Travis Head has described Australia’s stunning collapse in Gqeberha as “s**thouse” but said the tourists are the world’s top-ranked Test team with good reason.
Recap: Avalanche bring the thunder in 6-3 defeat of Lightning
As the Colorado Avalanche returned home in search of a win, they hosted the always formidable opponent in the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was the hosts who got the scoring started early and often in a 6-3 Avalanche win.
The Game
Opening the game the Lightning had a few dangerous shots in the Avalanche zone but it was the home team who got on the board first. On their first shot on goal, Devon Toews converted for Colorado on a back door feed from Martin Nečas. Jaden Schwartz appeared to get Colorado’s second goal on a deflected rebound he apparently kicked in but it was waived off. Not to worry, the Avalanche got it back minutes later on the power play. TJ Hughes found Nazem Kadri in the slot for the 2-0 lead, and that’s how the first period would end.
That score didn’t last long after the puck dropped on the second period as Fedor Svechkov finished off a rush chance just 24 seconds in to give Colorado a three goal lead. Near the halfway mark of the period, the Lightning finally answered back on a power play goal from Jake Guentzel who found the puck on the backdoor after it bounced off of Brock Nelson. Soon after, Artturi Lehkonen got in on the fun and restored the three goal lead once again. By this point Colorado got into a bit of penalty trouble and Jake Guentzel scored right as the power play expired. Jared Bednar challenged for a high stick but lost and the goal stood as did the 4-2 score at the end of 40 minutes of play.
To start the third period Nathan MacKinnon got his moment to celebrate as his goal put Colorado up 5-2. The Lightning tried to make it interesting on a goal from former Colorado Eagles and Utah Grizzlies defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous who was found uncovered in the slot but shortly after Martin Nečas scored into the empty net to get Colorado back on top 6-3. Despite getting outshot 34-24, it was a good bounce back win for the Avalanche who enjoyed the comforts of home to come out on top.
Takeaways
Logan O’Connor entered the lineup and played in first game of the 2026-27 season and played just under 15 minutes. He brought the physicality while getting his game up to speed. Taylor Makar also made his sesson debut for the Avalanche after getting called up this morning. He played eight minutes and took a minor penalty, one of which gave the Lightning five power plays this evening.
While it seemed the top line would take charge on leading in this game, especially after crafting the game’s opening score, but it was the third line of Svechkov, Schwartz and Hughes who left an impression in this much-needed win. They contributed to the goals which broke the game open and have settled in together as a line.
Upcoming
A quick trip to meet with Chris MacFarland’s new-look Nashville Predators on Sunday, October 25th. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. MT.
Avalanche beat Lightning 6-3 as MacKinnon posts a goal and 3 assists
DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists, Nazem Kadri scored his first goal of the season and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 on Friday night.
Devon Toews, Fedor Svechkov, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas also scored as Colorado rebounded from back-to-back road losses. Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves.
Jake Guentzel scored twice and Charle-Edouard D’Astous added another for the Lightning, who saw their three-game winning streak halted. Nikita Kucherov was held in check and remains a goal or assist away from becoming the franchise’s career points leader. He has 1,137 points and is tied with Steven Stamkos.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 18 of 23 shots, including one off the mask on MacKinnon’s liner.
Guentzel’s goal with 42.7 seconds left in the second period made it 4-2. The Avalanche unsuccessfully challenged the play for a missed stoppage. The Lightning went on the power play but couldn’t score. They struggled on the power play all evening.
MacKinnon’s goal with 15:42 remaining gave Colorado a 5-2 cushion. Necas sealed it with a late empty-net tally.
Logan O’Connor returned to the lineup after missing the start of the season with a lower-body injury. He recently lost his father, Myles, a former NHL defenseman, at age 59.
The game featured the league’s currently longest-tenured coaches in Jon Cooper and Jared Bednar. Cooper took over the Lightning in March 2013 and has won two Stanley Cups. Bednar was hired by Colorado in August 2016 and captured one Cup — in 2022 over the Lightning.
CANADIENS 4, BLACKHAWKS 1
CHICAGO (AP) — Jake Evans scored twice and assisted on Kaiden Guhle’s goal and Montreal beat Chicago.
Evans’ third point, a feed to Guhle with 1:34 left in the second period, matched his career high. Montreal is 4-1-1 in its last six games, while Chicago has dropped two straight and four of its last six.
A wide-open game tightened up late in the first period, which worked to Montreal’s advantage. Chicago opened the scoring on Connor Bedard’s second goal of the season 4:23 in, but the Canadiens began to control the play, and by mid-period were limiting Chicago’s chances.
Jacob Fowler, who made 20 saves, was lightly tested the rest of the game despite five Chicago power plays, and needed to make only three saves in the final period.
Evans’ first goal of the game and season tied it with 2:31 left in the first. His second, a wrist shot over goalie Spencer Knight’s stick side with the Canadiens skating short-handed, gave Montreal a 2-1 lead 7:51 into the second period.
