South African rugby player Hyron Andrews has died in a tragic accident on a French island.
Game #7: Ducks vs. Bruins Gameday Preview (10/16/26)
The Ducks look to close out their short, two-game homestand with a victory. Their last game was their worst of the young 2026-27 season, a 4-2 loss to the then-winless Calgary Flames. After the game, head coach Joel Quenneville said, "I don't find much positive right now (about that game)."
Their opponent, the Boston Bruins, are 5-2-0 and coming off a 6-3 win against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 13. Newly-named captain David Pastrňák is leading the way offensively with eight points, with Fraser Minten—who got a long-term extension this past offseason—and Morgan Geekie just behind him.
This game should be a physical affair, as the Bruins rank top-10 in hits. Nikita Zadorov, Tanner Jeannot and Will Borgen rank inside the top-50 league-wide in hits while Tim Washe and Nikita Nesterenko feature in the top-50 for Anaheim.
“If we’re using our speed, we’re tough to hit and we’re tough to stop in transition,” Ducks forward Frank Vatrano said. “They’re a team that’s not gonna give things for free. You’re gonna have to work for everything out there, so we’re gonna have to put pucks in deep. We’re gonna have to forecheck their D, make it hard on them. They have some guys up front that can make you pay. Gotta be smart with the puck, not turn pucks over at the blue lines and just play our game that we know how to play.”
“If we just play our simple brand of hockey and play with a lot of possession, smart plays with the puck and our pace, it doesn’t matter how physical they are,” Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier said. “They won’t be able to keep up.”
Cutter Gauthier | Ducks Morning Skate | Oct. 16, 2026Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier speaks to the media after their morning skate at Honda Center.Gauthier missed Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury, an ailment which caused him to leave last Saturday's game early on, but one he said he is now over. Because of injuries to Ryan Poehling (sprained MCL) and Mikael Granlund, Gauthier will line-up as a center against the Bruins. He played center growing up and as a collegiate player, but shifted to the wing when he arrived in the NHL.
“I’ve been a center pretty much my whole life up until the NHL, so it’s definitely a position I’m comfortable with and something I’ve been speaking with the coaching staff to want to play that center role. I’m excited for the opportunity tonight.”
Nikita Klepov draws back into the lineup in Granlund’s absence after being a healthy scratch for the past three games. He’ll slot onto the top line with Alex Killorn and Leo Carlsson.
“We’re working with him here to get up to pace,” Quenneville said. “The speed of the game, the strength, the recognition of plays in situations. Keeping the puck, shooting the puck, give-and-go’s, coming up with loose pucks. Playing with Leo is a big step, but that’s a good opportunity for him because they can complement one another with some thought processes in some tight areas in the offensive zone. We’d like to see him take advantage of this. We didn’t mind his first game (against Edmonton), this is only his second start here. I think he’s getting better practices and I think he’s getting more competitive through our practices. It should transfer to the game.”
Ducks Projected Lines
Alex Killorn - Leo Carlsson - Nikita Klepov
Nikita Nesterenko - Cutter Gauthier - Beckett Sennecke
Frank Vatrano - Roger McQueen - Judd Caulfield
A.J. Greer - Tim Washe - Jeff Malott
Jackson LaCombe - Noah Warren
Pavel Mintyukov - Tristan Luneau
Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Bruins Projected Lines
Morgan Geekie - Pavel Zacha - David Pastrňák
Marat Khusnutdinov - Fraser Minten - JJ Peterka
Casey Mittelstadt - Elias Lindholm - James Hagens
Tanner Jeannot - Matthew Poitras - Mark Kastelic
Hampus Lindholm - Charlie McAvoy
Nikita Zadorov - Will Borgen
Frédéric Brunet - Mason Lohrei
Michael DiPietro (confirmed)
Mookie Betts sends heartfelt message to Dodgers fans after Brewers sweep in NLCS
Less than 24 hours after the Dodgers were swept by the Brewers in the National League Championship Series, Mookie Betts addressed the fanbase.
“This season didn’t end the way we wanted, but I just want to say thank you to everyone who supported us along the way,” the Dodgers shortstop wrote in an Instagram post.
“Through the ups and downs, you continued to show up and show love. I don’t take any of that for granted. Thank you, Dodger Nation.”
The Dodgers’ season came to an untimely end on Thursday night as the Brewers were awarded the National League pennant after a dominant four-game performance over the back-to-back World Series champions.
The Dodgers assembled one of the greatest rosters in baseball and spared no expense to do so. But the NLCS proved that while the Dodgers may be the richest team in the league, luxurious spending does not guarantee a championship.
Now, the juggernaut will be forced to evaluate how to approach the upcoming 2027 season. Will Shohei Ohtani pitch again? Should the Dodgers trade Teoscar Hernandez or Tommy Edman? Will free agent Tarik Skubal be back in LA? How do the Dodgers get younger?
