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The Solar Report, Week 1: Suns continue developing chemistry after challenging opening week

Oct 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) drives on Golden State Warriors forward Georges Niang (32) in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

All right, time to dust off the old weekly recap and give it another rejuvenation as I reinvent it once again this year. I’d previously mentioned that I’d be calling this the Solar Report, and I’ve already given you my reasons why. Now I’m here to report on the overarching themes we experienced in Week 1.

Week 1 served as a reminder that there’s plenty of basketball left to be played and that overreactions and rash decisions need to be tempered, even when you feel they shouldn’t be. Because what seems logical to you as a fan isn’t necessarily as logical when you get into the intricacies of a locker room, the dynamics involved, and the egos that come with them. As we look back at Week 1, it’s clear that challenges await the Phoenix Suns if adjustments aren’t made. And we’re already beginning to wonder how long it’ll take before those adjustments occur.

The shine of hope and promise, fortified by the belief in continued development, was quickly erased within the opening minutes of the season. The reality of the Suns’ current situation, combined with the flaws in their roster construction, was on full display.

Like everything in life, it’s a process. Think back to last season. A team that ultimately became one of the most beloved Suns teams in recent memory because of the way it played and executed began the season 1-4. And then something clicked. When it did, Phoenix became a team nobody wanted to play against. So with only two games in the books, I’m tempering my words and observations when it comes to the overall assessment of a team that’s still learning where to be and how to play together.

With that being said, here’s your Solar Report for Week 1.

Week 1 Record: 1-1

@ Portland Trail Blazers, L, 124-83

I’m going to file this under “Things I wish were permanently scrubbed from the internet”…

vs. Golden State Warriors, W, 131-122

A nice win in which the offense looked functional and the defense let the C Squad feel like the A squad.

Malu-Watch

Tracking rebounds plus steals plus blocks per 36 minutes through the first week (“restocks”, if you will) gives us a potential baseline for what Khaman Maluach can become. When he’s on the court, he’s statistically productive. But visually, I think we all recognize that we’re embarking on a journey filled with bumps, bruises, mental lapses, and moments of clarity. He’s a 20-year-old center who’s suddenly being asked to start following Mark Williams’ injury and Oso Ighodaro suffering an oblique strain during the first week of the season. That developmental timeline for Maluach has accelerated substantially, and we’re all along for the ride.

Looking at his Week 1 restocks production, here’s what you get:

For context, Victor Wembanyama is averaging 17.8 restocks per 36 minutes through Week 1.

What this week showcased to us, in my opinion, isn’t necessarily reflected in the statistics. Because there were plenty of minutes when Maluach was on the court and the discombobulation was evident. His positioning was less than optimal, and at times, the ability to grab the damn rebound simply wasn’t there.

Now, you have to take all of this with some context. The Suns aren’t a great rebounding team, which I’ll get into momentarily. And when opposing teams recognize that, they have one mission: box out the one guy who can rebound and make his life a living hell. That guy is Khaman Maluach.

He’s currently leading the team with 7.5 rebounds per game through two games and possesses a defensive rebounding percentage of 16.9%. For comparison, Wembanyama sits at 15.3%. When you look at Maluach’s restocks, he’s doing a decent job of making his presence felt. But Maluach isn’t the only player responsible for securing rebounds. When opposing teams are actively boxing him out, the rest of the Suns need to step up in his stead. The attention he’s drawing should create opportunities for his teammates to slip inside and snatch some boards of their own.

Instead, it’s the opposition that’s consistently showing more activity on the glass and coming away with those rebounds. Which brings me to our next segment…

Stat Me, Dave

Back in the old Solar Panel podcast days, there was a segment in which Dave King would provide a statistic. The name of that segment, not ironically at all, was “Stat Me, Dave.” That’s what I’m here to provide every week. One statistic, or perhaps a collection of statistics, that points to a theme I’ve noticed throughout the week.

I think, without a doubt, the biggest concern surrounding the Phoenix Suns right now is rebounding.

It’s not like this was a great rebounding team a season ago. Phoenix ranked 20th in the NBA, averaging 43.1 rebounds per game, while its 49.8% rebounding percentage ranked 14th. Over the course of the season, the Suns finished with a rebound differential of minus-46 and were outrebounded in 43 games.

You could point to the advanced rebounding metrics of Miles Bridges and make the case that his addition should improve Phoenix’s overall performance on the glass. But holistically, Bridges is a slightly above-average rebounder, and his arrival hasn’t moved the needle through the first two games.

He’s averaging 5.5 rebounds per game with a rebounding percentage of 7.9%. So Bridges has struggled, and the team as a whole has struggled. Which brings me to my stat: The Phoenix Suns are currently dead last in the NBA with a rebounding percentage of 41.6%. Combine that with the fact that they’re allowing 26 second-chance points per game, the most in the league, while generating only 10.5 second-chance points themselves, the fewest in the NBA.

Everything you’re seeing with your own eyes is supported by the numbers. This team has a rebounding problem.

Next Week

The competition gets increasingly difficult next week, although the Suns have only two games on the schedule. First up is the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, a team that has looked absolutely possessed to begin the season. They’re 3-0, although they’ll be playing tonight on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Los Angeles Clippers last night.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Jalen Williams suffered a horrific ankle injury near the end of that game and is most likely done for the season. So Phoenix will be facing an emotional Thunder team following the loss of a player who fought so hard to return after missing the majority of last season. But at the end of the day, they’re still the Thunder, a buzzsaw of a team loaded with depth, length, and rebounding. They’re currently ninth in the NBA in total rebounds, averaging 46.3 per game.

Following that matchup, the Suns get a nice little break. Three nights off for us to sit and stew over whatever happens Monday against Oklahoma City. And their opponent on Friday? The Denver Nuggets, who currently sit at 1–1.

Denver lost its season opener to Oklahoma City before beating the New Orleans Pelicans in overtime on Saturday. They’ll face Golden State and New Orleans this week before traveling to Phoenix for what will be the Suns’ first NBA Cup game of the season. Long pause…I think you know how I feel about that event, and I’m going to do my best to never mention those thoughts again.

The point is that this week, the Suns will face players with a combined five MVP awards. That’s never going to be easy.

Week 2 will present a challenge as the Suns test themselves against some of the Western Conference’s top teams while also continuing to battle themselves. What have they learned from their first two games that they can carry forward? And more importantly, can they actually put those lessons into action?

That’s it for this week, Bright Siders. Stay frosty.

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Dodgers’ loaded farm system is about to become a roster headache

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers' Josue De Paula celebrates in the dugout during a baseball game, Image 2 shows Miguel Vargas of the Chicago White Sox looks on after striking out during the fourth inning in game five of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Image 3 shows Andrew Friedman, President of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks to the media at a press conference

The Dodgers could have used a player like Miguel Vargas this year.