Guhle also beat Knight on the stick side, his shot from the left point screened by Josh Anderson.
Mike Matheson added an empty-net goal with 2:38 remaining.
Knight stopped 24 shots.
Connor Bedard & Patrick Kane Connect For Nice Goal, But Blackhawks Lose 4-1 To Canadiens
CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks returned to the ice for game action on Friday night for the first time in 6 days. This long time spent idle gave the Blackhawks time to practice and rest in preparation for the rest of the long season.
In their black alternate sweaters for the first time in 2026-27, the Hawks played host to the Montreal Canadiens. Right off the bat, the Blackhawks looked like the team that had lots of rest going in. After getting through the first shift of the game, where Montreal controlled the puck, the Blackhawks started to take control for a while.
At 4:23 of the first period, Connor Bedard scored to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. Patrick Kane made a heads-up play in the neutral zone to feed Bedard for a rush. The Blackhawks' captain didn't miss with a snipe.
Between the Hawks being off for 6 days and them being shut out by the Dallas Stars in their most recent game, that was the first goal they scored in over a week of real time.
Later in the first period, Jake Evans scored to tie the game at 1. Former Blackhawks 3rd overall pick Kirby Dach made the play to set up the tying goal, Evans' first of the season. That 1-1 tie made its way into the first intermission.
In the second period, the Blackhawks had a couple of power-play chances early. They've been using 5 forwards with the man advantage with Bowen Byram out, and it hasn't been working. Without a defenseman out there, they are prone to giving up shorthanded opportunities.
One of those short-handed chances came back to bite them, as Jake Evans scored his second of the game after the Hawks allowed another odd-man rush. This goal gave the Habs a 2-1 lead - their first of the game.
In the third period, there were chances for both sides, but the only goal scored was an empty-netter for Montreal. The 4-1 score held as the final, as the Blackhawks skated off with another lackluster loss to a better team.
Spencer Knight made 24 saves on 27 shots. He would always say that he should have every save, but that is far from true. Between short-handed chances galore and lackluster effort at even strength in the second half of the game, it would be hard for any goalie to win. If the Blackhawks want to keep this two-game losing streak from getting ugly, they must be better at protecting the house.
Watch Every Chicago Goal
WHAT A SHOT 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Fw5L8mIT0J
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 24, 2026
What’s Next For The Blackhawks?
The Chicago Blackhawks will welcome the Florida Panthers on Sunday for their 11th game of the season. This will be Chicago's 5th game out of 7 straight at home.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
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St. Louis Blues Recall Defenseman Quinton Burns From Springfield
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues recalled defenseman Quinton Burns from Springfield of the American Hockey League late Friday night.
The 21-year-old, a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, played in seven games for the Thunderbirds this season and had one assist and 29 penalty minutes.
After Theo Lindstein was sent down to Springfield on Thursday night, the Blues were left with six healthy defensemen, and although it is not likely that Burns makes his NHL debut on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes, it gives the team an extra blue liner while in the midst of a five-game homestand, and it will be Burns' first taste of NHL life during the season.
The Smiths Falls, Ontario native has six assists and 121 penalty minutes in 38 AHL regular-season games.
Lindstein played for the Thunderbirds on Friday in their 3-2 loss to Charlotte.
"He’s a big part of what we want to do and we have guys playing really well," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said about Lindstein. "So this is an opportunity for him to go get some game action so when he gets back up here, it hasn’t been a week like it was the last game he played. He’s just going to come back in here and get in the lineup and take someone’s job."
With St. Louis Blues Fourth Line, There's Always One Constant: Pius Suter, Who Leads By Example In Every Sense Of The WordVeteran center has played with multiple partners on forward line, continues to be glue that held it together through injury, shuffling
Justin Barron's Fit With St. Louis Blues As Good As It Gets. "I Just Wanted To Come In, Obviously A Little Bit Of A Clean Slate"Defenseman puts up career-high four points with goal, three assists in 6-2 win over Vegas, taking advantage of opportunity given to 2020 first-round pick after being waived by Predators in late September
Dalibor Dvorsky's Ice Time Down Early In The Season; 2023 First-Round Pick Looking to Earn Time Back: "... Doing The Stuff Offensively"Center has lost roughly two minutes average per game to start this season; numbers don't indicate a dip in play, being more impactful something coaching staff wants to see more of
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Brewers barrel through Rays in Game 1 after 44-year World Series wait
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers fans patiently waited 44 years for this night, and three hours later, with hoarse throats and weary legs, oh, was it ever worth it.
The Brewers, in front of 43,250 screaming fans who stood most of the game Friday at American Family Field, delivered a powerful victory in Game 1 of the World Series, 3-2, over the Tampa Bay Rays.