All those questions and more will have to be addressed this winter as the Dodgers dynasty looks to recover from a failed three-peat attempt.
While the team ultimately fell short in 2026, there’s a chance the Dodgers could very well make another deep playoff run next year if the front office can assemble all the right pieces.
‘You’re dead… and they pulled the trigger’: Aussies’ startling tales of what it’s like to tour RSA
Refusing a captain’s order usually guarantees a swift end to their stint in a side for a cricketer, but former Australian fast bowler Paul Reiffel was prepared to take that risk after finding himself in a position he never imagined on a South Africa tour.
Dodgers fans’ baseless cheating conspiracy explodes as mysterious MLB texts fuel speculation
Apparently, getting swept out of the National League Championship Series wasn’t humiliating enough for the Dodgers. Now, some of their fans are trying to turn a good old-fashioned baseball beatdown into baseball’s next great cheating scandal.
The evidence? A few long at-bats, a couple of unexpected home runs and a whole lot of sour grapes.
After the Milwaukee Brewers completed their four-game sweep of the two-time defending World Series champions with a 6-4 victory Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, conspiracy theories began circulating on social media accusing Milwaukee of knowing which pitches were coming.
Never mind that nobody has produced a shred of evidence of illegal sign-stealing.
The amateur detectives pointed to Jake Bauers’ grueling 12-pitch walk against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2, his lengthy battle against Blake Snell in Game 3 and another extended confrontation with Tyler Glasnow in Game 4.
Garrett Mitchell’s home runs against Snell and Tanner Scott in Games 3 and 4 only added fuel to the conspiracy theories. Mitchell only hit one homer off a left-hander in 107 at-bats during the regular season. He hit two in the series.
But apparently, battling through an at-bat and hitting a home run against a difficult matchup are now grounds for a federal investigation.
And who helped give this nonsense oxygen? AM 570 radio guy David Vassegh, whose devotion to the Dodgers occasionally makes objectivity seem like an opposing team’s scouting report.
Vassegh, the host of “Dodger Talk,” claimed multiple unidentified MLB players texted him during Game 2 suggesting the Brewers knew what Yamamoto was throwing. He subsequently asked former Reds slugger Joey Votto whether the Japanese right-hander might have been tipping his pitches.
“Sure, there’s a pretty good chance they caught something,” Votto said.
That’s where this entire controversy falls apart.
Recognizing a pitcher tipping his pitches isn’t cheating. It’s baseball.
For generations, hitters have studied pitchers’ grips, glove positioning, delivery and mechanics for clues. Modern technology, including sophisticated video analysis and artificial intelligence, has made identifying those tendencies even easier.
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy has discussed that very practice himself.
There is an enormous difference between detecting a pitcher’s tell through legitimate observation and illegally intercepting or electronically relaying signs, as Houston did during its infamous 2017 scandal.
Even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the obvious after Milwaukee’s series-clinching victory.
“We got beat.”
Roberts didn’t make excuses. He didn’t spout conspiracy theories, and he certainly didn’t reference anonymous sources that told him the Brewers were cheating.
The Brewers won 103 regular-season games, then dismantled Los Angeles with superior pitching, timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, fundamentally sound defense and relentless execution.
They didn’t need a secret camera, a trash can, a train whistle or a decoder ring.
They just needed to play better baseball.
And for four straight games, that’s exactly what they did.
The Dodgers’ dynasty may not be finished, but their reign atop baseball certainly took a beating this October.
Milwaukee is headed to its first World Series since 1982.
Instead of inventing excuses, Dodgers fans might consider doing what their own manager did and tip their caps to the better team this time around.
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Boston Celtics Daily Links 10/16/26
Globe Joe Mazzulla took live calls about the Celtics on 98.5 The Sports Hub. The callers didn’t hold back.
‘He’s just a maniac’ is one way to describe Celtics guard Payton Pritchard’s passion for basketball
CelticsBlogMazzulla’s group is ahead of schedule
Celtics Littered Throughout 2026-27 NBA GM Survey
NBC Sports BostonDoc Rivers believes this Paul George trait could be contagious for Celtics
NESNJaylen Brown Details His Full Range of Emotions After Celtics Trade In Candid New Interview
We Now Know Why Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Keeps Starting Jordan Walsh
We Now Know If Warriors Wanted Jimmy Butler-Jaylen Brown Trade
Celtics Uncover Intriguing New Weapon That Could Change Joe Mazzulla’s Rotation
How to Watch Celtics vs. 76ers Tonight: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for NBA Preseason Game
After Signing Contract Extension, Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Shows Off Playmaking Skills
Jayson Tatum’s Connection to Paul George Goes Back Even Further Than You Think
Joe Mazzulla Takes Celtics Fan’s Blunt Criticism in Stride
Mass LiveFormer Celtics guard headed back overseas after getting waived
What is Celtics’ plan for Paul George this season? (Mailbag)
Celtics WireCeltics at 76ers: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (10/16)
Today in Boston Celtics history: Henderson traded; Counts born: Cousy, Macauley jersey retirement
These Boston Celtics may already be among the NBA’s elite teams on defense
Queta on how chemistry with Robinson, Celtics elevating his game
Did the Celtics get fair value on Pritchard’s contract extension?