Their lineup was starved for power at times and Vargas homered 31 times. Their team was old and Vargas was a 26-year-old All-Star.

Here’s the irony: Just two years ago, the Dodgers had Vargas on their roster.

But the Dodgers didn’t have an open corner-infield position for him. When they failed to turn him into an outfielder, they traded him.

Miguel Vargas of the Chicago White Sox looks on after striking out during the fourth inning in game five of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. Getty Images

Dealing Vargas wasn’t a mistake.

In the three-team trade that sent him to the Chicago White Sox, the Dodgers received Tommy Edman, who helped them win two World Series. And it’s not as if a position for Vargas would have opened up. Max Muncy remains at third base, Vargas’ primary position. Freddie Freeman is at first.

Talent is only one factor in replacing one generation of players with the next. Timing is equally important.

This will be particularly relevant for the Dodgers as they attempt to turn over their roster in the coming years.

They had the oldest team in the major leagues this year. And while their farm system is considered to be one of the best in baseball, they have a disproportionate number of outfielders among their top prospects, further complicating an already-difficult process.

“A lot of the major-league onboarding is hard,” general manager Brandon Gomes said. “You can only get guys in Double A or Triple A up to the five- or 10-yard line. It’s hard to get them into the end zone to fully understand how to hit the ground running in the big leagues.”

A number of the Dodgers’ minor leaguers are already at the metaphorical red zone.

No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula was called up to the major leagues directly from Double A in September. In 11 regular-season games, he displayed an advanced knowledge of the strike zone for a 21-year-old, which led to him being included in the Dodgers’ postseason roster.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Josue De Paula celebrates in the dugout against the San Francisco Giants in the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post

De Paula is an outfielder, as are the organization’s No. 2 and 3 prospects in the MLB Pipeline rankings, 21-year-old Eduardo Quintero and 23-year-old Mike Sirota.

Quintero spent most of this year at High A. Sirota started the season there, too, but finished in Triple A.

The Dodgers’ No. 6 and 7 prospects are also outfielders. Charles Davalan, 22, had a 24-homer season at High A. James Tibbs III, 24, homered 30 times at Triple A.

The major league team currently doesn’t have a vacancy in their starting outfield. Left fielder Teoscar Hernández and right fielder Kyle Tucker are under contract for next season. Center fielder Andy Pages remains under team control.

Tucker has three years and $175 million remaining on his contract, which makes him unmovable. Pages could be rewarded a $5 million salary next season in the arbitration process but would still be a major bargain at that price.

That makes Hernández as the likeliest player to be traded, as he will be entering the final season of his three-year contract. Shipping out Hernández would clear a spot for De Paula, but what about the team’s other outfield prospects?

Gomes pointed to how Davalan has been playing second base in the Arizona Fall League, which is basically a finishing school for top prospects. Increased versatility can better prepare players to take advantage of unexpected opportunities.

Andrew Friedman, President of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks to the media prior to game one of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Getty Images

“A lot of it is there tends to be injuries or other things that happen where you look up and, ‘Oh, now we’re calling guys up from Double-A to Triple-A to fill time,’” Gomes said. “I think it’s going into a season having a plan and being able to adjust off of that.”

With experience at first base, Tibbs could be an insurance policy of sorts for 37-year-old Freeman.

De Paula, who is a notoriously weak defender, projects more as a designated hitter at this point and could be a backup for Shohei Ohtani.

“Things work themselves out,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “We’ve talked about this a lot. There are times where you wake up one day and you’re too left-handed. You start to address it. Wake up another day and say, ‘Wow, we’re too right-handed now.’ Things happen. Like right now, we have a really talented group of outfielders coming through our minor league system. There have been times where we haven’t. We also have a lot of really talented infielders coming as well, but for us it’s just about having as many many talented players as we can, and things tend to sort themselves out.”

Sometimes they work themselves out with a future All-Star being traded for a player who could be a solid contributor on a championship team.

That happens, Vargas’ case a prime example.

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2026-27 NBA Power Rankings Week 1: Oklahoma City, Detroit new top two, Knicks fall fast

The first week of the regular season saw the top two teams from our preseason rankings (Knicks and Spurs) each drop their first two games. That has led to a lot of movement at the top, as there always is early in the season as teams are sorting themselves out and we see small sample size theater. That said, not a surprise to see the Thunder on top, they look like a team on a mission.

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1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 3
Games this week: Suns, at Mavericks, at Rockets

The entire vibe of Oklahoma City's opening week changed with 1:14 left in its win Sunday against the LA Clippers. Jalen Williams suffered a gruesome leg injury and had to be stretchered off the floor. As of this writing there is no word on exactly what the injury is or a timeline, but after seeing it happen, it feels like he will be out for the season. Which sucks. Especially after Oklahoma City made a statement to start the season with back-to-back double-digit wins over arguably its two biggest rivals in the West, including one on a night Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was just off (and didn't score 20+ points). As always, everything starts with the Thunder's defense, which held Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic to a combined 6-of-32 shooting this week. The most positive OKC highlight of the week came from the opening-night win against the Spurs, when Aday Mara shut down Wembanyama at the rim.

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2. Detroit Pistons
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 6
Games this week: at Knicks, Hornets, at Nets

Jalen Duren being out for at least a couple of weeks with a strained hamstring is a blow. Paul Reed has looked good this young season and will start with Duren out, but the drop-off comes when he sits, don't be surprised to see JB Bickerstaff lean into some small-ball lineups with John Collins at the five. One thing that was clear in the opening week: The Pistons are putting the ball more in Ausar Thompson's hands and giving him a chance to be a secondary playmaker. He does that by attacking downhill and finishing in the paint (6-of-10 shooting there), but he's 0-of-3 from outside the paint in the first two games.

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3. Houston Rockets
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 7=
Games this week: Hawks, at Bucks, at Mavericks, Thunder

Fred VanVleet's return seems to have the Rockets playing at a much faster pace than a year ago, including 29 fast-break points in the season-opening win over Dallas. Last season, the Rockets ranked 29th in the league in the percentage of offensive possessions started in transition, it's just two games, but they're 10th right now (stats via Cleaning the Glass). Also through two games, VanVleet has 16 assists to zero turnovers, helping solve one of the Rockets' biggest issues from last season. One thing that hasn't changed is that Alperen Sengun will win this team a lot of games — he had 14 of his 29 points against the Spurs in the fourth quarter. Then Amen Thompson saved the win with a block of Wemby at the rim.

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4. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 11
Games this week: at Cavaliers, Warriors, Clippers, at Spurs

Minnesota and LaMelo Ball walked all over opponents this week… literally walking. Look at the non-call below. Through two games, the Timberwolves have a ridiculous 154.2 offensive rating when Ball and Anthony Edwards share the court (in just 45 minutes, so a very small sample size). Edwards has thrived in the new offense, dropping 45 on Miami in the season opener. That came one season after he dropped 41 in the opener in Portland, and with that Edwards joined Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players with multiple 40+ point games in season openers in NBA history. That's good company. Tough back-to-back this weekend, playing at home against the Clippers on Friday night, then flying to San Antonio for a Halloween Saturday night game against the Spurs.