It was hardly easy, with the Rays refusing to fade into the night, but the Rays were their own worst enemy, three times running into outs on the bases, and having two balls glance off their gloves in the field.
“This team was the best team in the National League," Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda said before Game 1, “best team in baseball for a reason. … They do almost everything well."
The Brewers, led by ace Jacob Misiorowski, dominated for five innings, and then sat back and watched the Brewers’ bullpen completely suffocate the Rays’ offense. The Brewers’ bullpen pitched four shutout innings, giving up just two singles, while Aaron Ashby continued his brilliance, pitching 1 ⅔ shutout innings. He has pitched 14 shutout innings this postseason, giving up just four hits.
The Brewers had just two extra-base hits without a homer, but scrapped and clawed their way to three runs with the top four hitters in the lineup_Jackson Chourio, Jake Bauers, Christian Yelich and William Contreras_producing six of their eight hits. They did most of their damage in the first inning with Chourio leading off with a single, Yelich hitting a one-out triple to center field field that glanced off Jonny DeLuca’s glove with Contreras following with a sharp single off shortstop Taylor Walls with a drawn-in infield.
But the real heroes, the Brewers say, are their fans.
“They're a big impact on these games, how loud they've been,’’ Yelich said. “The atmosphere they've created, it's definitely a difference maker. You kind of just see how excited everybody is in this city. You can kind of feel the energy….
“It's cool to be able to provide memories for people to be able to share with their family, their kids, their grandparents, or just friends that have been Brewers’ fans over the years for decades and getting to kind of experience this together. We know we represent a city and a state, and we're proud to do it. People coming up to you and saying they’ve been waiting their whole life for this and for this series.
“Looking forward to creating more memories for people.’’
Misiorowski, pitching on 11 days’ rest, set the tone on the first pitch of the game, throwing a 103.5-mph fastball, the fastest ever thrown in a World Series game when they first began tracking in 2008. He threw 10 pitches over 101-mph alone in the first inning, with five pitchers over 102-mph.
And then he went out and dominated for five innings, yielding four this and one run while striking out three batters.
It wasn’t vintage Miz, but after a long season – throwing 45 more innings than his career-high – still kept the Rays’ offense in check.
He nearly gave up a homer to Yandy Diaz to lead off the game, and then back-to-back singles to Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson. But he escaped when Junior Caminero lined out to third baseman David Hamilton, who then threw to second base to double-up Aranda who was fooled on the liner.
It was the first of three critical mistakes by the Rays. Victor Mesa ended the fifth inning by inexplicably trying to steal third base with Diaz at the plate when he was already in scoring position. And Aranda ended the sixth inning when he was caught stealing second on a botched hit-and-run with Simpson at the plate, striking out for the second time. It was the first time Chandler struck out twice in a game since June 9.
Misiorowski graciously accepted the gifts, and even though he has not lasted past five innings in any of his three postseason starts, the Brewers have won all three games.
“He hasn't been as crisp,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “I don't think people are up there thinking it's going to be 104, and I think they're elated if it's anything less than that. They're trying to exploit everything. He's exposed, like all these guys get at some point. He's exposed."
The Brewers now are three victories away from their first World Series championship in a year where everyone doubted them at the start of spring training. They traded away ace Freddy Peralta and rookie third baseman Caleb Durbin during the winter, following the past few years when All-Star shortstop Willy Adames left as a free agent, and All-Star closers Josh Hader and Devin Williams were traded, along with Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes.
“The guys who walked out the door, they're some of the best players in baseball,’’ Yelich said. “Cy Young winners, relievers of the year, Willy was a really great player for us. So really what it does… everybody kind of doubts you again because you lose some big pieces, which is understandable. But this group just ends up finding its identity throughout the year, and coming together as a team, and finding our formula to win, and how we do it as a team.
“That's really what it's been year after year."
Brewers vs Rays World Series schedule
- Game 1: Friday, Oct. 23 — 8 PM ET, at Milwaukee – TICKETS
- Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 24 — 8 PM ET, at Milwaukee – TICKETS
- Game 3: Monday, Oct. 26 — 8 PM ET, at Tampa Bay
- Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 27 — 8 PM ET, at Tampa Bay
- Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, Oct. 28 — 8 PM ET, at Tampa Bay
- Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, Oct. 30 — 8 PM ET, at Milwaukee – TICKETS
- Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, Oct. 31 — 8 PM ET, at Milwaukee – TICKETS
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brewers barrel through Rays in Game 1 after 44-year World Series wait
William Contreras owned World Series opener. And Rays fell into his trap
MILWAUKEE – William Contreras is already having a historic run through this postseason. The Tampa Bay Rays certainly didn’t need to play into his hands in Game 1 of the World Series.
Yet over the course of just a few innings, Contreras, the Milwaukee Brewers’ dynamic catcher, showed just how much he can control a single baseball game – on both sides of the ball.