It would be a mistake to count out the Celtics
The Celtics are hitting the ground running on defense
There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the Celtics
Did Celtics get a steal with the Payton Pritchard extension?
The Athletic Ranking all 30 NBA teams by position: The strongest and weakest teams at every spot
Coach Mike Conley? For one night, Boston Celtics ask veteran to fill new role
How do teams rank in a super-charged East? Knicks and 76ers could be in trouble
Hardwood Houdini Jordan Walsh starting for Celtics doesn’t change what’s to come for Payton Pritchard
Paul George’s poor shooting illustrates Celtics’ strength in numbers
Mike Conley is taking ‘coach on the floor’ to new level with Celtics
Why NBA GMs are right to name Payton Pritchard a breakout candidate
Paul George’s preseason shooting woes have been frustrating for one painful reason
Celtics’ ridiculous depth is going to win them a lot of games this season
CLNS Media/YouTube Season Preview: What is the CEILING For 2026 Celtics? | Celtics Beat
Locked on CelticsNew Plan for Jayson Tatum? | Joe Mazzulla Answers Fan’s Jaylen Brown Question
Yahoo Sports How do the Celtics get back to being contenders?
The Sports Hub5 takeaways: Celtics deploy new big man lineup in home preseason finale
Bleacher ReportJoe Mazzulla Answers Questions from Celtics Fans Live on Boston Radio Show in New Video
HeavyCeltics Considered to be a ‘Bad Bet’ to Make a Deep Playoff Run
Boston Celtics May Have Struck Gold With Overlooked First-Round Talent
NBA Trade Rumors: A Lakers Target, Knicks Seeking Deal, Celtics ‘In Position’
Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Explains Jordan Walsh’s Preseason Starting Role
Celtics RoundtableBoston Celtics News: Mitchell Robinson Hype Train Has Left Station
UConn Basketball Coach Compares Opponent to Boston Celtics Athletic Rookie
Boston Celtics Broadcaster Earns Exciting New Opportunity
Lindy’s Sports NBA defends the second apron as players push back
Clutch PointsCeltics’ Mitchell Robinson gets brutally honest about Joe Mazzulla’s coaching
Barstool Sports Thank You James Dolan: Mitchell Robinson Becoming A Celtic Is Going To Turn Them Into An Even Bigger Wagon
The Sporting NewsBest NBA power forwards for 2026-27: Ranking all 30 starters from LeBron James to Jayson Tatum
NikNBA/YouTube Mitchell Robinson Fits the Celtics Like a GLOVE : Film Session
NESN/YouTube Are Celtics proving they’re better without Jaylen Brown?
WEEI/YouTubeBrian Scalabrine joins the show | Rich & Ken with Ted Johnson
CrosswalkCJ McCollum Shares Why Trusting God Matters as NBA Players Unite for Preseason Bible Study
SI .comCeltics Tried a Surprising Double-Big Lineup versus Hornets. Here’s How it Went
Trying To Decipher Joe Mazzulla’s Preseason Moves With the Boston Celtics
The Sixer Sense 76ers make last-minute roster shuffle before preseason finale vs Celtics
76ers will wisely use final chance to shake rust vs Celtics
FansidedThe 25 greatest NBA careers derailed by injuries
Every NBA contender’s biggest weakness to begin the regular season
How ‘Bout Them Celtics/YouTube Payton Pritchard is Entering His Point God Era
NBC Sports Boston/YouTube Are the Celtics built to win the East? Doc Rivers & Mike Tirico weigh in
Jayson Tatum/YouTubeThe Ultimate Assist | Summer Of Jayson
First to the Floor/YouTubeJason Timpf Talks New Era Celtics, Possession-Maxxing, and Top-5 Tatum
Essentially SportsCeltics vs 76ers: Where to Watch, Injury Report and Everything You Need to Know
Fan RecapMitchell Robinson Is Giving Celtics Fans A Real Reason To Watch Him
Payton Pritchard May Have Forced A Celtics Offensive Rethink
Celtics May Have A New Answer For Last Year’s Offensive Problem
Paul George Is Giving Celtics Fans One Clear Reason To Worry
Celtics May Have Found The Fix For Derrick Whites Efficiency Dip
Celtics Bench Is Already Creating A Problem Opponents Can’t Ignore
Hugo Gonzalez May Be Forcing His Way Into A Bigger Celtics Role
Payton Pritchard May Be Headed For A Very Different Celtics Role
Mike Conley Is Already Earning A Very Different Celtics Role
Celtics May Have Found A New Way To Overwhelm Teams
NBA .com ESPN announces NBA commentator roster for 25th consecutive season
Trending Topics: Who has been the most surprising player this preseason?
