpectedly strong game from Sexton. He showed his value as a release valve and dribble-drive threat alongside Luka and Reaves. He’s still shaking off the rust, but this was more than a glimpse at his value.
This was a game where the scoreline doesn’t do justice to LaRavia’s impact. Once he came on in the second period, he really helped change the tide of the game. Even without scoring, he was an impactful player, evidenced by tying for a team high in plus-minus.
Grade: B+
Kevon Looney
I don’t imagine there’s going to be much different about this section for the vast majority of games this season. It’s very evident he’s past his prime and can no longer be impactful.
JJ Redick
Challenging his way into an early foul for Walker Kessler was suboptimal, but you can understand why he did it. It did leave the Lakers in a tough spot the rest of the game, but it was nice to see none of the players able to make the circular, challenging motion with their finger most of the game.
Grade: B
Sunday’s inactives: Cameron Carr, AK Okerek, Adou Thiero
Sunday’s DNPs: Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, Arthur Kaluma, Chris Mañon, Jarred Vanderbilt
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 24: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on October 24, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks will complete their season series tonight at the Toyota Center.
The Rockets should get Fred VanVleet back tonight and maybe Marcus Smart. Steven Adams remains out. The fact that Houston still beat Atlanta without three key members of their rotation is impressive. The final few minutes of the fourth quarter caused PTSD, but unlike many instances last season, the Rockets held on.
With this being a home-and-home, Atlanta is likely to come out the more desperate team. No one likes losing to the same team twice in a row. The Hawks also probably felt that if the game was just one or two minutes longer, they would have completed the comeback. Still, with the game in Houston, the Rockets could try to get greedy. For Atlanta, they will feel like they won’t shoot 27% from deep again.
Houston only has one back-to-back against the same team again this season, and it will happen in late March with two games in two nights in Portland.