It is not often that one man smokes his team’s hardest-hit ball of the night for a run-scoring hit that stood up as the winning run, then snuffs out two of the opposition’s scoring chances by cutting down baserunners foolhardy enough to run on him.
Contreras, though, is truly built different.
The three-time All-Star finally has a stage befitting his massive skills and nickname to match – Wild Bill – for the baseball world to appreciate. And Friday, Oct. 23, as Milwaukee was ready to burst over its first World Series appearance in 44 years, Contreras gave them what they asked for as he commanded the Brewers’ 3-2 victory before 43,250 giddy onlookers at American Family Field.
Milwaukee takes a 1-0 lead into Saturday’s Game 2, thanks to a victory in a game that was taut yet also featured several unforced errors by the Rays.
Then again, Contreras forced the issue on numerous occasions.
This game turned on the game’s third batter, when Rays center fielder Jonny DeLuca fell just shy of making a terrific diving catch on Christian Yelich’s fly ball that landed for an RBI triple.
Just one man was out. Yelich was on third. And so the Rays infield, per the laws of baseball, was condemned to play in on the grass with Contreras at the plate.
No wonder this game is considered so cruel.
Contreras ranks in the 89 th percentile in squaring up balls. His top exit velocities the past four seasons have ranged between 114 and 118 mph. He drove in 94 runs this season.
Little wonder, then, that he drilled a Nick Martinez fastball 108.4 mph, just to the right of Rays shortstop Taylor Walls. The ball ticked off his glove, and not even the most sadistic official scorer might consider giving Walls an error.
Yelich trotted home on the play for a 2-0 lead, the Rays halving that with a run in the fourth. And Milwaukee would not score again until a Jackson Chourio RBI single in the seventh.
No matter. Contreras was preventing runs as easily as he drove one in.
With starter Jacob Misiorowski starting to wobble in the fifth and Victor Mesa Jr. on second, Misiorowski emptied his tank against slugging leadoff man Yandy Díaz – three fastballs of at least 101.7 mph. With Díaz in an 0-2 hole, Mesa broke for third.
Foolish. Contreras threw him out easily, ending the threat and forcing Díaz to lead off the next inning, the bases empty.
Next inning, similar scenario.
After reliever Abner Uribe retired Díaz, Jonathan Aranda reached for the third time in Game 1, on a single.
This was the exact spot the Rays likely eyeballed in the run-up to this World Series: Early enough in the game to avoid Milwaukee’s deadliest relievers, and with slugging third baseman Junior Caminero on deck.
Speedy No. 3 hitter Chandler Simpson worked a full count. The man only struck out 7.8% of the time this season. Rays manager Kevin Cash decided to send Aranda on the full-count pitch.
And Uribe threw one of the nastiest sliders Simpson’s likely ever seen. The back-foot offering to the left-handed hitter elicited a meek half-swing on a ball way low and in.
Simpson was rung up.
Despite the suboptimal pitch to throw on, and the uncertainty of the play, Contreras gunned an absolute strike to second. Aranda was easily out.
Caminero was stranded helplessly on deck. Uribe was beyond amped.
And the Brewers were nine outs from victory.
STRIKE ‘EM OUT, THROW ‘EM OUT 😤
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) October 24, 2026
Abner Uribe and William Contreras combine for a magnificent double play to end the 6th! pic.twitter.com/5qjdsNSvN8
It was the latest tour de force from Contreras, who keyed the Brewers’ sweep of the Dodgers by delivering three game-tying or go-ahead hits in a Game 2 victory. Now, there are no other teams standing.
This is Contreras’ stage. And so far, he’s commanding it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: William Contreras owned World Series opener. And Rays fell into his trap
Knicks' Mike Brown encourages Mikal Bridges 'to keep shooting' after going scoreless in loss to Celtics
The Knicks' championship defense has gotten off to a slow start, dropping their first two games after Friday's loss to the Celtics, but not as slow as the play of Mikal Bridges.
After scoring just four points on 2 of 8 shooting in 33 minutes during New York's series opener against the 76ers, Bridges was held scoreless in 22 minutes on 0 of 8 shooting -- including 0-for-5 from three -- versus Boston.
"For the most part, most of his looks... I mean, he had three or four wide open threes. And we want them to make half of them if they're open," head coach Mike Brown said of Bridges after the loss. "But he's got to keep shooting them. And hopefully, they'll eventually go in sooner than later, but he's getting the looks that he needs to get. He's just gotta knock them down now."
Bridges' offensive ups and downs date back as long as he's been a Knick. Last season, he averaged 14.4 points per game, his lowest since the the 2021-22 season when he was with the Suns.
While the offensive inconsistencies Brown can manage, he can't go too long without Bridges' defense.
Searching for offense against the Celtics, Brown rolled with Miles McBride, who scored 20 points in 30 minutes off the bench. That left Josh Hart in charge of guarding Jayson Tatum, a task that even Hart had trouble with. Tatum finished with a game-high 36 points and made some clutch buckets down the stretch when the Knicks threatened to steal the win in the final moments.