Jayson Tatum mic’d up at Celtics practice
Backyard Buckets/YouTubeThe Celtics are about to SHOCK the NBA…
DFlow Hoops/YouTube The Boston Celtics Stole The Knicks’ Championship Cheat Code…
MMA Mania Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla: Getting BJJ blue belt felt the same as winning NBA title
Knicks X FactorMitchell Robinson teases new offensive role with Boston Celtics
The Score The 15 biggest storylines of the 2026-27 NBA season
NY Times This Player Could Shake Up the N.B.A. Eastern Conference
Former NBA star Delonte West gets married after years of legal, drug woes
Delonte West has tied the knot.
The former NBA player, who is set to face Michael Beasley in a boxing match Friday, announced his marriage to longtime girlfriend Melissa Anaya in an image shared to his social media.
West captioned the post “The comeback story continues.”
West is on his third marriage, having divorced his first wife in 2010 and his second in 2020.
West’s boxing career came from his partnership with Beasley as part of Adin Ross’ Brand Risk Promotions for fight events. Additional fights will take place Friday alongside West vs. Beasley, including a matchup between Deshae Frost and YK Osiris.
West was drafted by the Celtics 24th overall out of Saint Joseph’s University in 2004 and later joined the Cavaliers in 2008. Legal troubles hindered his pro basketball career, including an arrest for possession of a firearm in 2009 while with Cleveland. West officially moved away from pro basketball in 2012.
He was arrested again last year on assault and robbery charges, and has been photographed appearing to be homeless and panhandling. He has faced mental health and substance abuse issues in recent years.
West’s announcement comes days after he addressed longtime, unproven rumors about a relationship with Gloria James, mother of former Cleveland teammate LeBron James, at Wednesday’s Brand Risk 16 pre-fight media availability.
“A gentleman never tells,” West said coyly.
The moment quickly went viral as the decade-plus-old rumor started circulating once again.
Recently, West was complimentary of the James family, saying on a livestream with N3on that James and his mother still often reach out to check in on West and his family.
Former NBA star Delonte West gets married after years of legal, drug woes
Delonte West has tied the knot.
The former NBA player, who is set to face Michael Beasley in a boxing match Friday, announced his marriage to longtime girlfriend Melissa Anaya in an image shared to his social media.
West captioned the post “The comeback story continues.”
West is on his third marriage, having divorced his first wife in 2010 and his second in 2020.
West’s boxing career came from his partnership with Beasley as part of Adin Ross’ Brand Risk Promotions for fight events. Additional fights will take place Friday alongside West vs. Beasley, including a matchup between Deshae Frost and YK Osiris.
West was drafted by the Celtics 24th overall out of Saint Joseph’s University in 2004 and later joined the Cavaliers in 2008. Legal troubles hindered his pro basketball career, including an arrest for possession of a firearm in 2009 while with Cleveland. West officially moved away from pro basketball in 2012.
He was arrested again last year on assault and robbery charges, and has been photographed appearing to be homeless and panhandling. He has faced mental health and substance abuse issues in recent years.
West’s announcement comes days after he addressed longtime, unproven rumors about a relationship with Gloria James, mother of former Cleveland teammate LeBron James, at Wednesday’s Brand Risk 16 pre-fight media availability.
“A gentleman never tells,” West said coyly.
The moment quickly went viral as the decade-plus-old rumor started circulating once again.
Recently, West was complimentary of the James family, saying on a livestream with N3on that James and his mother still often reach out to check in on West and his family.
Hazlewood on ‘ridiculous’ Aussie pushing for selection… and how once dirty word is key to series
Josh Hazlewood has his swing back and says there is a freedom that comes with approaching every Test as though it may be your last as he prepares for the second match in the series in Gqeberha on Sunday.
The Canucks Have Officially Taken Sole-Possession Of The League Lead In This Unfortunate Stat
The 2026–27 season has gotten off to a slow start for the Vancouver Canucks, and this particular stat only emphasizes it.
In a 3–2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday night, Vancouver surrendered their third hat-trick of the 2026–27 season to take sole-possession of the league’s lead in hat-tricks allowed. Brady Tkachuk became the third player to score a hat-trick against the Canucks this season with his three-consecutive goals for Florida.
Vancouver began the 2026–27 season by allowing a hat-trick against in their season-opener. Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard put three goals past the Canucks in a 6–5 overtime win for Vancouver. Five games later, Vancouver surrendered their second hat-trick against, with Logan Stankoven of the Carolina Hurricanes being the one to score three this time around. Carolina won that game by a score of 7–2.