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5. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 3-1
Ranking last week: No. 4
Games this week: at Pacers, Knicks, at Hornets

Philadelphia's first two wins last week — over the Knicks and Cavaliers — feel like a proof of concept for this roster. Tyrese Maxey looks like a winner with the revamped roster, he is unquestionably their best overall offensive player, and things looked simple for him on opening night, playing off the ball more while LeBron James was the facilitator. Maxey dropped 28 points on the Knicks while Jaylen Brown and LeBron drew the defense to them. Maxey had 32 against the Cavaliers, and I love the Maxey and LeBron two-man game. One early concern: The 76ers offense can get very stagnant. My other concern? The one we all talk about, health. Not having Joel Embiid against Detroit was telling.

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6. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 8
Games this week: Trail Blazers, at Clippers, at Warriors, Raptors

Walker Kessler has the jokes. "Contrary to my name, I run a lot," Kessler told the media after his impressive opening night. He can afford to joke around because after three games (two against teams with underwhelming front lines), the Kessler and Luka Doncic connection has looked smooth. As has the Kessler and Austin Reaves connection (or just about any other Laker). The best evidence is that he went 12-of-12 with 10 dunks in the opener against Golden State, and through three games he is 23-of-28 from the floor— and he has yet to take a shot outside the paint. Which is good. He should roll hard to the rim and dominate (especially against the Warriors and Clippers, two teams without a quality five to match him). The Lakers' soft schedule to start the season continues this week, although Portland is interesting (Tuesday night, watch it on NBC and Peacock) and Sunday against Toronto will be a real test.

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7. Toronto Raptors
Record: 2-1
Ranking last week: No. 14
Games this week: Magic, Magic, at Lakers

It may be early, but Toronto's defense looks fierce. It's small sample size theater, but through three games the Raptors have the third-best defense in the league with a 97.8 defensive rating (which falls to an 88.6 defensive rating in games Kawhi Leonard plays). This isn't a surprise. After playing Toronto just once in the preseason, Clippers coach Ty Lue had high praise for the Raptors' defense. "With Toronto, they're going to make you pay on the defensive end because if offensively you're not taking care of the basketball, you're not owning your space, if you don't have your physicality on the offensive end, they can embarrass you," Lue said. The Raptors start a four-game road trip on Sunday and will play both Los Angeles teams first.

San Antonio Spurs Primary Logo
8. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 2
Games this week: Kings, at Jazz, Timberwolves

Through three games, the jury is still out on starting the three guards together — De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper — with the group posting a +1.4 net rating when on the court together. With that trio, the defense has been spectacular, but the offense has struggled (granted, on an exceedingly small sample). One issue with starting the three-guard lineup is that the Spurs now lack the bench punch Harper brought last season. It's wild to say it, but the bigger problem for the Spurs — especially against the Thunder on opening night — was Victor Wembanyama. Against OKC, he held the ball too long, which disrupted the three-guard offense's flow. Wemby shot 1-of-13 in the opener, partly because the Thunder are an elite defensive team, collapsed on him, and have three seven-footers to throw at him. In the Spurs' second game against Houston, Wemby had a much better first half but struggled after halftime, then against Dallas he looked more like himself. The Spurs need that version of Wemby.

Boston Celtics Primary Logo
9. Boston Celtics
Record: 1-1
Ranking last week: No. 10
Games this week: Bulls, Nets, Bulls, at Magic

Paul George would like to remind you that he is very good at basketball. He was one of the biggest stories of opening day, dropping 38 on the Pistons with five steals, even if Boston lost. More concerning was Jayson Tatum's rough opening night, going 6-of-23 with just one free-throw attempt. As Brian Windhorst pointed out on his podcast, the number to watch with Tatum is the free throws — when he was a consistent top-five player in the league, he was getting to the line six to eight times a game (at least). He had 35 points and five free throws in the win over the Knicks. Just something to monitor.

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10. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 2-1
Ranking last week: No. 15
Games this week: at Rockets, Heat, Cavaliers, at Pelicans

Aaron Wiggins' impressive start to the season has made fans forget, or maybe at least forgive, the team for letting Jonathan Kuminga go this summer. Wiggins is averaging 17 points and three rebounds per game, shooting 52.6% from 3-point range, and is doing it in 27 minutes a night off the bench. Atlanta is off to a strong 2-1 start with a top-10 defense, but just how good are the Hawks? We'll get a better early-season picture of that this week after they face Houston, Miami and Cleveland.

Cleveland Cavaliers Primary Logo
11. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 1-1
Ranking last week: No. 5
Games this week: Timberwolves, Wizards, at Hawks, at Bucks

Cleveland has struggled in the fourth quarter in its first two games, losing those quarters by a combined 24 points and posting a -51.9 net rating. The fourth-quarter defense has been bad, but the bigger concern is how the team struggles when opponents turn up the defensive pressure, leading to turnovers: 27.8% of Cleveland's fourth-quarter possessions have ended in a turnover this season. That's more than one in four trips down the court. "We got to clean up the turnovers," Kenny Atkinson said, stating the obvious.

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12. Denver Nuggets
Record: 1-1
Ranking last week: No. 12
Games this week: Warriors, at Pelicans, at Suns

Wing depth is an early-season concern in Denver. Part of that is Julian Strawther's knee injury, with him out now until likely December. Then Cameron Johnson tweaked his ankle, missed the win over the Pelicans, and will likely miss Monday against Golden State, maybe longer. That has meant more of the athletic rookie Trevon Brazile — and he has been up to it, averaging 10.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game. Brazile said before the season he had to adjust his game style to the NBA: "It's just learning where to go on the floor. It's different from college. In college I was just trying to run in the rim, I can get a lob or something, but it's a different type of space in the NBA." It looks so far like he's figuring it out.

New York Knicks Primary Logo
13. New York Knicks
Record: 0-3
Ranking last week: No. 1
Games this week: Pistons, at Bulls, at 76ers

Ignore all the off-court drama about who gets their rings and when (though that was unnecessary drama born of the culture James Dolan has fostered) — the Knicks need to figure some things out on the court. As coach Mike Brown noted, that starts with the fact that the Knicks got pushed around physically in their first three games, it's something they need to address. It's early in the season, this roster has proven itself, no need to stress too much about losses in October (consider it a championship hangover). New York picking up Dalton Knecht on a two-way deal was smart, he has good size and can shoot. It's worth the low-risk move to see if a new home gets him looking more like the guy he was in his first couple of months with the Lakers.