Perhaps the game result could have been different with Bridges guarding Tatum. But Brown won't put it all on missing Bridges, as the Knicks head coach pointed to how Boston was more physical than the Knicks.
"He's got to make sure that he's physical on the defensive end," Brown continued on Bridges. "And he, as well as everybody else because it was all of us, are laying on screens when we get hit, and that when we do switch, there's a level of physicality to the switch so that they're not able to take advantage of us."
The Knicks will look to get their first victory of the season when they return home to host the Magic on Sunday. Perhaps Bridges' offense and defense will be a factor in that one.
Pistons lose starters Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson to injuries in win over Heat
The Detroit Pistons are on their way to a 2-0 start this season, but may be contending with an injury to one of their All-Stars.
Center Jalen Duren, who is fresh off of a $200 million contract extension signed earlier this month, suffered a right thigh injury Friday, Oct. 23 in a game against the Miami Heat. The Pistons won 128-111.
The injury occurred midway through the second quarter. Duren attempted a spin move past Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Duren appeared to tweak something, as he abruptly pulled up and grabbed his leg in apparent discomfort. Duren immediately went to the locker room.
The Pistons declared him questionable to return, but Duren did not play the remainder of the game, which Detroit dominated from the opening tip.
In his place, backup Paul Reed filled in admirably, perhaps allowing coach J.B. Bickerstaff to exercise caution with Duren’s injury. Reed scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and 4 assists.
Duren played just 10 minutes and scored 4 points on 2-of-4 shooting, adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal.
Duren wasn’t the only Pistons player to suffer an injury Friday night, as forward Ausar Thompson, a first-team All-Defense selection, fell awkwardly on his back, forcing him to the locker room. Thompson played just 19 minutes, recording 4 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds.
After the game, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said he did not have any updates on either injury.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pistons lose starters Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson to injuries in win over Heat
Shaikin: Tensions between MLB and players' union continue to escalate amid salary-cap battle
It was an evening for pomp and pageantry, for celebrating a World Series between two of the five major league teams never to win one. But, before the first pitch of the first game, the commissioner of baseball and the head of the players’ union held separate media gatherings that only served to reinforce the notion that a lockout in December is a virtual certainty and Opening Day next March is in serious jeopardy.
Of all the major North American sports, baseball is the only one without a salary cap. The players and their union vow to keep it that way, and union chief Bruce Meyer said every proposal the owners make on every issue is contingent upon a salary cap. How, someone asked commissioner Rob Manfred, can the owners strike a deal if the union is entrenched against a cap?
“Re-thinking where you are is a really important part of trying to make a deal,” Manfred said. “It’s actually a skill in collective bargaining. It’s easy to say, ‘I’m here and I’m never moving.’ That’s not a particularly skilled approach to the process.”
Read more:Shaikin: Why Dodgers fans need to be cheering for the Brewers in this World Series
That is perilously close to telling the other guy at the negotiating table how to negotiate. It’s also something you might say when you’re feeling pretty darn good that you’re going to win the negotiation.
“We have an unprecedented level of unanimity among ownership that it is something that we need to do,” Manfred said.
He wouldn’t say otherwise at this point, of course. The owners were unified in 1994, when they last demanded a salary cap. They didn’t win, and fans lost the final two months of the 1994 season and the first month of the 1995 season.
When the NHL got its salary cap, owners shut down the league for a full year. Would MLB owners forgo a year — or at least several months — of ticket sales and media revenue to get their cap? Would MLB players forgo a year — or at least several months — of their salaries to stave off a cap?
We won’t know the answer to either question until the spring, and until then a new collective bargaining agreement would require one side or the other to abandon its position.
That makes this year’s World Series something of a Rorschach test: Is a Brewers-Rays series proof that the system actually works just fine the way it is?
To Manfred, the answer is no. A series featuring two of baseball’s smaller markets is an anomaly when history shows a correlation between payroll and success, not only in the regular season but in advancing through the playoffs.
“It’s not that no small market can win,” Manfred said. “It’s just that it’s pretty rare.”
To Meyer, the answer is yes.
“It has nothing to do with what the Dodgers are doing,” Meyer said. “There is no reason whatsoever that the Pirates can’t do what the Brewers have done, or what the Rays have done.”
The Pirates, Meyer said, do not spend all the money they are allotted to sign draft picks. The Brewers, playing in baseball’s smallest market, might not routinely hand out free-agent riches, but owner Mark Attanasio said his team ranks “right in the middle” of the 30 teams in spending on baseball operations.
Attanasio publicly stumped for a salary cap here Friday, saying it would “help us compete but more importantly all of the other teams with lower payrolls too.” He said Brewers fans already fear it might take another 44 years to return to the World Series.
Read more:Shaikin: As a kid, this World Series starter rooted for the Astros. Then he learned they cheated.