Prior to Thursday’s game, Vancouver sat tied for first in the NHL in hat-tricks allowed, with the New York Islanders being the other team to allow two. So far, the Islanders have surrendered hat-tricks against Alexis Lafrenière and the New York Rangers, as well as Brandon Hagel and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In 2025–26, Vancouver surrendered a total of five hat-tricks throughout the year. The first came on November 5 against Tyler Bertuzzi and the Chicago Blackhawks. They allowed their third hat-trick of the season on March 4 against the Hurricanes, with Nikolaj Ehlers putting three past Vancouver. The first team to allow three hat-tricks in 2025–26 was the St. Louis Blues, who did so in their 33rd game of the year — a 7–2 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Boston Celtics (3-0) at Philadelphia 76ers (1-2) Preseason Game #4 10/16/26
Boston Celtics (3-0) at Philadelphia 76ers (1-2)
Friday, October 16, 2026
7:00 PM ET
Preseason Game #4 Road Game #2
TV: NBA-TV
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, Sirius XM
Xfinity Mobile Arena
The Celtics come to the end of their preseason slate as they travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers for the second time in this preseason. These 2 teams played in Boston on Wednesday when the Celtics won 144-106. In that game Brown, Embiid, and James all sat out the game while the Celtics played all their starters and the Celtics dominated.
The 76ers made one of the biggest moves of the off season, trading Paul George to the Celtics to get Jaylen Brown. They also signed LeBron James, Dean Wade, Ariel Hukporti and Anfernee Simons as free agents. They drafted Labaron Philon, Jr with the 22nd pick in the draft. Along with Paul George, they lost Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, Jr and Andre Drummond.
The Celtics rested their starters in the first game against the Cavaliers and then played them in the second and third games against the 76ers and the Hornets. I expect that the Celtics will once again rest their starters in this game. The 76ers rested their starters except Brown in their first game against the Knicks, which they won. They played all their starters against the Nets and lost. They sat most of their starters, except Edgecombe and Maxey against the Celtics and lost. I expect them to play their regular rotation in this game.
The Celtics have just one player on the injured list for this game. After a big game against the Cavs, he missed the past 2 games due to an illness. He is listed as a game time decision for this game due to an illness. After the first game, he was considered to be the frontrunner to win the open 2-way spot and hopefully we will get to see him play in this game. I expect the top 6 or 7 players to be added to the injury report for rest.
For the 76ers, Dominick Barlow missed the first 3 games with a back injury and is listed as doubtful for this game. Adem Bona missed all 3 preseason games so far with a foot injury and is expected to miss this game as well. Ariel Hukporti tore his Achilles in their first preseason game and is out for this game. Anfernee Simons missed the first 3 preseason games with a hamstring injury but has returned to practice. He is expected to miss this game, however. Tacko Fall is listed as questionable with a hip injury.
I’m expecting the Celtics starters to sit out this game. I really don’t know who will start but I expect to see some of the Exhibit 10 guys as Joe Mazzulla makes his decision for the final 2 way spot and possibly the open roster spot as well. The Celtics started Conley, Scheierman, Walsh, Gonzalez and Garza in the first game but I’m thinking he goes with a different lineup in this game. I expect the 76ers to start Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, James and Embiid, but they also may experiment with another lineup for their final preseason game.
Prior to this game, the 76ers made a few small changes to their roster. They waived Duke Miles and Saint Thomas, who were on Exhibit 10 contracts. After waiving those two players, they signed Cris Carroll and Taye Fields to Exhibit 10 contracts, which will then give them a chance to later join the team’s NBA G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. But first, they have a shot at playing some late preseason minutes in the finale.
The preseason isn’t just a time to experiment with the players. It’s also a time to experiment with coaches. In the first game against the Cavaliers, Joe Mazzulla turned the coaching reigns over to two of his assistants. Tony Dobbins handled the lead coaching responsibilities for the first half, and DJ MacLeay took over for the second half. Against the Hornets, Mike Conley took over some of the coaching responsibilities, notably the substitutions. Sam Cassell is expected to handle the head coaching duties for this game.
Boston Celtics Roster
Chris Cenac, Jr
Mike Conley
Luka Garza
Paul George
Hugo Gonzalez
Ron Harper, Jr
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Mitchell Robinson
Baylor Scheierman
Jayson Tatum
Jordan Walsh
Derrick White
2-Way Players
Dillon Mitchell
Amari Williams
Exhibit 10 Players
Devin Carter
Tucker DeVries
Hayden Gray
Gabe MccGlothan
Milos Uzan
Injuries
Devin Carter (illness) game time decision
Players to Watch
Devin Carter and Milos Uzan
Which player will impress enough to win the final 2-way spot?
