Julius Randle guards Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Nets face the Heat in preseason on October 14, 2026.
The Nets just finished a 3-1 preseason that was encouraging, but had some warning signs and red flags. And most were on the defensive end of the floor.
Brooklyn spent the summer bolstering their attack and scored their way to three preseason wins. But sieve-like defense is a worry that could undercut any hope of a surprise season.
“Yeah, that’ll be the most important thing. Offensively we’ll be able to score with the best of them,” Michael Porter Jr. said. “I think offensively is not a problem. [But] if we want to be good, then defensively we’ll have to lock in.”
Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle (30) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards center Deandre Ayton (8) defends in the first half at Capital One Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
That’s been the focus since they got shredded in their preseason finale in Miami, and that’s where it will stay right up until Wednesday’s opener against visiting Charlotte.
The Nets were disruptive in preseason victories over the Hornets and 76ers. But they had to overcome a horrid defensive first half to escape in Washington, and couldn’t buy a stop in Miami.
“There’s been two games that we were an aggressive and ball-pressure defensive team where I thought we were pretty good,” coach Jordi Fernández said. “And then two games where we were a poor defensive team with our transition, our rim protection.
“We’ve got to decide who we want to be, and the things that we can control … and do it every game. Don’t rely on shot-making, on things that don’t really matter. Rely on things that are going to make you a winning team.”
Hannes Steinbach of the Hornets drives to the basket while guarded by Chaney Johnson Nets in the second half during their preseason game at Spectrum Center on October 06, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Getty Images
That ball pressure has been the deciding factor in when they’ve been stout vs. shredded.
The Nets finished the preseason second worst in the league in opponent field goal percentage (.498) and effective field goal percentage (.588).
But their Defensive Rating wasn’t horrid, mainly because they were top 10 in opponent turnovers, turnover percentage and points off turnovers.
The Nets forced 47 through the first two games, allowing an average of just 99 points. And they harassed Washington into another 15 in the second half of Monday’s win, holding the Wizards to 50 points.
But when foes held onto the ball? Trouble.
“The team that we were in the first two games where we pressured the ball, we created turnovers, that’s what good defensive teams do,” Fernández said. “But in the Washington game that we allowed 70 points in the first half and 50 in the second, that was terrible. Then in the Miami game, the whole game — all the quarters 32-plus points, one of [43] — it’s just not good enough.”
“So, if you think about it, for 10 quarters out of 16 we were good and six were really bad. So we want to stay on the [good side].”
Julius Randle guards Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Nets face the Heat in preseason on October 14, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets forced just eight turnovers in that first half at Washington, and allowed 72 points. And when they only forced 15 in Miami, they allowed 144 points and 58.5 percent shooting.
After trading Nic Claxton, shot-blocking was going to be a problem. But the rim protection has looked even more dire, especially when Day’Ron Sharpe got into foul trouble in Miami.
“[Fernández preaches] just executing our staples on defense, controlling that, controlling what needs to be controlled, and doing everything with a purpose, but doing it also hard,” Sharpe said. “So that’s the main thing he preaches. If we could do that for four quarters, we’d give ourselves a good chance to win.”
Brown insists it was less about effort or personnel and more about attention to detail.
“Coach always preaches that we can play hard, but we’ve also got to play smart and attention to detail. That’s something that we’ve been inconsistent at, but we’re going to continue to work at it every single day and fix it,” Mikel Brown Jr. said.
“It’s just little mistakes we could correct. Just being clean in our shifts, being early and often. It’s not that we’re just completely blowing up on coverages; it’s just about having the right mindset, staying consistent throughout the game for all 48 minutes and keep applying that same pressure, that physicality that coach is talking about. It’s just the little things when it comes to that point. We clean those things up, we’ll be fine.”
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 16: Nimari Burnett #25 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 16, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors preseason finally came to an end tonight as they fell to the Detroit Pistons in a well-fought battle that ended 129-125 in the Pistons’ favour.
In a turn of events that could be surprising to some and completely predictable to others, Toronto went to their bench entirely, sitting most of their rotation players for the entirety of the night. Allen Graves, Alijah Martin, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jaden Bradley, and Nimari Burnett started for the Raptors. Detroit countered with their starters, seemingly working more on their regular season rotation than final roster decisions.
This was a great opportunity for everyone who checked in for the Raptors to show what they’ve got. Alijah Martin had a strong showing during the first half, more as a scorer than a distributor. He’d already racked up 15 by the midway point and didn’t play much in the second half, having already demonstrated his abilities.
Allen Graves looked like he is starting to come into his own. In the first quarter alone, he had a couple of good hustle putbacks that rocked the rim. He’s still struggling with his shot, but it’s way too early in his rookie campaign to worry. He finished the night with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block.
Malachi Smith led all scorers and had a phenomenal game, looking owed more than the two-way he’s currently on. He ended the night with 24-5-3. Nimari Burnett also had a great showing tonight with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Trayce Jackson-Davis had some solid minutes, finishing with 23 points and 3 rebounds, and a perfect record from the free-throw line if you don’t count the one he intentionally missed to try and force overtime.
Despite the mismatch in terms of guaranteed contract money, the deep bench held their own. There were the expected little mistakes that you’d see from less-experienced guys, losing their dribble or passes that aren’t on time or target, but despite that, the effort was enough to compensate. The perfect example of this was about halfway through the first. A sloppy pass and dribble through the paint led to the ball rolling loose towards the three point line. Within seconds, Raptors’ bodies were flying on the court to get possession, ultimately earning back the ball and a three-point basket.
Guards Martin and Smith held the majority of the scoring load early on. They were able to score all over the floor, in traffic, and against defenders, an impressive feat against bigger bodies.
Ball movement, the Raptors’ system forte wasn’t on display as much as expected. Their defence and active hands held up though, poking the ball away and making things tricky for a Pistons team that has high hopes for the season.
Finishing the first quarter with only three turnovers and only a two point deficit wouldn’t necessarily be the expectation when looking at the starting lineups, but the bench definitely put on a show.
Jamarion Sharp looked a little behind the play at times, but had a phenomenal block in the second that helped demonstrate flashes of his length and timing that can be an asset.
Detroit was able to build a marginal lead late in the second, entering the locker room with a seven point advantage.
A tough offensive foul call followed by sloppy defence and a turnover meant the Pistons had a double-digit lead within the first minute and a half of the third quarter. None of that seemed to have much of an effect on the Raptors’ intensity though. They kept chipping away, one possession at a time.
Degenhart had a great three-pointer that brought the deficit to single digits.