Said Meyer: “That doesn’t seem like a great way, with all due respect, to try and generate excitement among your fans.”
Meyer said this year’s series “undermines their argument” for what he called “the nuclear bomb of a salary cap.” He said the owners are uninterested in the union’s proposals for addressing competitive balance, including increased revenue sharing among owners and a tax against teams that fail to win consistently, and he alleged the league’s argument is “a charade” for what the owners really want: “to suppress salaries and gut player rights.”
The takeaway: Don’t book non-refundable airline tickets and hotel rooms for spring training.
On other topics:
— As The Times has reported, MLB is keeping an eye on federal investigations into Dodgers owner Mark Walter and his insurance empire, which is under scrutiny for allegedly violating laws designed to protect investors. Walter also is a defendant in multiple civil lawsuits filed by investors alleging fraud and breach of contract.
“As always when we have an investigation — external, law enforcement, whatever — we monitor that,” Manfred said. “That’s where we are right now. We’re just watching what’s going on right now.”
Over the past two months, amid efforts to find what could be more than $20 billion to recapitalize insurance funds, Walter has sold his controlling interest in the Lakers and a minority share of Chelsea, the English Premier League club. On Friday, Bloomberg reported he is seeking to sell the Sparks. He has no plan to sell the Dodgers, team president Stan Kasten has said.
— Meyer said the MLBPA continues negotiations with LA28 over how major league players would be accommodated in the 2028 Olympics. “As of now, we’re not getting satisfaction on those things,” Meyer said.
Both the league and the union say they want to participate in the Games, but Manfred said MLB would normally start preparing its 2028 schedule early in 2027. The league has agreed to an extended All-Star break to accommodate the Olympics, but MLB also could tire of waiting for the union to agree with LA28, which badly wants MLB players to participate.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Knicks drop second consecutive game to begin season following 107-103 loss to Celtics
The Knicks lost to the Boston Celtics on Friday night, 107-103.
Here are the takeaways...
-- In search of their first win of the season, the Knicks went down 4-0 and didn’t hit their first shot until Karl-Anthony Towns hit a deep three to get New York on the board. Towns finished the opening quarter with eight points while going 3-for-3 from the floor.
-- OG Anunoby had five points and Jalen Brunson added four in the first 12 minutes, but the rest of the starters were held in check so the Knicks went to their bench looking for a spark.
-- They got it in the form of Miles McBride who checked into the game with 6:21 left in the quarter and immediately went to work by draining two threes and drilling two free throws and matching Towns’ eight points.
-- McBride’s second three-pointer gave the Knicks a five-point lead with just under three minutes left in the quarter, but from there New York was outscored 7-3 and the Celtics cut their deficit to one point and entered the second quarter down 27-26.
-- Boston opened the second quarter by outscoring the Knicks 13-4 to take an eight-point advantage. Anunoby’s made three put an end to the ambush and eventually New York tied the game at 41-41 thanks to Josh Hart’s first points of the game following a two-minute stretch of misses and turnovers by both teams.
-- Hart tied the game again with a three with 56 seconds left in the half before giving the Knicks their first lead since midway through the first quarter on a driving hook shot.
-- However, Paul George nailed a three-pointer as time expired and sent the Celtics into the locker room with a 50-49 halftime lead.
-- Both teams traded baskets to kick off the second half as Anunoby and Brunson got more involved offensively and each hit a three. Towns also made a triple later in the frame, but New York wouldn’t hit another shot for over two minutes before Brunson’s second three-pointer of the quarter.
-- The Celtics weren’t able to take advantage during the Knicks’ scoring drought, scoring just four points themselves.
-- After abandoning McBride following his hot start, New York went back to him late in the third and he stayed hot by making back-to-back threes to pull his team to within one.
-- Once again, though, Boston ended the quarter on a 13-4 run, spearheaded by Jayson Tatum, to go into the fourth quarter up by 10. Tatum had a monster third quarter, leading all scorers with 16 points.
-- The Knicks, down by as many as 12 points, did their best to climb back. Landry Shamet hit a couple of key threes off the bench to get back within striking distance which got New York going in the right direction.
-- They hung around for as long as they could, going shot for shot with Tatum and George, but in the end Tatum’s 36 points was too much and the Knicks lost for the second straight time to begin their season.
-- McBride had a great game, scoring 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field (6-for-8 from three). Mikal Bridges, on the other hand, was held scoreless (0-for-8 from the field, 0-for-5 from three) and only played 22 minutes – far less than any other starter.
-- Anunoby, Towns and Hart all finished with a double-double and Anunoby led the team with eight assists. Still, the trio of Anunoby, Towns and Brunson combined for 10 turnovers as the Knicks gave it away 16 times compared to Boston’s 10 turnovers – the difference in the game.
-- In his first game against his former team, Mitchell Robinson was a non-factor with four points, four rebounds and a block in 22 minutes. He also picked up five fouls.
Game MVP: Jayson Tatum
Tatum led all scorers with 36 points and took over whenever the Celtics needed him to.
Highlights
KAT from deep! https://t.co/Us06WVZwY3
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 23, 2026
Deuce from the corner! 👌 https://t.co/SnM0M3NikT
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 23, 2026
KAT throws it down! https://t.co/9MfjRH7Efm
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 23, 2026
DEUCE. DEEP. https://t.co/aSQmKTMwQG
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 23, 2026
Andre Drummond 💪 https://t.co/LtW2R6A4ge
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 23, 2026
What's next
The Knicks return home to take on the Orlando Magic on Sunday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Cooper Flagg injury update: Mavs star hurts shoulder as he's fouled on breakaway
The one player the Dallas Mavericks didn’t want injured, Cooper Flagg, got hurt. But initial comments from coach Dusty May signaled some optimism that Flagg may have avoided a serious injury.
Flagg, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, suffered a left shoulder injury Friday, Oct. 23 in a game against the Indiana Pacers, after a flagrant foul by Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith on a breakaway dunk attempt sent Flagg tumbling to the court. The Mavericks officially designated the injury as left shoulder soreness, which may be a positive sign that Flagg avoided a serious ailment.
May said Flagg would be evaluated “in the next couple of days” and added that Flagg was in “good spirits” when he saw him in the locker room. Though imaging results will provide the official diagnosis, the timeline May put forward suggests that Flagg will miss Dallas’ next game, which is Saturday, Oct. 24 against the San Antonio Spurs.
During the play, Flagg was streaking toward the basket on a fast break before he was fouled. Nesmith swiped at Flagg’s right shoulder, causing him to lose his balance. Flagg tried to brace his fall but landed awkwardly on his left shoulder, near where camera operators sit along the baseline.
Flagg immediately favored his left shoulder as he writhed on the floor in apparent discomfort. Trainers hustled over to tend to him for several moments. The foul incensed Mavericks players, as forward Naji Marshall confronted Nesmith and shoved him.
This led to a brief altercation as multiple players from both sides started shoving each other. Assistant coaches eventually separated the players.
PACERS-MAVS GET CHIPPY AFTER
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 24, 2026
A FLAGRANT FOUL ON COOPER FLAGG 😳
Flagg went to the locker room after the hard foul pic.twitter.com/pQjg9P61KK
The foul was eventually reviewed and elevated to a flagrant 1. Flagg would step up to the line and convert both his free throw attempts, though he was immediately subbed out.
Shortly afterward, the Mavericks ruled Flagg out for the rest of the game.
Flagg played just 17 minutes and scored 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting. He also collected 5 rebounds, dished out 6 assists and recorded 3 steals.
The Mavericks beat the Pacers, 121-105, in May’s first career NBA victory.
Flagg is the franchise player and No. 1 selection from the 2025 NBA Draft. Dallas is undergoing something of a rebuild, as the team builds around the 19 year old Flagg.
“Look, Nesmith is a great guy – heck of a player,” May said. “I’ve known him since he was in high school. Obviously, an unfortunate play. Hopefully Coop is fine, but obviously it’s something we wished wouldn’t have happened.”
Flagg injured the same shoulder in his rookie season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cooper Flagg injury update: Mavs star hurts shoulder as he's fouled on breakaway
How did Miz do in World Series? Final stats, velocity from Game 1 outing
Jacob Misiorowski's first pitch of the 2026 World Series came in at 103.5 miles per hour.
That four-seamer to Yandy Diaz was a ball, but it certainly set the tone for the night. The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander made his longest postseason start against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 on Friday night at American Family Field. He held Tampa Bay to one run on four hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out three.
Misiorowski threw 37 pitches at 100 mph or faster out of 78. His four-seamer averaged 101.2 mph and 10 of them reached at least 102. None were faster than the opener, according to StatCast.
Velocity has never been the question for the 6-foot-7 Misiorowski. He went 16-5 this season and led the majors in ERA (1.80) and strikeouts (252), throwing his fastball harder on average than any other starter in the league. The question this October was how long can he stay on the mound.
He made Friday's start on 11 days' rest. In his first two starts this postseason, high pitch counts kept him from finishing five innings. He threw 88 pitches over four innings in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Then he needed 94 pitches for 4 ⅓ innings in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series, which the Brewers went on to sweep against the Dodgers.
Misiorowski was more efficient Friday night. He went to his four-seam fastball and mxed in his cutter, slider and an occasional curveball. That helped him get through five, tying the longest postseason start of his career. He pitched five innings and struck out nine in a relief appearance in Game 3 of the 2025 NLCS at Dodger Stadium.
The Rays put runners on against him right away Friday. Jonathan Aranda lined a single on a 101.3 mph fastball and Chandler Simpson followed with a slapped single to left. Junior Caminero lined into a double play to end the threat. Misiorowski retired seven consecutive Rays after that.