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Philadelphia 76ers Roster
Jaylen Brown
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
VJ Edgecombe
Justin Edwards
Joel Embiid
LeBron James
Tyrese Maxey
Labaron Philon, Jr
Dean Wade
Jabari Walker
2-Way Players
Caleb Love
Rayan Rupert
Exhibit 10 Players
Tacko Fall
Dillon Jones
Jameer Nelson, Jr
Cris Carroll
Taye Fields
Injuries
Tacko Fall (hip) game time decision
Dominick Barlow (back) doubtful
Adem Bona (foot) out
Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) out
Anfernee Simons (hamstring) out
Players to Watch
Jaylen Brown and LeBron James
How will these 2 alpha players mesh and fit together?
Head Coach
Nick Nurse
What to Watch
Exhibit 10 Guys – This will be the last opportunity for Devin Carter, Tucker DeVries, Hayden Gray, Gabe McGlothan, and Milos Uzan to make an impression and to make their case for the final open 2 Way spot. So far, Devin Carter has played the best of the 5 but he also missed the last 2 games and is questionable for this game. Milos Uzan has also made a good impression with his play. Gray, DeVries, and McGlothan all had moments but I believe they are behind both Carter and Uzan for that final spot.
Offensive Rebounding – The Celtics dominated the boards on Thursday against the Cavaliers. They had 21 offensive rebounds to just 6 for the Cavs. The Celtics beat the 76ers 19-7 on the offensive boards. They had 9 offensive rebounds to 7 for the Hornets. The Celtics need to dominate the offensive glass in this game also.
Defense – Defense is the key to winning each and every game. In the 3 games so far, the Celtics have shown that they are making the effort to dominate on the defensive end of the court. If that effort continues, the Celtics could very well have the best defense in the league. Hopefully we will see them to continue to make defense a priority.
Depth – If the Celtics do sit their starters for this game, they will need their depth to shine once again. In the first game, with the Celtics sitting their starters and the Cavs playing theirs, the Celtics reserves won the game. In all 3 games so far, the Celtics have gotten strong play from their reserves and hopefully, that will continue in this game.
X-Factors
It’s the Preseason – The preseason is a time for the coaches to get a look at players who may or may not make the team, to experiment with lineups and different plays. Wins and losses are not as important as learning things about the players and the team. We certainly won’t see the regular rotation for the Celtics and that’s ok.
On the Road – The Celtics will close out their preseason on the road. Many times, young players struggle more on the road than they do at home. The Celtics young players did just fine in Cleveland and hopefully they can play as well in Philly. The 76ers will have the crowd behind them and we know that Brown will be extra motivated to impress his home fans.
Evaluating Brian Cashman’s 2026 season
The 2026 Yankees won 93 games in a year in which superstar Aaron Judge played just 66 games. That’s not a bad total, but it feels like it could, and should, have been more. General manager and Senior VP Brian Cashman routinely builds contending teams, and he should get credit for that, but he and his staff should be aiming higher and doing more to bring the title back to the Bronx.
A Wild Card Series win against the Boston Red Sox was a nice way to start the postseason, but the sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays exposed many harsh realities that are directly tied to Cashman and his decisions.
For the Yankees, 93 wins is not enough. They need to be the best team in the division, because that would bring them additional benefits in postseason play, such as home-field advantage and a ticket straight to the AL Division Series. Everybody in the organization is responsible for how the season plays out, but the spotlight will always point to the head of baseball operations.
Offseason moves and decisions
Cashman didn’t have a particularly bad offseason, but there were some notable holes when the season started. He didn’t find proper replacements for the rehabbing Anthony Volpe and the underwhelming Ryan McMahon: the former ended up being demoted in early August when the organization promoted George Lombard Jr., and the latter posted a 78 wRC+ and just 0.5 fWAR in 124 games. Volpe eventually returned and played an important role in the stretch run and during the postseason.
Extending Trent Grisham a qualifying offer was seen as a moderate risk when it happened, but it was a reasonable one since the outfielder had hit a career-high 34 homers in 2025. The outfielder declined this year, particularly on defense, but at least it wasn’t a long-term commitment.
The trade for Ryan Weathers was universally acclaimed, and it was a good piece of business on Cashman’s part. He ended up posting career-bests in ERA (3.60), fWAR (2.5), and innings pitched (137.1). The executive also brought back Paul Blackburn, Ryan Yarbrough, Amed Rosario, Paul Goldschmidt, and Cody Bellinger.
Some of them were nice additions, particularly the 2019 NL MVP, but Cashman left the roster exposed to injuries and underperformance in many spots, and that’s on him, too. The bullpen was a bit thin, as some of his past trade experiments, such as Jake Bird, Ángel Chivilli, and Camilo Doval, just didn’t work. The same can be said about Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest. We are more than willing to give Cashman a pass in the bullpen, since the unit finished with the second-best ERA in MLB, though.
Trade Deadline activity (or lack thereof)
The Bombers entered the deadline with a few notable needs, which Cashman was very much aware of. They could have used a catcher given Austin Wells’ season-long slump up to that date, a reliever or two, a starter, and a right-handed outfielder.