Indiana Pacers Primary Logo
14. Indiana Pacers
Record: 2-1
Ranking last week: No. 9
Games this week: at Bucks, 76ers, at Heat, Nets

You have to love just how much being on the court and playing again matters to Tyrese Haliburton, who had 23 points — 16 in the fourth quarter — and 13 assists in the season-opening win. You can see it in the video below. Unfortunately, injuries are already hitting the Pacers, who could use to get T.J. McConnell back from his hamstring strain, although Quenton Jackson has held his own. Also, shooting guard Ben Sheppard tore his left knee meniscus in the season opener and will miss time. Just how good are the Pacers? It's early, but they face some interesting tests this week against the Heat and 76ers.

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15. Washington Wizards
Record: 2-1
Ranking last week: No. 20
Games this week: at Hornets, at Cavaliers, Hornets

Maybe my favorite stat from opening week: With their opening-night win over the Bucks, the Wizards were above .500 for the first time since November 28, 2022. The reason the Bucks won that game is that Anthony Davis looked like he was all the way back — he was the best player on the court, making plays on both ends (check out the video below). The problem is that in the next two games combined he scored a total of 28 points on 33.3% shooting. Also, not having AJ Dybantsa for the first couple of games sucked a little excitement out of watching the Wizards.

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16. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 2-0
Ranking last week: No. 21
Games this week: At Lakers, Grizzlies, at Jazz

It's a small sample size, just 29 minutes, but the Ja Morant and Damian Lillard starting backcourt looks good – in the opening blowout win over the Suns they combined for 39 points, eight 3-pointers and 14 assists. Through two games, the Blazers have a 126.6 offensive rating and a +29.9 net rating when they are on the court together. Portland started the season 2-0 and looked dominant, but those wins came against the Suns and the Kings, so the jury is still out. Real tests start this week, most notably when they take on the Lakers Tuesday night in a game you can watch on NBC or stream on Peacock.

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17. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 3-0
Ranking last week: No. 25
Games this week: at Jazz, at Trail Blazers, Kings

Cameron Boozer is still finding his shot in the NBA. He averaged 16 points per game through his first three, but he's shooting just 28.6% from the field. That said, he's still impacting the game pulling down 12 rebounds and dishing out 5.5 assists per night. Boozer can afford an off night when analytics-darling Ty Jerome goes off for 45 points, as he did on opening night.

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18. Orlando Magic
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 16
Games this week: at Raptors, at Raptors, Celtics

Somebody needs to burn some sage around the Magic locker room, the Kia Center and maybe the entire city of Orlando because this team needs to ward off some injuries. Paolo Banchero is out 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain. Jalen Suggs left Sunday's game with a scary non-contact knee injury. That's on top of Anthony Black missing time with his own sprained ankle. It's early, but the Magic also need to find a way to close games better: They shot just 1-of-12 in the fourth quarter of the season-opening loss to Atlanta. Shooting is again an early concern for this team. The Magic have a tough early schedule (which makes them difficult to rank), and it doesn’t get easier this week, with Orlando playing two games in Toronto before taking on Boston.

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19. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 2-1
Ranking last week: No. 26
Games this week: Wizards, at Pistons, at Wizards, 76ers

Brandon Miller got his payday (five years, $209 million), and for those of us who are all in on the petty, giving him $1 million more than Amen Thompson is *chef's kiss*. Now he's got to show he can be the face of the franchise, the guy at the top of the scouting report. Through two games, he's averaging 19.3 points a game, but shooting just 29.7% overall and 20% from three. Part of that is not having Kon Knueppel (hamstring). It's not just the 18.5 points a game or floor spacing from 3, it was having him as a shot-creation threat and just his steadiness — he played in 81 games last season. He missed all of preseason, and it doesn't help that new point guard Coby White, who can also provide some shot creation, is out as well.

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20. LA Clippers
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 23
Games this week: Lakers, at Timberwolves, at Warriors

Big opening night game from Darius Garland, who put up 30 points with four assists in a Clippers win over the Kings. The Clippers are going to need a lot more of that this season, especially until Brandon Ingram returns from injury. Garland's backcourt mate, rookie No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler, has looked solid through two games, averaging 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists a night while shooting 45.5% from the 3-point line. Wagler is the third Clippers rookie to open the season with back-to-back games of at least 13 points and three assists (the others were Blake Griffin and Lamar Odom). After the opening night win at home, coach Tyronn Lue said, "First off, that win was for Mr. Ballmer. Just want to say thank you for everything, and we're still fighting for him."

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21. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 15
Games this week: at Heat, Thunder, Rockets

Fortunately, Cooper Flagg's shoulder injury isn't serious, but he'll miss a handful of games (he'll be re-evaluated next week). Dallas is giving Zaccharie Risacher a real chance this season, he's playing 30 minutes a night and, so far, is averaging 8.7 points per game on 38.5% shooting (18.2% from beyond the arc) while grabbing 5.3 rebounds a night. His spot in the rotation is something to monitor over the course of the season. It's a rough week to potentially be without Flagg, with the Heat, Thunder and Rockets coming up.

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22. Chicago Bulls
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 22
Games this week: at Celtics, Knicks, at Celtics

Caleb Wilson might well have been the highest-ceiling player in last June's draft, but he's also more of a project than the three players selected ahead of him. This season should be all about his growth, and we saw that across the first two games. In the season opener, he shot 7-of-21 and had nine turnovers on his way to being -45 in a blowout loss against an elite Toronto defense. However, he bounced back against the Bucks — 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting, with key free throws and a rebound down the stretch — showing his potential. The Bulls start the season with six of their first eight on the road, including two games in Boston this week.

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23. Miami Heat
Record: 0-3
Ranking last week: No. 13
Games this week: Dallas, at Atlanta, Indiana

The Heat have issues on both ends of the court, and have trailed by at least 20 points in each of their three losses. Miami's defense was supposed to be the anchor of this team (while they figured out the offense), but through one week the Heat have the fourth-worst defense in the league, and that's mostly because they aren't getting stops in the half court. Specifically, they have struggled against good guard play, such as the loss to Minnesota with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. On the other end of the court, the offense is unbalanced, and there hasn't been much outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo's ability to get downhill. They need to run more Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo actions to get the long-time Heat big man more involved. Miami needs a win this week to start building confidence.

Utah Jazz Primary Logo
24. Utah Jazz
Record: 1-2
Ranking last week: No. 18
Games this week: Grizzlies, Spurs, Trail Blazers

Utah's defense was always going to be a potential issue this season, but giving up 45 to Ty Jerome in the season opener and then 52 to Luka Doncic on Sunday seems like a red flag. Through three games, the Jazz have the 28th-ranked defense in the NBA. Another area of concern, one the Jazz should be able to clean up, is ball-handling under pressure, which leads to turnovers. Memphis gave Utah problems with its pressure in the opener, and every other team in the league took notes.