Tampa Bay broke through in the fourth. Aranda drew a walk and Caminero turned on a 101 mph fastball for a double before Liam Hicks brought in the Rays' first run with a groundout.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How did Miz do in World Series? Final stats, velocity from Game 1 outing
Brandin Podziemski back in Warriors' starting lineup but shaken up vs. Grizzlies
SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski started in the team's home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Oct. 23.
But his initial appearance proved to be brief. Podziemski left the game with 8:17 left in the first quarter after taking a shot from Grizzlies center Zach Edey.
Podziemski went backdoor and took a pass from Graham Ike as he went up for a layup over Edey. Podziemski scored but not without contact. Edey appeared to have struck Podziemski in the face as he was making a play on the ball. No whistle was blown and everyone played on ... except Podziemski, who stayed on the ground after the contact.
He got up and walked off the court and into the locker room on his own. Podziemski had scored four points, making both shot attempts.
He did eventually return to the bench and get back into the game.
Podziemski missed the Warriors' season opener, Wednesday's 127-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, due to a sore back.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters before Friday's game that Podziemski was not only available, but starting at the two-guard position.
"He had a workout this morning," Kerr said. "Went through it fine, so he'll be in the starting lineup."
Podziemski appeared in all 82 games for the Warriors last season. His availability was one of the many attributes that gave Golden State confidence before extending the 23-year-old.
The Warriors and Podziemski agreed to a five-year, $110 million rookie-scale contract extension, which includes an option for the final year in 2031–32.
Podziemski averaged career highs with Golden State last year (13.8 points per game, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals on 45% shooting). The Warriors drafted Podziemski out of Santa Clara with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brandin Podziemski back in Warriors' starting lineup but shaken up vs. Grizzlies
Devon Toews, Nazem Kadri Score as Avalanche Take 2-0 Lead Over Lightning
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are making their chances count and keeping Tampa Bay at arm’s length. Colorado took a 4-2 lead into the second intermission, answering the Lightning’s push with timely goals from Fedor Svechkov and Artturi Lehkonen, while Jake Guentzel scored twice on the power play to keep Tampa within striking distance. The Lightning lead 27-17 in shots on goal, but the Avalanche have made the most of their opportunities.
First Period
Martin Necas found Devon Toews in front of the net just 68 seconds into the game, with Nathan MacKinnon picking up the assist to give Colorado an early lead.
Jaden Schwartz appeared to tie the game nearly five minutes in, but the goal was waved off after he kicked the puck past Mackenzie Blackwood. Colorado capitalized shortly after, scoring on the power play at 5:52 with Brandon Hagel in the box for tripping. Nazem Kadri buried a pass from T.J. Hughes in the low slot to double the lead.
Tampa had its chances, controlling possession at times and forcing Colorado’s defense to scramble around its own net. The Lightning also kept the Avalanche’s top line on the ice for extended shifts and tested Blackwood with a flurry of shots, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Despite being outshot 12-9, Colorado took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Second Period
Fedor Svechkov made it 3-0 just 24 seconds into the period, knocking in his own rebound past Andrei Vasilevskiy. Svechkov appeared to be looking for T.J. Hughes at the backdoor, but after Vasilevskiy poke-checked the puck, the rebound fell right back to Svechkov, who finished the play.
Logan O’Connor, playing for the first time this season after recovering from a lower-body injury and dealing with the loss of his father, was called for a two-minute goaltender interference penalty. Vasilevskiy had left his crease to make a save near the backdoor, and O’Connor, closing in quickly, had little time to avoid the collision. Colorado killed off the penalty.
Tampa later earned a 4-on-3 power play after Taylor Makar tripped Conor Geekie. Following the whistle, Sam Malinski cross-checked Dominic James, sparking a brief scuffle along the boards. Both players received roughing minors. On the ensuing power play, Jake Guentzel cut into Colorado’s lead, punching in a rebound off a one-timer from Charle-Edouard D’Astous.
After Colorado killed off a tripping penalty to Lehkonen with 7:10 remaining, the winger got his own goal back. MacKinnon set him up in the low slot, and Lehkonen buried his ninth goal in 11 games to restore the Avalanche’s three-goal cushion at 4-1.
Unlike in their previous two games, the Avalanche were making their chances count while doing a better job defensively and breaking up Tampa’s plays.
Colorado was called for too many men on the ice with less than three minutes remaining, and Tampa struck again on the power play. Brayden Point fed Guentzel at the doorstep for his second goal of the night, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
The Avalanche challenged the goal, arguing that the puck had hit the upper netting before crossing the line. After an extensive review, officials determined the puck had hit the glass, not the netting, and the goal stood.
Through 40 minutes, Colorado held a 4-2 lead, but Tampa continued to pour on the pressure, building a 27-17 advantage in shots on goal.