The entirety of the fourth quarter had to be the most fun part of the game. Detroit sat their starters, employing the same strategy as Toronto to see what the bench had to offer. Point by point, the Raptors chipped away. They outscored the Pistons 20-6 in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, giving Toronto their first lead since the first quarter. Burnett, Smith, and Key were the leaders of the comeback, scoring timely long range baskets.
A bit of sloppiness gave way to Detroit in the fading minutes of the game, turning the ball over and giving Detroit some extra scoring opportunities. Credit to them, they didn’t give in until the final buzzer sounded, getting within a single possession repeatedly. Toronto may not have won, but they played well and the bench got some solid run that could help them earn their next contracts.
Now, Toronto has some time to make final decisions and get ready for next Wednesday, their season opener against the Chicago Bulls. Tune in so you don’t miss a single moment of one of the most anticipated Raptors seasons in a while.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 16: Nimari Burnett #25 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 16, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors preseason finally came to an end tonight as they fell to the Detroit Pistons in a well-fought battle that ended 129-125 in the Pistons’ favour.
In a turn of events that could be surprising to some and completely predictable to others, Toronto went to their bench entirely, sitting most of their rotation players for the entirety of the night. Allen Graves, Alijah Martin, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jaden Bradley, and Nimari Burnett started for the Raptors. Detroit countered with their starters, seemingly working more on their regular season rotation than final roster decisions.
This was a great opportunity for everyone who checked in for the Raptors to show what they’ve got. Alijah Martin had a strong showing during the first half, more as a scorer than a distributor. He’d already racked up 15 by the midway point and didn’t play much in the second half, having already demonstrated his abilities.
Allen Graves looked like he is starting to come into his own. In the first quarter alone, he had a couple of good hustle putbacks that rocked the rim. He’s still struggling with his shot, but it’s way too early in his rookie campaign to worry. He finished the night with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block.
Malachi Smith led all scorers and had a phenomenal game, looking owed more than the two-way he’s currently on. He ended the night with 24-5-3. Nimari Burnett also had a great showing tonight with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Trayce Jackson-Davis had some solid minutes, finishing with 23 points and 3 rebounds, and a perfect record from the free-throw line if you don’t count the one he intentionally missed to try and force overtime.
Despite the mismatch in terms of guaranteed contract money, the deep bench held their own. There were the expected little mistakes that you’d see from less-experienced guys, losing their dribble or passes that aren’t on time or target, but despite that, the effort was enough to compensate. The perfect example of this was about halfway through the first. A sloppy pass and dribble through the paint led to the ball rolling loose towards the three point line. Within seconds, Raptors’ bodies were flying on the court to get possession, ultimately earning back the ball and a three-point basket.
Guards Martin and Smith held the majority of the scoring load early on. They were able to score all over the floor, in traffic, and against defenders, an impressive feat against bigger bodies.
Ball movement, the Raptors’ system forte wasn’t on display as much as expected. Their defence and active hands held up though, poking the ball away and making things tricky for a Pistons team that has high hopes for the season.
Finishing the first quarter with only three turnovers and only a two point deficit wouldn’t necessarily be the expectation when looking at the starting lineups, but the bench definitely put on a show.
Jamarion Sharp looked a little behind the play at times, but had a phenomenal block in the second that helped demonstrate flashes of his length and timing that can be an asset.
Detroit was able to build a marginal lead late in the second, entering the locker room with a seven point advantage.
A tough offensive foul call followed by sloppy defence and a turnover meant the Pistons had a double-digit lead within the first minute and a half of the third quarter. None of that seemed to have much of an effect on the Raptors’ intensity though. They kept chipping away, one possession at a time.
Degenhart had a great three-pointer that brought the deficit to single digits.
The entirety of the fourth quarter had to be the most fun part of the game. Detroit sat their starters, employing the same strategy as Toronto to see what the bench had to offer. Point by point, the Raptors chipped away. They outscored the Pistons 20-6 in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, giving Toronto their first lead since the first quarter. Burnett, Smith, and Key were the leaders of the comeback, scoring timely long range baskets.
A bit of sloppiness gave way to Detroit in the fading minutes of the game, turning the ball over and giving Detroit some extra scoring opportunities. Credit to them, they didn’t give in until the final buzzer sounded, getting within a single possession repeatedly. Toronto may not have won, but they played well and the bench got some solid run that could help them earn their next contracts.
Now, Toronto has some time to make final decisions and get ready for next Wednesday, their season opener against the Chicago Bulls. Tune in so you don’t miss a single moment of one of the most anticipated Raptors seasons in a while.
DENVER — T.J. Hughes scored his first career NHL goal as the Colorado Avalanche erupted for three goals in the second period, transforming an early 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins heading into the third.
After a sluggish opening frame exposed Colorado’s defensive issues, the Avalanche responded with a dominant middle period, fueled by Artturi Lehkonen’s two-goal performance, Gabriel Landeskog’s timely finish, and Hughes’ milestone moment.
The Colorado Avalanche had a chance to set the tone early, but a pair of defensive breakdowns in just 29 seconds quickly put them in a hole. Artturi Lehkonen helped stop the bleeding with a timely response, but Colorado struggled to generate offense, surrendered too many chances, and finished the opening period trailing the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1.
The Avalanche faced an early test when Penguins forward Nick Robertson lifted a backhand from the low slot, only for Mackenzie Blackwood to shut the door with a glove save.
Nazem Kadri's pre-game remarks.
Colorado also caught a break around the 5:30 mark. T.J. Hughes appeared to deliver a slash to Pittsburgh center Ben Kindel’s leg right in front of an official, but the infraction went uncalled.
Blackwood continued to keep Colorado within reach roughly two and a half minutes later. Evgeni Malkin, who scored twice against the Avalanche in his lone meeting with Colorado last season, wrapped the puck around the net and tried to beat the goaltender, but Blackwood flashed the leather again to make the save.
Despite the solid work from their goaltender, the Avalanche soon found themselves in trouble.
Malkin opened the scoring by putting on the brakes and catching Fedor Svechkov off guard, creating a shooting lane as Sam Malinski battled for position in front of the net. With Malinski screening Blackwood, the Colorado netminder couldn’t pick up the shot in time, and Malkin buried it to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.
The Penguins struck again just 29 seconds later, capitalizing on a costly defensive breakdown. Josh Manson had ventured too far up in the defensive zone and then lost his balance while trying to recover. That gave Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust the space they needed to race past him on a two-on-one rush. Crosby fed Rust, who finished with a tap-in to make it 2-0.