Phoenix Suns Primary Logo
25. Phoenix Suns
Record: 1-1
Ranking last week: No. 19
Games this week: at Thunder, Nuggets

Phoenix's starting five — Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Jalen Geen, Khaman Maluach — has struggled to start the season with a -48.2 net rating. It's a very small sample size, it needs more time (especially considering Bridges and Maluach were not here or in these roles a season ago), but the group's struggles on both ends of the floor are concerning. It was mostly the bench, led by Luke Kennard and Collin Gillespie, that got this team a win against Golden State. Tough week to build momentum for the Suns as they take on the Thunder and Nuggets.

Brooklyn Nets Primary Logo
26. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 0-3
Ranking last week: No. 28
Games this week: at Celtics, Pistons, at Pacers

Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randall have accounted for 49.1% of Brooklyn's points this season and 39.3% of the 'Nets' shot attempts, including 43.8% of attempts from 3-point range. Just something to monitor. After missing a chunk of the preseason with an ankle injury, the Nets are easing Mikal Brown Jr. into the rotation, with him coming off the bench and on a minutes limit (20 minutes a night right now). This is expected to continue for a while. Brown had eight points on 3-of-10 shooting and five assists in his 20 minutes against Cleveland on Saturday.

New Orleans Pelicans Primary Logo
27. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 0-3

Ranking last week: No. 27

Games this week: Nuggets, Kings, Hawks

Starting center Yves Missi is out with a left knee bone bruise (which is a lot better than it looked like when he had to be carried off the court). While the team hasn't put a timeline on it, expect him to miss at least 2-3 weeks and potentially longer. That's good if we get to see more Derik Queen (and Karlo Matkovic), although the Queen/Zion Williamson pairing doesn't have a great history. One good thing to start the season is new coach Jamahl Mosley starting Jeremiah Fears, although it means bringing Herb Jones off the bench (and he's got to play more than the 17 minutes he got in the opener). Don't let the record completely deceive you, the Pelicans have been competitive in games to start the season.

Golden State Warriors Primary Logo
28. Golden State Warriors
Record: 0-3
Ranking last week: No. 24
Games this week: at Nuggets, at Timberwolves, Lakers, Clippers

Kristaps Porzingis' health issues are much bigger than basketball, but they are also a setback for a Warriors team that gave him a new contract this summer and was banking on him. "You can't deny the fact that Kristaps was plugged in our starting lineup," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Super talented guy, and his absence is definitely a blow." It showed against the Lakers when the Warriors had no answer for Walker Kessler. Warriors fans need to find the bright spots early in the season, and that means embracing Yaxel Lendeborg and the fact that he won't back down — the Warriors need that edge.

Milwaukee Bucks Primary Logo
29. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 0-3
Ranking last week: No. 30
Games this week: Pacers, Rockets, Cavaliers

We all knew Tyler Herro was going to put up points as he stood at Milwaukee's all-he-can-shoot buffet (23.7 points per game, hitting 41.7% from 3), but the surprise standout of the opening week has been Jaime Jaquez Jr., who has been the Bucks' most consistent player, averaging 20.7 points per game on 61.1% shooting. Taylor Jenkins has the Bucks playing hard, they are not rolling over for anyone, and that's a good place to start.

Sacramento Kings Primary Logo
30. Sacramento Kings
Record: 0-2
Ranking last week: No. 29
Games this week: at Spurs, at Pelicans, at Grizzlies

This is the roller coaster you ride when you turn a team's offense over to a rookie: Darius Acuff shot 5-of-24 in a season-opening loss to the Clippers. Then he looked better with 33 points (on better but not great 10-of-26 shooting)against Portland (but still a Sacramento loss). Being a rookie point guard in the NBA is rough, expect a lot more highs and lows across the season as Acuff figures out how to play at the next level.

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MLB News: World Series, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Stephen Vogt, Jackson Chourio, Jacob Misiorowski

Happy Monday, everyone! The World Series got underway this weekend, and it hasn’t felt particularly close at all so far. While the Rays did take an early lead in Game 2, they seemed to drop the ball (literally) after the first inning with lacklustre defense and silent bats. The Brewers now have a 2-0 series lead as the games head to St. Petersburg for the week, so we’ll see if the Rays have another series comeback in them.

We have a lot about the World Series below, plus some Blue Jays insight, and Stephen Vogt shooting down rumors that he might be leaving Cleveland. So let’s just jump right into it.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.

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Steve Kerr criticizes ‘very poor' part of Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg's game

Steve Kerr criticizes ‘very poor' part of Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg's game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are 0-3 and still in search of their first win of the 2026-27 NBA season, but rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has been a major bright spot to start the campaign, averaging 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds while starting every game.

But that does not mean he can’t improve. Speaking to reporters Saturday’s loss to the Suns, Warriors coach Steve Kerr pinpointed where he needs to see Lendeborg improve his game in order to be the ideal star for the franchise.

“He’s fearless and he’s huge and he’s got a great skill set,” Kerr told reporters. “He can dribble, pass, and shoot. The biggest thing is just continuing to learn the NBA, and he’s going to feel that, he’s going to do that. He had a play in the first half [against the Suns on Oct. 24] where he got free and then he launched himself into [Suns big man Khaman Maluach]. We saw that play a few times [on Oct. 23 against the Grizzlies] with Edey [Grizzlies big man Zach Edey].

“That’s got to be a pull-up jumper. That’s got to be a Euro step. That’s got to be a kick it out. In college, he could do that, but this is a different league, and he’ll learn. He’s playing a ton, and he’s going to get all these reps, and we’re going to keep showing him film, and he’ll get better and better. The defensive side is where I want to see the most improvement, though. His weak side awareness right now is very poor, and with his size, he should be one of our best defenders at the rim. Right now, he’s unaware on the weak side, and that’s an area he really has to improve.”

Lendeborg took the league by storm as soon as the Warriors selected him with the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft. Leading the team to a summer league title, he won MVP for both the championship game and the entire summer league after averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Lendeborg has faced tough tests early on, guarding Lakers star Luka Dončić on opening night. That game, Dončić dropped 28 points and led all players in the game in scoring. It is games like that could be good lessons to help him improve and become a defensive anchor.

The Warriors take the floor again on Monday night, when they travel to Denver to face the Nuggets. The Nuggets have a lot of scorers on their team, headlined by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, making it a crucial defensive game. Lendeborg will need to put his best foot forward if he wants to lead Golden State to its first win of the season.

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Brewers Notes: What Pat Murphy, Aaron Ashby, & Brice Turang had to say during the World Series off day

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 24: Aaron Ashby #26 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the ninth inning during Game Two of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After winning Games 1 & 2 of the World Series in Milwaukee, the Brewers are now in St. Petersburg as they’re set to take on the Tampa Bay Rays for Games 3, 4, & 5 (if needed). In Sunday’s workout day press conferences, Pat Murphy, Aaron Ashby, & Brice Turang all chatted with the media. Here’s what they had to say.