They flirted with several backstops, but ended up empty-handed on that front to the frustration of fans. They did bring in Luis García Jr., who had been enjoying an amazing year in Washington with 23 homers and a 133 wRC+.
Heliot Ramos’ arrival was met with mixed reviews, and he posted a disappointing 93 wRC+ in pinstripes. He did have a 184 wRC+ vs. lefties during his time in the Bronx, which was one of the main reasons behind his acquisition. Giving up left-handed pitching prospect Henry Lalane to get him hurt, though. Speaking of…
Prospects and young core
Yes, you could say that the Yankees’ deadline was a disappointment, although some might disagree. However, they managed to keep most of their top prospects, including Lombard, Dax Kilby, Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodríguez, and Ben Hess. The promising Lalane was the lone exception.
They represent, together with Cam Schlittler, Ben Rice, Spencer Jones, Weathers, and Will Warren, the next wave of young talent that will, theoretically at least, keep the team highly competitive for the next 3-7 years. Keeping them all, particularly Lombard when half the league was asking for him in trade conversations, was a win for Cashman.
The rest of the farm, however, needs work. A lot of work. The Yankees will need to draft well and be active in the international market in the next couple of years to revamp their depleted system. At least Cashman took a step towards solving the situation, dismissing longtime international scouting director Donny Rowland and replacing him with Mario Garza in January.
Player development wins and losses
As every general manager, Cashman had some player development wins and losses when looking at the final picture of the 2026 campaign. He and his staff managed to turn Blackburn into a very useful reliever with his 1.59 ERA in 85 innings, and he got a nice season from Weathers, too.
Schlittler took a step forward into stardom, and Brent Headrick and Warren also improved in 2026. On the other hand, they couldn’t fix Doval, Luis Gil, McMahon, or Volpe, and Jasson Domínguez remains a fringe player. Grisham and Wells were also subpar for their standard.
The offense, generally speaking, had a mediocre year with a 101 wRC+ that ranked 14th in MLB. Yes, injuries to Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and other key hitters certainly hurt, but the feeling is that Cashman could have done better, or more.
Bottom line
We have said it multiple times in this space: the Yankees need new voices. They need to listen to more prepared people. They can’t keep doing the same things in personnel decisions, player analysis, research and development, and scouting and expect different results. Unless the ownership decides to part ways with their longtime executive, it will be on Cashman to push that change within the organization: does he have that in him, though? It’s at least a fair question.
The Raptors need to get over a multi-season losing streak
Overreacting to preseason games is one of the least productive thing that basketball fans and media do, and yet, it’s hard not to draw certain conclusions from two teams matching up, whether or not such games count for regular season standings.
In particular, the Raptors’ two-point loss against the Knicks last night has exemplified an ongoing problem with two matchups against against Atlantic Division rivals, the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.
Starting in December of 2023, the Raptors have dropped 15 regular season games in a row against the New York Knicks, meaning that for almost three years now, across various iterations of both franchises, Toronto has not been able to win a single game against the Knickerbockers.
A similar situation arises regarding the Boston Celtics, who, since December 2022, have won 15 of 16 games against the Raptors, winning four season series in a row, dropping only one game early in 2025. Adding insult to injury, the Celtics also beat the Raptors in their only playoff matchup back in 2020.
When the Raptors were middle-of-the-pack or losing, falling apart to some of the best teams in the league is not a particularly big issue, but now that the team is trying to contend in a meaningful way, these patterns emerge as a real problem.
After defeating the Knicks’ bench squad by 50 points on October 13th, Barnes expressed lukewarm feelings about the victory: “Obviously, they didn’t really have their guys out there on the floor,” he said. He continued, explaining that it ”felt solid though, win the game, but, you know, we got a game, we got tomorrow.”
The day before, Barnes was asked about his feelings on the matchup in Toronto, to which he seemed to struggle to find the words. After the reporter clarified, asking whether being at home “gave it some added juice,” Barnes finally settled on his response, putting it simply.
“Got to get better.”
Barnes’ honesty is refreshing, and after the matchup against the Knicks’ starters went awry, it does demonstrate that the Raptors are doing just that: getting better. But, a loss is still a loss, and from a morale perspective, dropping yet another game against the Knicks must be a difficult thing to stomach. However, this loss should serve as a turning point for Toronto, from which the team can turn around and rally, taking, or at bare minimum splitting, both season series against New York and Boston.
As journalist Noah Curitti noted, Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns had a monster double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds, dishing out nine assists as well, posing a lot of trouble for the Raptors. Being able to contend with Towns’ combination of size and skill is one of the major factors the Raptors will have to manage if they want to be able to consistently defeat the Knicks this season, and in seasons to come.