Colorado answered just over two minutes later. Nathan MacKinnon found Lehkonen at the back door, where the winger redirected the puck past Arturs Silovs for his fifth goal of the young campaign. The goal cut the deficit to 2-1 and gave the Avalanche some much-needed life.
With 5:49 remaining in the period, Tommy Novak was sent to the penalty box for high-sticking Devon Toews, handing Colorado and new assistant coach Brett McLean an opportunity to showcase the power play.
The first impression wasn’t pretty.
Colorado struggled to establish possession and gave up several dangerous shorthanded chances, fortunate to escape the man advantage without conceding another goal. Once Novak returned to the ice, Gavin Brindley was whistled for interference, forcing the Avalanche back into penalty-killing mode.
Colorado successfully killed off the penalty, but there was little else to celebrate in an otherwise underwhelming opening frame.
The Avalanche headed into the first intermission trailing 2-1 after being outshot 14-5. Lehkonen’s goal provided a much-needed spark, but Colorado needed a sharper defensive effort, better puck management, and a more effective power play to turn the tide.
Second Period
Colorado responded with authority in the second period, completely changing the game’s momentum.
Lehkonen made it two goals on the night just 25 seconds into the period, swatting a rebound past Silovs while Penguins captain Sidney Crosby tried to muscle him into the net. The quick strike tied the game at 2-2 and gave the Avalanche an immediate jolt.
Colorado needed just one more scoring sequence to take the lead. Kadri’s initial shot was denied by Silovs, but the rebound trickled toward the back door, where Landeskog was waiting to clean up and put the Avalanche ahead 3-2 with his third goal of the campaign.
With just under eight minutes remaining in the frame, Landeskog was sent to the penalty box for interference after knocking Spencer Stastney down following an offensive-zone faceoff.
Pittsburgh’s power-play opportunity didn’t last long, as Kindel was whistled for slashing. The penalties offset, forcing both teams to play four-on-four.
Colorado capitalized with 5:03 remaining. MacKinnon fed Hughes for a tap-in from the low slot, giving the defenseman his first career NHL goal and extending the Avalanche’s lead to 4-2. It was a memorable milestone for Hughes and the culmination of a dominant period for Colorado.
After being outshot 14-5 in the opening frame, the Avalanche flipped the script in the second, outshooting Pittsburgh 17-10. Three goals, a momentum-shifting start, and Hughes’ first NHL tally gave Colorado a two-goal cushion heading into the third period.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 16: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics played their final game of the preseason in Philadelphia Friday night. As was the case in game 1 of the preseason, Boston rested their key starters and vets, handing the bench unit plenty of run against a full-strength Philadelphia 76ers team. The lead flip flopped throughout the second half as both teams traded blows down the stretch, Boston would would get contributions from top to bottom in overtime to grab another preseason win, 125-120. Hugo Gonzalez led the team with 21 points, all 12 available players scoring for the road team.
Boston came into the game with a perfect 3 wins from 3 games; they started yet another curveball lineup with Milos Uzan, Hayden Gray, Tucker DeVries, Gabe McGlothan, and rookie Chris Cenac Jr. Sam Cassell was handed head coaching duties as the Boston bench was filled out by the stay-ready unit of Luka Garza, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, Amari Williams, Dillon Mitchell, Ron Harper Jr and Hugo Gonzalez.
Baylor Scheierman has had an excellent preseason, averaging 8 points and 4 assists per game through three games, whilst Hugo Gonzalez has shot the three ball consistently well, coming into the game with 8/13 from downtown.
Jaylen Brown did not play in Boston but was suited up against his former team, just 103 after the blockbuster offseason trade that rocked the NBA landscape and the Eastern Conference. He was joined in the starting five by Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, LeBron James, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Milos Uzan hit on the first score of the game with a triple just 45 seconds into the contest. Hayden Gray got downhill and drove the ball as Boston took an early 5-2 lead.
Philly hit their first 7 free throws of the contest and took the lead. Boston had 3 early turnovers as things looked sloppy on the road. Gabe McGlothan hit a triple over a scrambling Jaylen Brown and Milos Uzan with the nifty pass into the corner in front of the C’s bench.
Sam Cassell subbed in 5 players at the six-minute mark of the first quarter, Garza, Harper Jr, Scheierman, Walsh and Gonzalez coming into the game. Luka Garza snagged a weak-side rebound over Embiid, dished to Hugo, who Euro stepped into the lane for a layup.
Ron Harper Jr attacked the paint past two Philly defenders for his score of the game, showing his quickness on the layup. Luka Garza continued his preseason three-point barrage, nailing his first three-point attempt of the game, with Baylor Scheierman finding the big man with the assist. Boston up by 3 points with 2 minutes to go in the quarter, 25-22.
Hugo Gonzalez stole the ball at mid court and got away with a clear travel as he dunked it home late in the first quarter. Boston took a six-point lead after a quarter of play, 34-28. Hugo Gonzalez leading the way on the road with a game-high 10 points in just six minutes of play.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 16: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Dillon Mitchell and Amari Williams checked into the game to start the second quarter, they would be joined by Uzan, Devries, and Cenac Jr. Jaylen Brown laced home a corner three-pointer over Amari Williams, for his twelth point of the game. Nick Nurse rolled out a second quarter lineup of Maxey, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown and they showed some early signs of 76er chemistry regaining the lead and outscoring Boston 14 to 6 to start the quarter.
Baylor Scheierman drilled a wide open three-pointer, his first score on eight shot attempts. Both teams struggling from deep in an ugly first half shooting display, Boston shooting just 23% and Philly a dismal 14% from long range midway through the second quarter.
Hugo Gonzalez was the only player on either side shooting with confidence, he had a second triple of the game over Tyrese Maxey at the top of the key, for his 13th point. Walsh joined in on the party splashing home his first three-pointer of the game, Boston back on top by 2 points, 54-52.
Joel Embiid finally got into the game late in the second quarter, the big man hitting 7-straight points to go into halftime up by 2 points, 58-60.
Sam Cassell handed Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza, Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr, and Baylor Scheierman the start in the second half against Philly’s starting five. The Philly starters were locked in, hitting seven straight points to start the third.
Gonzalez hit his third triple of the night for his nineteenth point in just sixteen minutes of action. Embiid leading all scorers with 23 points with a quarter and a half to go in the game.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 16: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jordan Walsh had a terrific driving move past LeBron James at the three-point line and attacked the rim with Embiid in the paint, his ninth point, showcasing some new tools in his tool bag this preseason.