Pat Murphy

Pat Murphy — in typical Pat Murphy fashion — started his press conference with some icebreaking, as a reporter let Murphy know that Mike Vasallo figured out he moved past legend Casey Stengel for managerial wins in his first three seasons, with plenty of other legendary names on the list. Murphy, never one to toot his own horn, was then asked what traits he likes about some of those other guys, including Joe Torre.

“I like about Joe Torre that he looked like he was sleeping in the dugout. I’m like, are his eyes open? He told me all about it. So I’m grateful for that friendship. He was at Game 1, did you know that? He was there, and I got to see him,” Murphy deadpanned.

When it came to “real” questions, as Murphy called them, he was asked about potential check swing challenges, specifically in regard to Yandy Díaz’s controversial swing call to end Game 2.

“I can say this in general, that’s why the league is testing this opportunity to maybe be having a check bat and have a definition of what it really is because it is so tough to see and tough to judge,” Murphy said. “We’ve had a couple like that go against us, and you see the barrel at some point — stop action, you see the barrel out in front of the plate, and you’re like, wait a minute. If he hits that ball, it’s maybe half pulled, and you can tend to see that. The one that I saw last night, from the view that I saw last night, I’m like, no, he didn’t go. He did it so nicely, so quick, then brought his hands up. I didn’t feel like where I’m standing — I’ve got a pretty good view, but I didn’t think they were going to call it. Now, when you slow it down, sure enough, his barrel’s in front. That’s why we’re getting into these rule changes and ways to make the game even better.”

Despite the seven-day layoff between the NLCS and World Series, Milwaukee has come out strong in the first couple of games, and Murphy explained that he chatted with several former managers who went through these long layoffs previously.

“I’ve talked to a lot of managers that have went through it. They all had great things to add. Everybody has a different makeup of a team. Everybody’s team makeup is different. I try to blend it all together and see what works,” Murphy said. “The one thing I arrived at is contrived antics to create a game probably has to come from within. The players would have to kind of make it that competitive themselves. So bringing in fans and doing things like that, I didn’t feel like was going to feel organic. And I just wanted — I wanted the guys to rest and I wanted them — and we’re still — you can see the rust that we still have from being off that long.”

He went on to add that he’s been impressed with the team’s competitiveness even with that long layoff.

“We went out yesterday and saw 184 pitches. That’s abnormal, and that’s what — now, we left 12 guys on base. When you see 184, you usually score more than whatever number of runs we scored. So it’s one of those things where the competing part, but the layoff is a real deal,” Murphy said. “I’m sure MLB has had this on their plate for a long time.”

Murphy ended by answering a question about how to help his team avoid looking ahead too far with a 2-0 series lead.

“These guys are Major League players. They’ve been through all sorts of ups and downs over the last seven months, all sorts of, oh, my career is going this way, oh, injuries, adversity, stuff off the field, whatever it might be. These guys go through it, and they know the reality of playing today in the now. What can I get out of today? Tomorrow will take care of itself. What do I get out of today? I think that’s number one. Hopefully we reiterate it or they reiterate it to each other. Hey, take care of business today. It really becomes a team sport, and they let each other know like, hey, you got the responsibility in me, I have it to you. So that starts up here. The mentality is crucial,” Murphy said.

Aaron Ashby & Brice Turang

Building off of that last question Murphy answered, both Aaron Ashby and Brice Turang addressed the key to avoiding looking ahead to begin their joint press conference.

“I think we just go out and continue to play our game, just trying to win tonight. Like that mentality of winning tonight is so big for us. It’s been big for us during the season as well. I think with that mentality moving forward, trying to win every pitch, win every game, it doesn’t matter what happened the previous days, it matters about tonight and winning tonight,“ Turang said.

“Yeah, just kind of this mindset of like 0-0. We know they’re going to come out and fight us hard. Just got to keep our head down and play as hard as we can as many games as it takes,” Ashby said.

They were also asked about William Contreras’ game management and the impact he’s had on Milwaukee’s postseason run.

“I feel like I’ve been blessed to have him as kind of our back stop for three years ago now. So I get to see it night in and night out,” Ashby said. “He’s certainly one of those guys that locks it in and just seems to do those extraordinary things in the bigger moments, which is special. Not everyone has the ability to do that. He’s just kind of our captain out there, man, especially for the pitchers. He’s in control. You trust what he sees behind the plate with hitter swings and maybe what our stuff looks like, if it’s good or not as good as the night before. Easy guy to follow from a pitcher’s standpoint for sure.”

“The confidence he carries, the — I mean, just the weight of being a catcher is already hard, having to deal with the pitching staff and then your offense and your defense, and he does a great job at all three,” Turang said. “The way he handles the game and takes control is really impressive. It speaks for himself. He’s one of the best catchers in baseball. It’s been a pleasure to have him on the team and see him work. Yeah, I’m excited to see how things continue for him.”

Ashby was also happy to answer a question about Brewers fans traveling to Tampa for the series.

“Maybe this postseason is just — you know, with the craziness and ticket prices maybe in Milwaukee, and then for some of those fans to be able to get down here, that’s super special for them. I hope we can make them happy and make it worth their trip to come down here and support us,” Ashby said. Any time you can get some of your home fans on the road, it makes a huge difference when they’re on your side.”

Both players were asked about what it will be like to face former teammate Freddy Peralta in Game 3.

“Yeah, it will be fun. We’ll be having some fun going to compete against him. It’s part of his story. Part of everyone’s kind of story is learning, and it makes you better. Going through some rough times makes you better. But I think it will be fun being able to go out there and compete against him,” Turang said.

“I’m sure you’ve heard it from everyone, but everyone in our clubhouse was around him last year for the most part, and he’s like one of the best teammates you can have. He’s an unbelievable pitcher, but maybe another — like just the same, exact, awesome, fun dude every single day. He was a huge part in our organization’s success, and everyone over there in our clubhouse loves that dude,” Ashby said. “Excited for him and what’s to come for him. I hope we compete our butts off against him tomorrow.”

In one of the funnier moments of the day, Ashby and Turang were both taken aback with pleasure when they found out about the stingray tank in Tampa Bay’s outfield concourse.

Ashby: “They have stingrays in the outfield here? I didn’t know that.”

Turang: “I think it’s cool. Can you touch them, like the two-finger touch? Yeah, that’s cool. That’s really cool.”

Ashby: “Maybe we should have a brewery.”

Turang: “I think we have some. I think we’ve got some, right?”

Ashby: “We have a brewery in the stadium? … We need a bigger brewery and more in sight so I can see it; I guess, it would probably help.”