Against the Celtics, the Raptors have upgraded both their offence and defence by signing Kawhi Leonard, and while the Klaw has not been the Defensive Player of the Year for a long time, he’ll match up well with Paul George if Scottie can take on the Jayson Tatum assignment. All together, the Raptors should be able to handle the Celtics’ wings effectively, but the firepower of Boston’s point guard Payton Pritchard makes him fearsome for the Raptors’ starters, potentially forcing a more defensively oriented lineup from Toronto.
The Raptors are at a turning point where they may be finally equipped to handle the Eastern Conference’s best teams. Albeit one move away from being at that level themselves, Toronto will never get there if they don’t get over the hump — both on the court, and in the mind. Losing the same matchups over and over again can be extremely demoralizing, the negative effects of which is compounded by the fact that it’s extremely likely the Raptors will play one, if not both, of these teams in the playoffs this year.
Scottie Barnes, and the Raptors, know what they have to do. The question remains: when will they?
‘Ready to cause havoc’: Sight that could rattle Aussie top order as Proteas set for massive boost
It is the photograph of Kagiso Rabada that should put the fear of God into Australia’s brittle top order.
It’s a new era for me — and the Utah Jazz.
Note: This is a sappy post about my love of the Utah Jazz, not an analysis, or breaking news or reaction to anything Jazz related. If that doesn’t float your boat, feel free to click away. If you decide that you’d still like to read, welcome in!
I started my first full-time, real, big boy job this week. Not a part-time gig, not an internship, not a job where I’m capped off at 39 hours so I don’t get benefits. An actual, legitimate, genuine job.
Now, for the sake of this article, I won’t say where and what I am doing — although, if you search me up on twitter or LinkedIn, it’s not secret information by any means — but it has caused me to move away from Utah, the state I’ve lived in since 2008. For the first time since I was in Kindergarten, I am no longer a Utah resident. It still feels weird to say.
As my dad and I packed our cars full of all my belongings and trekked through a narrow and scarily wet Parley’s Canyon, I realized something: I will likely not attend a Utah Jazz game this year.
I’m sure many of you reading this have never been to a Jazz game, or maybe have only seen a handful in your lifetimes. Many of our readers aren’t even from the United States, much less Salt Lake City. I’ve been fortunate enough to live within a couple of miles of an NBA arena my whole life, and I’ve taken it for granted until this very moment, now that I can no longer make it to a meaningless Tuesday night game against the 13-22 Hornets just because tickets were cheap.
Like a lot of Jazz fans from the Beehive State, my first experience seeing the Jazz live was from the complimentary tickets I got from Jr. Jazz, the rec league basketball program in Utah. My dad took me to the then Energy Solutions Arena to watch the Deron Williams-led Jazz play the Phoenix Suns.
“You see that player right there,” my dad said pointing to an aging Shaquille O’Neal, “that’s Shaq. He’s 300 pounds and over seven feet tall.” My dad knew all the players, and I tried my best to keep up with all the information that he spewed at me over the next four quarters.
Over the years, my dad had to keep up with my knowledge of the Jazz. Back when the Jazz had physical programs at the games — let’s bring those back! Physical media is awesome! — my dad would quiz me on which college each player went to.
“Alec Burks went to Colorado
Jeremy Evans went to Western Kentucky
AlJefferson… didn’t go to college. Trick question.”
Since that 2008 game, the Jazz have changed their colors to blue, yellow and green, to black and neon yellow — AGGGGGGGGHHHHH — and back to the beloved purple mountains. They also came out with the greatest city edition jerseys in NBA history, and the arena has changed its name multiple times.
Utah is coming off of its second rebuild of my fan life, once happening in the years following the Williams-Sloan debacle, and once after the Rudy Gobert-Donovan Mitchell experiment ran its course. The infamous 2021 Terance Mann game sent me into a weeks-long depression, one where I’d hop into my Jetta and go on long, silent drives throughout the valley, questioning how a supposed “loving” God could curse me with being a Jazz fan.
Through all the changes over the past two decades, I’ve been at my spot up in the nosebleeds, watching as history unfolded on the hardwood court below. I saw Mitchell put the clamps on Jayson Tatum in Summer League, I saw Tyrone Corbin’s first game as a head coach, I saw the first full-capacity game after COVID-19, I saw a Derrick Favors career-high, I saw an all-purple court, I even saw Tacko Fall wearing a neon yellow summer league jersey as the Jazz’ starting center.
I saw Gordon Hayward, Carlos Boozer, Joe Ingles, Lauri Markkanen, Paul Millsap, Danté Exum, Rodney Hood, Talen Horton-Tucker, Earl Watson, Tibor Pleiss, Jeff Withey, Justin Wright-Foreman, Rayjon Tucker, Francisco Elson and the list goes on and on.
And now, I will watch from afar, as a new era of Jazz basketball takes place.
If my boss is reading this: I will be taking a month off work if when the Jazz win the NBA Finals.