Sam Cassell gave the Maine Celtics a run to end the third quarter against the Philly starters, LeBron James playing 24 minutes in the final preseason game was surprising to see.
The third quarter ended with Boston making a mini run, Uzan and Grey hitting three-pointers. With 12 minutes left in the game, it was Philadelphia up by 10 points, 84-94.
Amari Williams connected with Ron Harper Jr to score the first points of the 4th quarter as he knived into the lane.
Tucker DeVries hit a pair of triples as the (Maine) Celtics as the road team got the game back within 4 points, Gabe McGlotham really active hitting the boards for Boston.
Jaylen Brown stuck in the game as the other Philly starters looked on from the bench. He eventually would hit the pine with seven minutes left in the contest.
Ron Harper Jr gave Celtics fans plenty to cheer about mid way through the fourth as he hit back-to-back buckets, the Philly fans nervous as Boston kept hanging around, down just 3 points, 97-100.
Tucker DeVries stuck another triple to give Boston the lead, 102-100. Chris Cenac Jr had some good active minutes late in the fourth, unfortunately, he would foul out of the game with 12 points and 7 rebounds.
With the game tied at 115, it was nervous going for both teams down the stretch. DeVries and Ron Harper Jr spearheading the charge for Boston. At the end of regulation though it was still tied. Ladies and Gentleman, we would see overtime minutes in the final preseason game.
Dillon Mitchell skied for the fast break jam in overtime, Boston up 119-117. Dillon Mitchell really came alive in OT, snagging a board and drilling a triple as the rookie was showing promising signs for Boston.
Philadelphia went ice cold in the overtime period as the C’s were up by 5 points with 30 seconds on the clock. Milos Uzan netted the dagger midrange shot to win it in style for Boston.
That is a finally a wrap on the preseason. Joe Mazzulla and the coaching staff have managed the minutes well, giving fans a taste of the roster depth from top to bottom. Rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell have gotten minutes against NBA talent in each game which is great to see.
The Boston Celtics will travel to Detroit to face the Pistons for the first of 82 games on Tuesday, at the super early time slot of 3pm EST. Stay locked into CelticsBlog for all the pregame coverage as we embark on a big season.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 16: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics played their final game of the preseason in Philadelphia Friday night. As was the case in game 1 of the preseason, Boston rested their key starters and vets, handing the bench unit plenty of run against a full-strength Philadelphia 76ers team. The lead flip flopped throughout the second half as both teams traded blows down the stretch, Boston would would get contributions from top to bottom in overtime to grab another preseason win, 125-120. Hugo Gonzalez led the team with 21 points, all 12 available players scoring for the road team.
Boston came into the game with a perfect 3 wins from 3 games; they started yet another curveball lineup with Milos Uzan, Hayden Gray, Tucker DeVries, Gabe McGlothan, and rookie Chris Cenac Jr. Sam Cassell was handed head coaching duties as the Boston bench was filled out by the stay-ready unit of Luka Garza, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, Amari Williams, Dillon Mitchell, Ron Harper Jr and Hugo Gonzalez.
Baylor Scheierman has had an excellent preseason, averaging 8 points and 4 assists per game through three games, whilst Hugo Gonzalez has shot the three ball consistently well, coming into the game with 8/13 from downtown.
Jaylen Brown did not play in Boston but was suited up against his former team, just 103 after the blockbuster offseason trade that rocked the NBA landscape and the Eastern Conference. He was joined in the starting five by Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, LeBron James, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Milos Uzan hit on the first score of the game with a triple just 45 seconds into the contest. Hayden Gray got downhill and drove the ball as Boston took an early 5-2 lead.
Philly hit their first 7 free throws of the contest and took the lead. Boston had 3 early turnovers as things looked sloppy on the road. Gabe McGlothan hit a triple over a scrambling Jaylen Brown and Milos Uzan with the nifty pass into the corner in front of the C’s bench.
Sam Cassell subbed in 5 players at the six-minute mark of the first quarter, Garza, Harper Jr, Scheierman, Walsh and Gonzalez coming into the game. Luka Garza snagged a weak-side rebound over Embiid, dished to Hugo, who Euro stepped into the lane for a layup.
Ron Harper Jr attacked the paint past two Philly defenders for his score of the game, showing his quickness on the layup. Luka Garza continued his preseason three-point barrage, nailing his first three-point attempt of the game, with Baylor Scheierman finding the big man with the assist. Boston up by 3 points with 2 minutes to go in the quarter, 25-22.
Hugo Gonzalez stole the ball at mid court and got away with a clear travel as he dunked it home late in the first quarter. Boston took a six-point lead after a quarter of play, 34-28. Hugo Gonzalez leading the way on the road with a game-high 10 points in just six minutes of play.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 16: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Dillon Mitchell and Amari Williams checked into the game to start the second quarter, they would be joined by Uzan, Devries, and Cenac Jr. Jaylen Brown laced home a corner three-pointer over Amari Williams, for his twelth point of the game. Nick Nurse rolled out a second quarter lineup of Maxey, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown and they showed some early signs of 76er chemistry regaining the lead and outscoring Boston 14 to 6 to start the quarter.
Baylor Scheierman drilled a wide open three-pointer, his first score on eight shot attempts. Both teams struggling from deep in an ugly first half shooting display, Boston shooting just 23% and Philly a dismal 14% from long range midway through the second quarter.
Hugo Gonzalez was the only player on either side shooting with confidence, he had a second triple of the game over Tyrese Maxey at the top of the key, for his 13th point. Walsh joined in on the party splashing home his first three-pointer of the game, Boston back on top by 2 points, 54-52.
Joel Embiid finally got into the game late in the second quarter, the big man hitting 7-straight points to go into halftime up by 2 points, 58-60.
Sam Cassell handed Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza, Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr, and Baylor Scheierman the start in the second half against Philly’s starting five. The Philly starters were locked in, hitting seven straight points to start the third.
Gonzalez hit his third triple of the night for his nineteenth point in just sixteen minutes of action. Embiid leading all scorers with 23 points with a quarter and a half to go in the game.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 16: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jordan Walsh had a terrific driving move past LeBron James at the three-point line and attacked the rim with Embiid in the paint, his ninth point, showcasing some new tools in his tool bag this preseason.
Sam Cassell gave the Maine Celtics a run to end the third quarter against the Philly starters, LeBron James playing 24 minutes in the final preseason game was surprising to see.
The third quarter ended with Boston making a mini run, Uzan and Grey hitting three-pointers. With 12 minutes left in the game, it was Philadelphia up by 10 points, 84-94.
Amari Williams connected with Ron Harper Jr to score the first points of the 4th quarter as he knived into the lane.
Tucker DeVries hit a pair of triples as the (Maine) Celtics as the road team got the game back within 4 points, Gabe McGlotham really active hitting the boards for Boston.
Jaylen Brown stuck in the game as the other Philly starters looked on from the bench. He eventually would hit the pine with seven minutes left in the contest.
Ron Harper Jr gave Celtics fans plenty to cheer about mid way through the fourth as he hit back-to-back buckets, the Philly fans nervous as Boston kept hanging around, down just 3 points, 97-100.
Tucker DeVries stuck another triple to give Boston the lead, 102-100. Chris Cenac Jr had some good active minutes late in the fourth, unfortunately, he would foul out of the game with 12 points and 7 rebounds.
With the game tied at 115, it was nervous going for both teams down the stretch. DeVries and Ron Harper Jr spearheading the charge for Boston. At the end of regulation though it was still tied. Ladies and Gentleman, we would see overtime minutes in the final preseason game.
Dillon Mitchell skied for the fast break jam in overtime, Boston up 119-117. Dillon Mitchell really came alive in OT, snagging a board and drilling a triple as the rookie was showing promising signs for Boston.
Philadelphia went ice cold in the overtime period as the C’s were up by 5 points with 30 seconds on the clock. Milos Uzan netted the dagger midrange shot to win it in style for Boston.
That is a finally a wrap on the preseason. Joe Mazzulla and the coaching staff have managed the minutes well, giving fans a taste of the roster depth from top to bottom. Rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell have gotten minutes against NBA talent in each game which is great to see.
The Boston Celtics will travel to Detroit to face the Pistons for the first of 82 games on Tuesday, at the super early time slot of 3pm EST. Stay locked into CelticsBlog for all the pregame coverage as we embark on a big season.
The Lakers started Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler against the Nuggets for their preseason finale at Crypto.com Arena.
Matisse Thybulle (26) could be in the starting lineup when the Lakers host the Warriors to kick off the regular season next week. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectWalker Kessler #14 and Austin Reaves #15 were already known to be starters. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic, Reaves and Kessler – the Lakers’ “Big 3” and three-highest paid players – were already known to be confirmed starters before Friday.
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Thybulle’s inclusion over Quentin Grimes was the surprise, though coach JJ Redick made it clear Grimes will start games for the Lakers during the regular season.
Grimes started in all four of the Lakers’ previous preseason games. He averaged 12.3 points on 53.3% shooting (41.2% on 3-pointers) in those exhibitions.
But Redick decided to go in a different direction, mentioning wanting to have lineup balance and Grimes operating as a ball-handler off of the bench in light of Collin Sexton being sidelined because of right lower leg injury.
“I’m still open to both,” Redick responded when asked about Grimes’ role as a starter vs. coming off of the bench. “You’re looking for balance in lineups and you’re looking for players that complement and fit each other. He’s gonna start a lot of games for us, that’s just the reality of it. I don’t know who our base starting group is yet, but we’re look at this.”
“Quentin is also gonna maybe have some looks as a ball handler. That’s another reason we wanted to give this a look.”
Quentin Grimes (#5) will still start games for the Lakers in 2026-27, even if Matisse Thybulle (#27) starts opening night. NBAE via Getty Images
“I know that there’s a chance Quentin is gonna have an opportunity to start,” Redick said.
“This [lineup] was the original plan we were gonna have for the Sacramento game with Collin out. And we’ll see, we just wanna get a look on that [on Friday] and we’ll see. But nothing definitive for next week [against the Warriors].”
He played in just 45 regular season games with the Trail Blazers from 2024-26 because of a variety of injuries.
Redick said the plan was for Thybulle, who’s averaged 17.6 minutes per game over the last two seasons, to play 25 minutes on Friday and then see how his body responds to the workload.
“There certainly is a capacity that you need to have to play 30-plus minutes,” Redick said. “So it’s physically just something we’re gonna have to manage all season. But I feel like we have a great plan in place and Matisse has, I talked to him [on Thursday], he has a lot of confidence in the plan and a lot of confidence in our training staff.”
The Lakers started Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler against the Nuggets for their preseason finale at Crypto.com Arena.
Matisse Thybulle (26) could be in the starting lineup when the Lakers host the Warriors to kick off the regular season next week. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectWalker Kessler #14 and Austin Reaves #15 were already known to be starters. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic, Reaves and Kessler – the Lakers’ “Big 3” and three-highest paid players – were already known to be confirmed starters before Friday.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Thybulle’s inclusion over Quentin Grimes was the surprise, though coach JJ Redick made it clear Grimes will start games for the Lakers during the regular season.
Grimes started in all four of the Lakers’ previous preseason games. He averaged 12.3 points on 53.3% shooting (41.2% on 3-pointers) in those exhibitions.
But Redick decided to go in a different direction, mentioning wanting to have lineup balance and Grimes operating as a ball-handler off of the bench in light of Collin Sexton being sidelined because of right lower leg injury.
“I’m still open to both,” Redick responded when asked about Grimes’ role as a starter vs. coming off of the bench. “You’re looking for balance in lineups and you’re looking for players that complement and fit each other. He’s gonna start a lot of games for us, that’s just the reality of it. I don’t know who our base starting group is yet, but we’re look at this.”
“Quentin is also gonna maybe have some looks as a ball handler. That’s another reason we wanted to give this a look.”
Quentin Grimes (#5) will still start games for the Lakers in 2026-27, even if Matisse Thybulle (#27) starts opening night. NBAE via Getty Images
“I know that there’s a chance Quentin is gonna have an opportunity to start,” Redick said.
“This [lineup] was the original plan we were gonna have for the Sacramento game with Collin out. And we’ll see, we just wanna get a look on that [on Friday] and we’ll see. But nothing definitive for next week [against the Warriors].”
He played in just 45 regular season games with the Trail Blazers from 2024-26 because of a variety of injuries.
Redick said the plan was for Thybulle, who’s averaged 17.6 minutes per game over the last two seasons, to play 25 minutes on Friday and then see how his body responds to the workload.
“There certainly is a capacity that you need to have to play 30-plus minutes,” Redick said. “So it’s physically just something we’re gonna have to manage all season. But I feel like we have a great plan in place and Matisse has, I talked to him [on Thursday], he has a lot of confidence in the plan and a lot of confidence in our training staff.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 16: LeBron James #23 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
That’s enough preseason — who is ready for the real thing?
The Sixers coasted through the 2026 preseason finale, losing 125-120 in overtime against some form of the Boston Celtics Friday night. The starters once again weren’t at their sharpest, but still gave the fans plenty of highlights.
In his first home game as a Sixer, LeBron James had eight points on 4-of-9 shooting along with eight rebounds and seven assists.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 27 points shooting 7-of-13 from the floor with eight rebounds and five assists. Tyrese Maxey had 22 points and six assists on 7-of-11 shooting. Jaylen Brown shot 8-of-14 from the floor to put up 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
The Sixers held out VJ Edgecombe for this one, Nick Nurse said it was due to him playing the first three preseason games on top of hard practices. Adem Bona (foot), Anfernee Simons (hamstring), Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (hip) remained out.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
There was actually the tiniest bit of pressure for the starting unit, and really the whole team, to look good as the Celtics only started one player on a standard contract. Their first three shots of the game were threes off the mark missed by LeBron, Embiid and KCP, respectively. Embiid scored their first points of the game, an and-1 by the block in what was a sloppy opening few minutes.
If there was one theme early, it was moving the ball. Nearly every possession for the Sixers early had at least two passes, with an emphasis also on getting the ball down the floor quick to create transition opportunities. There was plenty of sloppiness as they turned the ball over three times. They finally connected on a fast break a little over four minutes into a game, but it was a beautiful fast break lob from Maxey to James.
Lebron James gets the steal on the inbound and Maxey clears him for takeoff on the alley-oop pic.twitter.com/BGPAa4TVre
Brown made his first offensive impact on the game with a driving and-1 coming out of a timeout. Boston brought out an entirely new group during the break, one consisting of more of their usual second-stringers. Embiid looked way more in rhythm than he did in Brooklyn, but he basically just had to show up to do that.
The sloppiness did continue through the heart of the Sixers’ offense. Embiid and Maxey each turned the ball over three times in the quarter. They closed the frame with a unit of Brown and bench players, and it didn’t look much better. Brown got stripped trying to spin through a double team and Labaron Philon Jr. had his first shot of the night blocked. Justin Edwards continues to have a rough preseason but at least was able to hit a grenade that was passed to him in the midrange. The Sixers trailed the JV Celtics by six after one.
Second Quarter
James checked back in and the first play ran might have looked better than anything they ran in the first quarter. James caught the ball at the free throw line and let his teammates cut through to find a wide open Brown for three, it fell just short. Brown made up for that by finishing a fast break started by a Dean Wade steal.
James tried to do Embiid’s signature through-the-legs drop pass to Philon and while it didn’t go as smoothly as when Maxey and Embiid run it, Philon was able to pump fake his defender and knock down a good looking midrange. Brown started to heat up as he put up 14 in the half. LeBron was causing damage on cuts and rolls but left some points at the free throw line.
It was far from LeBron’s sharpest outing, but there was still something so cool about seeing him pick, roll and be wide open for a dump off pass from Maxey. Their chemistry was on display a few possessions later as well when LeBron threw a gorgeous touchdown pass Maxey easily finished in transition. He hit Jabari Walker with a similar pass the following possession, but Walker had to settle for two at the line.
Sixers are small here, able to flow into Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James pick and roll. Right side is empty (notice Wade cut and then hold). No switch, opens LeBron as a roller and he finishes. pic.twitter.com/5PiPEwtpz6
The offense went back to looking pretty choppy once James went back to the bench, but a couple missed layups definitely exaggerated that feeling. Embiid didn’t get a three to fall until his fifth attempt of the night, but that seemed to finally help him as he hit a rhythm jumper to put the Sixers up by two to close the half.
Third Quarter
Unfortunately, there might be another injury to monitor among the front court reserves as Dean Wade appeared to tweak his ankle late in the second quarter. He left the game and wasn’t on the bench to start the second half.
As expected, the starters were back out there to start the second half, and Jordan Walsh took that opportunity to try to posterize Embiid. The attempt was blocked, leading to a Brown transition layup. Embiid knocked down a LeBron-assisted three, then blew past his defender to throw down his hardest dunk in quite a long time. For as lackadaisical as his passes were, he was moving around the court great.
Another thing that wasn’t too surprising was a pretty apathetic effort from the Sixers’ starters defensively. Which is totally fine, they were playing second-stringers in a preseason game. The moments they did decide to just envelop the ball handler and rip it away from him was fun to watch. It seems like a technique Maxey wants to learn more of from Brown in particular. Maxey got a couple transition opportunities thanks to a steal of that sort and a LeBron block.
It’s been a mixed bag of a preseason for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Not only has his age shown in moments, but he’s made some mistakes not befitting of a veteran like his foul on a three-point shooter earlier in the quarter. By just standing in the corner he’s already a better floor spacer than forwards in previous years, and he poked free a steal and drew an offensive foul on back-to-back possessions. With Edwards having the preseason he is, it doesn’t seem like anyone will be challenging his rotation spot for now.
The starters played almost, if not all of the quarter, and they finally looked the level ahead of the competition they were supposed to. The combination of Embiid and Maxey both getting into a groove offensively covered up a lot. Walker continued his strong camp with a couple nice finishes at the basket as the Sixers ended the third up 10.
Fourth Quarter
Maxey, Embiid and James’ nights were done, but Brown’s surprisingly wasn’t. He hit a tough midrange that stopped an 8-0 Boston run. He got to the line a few possessions later but missed both shots. His night would end about a minute later. The big positive from this stretch was the two bounce passes Philon made to cutters, one of which went to Brown.
Philon made a difficult floater in traffic, then made another slick bounce pass to Walker cutting down the lane. Walker made a nice drive for an and-1 on the following possession. It was very encouraging play from those two as the Sixers’ offense had began to lose steam as the stars left the game.
The Celtics reserves looked pretty motivated to pull this win out, and looked to be in good shape to do so until Philon hit a bail-out three with three minutes to go. The crowd got just as into it when Jameer Nelson Jr. got two steals to keep the Sixers on the seesaw.
Dillon Jones had the chance to put the Sixers up three with an and-1, but missed the free throw and Ron Harper Jr. tied the game on the ensuing possession. Philon made a pretty move to try to take the lead with 30 seconds left, but his layup attempt just rolled out. Jones made up for his miss by stealing the ball away. Philon dribbled out the clock, kicked to Edwards for the three at the buzzer, but it went wide to send the preseason finale to an extra period.
Overtime
Nelson grabbed another steal that led to another Jones layup. The Sixers only scored one more basket for the rest of overtime. Justin Edwards couldn’t even get a putback layup to fall. That will do it for the preseason, it’s time for some games that count.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 16: LeBron James #23 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
That’s enough preseason — who is ready for the real thing?
The Sixers coasted through the 2026 preseason finale, losing 125-120 in overtime against some form of the Boston Celtics Friday night. The starters once again weren’t at their sharpest, but still gave the fans plenty of highlights.
In his first home game as a Sixer, LeBron James had eight points on 4-of-9 shooting along with eight rebounds and seven assists.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 27 points shooting 7-of-13 from the floor with eight rebounds and five assists. Tyrese Maxey had 22 points and six assists on 7-of-11 shooting. Jaylen Brown shot 8-of-14 from the floor to put up 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
The Sixers held out VJ Edgecombe for this one, Nick Nurse said it was due to him playing the first three preseason games on top of hard practices. Adem Bona (foot), Anfernee Simons (hamstring), Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (hip) remained out.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
There was actually the tiniest bit of pressure for the starting unit, and really the whole team, to look good as the Celtics only started one player on a standard contract. Their first three shots of the game were threes off the mark missed by LeBron, Embiid and KCP, respectively. Embiid scored their first points of the game, an and-1 by the block in what was a sloppy opening few minutes.
If there was one theme early, it was moving the ball. Nearly every possession for the Sixers early had at least two passes, with an emphasis also on getting the ball down the floor quick to create transition opportunities. There was plenty of sloppiness as they turned the ball over three times. They finally connected on a fast break a little over four minutes into a game, but it was a beautiful fast break lob from Maxey to James.
Lebron James gets the steal on the inbound and Maxey clears him for takeoff on the alley-oop pic.twitter.com/BGPAa4TVre
Brown made his first offensive impact on the game with a driving and-1 coming out of a timeout. Boston brought out an entirely new group during the break, one consisting of more of their usual second-stringers. Embiid looked way more in rhythm than he did in Brooklyn, but he basically just had to show up to do that.
The sloppiness did continue through the heart of the Sixers’ offense. Embiid and Maxey each turned the ball over three times in the quarter. They closed the frame with a unit of Brown and bench players, and it didn’t look much better. Brown got stripped trying to spin through a double team and Labaron Philon Jr. had his first shot of the night blocked. Justin Edwards continues to have a rough preseason but at least was able to hit a grenade that was passed to him in the midrange. The Sixers trailed the JV Celtics by six after one.
Second Quarter
James checked back in and the first play ran might have looked better than anything they ran in the first quarter. James caught the ball at the free throw line and let his teammates cut through to find a wide open Brown for three, it fell just short. Brown made up for that by finishing a fast break started by a Dean Wade steal.
James tried to do Embiid’s signature through-the-legs drop pass to Philon and while it didn’t go as smoothly as when Maxey and Embiid run it, Philon was able to pump fake his defender and knock down a good looking midrange. Brown started to heat up as he put up 14 in the half. LeBron was causing damage on cuts and rolls but left some points at the free throw line.
It was far from LeBron’s sharpest outing, but there was still something so cool about seeing him pick, roll and be wide open for a dump off pass from Maxey. Their chemistry was on display a few possessions later as well when LeBron threw a gorgeous touchdown pass Maxey easily finished in transition. He hit Jabari Walker with a similar pass the following possession, but Walker had to settle for two at the line.
Sixers are small here, able to flow into Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James pick and roll. Right side is empty (notice Wade cut and then hold). No switch, opens LeBron as a roller and he finishes. pic.twitter.com/5PiPEwtpz6
The offense went back to looking pretty choppy once James went back to the bench, but a couple missed layups definitely exaggerated that feeling. Embiid didn’t get a three to fall until his fifth attempt of the night, but that seemed to finally help him as he hit a rhythm jumper to put the Sixers up by two to close the half.
Third Quarter
Unfortunately, there might be another injury to monitor among the front court reserves as Dean Wade appeared to tweak his ankle late in the second quarter. He left the game and wasn’t on the bench to start the second half.
As expected, the starters were back out there to start the second half, and Jordan Walsh took that opportunity to try to posterize Embiid. The attempt was blocked, leading to a Brown transition layup. Embiid knocked down a LeBron-assisted three, then blew past his defender to throw down his hardest dunk in quite a long time. For as lackadaisical as his passes were, he was moving around the court great.
Another thing that wasn’t too surprising was a pretty apathetic effort from the Sixers’ starters defensively. Which is totally fine, they were playing second-stringers in a preseason game. The moments they did decide to just envelop the ball handler and rip it away from him was fun to watch. It seems like a technique Maxey wants to learn more of from Brown in particular. Maxey got a couple transition opportunities thanks to a steal of that sort and a LeBron block.
It’s been a mixed bag of a preseason for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Not only has his age shown in moments, but he’s made some mistakes not befitting of a veteran like his foul on a three-point shooter earlier in the quarter. By just standing in the corner he’s already a better floor spacer than forwards in previous years, and he poked free a steal and drew an offensive foul on back-to-back possessions. With Edwards having the preseason he is, it doesn’t seem like anyone will be challenging his rotation spot for now.
The starters played almost, if not all of the quarter, and they finally looked the level ahead of the competition they were supposed to. The combination of Embiid and Maxey both getting into a groove offensively covered up a lot. Walker continued his strong camp with a couple nice finishes at the basket as the Sixers ended the third up 10.
Fourth Quarter
Maxey, Embiid and James’ nights were done, but Brown’s surprisingly wasn’t. He hit a tough midrange that stopped an 8-0 Boston run. He got to the line a few possessions later but missed both shots. His night would end about a minute later. The big positive from this stretch was the two bounce passes Philon made to cutters, one of which went to Brown.
Philon made a difficult floater in traffic, then made another slick bounce pass to Walker cutting down the lane. Walker made a nice drive for an and-1 on the following possession. It was very encouraging play from those two as the Sixers’ offense had began to lose steam as the stars left the game.
The Celtics reserves looked pretty motivated to pull this win out, and looked to be in good shape to do so until Philon hit a bail-out three with three minutes to go. The crowd got just as into it when Jameer Nelson Jr. got two steals to keep the Sixers on the seesaw.
Dillon Jones had the chance to put the Sixers up three with an and-1, but missed the free throw and Ron Harper Jr. tied the game on the ensuing possession. Philon made a pretty move to try to take the lead with 30 seconds left, but his layup attempt just rolled out. Jones made up for his miss by stealing the ball away. Philon dribbled out the clock, kicked to Edwards for the three at the buzzer, but it went wide to send the preseason finale to an extra period.
Overtime
Nelson grabbed another steal that led to another Jones layup. The Sixers only scored one more basket for the rest of overtime. Justin Edwards couldn’t even get a putback layup to fall. That will do it for the preseason, it’s time for some games that count.
Baldelli reunited with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who he built a relationship with when his career was cut short with the Rays and became a special assistant to Friedman in Tampa’s front office.
Baldelli hasn’t managed since he was fired by Minnesota in the middle of the 2025 season with a year remaining on his contract. Now, it appears there might be an opportunity for Baldelli to return to MLB as a manager with the Mariners.
Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning of the game at Target Field. Getty ImagesAndrew 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 at American Family Field. Getty Images
Seattle currently has a vacant managerial spot after the team forced former skipper Dan Wilson to announce that he and the organization were parting ways.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Baldelli is among one of the many candidates Seattle is evaluating. Joe Espada, Brandon Hyde and former Dodgers catcher David Ross are also potential options to be the next Mariners manager.
In his first season with the Twins, Baldelli led the team to 101 wins in 2019. He also led the franchise to its first postseason series victory in 19 years during the 2023 campaign.
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Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on as players warm up before the game against the New York Yankees. Getty Images
Baldelli had a 527-505 record (.511 winning percentage) in seven seasons with the Twins, including three American League Central titles. He was named the AL Manager of the Year in 2019.
There’s a chance Baldelli’s first season in the Dodgers front office, might be his only season with LA if the Mariners choose to hire him as their next manager.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Game 4 of the American League Championship Series was postponed because of rain on Friday night.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians will resume their series Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, with Game 5 on Sunday at Progressive Field and Game 6 in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Monday if necessary.
The Guardians have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after Petey Halpin’s two-run homer propelled them to a 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Thursday afternoon.
It is the first time an ALCS game has been postponed since 2019, when the New York Yankees hosted the Houston Astros.
Cleveland had planned a bullpen game for Friday, with Shawn Armstrong being the opener. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt could change plans and go with Foster Griffin on Saturday. The left-hander started Game 1 on Monday and allowed two runs in five innings.
Tampa Bay was slated to go with Nick Martinez.
The teams might play the final four games without a day off, culminating in a potential Game 7 on Tuesday. That could be welcome news for the Milwaukee Brewers, who have a week off before they open the World Series at home on Oct. 23 against the Cleveland-Tampa Bay winner.
Milwaukee is in the Fall Classic for the first time since 1982 after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series on Thursday night.
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during a preseason game on October 10, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One last preseason game. What are you looking for tonight against Utah?
If you haven’t downloaded the SB Nation app yet, now is the time.
Game Threads are so much better in the app, and with Suns basketball back, you’re going to want to be there with us!
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during a preseason game on October 10, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One last preseason game. What are you looking for tonight against Utah?
If you haven’t downloaded the SB Nation app yet, now is the time.
Game Threads are so much better in the app, and with Suns basketball back, you’re going to want to be there with us!
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche look to get back on track at Ball Arena after falling to the Dallas Stars 3-2 in a shootout, while the Pittsburgh Penguins enter the matchup coming off a 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Colorado has several favorable individual matchups to lean on, including Nathan MacKinnon’s consistent production against Pittsburgh and Brock Nelson’s strong career numbers against the Penguins. Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to get the start in goal for the Avalanche.
This game will also mark the debut behind the bench for new Avalanche assistant coach Brett McLean, who takes over for Dave Hakstol, who accepted a new position to take over as head coach of the Arizona State Dun Devils on Thursday.
Players To Watch
MacKinnon has recorded 19 points in his last 10 games against Pittsburgh, totaling seven goals and 11 assists. He has also been productive league-wide this season, ranking among the NHL’s top scorers with 12 points, including five goals and seven assists. Martin Necas is another player with a history of success against the Penguins, having scored twice in Colorado’s 6-2 win over Pittsburgh on March 24.
Nazem Kadri spoke to the media at morning skate about new assistant coach Brett McLean.
Nelson enters the contest after scoring against Dallas on Wednesday. He has amassed 41 career points against Pittsburgh, with 21 goals and 20 assists, and has nine points in 11 career playoff games against the Penguins, including six goals and three assists.
Colorado will need its offense to deliver after Wednesday’s narrow defeat. The Avalanche had two goals disallowed before Gabriel Landeskog finally opened the scoring at 4:55 of the second period, redirecting a pass from Nazem Kadri for his second goal of the season. Dallas responded through Miro Heiskanen at 15:03, sending the teams into the third period tied 1-1.
The Stars moved ahead early in the final frame when Arttu Hyry scored shorthanded on a breakaway just 1:20 into the period following a costly turnover from Cale Makar, whose wife, Tracy, had given birth to two twin boys earlier in the day.
Nelson tied the game at 8:21 with a finish from the left doorstep, but neither team found another goal in regulation or overtime. In the shootout, Jason Robertson scored for Dallas in the first round, Kadri answered for Colorado in the second, and Roope Hintz delivered the coup de grace in the finale Scott Wedgewood, in his second start of the season, finished with 20 saves on 22 shots for the Avalanche.
The goaltending matchup could play a significant role in determining the outcome. Blackwood has a 2-6-1 career record against Pittsburgh across 10 games, with a 3.81 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage. In his most recent appearance against the Penguins, he allowed four goals on 15 shots.
Pittsburgh’s Arturs Silovs has faced Colorado only twice in his career, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 3.50 goals-against average and an .875 save percentage. He stopped 25 of 27 shots in his win over the Avalanche, although the limited sample size makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions from his previous performances.
The Penguins have received much of their offensive production from Erik Karlsson, who leads the team with seven points, all assists. Robertson leads Pittsburgh with four goals and four total points, while Samuel Girard has six points, including five assists.
Pittsburgh enters this matchup following a disappointing performance against the Blackhawks. They got off to a rough start after allowing a goal just 28 seconds into the game to Teuvo Teravainen. Sidney Crosby added two goals, but it wasn't enough. Pittsburgh rallied from down 3-1 to tie up the game, but Chicago surged late to put the Penguins away with a final score of 5-3.
Colorado holds a strong historical advantage in the regular-season series, with a 26-12-3-6 record across 47 meetings with Pittsburgh. With both teams coming off losses, the Avalanche will look to use home ice to their advantage and end this homestand on a positive note before they head to Philadelphia to face the Flyers on Monday.