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Why Draymond Green believes there's no chance Lakers' Luka Dončić wins MVP

Why Draymond Green believes there's no chance Lakers' Luka Dončić wins MVP originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green has stood witness to greatness before. Nearly a decade ago, Green was a pillar of the Warriors’ budding dynasty, spearheaded by two MVP seasons from Steph Curry.

Since Curry’s first MVP in the 2014-15 season, half of the award’s winners have been guards, including Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the last two seasons.

But one name has been around the conversation and never won it: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić.

On Monday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” Green explained why he does not envision Dončić ever taking home the trophy.

“I still don’t think there’s any chance that he’s going to win MVP, because the moment he has a few bad games or an injury that costs him a couple games, people are going to flip back on ‘Oh, same Luka,’ and that’s just my opinion,” Green said. “I think people get bored with with greatness. I think Luka’s been doing great things for a very long time now, and I think they’re going to stay bored with it.”

In his first season on the Lakers without LeBron James, who now is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Dončić has led the Lakers to a 3-0 start.

Dončić had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the Lakers’ 127-105 season-opening win over the Warriors, where rookie Yaxel Lendeborg said he lost respect for Dončić.

Dončić has ended up top five in the MVP race on four different occasions, with a career-high finish of third place in the 2023-24 season as a member of the Dallas Mavericks, before he was shockingly traded to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.

The Lakers superstar also is a two-time scoring champion and a five-time First-Team All-NBA selection this decade.

Green mentioned that voters are likely to look at previous MVP winners like Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, in addition to San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, and the lack of an MVP award would not be an indictment on Dončić’s production.

“He’s in Year 9, and the people who vote, they’ve already moved on,” Green added. “Hopefully, for his sake, he can go beat that out. But I stand by what I said. Voters get fatigued with seeing you be great over and over again, and if you haven’t jumped that threshold of the MVP-great, then they move on, and they’ve moved on … But not because of his play, as I said from the gate. It’s just the way it goes.”

Through three games, Dončić is second in the NBA in points (34.3), ninth in assists (8), fourth in free throws made per game (8) and first in 3-pointers made per game (5).

His seven turnovers per game also are a league-high, a number which needs to come down if he does want a shot at winning his first MVP.

But, if Dončić is able to maintain this level of play as the Lakers continue to win, Green’s prediction could be quickly proven wrong.

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Kentucky Wildcats News: Otega Oweh waived and UK vs. UCF Basketball Week

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 12: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Otega Oweh #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of a preseason game at State Farm Arena on October 12, 2026 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Last season’s star for the Kentucky Wildcats, Otega Oweh, heard his name called this past summer in the NBA draft when the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 41st overall pick.

He showed flashes in the preseason and it looked like he would have a very good chance at carving out an immediate roll with the NBA title-contenders until he ruptured his achilles just before the regular season began.

It got worse this weekend when the Thunder — after using a second round pick on Oweh just a handful of months ago — decided to waive him from the team.

Professional sports can certainly be “ruthless” and we should all come together to wish him a speedy recovery.

In more Kentucky basketball news, head coach Mark Pope and this year’s team will face UCF in their final exhibition game this Wednesday.

Kentucky is fresh off an impressive comeback over Top-25 Texas Tech last Friday in Rupp Arena.

This Wednesday’s game is scheduled for 6 PM ET with coverage on the SEC Network.

Tweet of the Day

Now that’s a big man.

Headlines

Kentucky football is now a top 10 team in both major polls – KSR

Earning the respect they deserve.

Lakers’ Luka Doncic scores NBA season-high 52 points with 10 assists in win – ESPN

That didn’t take very long.

It’s a “Work Week” for the Top 10 Wildcats – KSR

Need all the prep time they can get.

Thunder star Jalen Williams taken off court on stretcher with significant injury – ESPN

So, so scary.

Kenny Darby celebrated getting his braces off by playing a big role in Vanderbilt win – KSR

He has been so good this season.

Seahawks contain Chiefs’ Kenneth Walker III in RB’s return to Seattle – ESPN

No one runs on Seattle.

Kentucky is only seeing the beginning of what Ousmane N’Diaye can be – KSR

There’s a lot of promise here.

Packers rip officiating after roughing penalties prove costly in loss – ESPN

They have a good point here.

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Is Cooper Flagg playing tonight? Latest injury update for Mavericks star

The Dallas Mavericks are hoping to have star forward Cooper Flagg available for their game on Monday, Oct. 26 against the Miami Heat.

After missing Saturday's 122-106 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs with a shoulder sprain, Flagg has been upgraded to questionable on the Mavericks latest injury report.

Last season's NBA Rookie of the Year suffered an injury to his left shoulder in a game Friday, Oct. 23 against the Indiana Pacers after a flagrant foul by Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith on a breakaway dunk attempt.

The Mavericks officially designated the injury as left shoulder soreness, though coach Dusty May said Flagg was in "good spirits" after the game.

Is Cooper Flagg playing tonight?

Cooper Flagg is currently listed as questionable as the Mavericks play at the Miami Heat on Monday, Oct. 26.

Flagg could still sit out vs. the Heat, but the quick upgrade seems to indicate his injury isn't a serious one.

In addition, the Mavericks have removed point guard Kyrie Irving from their updated injury report. Irving missed Saturday's game against the Spurs as a precaution in managing his left knee injury.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Cooper Flagg playing tonight? Latest injury update for Mavericks star

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Rookie James Hagens has been everything Bruins need… and more

Rookie James Hagens has been everything Bruins need… and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

James Hagens is the Boston Bruins’ youngest player at just 19 years old. And through the first 12 games of the 2026-27 NHL season, the rookie forward is proving to be one of the team’s most important players, too.

Hagens has given the Bruins everything they’ve needed and more so far.

Let’s start with his offensive production.

Hagens picked up an assist on Casey Mittelstadt’s goal that opened the scoring in Saturday’s game against the San Jose Sharks at TD Garden. He gave the Bruins a 4-3 lead in the third period by cashing in on a loose puck in the crease. The goal came just 40 seconds after David Pastrnak tied the score. The Garden crowd went crazy after Hagens’ go-ahead tally.

Hagens is tied for the NHL lead in rookie scoring with nine points (four goals, five assists). He has tallied at least one point in seven of his 12 games. He’s posting these numbers with third-line ice time and without being on the top power-play unit.

The speed and playmaking ability he has displayed at 5-on-5 and the power play has been impressive. The Bruins desperately needed to add high-end offensive talent to their roster after scoring just 1.25 goals over the final four games of their first-round playoff series loss to the Buffalo Sabres last season. Hagens is helping give the Bruins an offensive jolt, and he’s doing it in ways not often seen by a teenage rookie.

Three of his four goals have come within seven feet of the net. He has no fear driving hard to the net and battling taller, bigger and stronger defensemen. Hagens fights for good position and often gets the prime real estate around the crease. One great example came in last week’s overtime loss to the Dallas Stars.

Hagens beat Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen to the net and deflected a Mittelstadt pass past Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger to give Boston a lead in the second period.

“He’s smart. He’s obviously not a big guy, but for his age, he’s very smart around the net, and even the goal in Dallas, that’s even more impressive than today, I feel like, with outmuscling the D over there,” David Pastrnak told reporters after Saturday’s win. “Like I said, fun to watch and seeing him every game being more comfortable and it’s up to us to push him and be here for him and help him every day.”

For years, the Bruins have not gotten inside ice enough. Hagens is helping to turn the tide in that regard. Hagens has been a high-end skill guy at every level he’s played. He’ll be that in the NHL, too. But to score consistently at this level, you have to be willing to pay the price and battle in the tough areas of the ice.

“We’re pushing him pretty hard, getting more to the paint and getting more to the inside,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said after the win vs. the Sharks. “That’s where you score the goals. Good for him that he realized that. Look at his four goals he scored, right? Good for him just listening and taking it really seriously.”

Hagens is showing his toughness in other ways, too.

He leads all NHL forwards, not just rookies, with 16 blocked shots. His willingness to put his body on the line and thwart potential scoring chances is admirable. It’s a great example of how he’s doing all the little things to make an impact.

“It’s definitely something that I try to take pride in,” Hagens told reporters last week when asked about blocking shots. “It’s just the d-zone, and when a guy is getting ready to shoot, if that’s your guy, you’re going to make sure that you’re in the shooting lane.”

There are still a ton of games left in Hagens’ rookie season. There will likely be a few tough stretches, like any other rookie goes through. But the early results from his first full NHL campaign have been fantastic.

The Bruins didn’t get lucky in the 2025 or 2026 draft lotteries. In fact, they were very unlucky in those two instances.

But Hagens falling all the way to No. 7 in 2025 — when he was projected to go No. 1 overall early in his draft year — was a pretty massive stroke of luck for the Bruins that should benefit the franchise for a long, long time.

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McTominay stars in Napoli draw that leaves Allegri ‘not lucid enough’ to talk

Gli Azzurri show positive signs of improvement in seesaw 3-3 draw against a Roma side inspired by Messi-like Matías Soulé

Scott McTominay was leaving nothing to doubt. He appeared to have scored with a close-range header early in the second half of Napoli’s game at home to Roma, but Pierluigi Gollini clawed the ball out from inside the goal. McTominay got his noggin to the rebound, nudging it back across the line. Roma’s keeper pushed away again, so the Napoli midfielder got to his feet and smashed a shot into the back of the net.

Just typical. You wait two months for your first goal of the Serie A season, then three show up at once. They only counted for one, of course, but McTominay looked happy enough with that as he ran to thank Matteo Politano for the assist.

Continue reading...
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DitD & Open Post – 10/26/26: Chess Move Edition

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

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

In case, somehow, you missed it:

Intro presser:

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:

The Rangers sign some goalie help:

“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:

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

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Orioles news: The World Series heads to Tampa

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 24: Sal Frelick #10 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during Game Two of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the 2026 major league season is going to end this week. It might not happen until Saturday. Or it could be as soon as tomorrow. But by this time next week, MLB will have crowned a first-time World Series champion and will have begun a potentially very, very long and painful offseason.

Exactly how many more days of baseball we’ll get depends on whether the Tampa Bay Rays can find a spark and climb their way out of their 2-0 series hole against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Rays didn’t exactly get blown out in the first two games in Milwaukee, losing each game by one and ending with the potential tying run at third base in both cases. One swing of the bat in each game could’ve made this a 2-0 Tampa Bay lead. But the Rays — like most teams this postseason — have had no answer for the Brewers’ dominant bullpen, and have squandered the opportunities they’ve had, going 3-for-20 with runners in scoring position so far.

The good news for the Rays is that the next three games will be at friendly Tropicana Field, where their 55-26 mark this season was tied for the best home record in baseball with — you guessed it — the Brewers. The Rays also figure to have the starting pitching advantage for Games 3 and 4, sending former Brewer Freddy Peralta and Griffin Jax to the mound against Milwaukee’s lesser-tier starters and bullpen games. With Jacob Misiorowski looming for the Brewers in Game 5, it would behoove the Rays to win the next two games and even up the series before dealing with the Miz.

I’ve said before that I’m rooting for the Brewers to win it all, but that doesn’t mean I want this series to end in a clean sweep. Sweeps are boring (unless it’s the Orioles doing it). I want a seven-game World Series, and I want every moment of every game to be exciting. Both games have been decided by one run so far — why not make it all seven? Is that too much to ask?

This might be the last time we get to watch Major League Baseball for a long while, so we need to make it count. Let’s stretch this thing out as long as we can before we delve into the bleak reality of an extended baseball hiatus.

Links

For decades, he’s hunted tickets from Cal Ripken’s ‘Iron Man’ streak. Just 8 elude him. – The Baltimore Banner

If you happened to attend an Orioles game in Minnesota, Kansas City, or Texas in the early 1980s and still have your ticket stub, maybe you can help Rick Taylor complete his truly impressive collection.

Should Orioles give Mountcastle a try in the outfield? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com

Rich Dubroff fields a question from a reader who clearly has no memory of the Ryan Mountcastle outfield debacle of 2020-21. I envy that reader.

A hope for the O’s farm: Teach young players more situational awareness – Steve Melewski

I like what I’ve read about Mike Shildt and his emphasis on fundamentals. I just wish there was some evidence that it was actually working.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Three former Orioles were born on this day, including outfielder and MLB The Show aficionado Dwight Smith Jr. (34), left-hander Danny Coulombe (37), and righty Wayne Garland (76).

On this day in 1998, Hall of Fame Orioles second baseman Roberto Alomar declared free agency after three seasons with the Birds. He certainly had an eventful tenure in Baltimore. The O’s stunned the baseball world in December 1995 by signing Alomar, one of baseball’s most coveted free agents, to a three-year, $18 million deal (which was a lot of money at the time). Production-wise, Alomar was one of the best signings the Orioles ever made, earning an All-Star nod all three years and winning two Gold Gloves, and boasting a potent .862 OPS and 50 homers as he helped the O’s make the playoffs in 1996 and 1997. But his tenure was forever stained in September 1996 when he spit on umpire John Hirschbeck, turning him into an oft-booed pariah among baseball fans. After leaving the Orioles, Alomar signed with Cleveland to join his brother, Sandy Jr.

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Phillies news: Alec Bohm, Aidan Miller, Rays

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 01: Philadelphia interim manager Don Mattingly (8) talks with infielder Alec Bohm (28) prior to the start of the Philadelphia Phillies versus the Atlanta Braves in game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series on October 1st, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Remember when Cowboys week actually meant something to the Eagles? Those were fun times. Now, tonight, we have to see which team stinks less.

At least there is the World Series, which has been very good so far.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news: