Blackhawks Fall 4-1 To Islanders Despite Playing A Solid Road Game

After Patrick Kane's return to Chicago on Tuesday night, the vibes were high. The team finally won their first of the season, and it was a restart of sorts. After one at home, they had to hit the road, which was a spot for a letdown.

People are going to look at the box score and see that the Chicago Blackhawks lost 4-1 to the New York Islanders and think it was just another ugly loss. However, that doesn't tell the whole story. 

The Blackhawks have had some ugly road losses so far this season, but this wasn't one of them. They actually played the Islanders well, especially being away from the United Center. 

Chicago led in shots on goal, including at even strength, and was simply beaten by Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin. The all-star goalie is off to a tremendous start, and he had another stellar performance on Thursday night against the Blackhawks. 

It would have been a shutout for Sorokin, but Frank Nazar beat him once late in the third period after Patrick Kane found him with a great pass. Normally, if you play the way the Blackhawks did in this one, you win. 

Before Nazar scored the goal to get the Blackhawks on the board, it was a 3-0 lead for the Islanders. Bo Horvat scored with a minute left in the first period, and two goals in roughly three minutes early in the second period put the Blackhawks in a hole they were unable to dig out of. Horvat's second goal of the game was an empty-netter to seal it. 

Arvid Soderblom was in net for Chicago. He would tell you that he needs to be better, but it's hard to place it completely on him. The goalie on the other side was a wall, and that changed the outcome of the game. The Islanders' skaters, in turn, capitalized on their chances when they were there. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

Frank Nazar Penalty

Not only did Frank Nazar score a goal, but he found himself at the center of controversy at the end of the game. He earned a five-minute major and a 10-minute misconduct for his hit on Bo Horvat at 18:27 in the third. Only time will tell if he gets a call from the league. 

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks are headed back home after this one-off in New York. They will face the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes at the United Center on Saturday night. 

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How LeBron James did in his first game with the 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers' LeBron James gestures to teammates on the court.
Philadelphia 76ers' LeBron James gestures to teammates during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in New York.

LeBron James made his first on-court appearance since signing with the 76ers.

James, 41, made his preseason debut with Philadelphia on Thursday, playing 30 minutes during the 114-108 loss to the Nets on Thursday.

Scoring was not on the agenda for James, who scored 10 points while going 1-for-1 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

Philadelphia 76ers’ LeBron James gestures to teammates during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 8, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Pamela Smith

James, who took a playmaking role for the majority of the game, also put up four rebounds, five assists and a steal.

Thursday’s game was James’ first appearance in a Sixers uniform since signing a two-year, $7.95 million veteran-minimum contract with the franchise in July.

When speaking to reporters in September, James expressed full confidence in bringing a championship to Philadelphia, saying that he hopes to bring his previous winning experience to the team.

“I hope that I can, you know, bring that experience, bring that knowledge, bring the blueprint to the guys that’s trying to accomplish some things that they haven’t done in their career,” James said. “I’ve seen everything that this league has to offer on the floor and off the floor, so I hope that every single day with my approach to the game, approach to the work, that it can translate to every single guy.”

Drama has already started in Philadelphia, however, with reports saying that James let Joel Embiid “hear it” after the Sixers star big man was “a couple of minutes late” to a practice.

During Monday’s preseason game between Philadelphia and the Knicks, Mike Breen relayed the story that someone told him about the two.

Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers talk during a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Oct. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

“I had somebody tell me before the game that they were out ready to practice, and Joel Embiid walked out onto the court a couple of minutes late, and LeBron let him hear it,” Breen said on the MSG broadcast.

James vehemently denied Breen’s comments through a post on his Instagram story.

“He ain’t been late so stop the lies,” James wrote. 

Following James’ comeback, Breen apologized for the initial report, saying that the story was taken out of context.

“I’m so disappointed how the story was interpreted,” Breen told ESPN.

“The whole intent was praising LeBron for already having an impact on the team’s professionalism and accountability, even something so benign as a player getting on the court for practice a minute or two late.” 

Sharks Give St. Louis the Blues; Spoil Home Opener With 3-2 OT Win

The San Jose Sharks were on national broadcast for the first time this season on Thursday as they visited the St. Louis Blues. Much to the chagrin of the Sharks, and likely ESPN, Macklin Celebrini was unavailable for the second straight game as he continues to recover from a lower-body injury.

The Blues got out to an early lead as Connor McMichael continued his hot start to the season, scoring his second goal of the season for his fourth point in his four games. St. Louis continued applying considerable pressure on Alex Nedeljkovic following the goal. 

Michael Kesselring took the first penalty of the night at 7:28 in the first period when he cross-checked Blues forward Jimmy Snuggerud. The Sharks penalty kill held strong, holding the Blues without a shot during their first power play opportunity. 

The Sharks got their first chance on the power play at 10:30 in the period, as Adam Jiricek tripped up Collin Graf. The Blues killed off the penalty.

Cam Fowler nearly doubled the Blues' lead with a wrist shot from the point, but his shot was just off-target as it hit the post after a Dylan Holloway deflection.

The game would remain 1-0 heading into the first intermission, but the Sharks were being outshot 11-3 which showed how one-sided the first 20 minutes were. 

The Sharks got another man advantage at 6:39 in the second period, when Blues netminder Joel Hofer took down Michael Misa along the side of the Blues net. The penalty was served by Snuggerud.

Shortly after the penalty expired, Tyler Toffoli scored his second of the season, while being cross-checked by Colton Parayko, to make it 1-1 right before the halfway point in the game.

Joel Hofer denied Luca Cagnoni on what seemed like a sure-fire goal 14 minutes into the period, keeping things deadlocked. Moments after that, Alexander Wennberg drew a slashing penalty that caused Fowler to go to the penalty box as the Sharks got another opportunity on the power play. 

The Blues nearly scored a short-handed goal late in the power play, but Dillon Dube wasn't able to control the puck. The Sharks' man advantage ended early as Ivar Stenberg was called for a slashing penalty of his own with seven seconds remaining. The Sharks were once again able to kill off the Blues' shortened power play.

Former Anaheim Duck Mason McTavish nearly restored the Blues' lead late in the period, but his one-handed shot attempt was denied by Michael Kesselring. Seconds later, the Blues were awarded a delay of game penalty, as Brandon Carlo shot the puck out of play.

Dube got his short-handed goal in the third period, giving the Blues their second lead of the night while Carlo sat in the penalty box. 

Collin Graf's first goal of the season tied things up once again, off of a nice feed by a pinching Sam Dickinson. 

Kiefer Sherwood kept the game tied by deflecting the puck over the net with just over a minute remaining in regulation, denying a clear-cut goal. 60 seconds later, the game went into overtime. 

Ivar Stenberg found Darnell Nurse in quite a bit of space just over a minute into overtime and the veteran defenseman scored his first goal in teal to secure a 3-2 win.

Islanders’ injury-necessitated defense shuffle is no problem in win over Blackhawks

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Logan Stanley of the New York Islanders defends Roman Kantserov of the Chicago Blackhawks on the ice, Image 2 shows Matthew Schaefer #48 of the New York Islanders skates with the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks

The regular-season marathon that extends this year to 84 games calls for a whole lot of otherwise forgettable nights when anything less than consistently taking care of business can get teams in trouble come crunch time. 

Thursday at UBS Arena was one of them, and so credit the Islanders for a straightforward and businesslike 4-1 win over the Connor Bedard-less Blackhawks in which Alexander Romanov’s absence was blunted by a clean defensive effort. 

The revamped pairs, with Logan Stanley to Matthew Schaefer’s left, Scott Mayfield inserted into the lineup on Tony DeAngelo’s right and the Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock duo reunited for the first time since last November, put in a good night of work against a Chicago side that is now 1-4-0 as its long rebuild trudges on. It wasn’t the most entertaining 60 minutes, but in lieu of high-event hockey it was the second win of two for Ilya Sorokin in which the netminder could credit his defense without it feeling forced. 

“I liked how we defended,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “Maysy came in, gave us some solid minutes. I thought it was Tony DeAngelo’s best game he played [so far] this year. I thought it was Pulock’s best game so far. I thought Stan was excellent. Schaefer and Pelly are consistently excellent every night.” 

Logan Stanley (8) of the New York Islanders defends Roman Kantserov (80) of the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images

At this early stage of the year, the Islanders look like a team whose ability to prevent goals or not will be its defining factor on most nights. There have been stretches of every game so far when the breakouts aren’t going and two or more forward lines have looked disconnected. When the Islanders can make those minutes just as frustrating for the opposition as for themselves, they’re in good shape. 

That’s what they did to the Blackhawks for much of Thursday. 

“With this team, obviously a younger team but very hungry, young legs,” Anthony Duclair said, “gotta make sure we take away time and space, especially in the neutral zone. We clogged up the neutral zone pretty good.” 

Bo Horvat put the Islanders on the board with a power-play goal in the last minute of the first, but it was Pelech, turning over Oliver Moore at the defensive blue line, who started the game’s decisive sequence. 

Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders skates with the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, Thursday, October 8, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images

Emil Heineman, the trailer on the Islanders’ ensuing rush, buried one past Arvid Soderblom to double the lead. Another quick breakout sequence in the form of Schaefer’s chip off the wall to Duclair led to their third less than three minutes later after Stanley’s no-look pass found Duclair below the right circle. 

Just 22 seconds before the night’s halfway mark, that made it 3-0, and while the Blackhawks might have stopped the rest of it from becoming academic — 3-0 with 30 minutes to go hardly spells game over — that was not within the visitor’s remit. By the time Frank Nazar’s blast broke Sorokin’s shutout at six-on-five, there was just 2:32 to go, rendering it too little and too late. 

The closest thing to a snag came from Nazar a minute later on a play that ended in Bo Horvat’s empty-net goal, as the winger drove his shoulder into Horvat’s head as the puck was released, prompting a scrum that ended in major penalties on both sides. 

Horvat was still being evaluated, most likely for a concussion, after the game, DeBoer said. Heineman went as far as to call the hit “a cheap shot.” 

“You don’t like that hit,” DeBoer said. “Especially at that time of the game and who it’s on.” 

Still, this wasn’t much harder than it needed to be, and you would have to stretch back to before the current building was open to find an Islanders team that didn’t trend towards the opposite. 

“I told the group after, we’re getting a little bit better every night out,” DeBoer said. “That’s the goal.”

Player Grades: Cavs vs Celtics – Jaylon Tyson shows flashes in loss

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 8: Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers opened their first of three preseason games with a loss to the Boston Celtics.

We’re trying a new format for player grades this year. The goal is to separate players into categories and trim some fat from each game. We’ll be focusing more on the standouts (for better or worse) instead of grading every individual player.

Let us know in the comments if this template is enjoyable.

As always, grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Player of the game

Jaylon Tyson

14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

No one played enough minutes tonight to really earn this title. And it’s hard for me to give it to a player who didn’t even play in the second half. But Tyson looked like he was taking the next step in his natural progression, scoring 14 points in 16 minutes by being everywhere offensively.

Tyson hit a three-pointer, cut to the basket for a handful of layups, and ran the two-man game with Evan Mobley with efficiency. He has the tools to be a fantastic role player off the bench, and this was a sign that Tyson is ready for that leap.

Grade: B+

Gold Stars

Craig Porter Jr.

5 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

Porter has been challenged to be more of a leader off the bench. Dishing out 10 assists feels like a good start. The fourth-year guard navigated the floor and ran the offense like someone who has experience under his belt. That could be the difference-maker in his race to be Cleveland’s backup point guard this season.

Grade: B+

Meleek Thomas

11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

After a quiet first half, Thomas opened the second with a string of successful plays. A drive to the basket, followed by a catch-and-shoot triple, capped off by a steal and coast-to-coast finish. Moments later, he’d add to the run with another steal and an outlet pass to Craig Porter Jr. for an assist.

In the fourth quarter, Thomas was given the opportunity to dribble the ball more frequently. This led to some slippery moments where he broke down his defender and got into the middle of the floor for a bucket. His shifty handle will be an X-factor in his development.

Grade: B

Passed the Class

Peyton Watson

7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

Cavs fans got their first look at Watson in a Cleveland jersey tonight. It was brief, but it was mostly sweet. Watson dished out 4 assists as he pushed the ball in transition and fit in nicely with the rest of the starters. He also buried a corner three-pointer, though he shot just 1-of-4 from downtown.

Watson also defended Mike Conley to start the game. A sign that Cleveland plans on using Watson to shore up their point-of-attack defense. We won’t know how impactful this can be until the real games start. But Watson’s mobility on the perimeter looked strong, even if the defensive effort around him was lacking tonight.

Grade: B-

Donovan Mitchell

There isn’t much for Mitchell to accomplish in preseason other than get his feet under him. He did so tonight, spinning his way around the court for 11 points and doing just enough before bowing out at halftime.

Grade: B-

Sam Merrill

8 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists

We know what Merrill does on a basketball court. He didn’t record a single stat other than scoring, but seeing him drill a 30-foot bomb is always going to get me excited.

Merrill shot 3-for-4 from the floor and scored 8 points before resting the remainder of the game.

Grade: B–

Evan Mobley

8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist

I thought Mobley would have had more assists tonight given the way he was moving the ball. His handle and vision looked as strong as ever, with Mobley walking the ball up the court and plowing into the lane for his most impressive bucket of the night.

He wasn’t much of a factor on defense, however. We know it’s preseason, but someone still has to grab a rebound.

Grade: C+

Missed the mark

Merio Hezonja

5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists

Hezonja just played his first NBA (preseason) game in roughly six years. So, we won’t judge him too harshly for having cold feet.

That said, Hezonja looked clumsy in his first few minutes. An ugly turnover and a very hectic sequence dribbling the ball had us all wondering if his return to the league would be more choppy than we thought. He shot 2-for-7 from the field and has much to prove moving forward.

His presence on the glass and multiple assists could be something he hangs his hat on in the future. He’ll just need to get more comfortable on the floor before all of that clicks into place.

Grade: D+

Takeaways: Nets spoil 76ers Super Team Debut in Preseason, win 114-108

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Moritz Wagner #13 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts against LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter of a preseason game at Barclays Center on October 08, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

‘Tis the preseason. The Brooklyn Nets began theirs on Tuesday night in Charlotte, putting on quite the performance, particularly at the offensive end, as they aerosol sprayed the “Hornets” en route to a 124-90 victory. Hornets is in parenthesis because Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Coby White all sat out.

Thursday, it was the Philadelphia 76ers’ turn to be the showmen. Remember Brooklyn’s “Big 3”? Well, Philly now has a “Big 5” and they all suited up on the floor for the first time this evening as LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joined Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.

The Nets started Egor Dëmin, Keon Ellis, Noah Clowney, Julius Randle, and Mo Wagner. Michael Porter Jr. and Day’Ron Sharpe sat out. Mikel Brown Jr. remains on the shelf with a rolled ankle.

Hydrogen bomb vs coughing baby? It sure sounded that way going into the game. Few teams, if any, can field a five that matches Philly’s in terms of point blank talent. The Nets certainly can’t on paper.

However, this was a basketball game, not a comic book, even if the Philly’s starting group looked like The Avengers. The Nets had as impressive of a win as the preseason will allow. Here are a few takeaways from the upset.

6:37, 1Q – Brooklyn Nets 15, Philadelphia 76ers 15

  • There were already going to be questions about Brooklyn interior defense going into this season with Day’Ron Sharpe stepping in as the lead rim protector. So, with Sharpe sitting out tonight, the bow inside expectedly broke early. The 76ers scored an abundance of their first quarter buckets with baseline cuts. When the regular season starts, the Nets will want to make sure their back court communicates better with the front court. More importantly, they’ll want to make sure Day’Ron Sharpe plays.
  • The Sixers weren’t the only ones trying to attack the rim early. Dëmin, who spoke all summer about expanding his shot diet, had quite the two-point take early in the first. He beat LeBron James off the dribble and went through Joel Embiid to score at the rim. I know that sounds like Nets fan fiction, but trust me, it happened. It’s as clear a sign of his growth as you’ll see.

5:52, 1Q – Brooklyn Nets 19, Philadelphia 76ers 15

  • Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, Chaney Johnson, Danny Wolf, and Josh Minott replaced the starters at this point in the first. Perhaps that’s meaningless with absences from Porter Jr. and Sharpe already disrupting the rotation, but it might also be a sign of what Jordi Fernández’s regular season bench will look like.
  • This five also played a bit of 2-3 zone. Still attacking the baseline, Philly had little trouble scoring against it.

0:31, 1Q – Brooklyn Nets 31, Philadelphia 76ers 31

  • Chaney Johnson took and made a three less than 10 seconds into the shot clock near the end of the first. We know Chaney can shoot, and we know Jordi Fernández has never been brash about encouraging his guys to let it fly. However, Mo Wagner also pulled a semi-contested corner one earlier in the game, which is a bit more eyebrow-raising. So, while the personnel has changed, Jordi’s philosophy on shooting seems to be the same.

10:01, 2Q – Brooklyn Nets 36, Philadelphia 76ers 32

  • Once the starters and reserves started to mix, one thing became clear: the Nets are going to stick with the switch. I saw Drake Powell on LeBron James at least twice at the top of the key. Brooklyn largely did that in their first preseason game as well.
  • NBA defenses often live and die based on how they defend screens. And, in the second, Brooklyn lived by it, forcing four turnovers in the period’s first four minutes. They were especially physical in their pursuit of these extra possessions, often along the elbow and in the low post. Wagner had James visibly frustrated on more than one occasion.

4:24, 2Q – Brooklyn Nets 44, Philadelphia 76ers 45

  • As the Nets look to establish themselves as that gritty team nobody wants to play, wreaking havoc in the backcourt appears to be on the agenda. Traoré poking away this possession from Jaylen Brown to set up Danny with an alley-oop as just one bit of evidence supporting that claim. The Nets ended up turning the 76ers over 22 times by the end of the game.

1:12, 2Q – Brooklyn Nets 52, Philadelphia 76ers 56

  • At the other end, however, Traoré might need to work on his chemistry with Randle. He had a few misplaced dump-offs as the two ran pick-and-roll down the stretch of the second. Those turnovers helped Philly retake the lead entering the break.

HALF – Brooklyn Nets 56, Philadelphia 76ers 58

  • Egor was willing and able to probe inside consistently against a legitimate NBA defense, with several takes to the basket outside of that aforementioned one over Embiid. That means it’s real now. He’s not just attacking G-League players or rookies in Las Vegas. He’s doing it against All-NBA defenders. Dëmin’s touch around the rim still needs work, but you’ll surely take the improvement for what it is. It’s also rare to see an athlete identify such a clear weakness in his game and work so deliberately to address it. He’s lived up to everything we’ve heard about his work ethic, and this may be the clearest evidence of that yet.
  • This team has the potential to be the gritty, pain-in-the-butt matchup for contenders many of us want them to be. Wagner had King James shouting at the officials like a spoiled monarch on more than on occasion. As Philly’s turnovers were mounting, Drake Powell also drew a foul on an Embiid screen in the backcourt. Embiid got in Ed Malloy’s face, and got a tech. Needless to say, the Nets got the 76ers pissed, and they did it in a game that doesn’t even matter. That’s telling.

9:47, 3Q – Brooklyn Nets 60, Philadelphia 76ers 64

  • You don’t often see multi-year All-Stars on the other side of 30 playing in the second half of a preseason game. You see them diving on the court for loose balls even less. Julius Randle did both here. I think Nets fans are going to like him more than they realize.
  • Randle’s on-ball gravity at the other end is still a factor as well. He initiated much of Brooklyn’s offense early in the third just by getting in and getting the ball back out to shooters. Having that to fall back on during broken plays or wayward possessions will be huge, and it’s something Brooklyn’s hasn’t had in a long time.

5:02, 3Q – Brooklyn Nets 82, Philadelphia 76ers 75

  • Noah Clowney and Danny Wolf can still do that thing where they makes a handful of threes in a flash after having little-to-no points all game. If the Nets are able to make good on their intentions to stay in more games this year, that’ll make those sequences more fun to watch as well.

1:34, 3Q – Brooklyn Nets 90, Philadelphia 76ers 79

  • The Nets established their largest lead of the game at this point via an 8-0 run. The 76ers also pulled all their main rotation players off the floor a few minutes before this. Sorry, I feel like I have to mention that.

11:51, 4Q – Brooklyn Nets 90, Philadelphia 76ers 79

  • Ben Saraf and Terance Mann both played their first minutes of the night here. Just incase it ends up meaning anything, it’s worth noting. Saraf did connect on his first triple of the game from the right wing, but struggled to run the offense after that.

4:45, 4Q – Brooklyn Nets 107, Philadelphia 76ers 97

  • It’s never too late, even in the preseason, to make hustle plays. Grant Nelson had several in the final five minutes of this one, particularly on the offensive glass. As Brooklyn’s offense began to falter down the stretch, he kept them afloat, mining for extra possessions. It was the least flashy “closer” performance I’ve seen in some time, but worked nonetheless, and that’s what matters.

END OF GAME

  • I know, it’s only the preseason, but the 76ers started a lineup tonight that’ll at worst be an all-time NBA 2K team. The Nets went toe-to-toe with them, and minus Porter Jr., Brown Jr., and Sharpe. In my opinion, a lot of factors have to align for a preseason game to warrant true optimism from fans, but this one had them all. Don’t got crazy, but you’re allowed to like what you saw.
  • Again, Egor’s development, specifically where it’s happening, is beyond encouraging.
  • On the contrary, it’s not looking good for Ben Saraf. Not that it would’ve mattered much, but Brooklyn almost let this one slip after giving him the keys to the offense. It’s hard to get around that when you consider the defenders he was facing at that point.

Next Up

Brooklyn’s tour of new look teams in the preseason rolls on with a visit to the nation’s capital on Monday. The Nets will face off against the Washington Wizards at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Bo Horvat scores twice as Islanders beat Blackhawks, 4-1

NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Horvat scored twice and the New York Islanders beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-1, on Thursday night.

Ilya Sorokin made 22 saves as the Islanders won for the second time in three games. Emil Heineman and Anthony Duclair also scored for New York, and defenseman Logan Stanley had two assists.

Frank Nazar scored for Chicago, which lost for the fourth time in five games to begin the season. Arvid Soderblom finished with 15 saves.

Horvat opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the final minute of the first period. Matthew Schaefer fired a slap shot from the point and the Islanders captain buried the rebound.

Heineman wired a wrist shot past Soderblom 6:44 into the second to double the lead.

Stanley found Duclair alone near the back post at 9:38 for his first goal of the season, making it 3-0.

Nazar spoiled Sorokin’s shutout bid with 2:32 remaining in the third.

Horvat added his second goal of the game into an empty net with 1:33 left to complete the scoring.

Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov, who left Tuesday night's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers, will miss the rest of the regular season with a torn ACL in his right knee.

Up next

Blackhawks: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

Islanders: Host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

Highlights

Ryan O'Reilly scores go-ahead goal as Predators rally for 5-2 win over Canadiens

MONTREAL (AP) — Ryan O’Reilly scored the go-ahead goal with 3:16 remaining, and the Nashville Predators rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 on Thursday night.

The veteran redirected a point shot from Roman Josi on the power play, 59 seconds after Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson tripped Steven Stamkos in the neutral zone.

Adam Edstrom added a pair of empty-net goals for Nashville, which was outshot 34-18.

Alexander Kerfoot and Matthew Wood also scored for the Predators, while Juuse Saros made 32 saves. Stamkos had two assists.

Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook scored for Montreal, which extended its winless streak to three games. Jacob Fowler stopped 15 shots in his first start of the season.

Montreal ended a streak of five straight wins against Nashville dating to March 5, 2024.

After a scoreless first period, Suzuki opened the scoring for Montreal 3:12 into the second during four-on-four play. He collected a loose puck amid a scramble in front of the net and slid a backhander between Saros’ legs for his third goal of the season.

Newhook doubled Montreal’s lead at 8:50, finishing off Josh Anderson’s feed after minutes of sustained pressure in Nashville’s zone.

Kerfoot scored with 4:54 remaining in the period, redirecting Adam Wilsby’s point shot past Fowler on the glove side.

Wood tied the game on the power play with 32 seconds left in the period.

Up next

Predators: At Ottawa on Saturday.

Canadiens: Host Detroit on Saturday.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Nick Young reveals bizarre revenge plot against D’Angelo Russell after Iggy Azalea cheating scandal

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Nick Young and Iggy Azalea attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.   , Image 2 shows D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the basketball down the court, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young reacts on the basketball court with his hands on his hips

Nick Young wanted to fight D’Angelo Russell in 2016.

The two former Lakers teammates’ relationship was reportedly over after Russell leaked a video of Young confessing to cheating on his ex-fiancée and rapper Iggy Azalea. Young was infuriated with the former second overall pick and revealed he was prepared to rumble with Russell following the incident.

Nick Young was not happy with his teammate’s actions in 2016. AP

“I tried to get to the arena, they had security and everything. They stopped me at the door, told me I couldn’t come in, take a couple of days off,” Young told Shannon Sharpe on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast.

“I had the whole gang with me. It was about to go crazy,” Young added.

Young never ended up fighting Russell, but he got his revenge in another way — through his family.

D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young were teammates on the Lakers. Corey Sipkin
D’Angelo Russell was selected No. 2 overall by the Lakers in the NBA draft. Getty Images

“I ain’t never been in a situation like that where my teammate just snitched on me. I was like, ‘they’re gonna call me a punk in the media,’ and I’m mad for real, I gotta do something. I gotta show him. I know he’s young, 19, 18 or whatever, but still you don’t do nothing like that,” Young said.

Young went on to tell Sharpe how his friend helped him with the revenge on Russell’s brother.

“I still had to get him, so while he was playing, a couple friends of mine had to get his brother in the family lounge and all that. I had to get some type of get-back,” Young said.

Nick Young and Iggy Azalea attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. WireImage

A confused Sharpe asked how that was able to stay out of the media given how publicized the moment was.

“It’s the Lakers. There’s a lot of things that go on in LA,” Young answered. “LA is no place for the weak.”

The topic is still a point of contention for Young, who said his relationship with Russell was never the same after he seemingly broke the unwritten rule of never snitching on teammates.

“It was over after that,” Young said.

Recap: Wizards beat Knicks in 1st preseason game, 111-109

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 8: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Washington Wizards defeated the New York Knicks, 111-109 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. The win gives Washington a 1-0 record in the preseason.

As you might have expected, the Wizards started their Big Three of AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Washington even finished with a 30-29 lead. Dybantsa didn’t start out too hot, but he did make this nice drive to the hoop in the second quarter.

And he made this nice assist to Bilal Coulibaly on the fast break.

Ultimately, the Knicks had the stronger second quarter and headed into halftime with a 63-57 lead.

Washington was able to cut the lead down in the third quarter despite being behind by as many as 10 points. But a strong fourth quarter, which started with this go-ahead bucket by Will Riley helped give Washington the momentum needed to take down the NBA Champions.

Anthony Davis led the Wizards with 16 points while Trae Young added 15 points and made some long three pointers. Dybantsa scored 11.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson and Landry Shamet co-led with 13 points.

The Wizards’ next game is on Saturday when they host the Detroit Pistons. Tip off is at 7 p.m. ET. See you then.

Yakemchuk breaks late tie in the Senators' 2-1 victory over the Flyers

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Carter Yakemchuk broke a tie on a power play with 6:59 left and the Ottawa Senators held on to beat the winless Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on Thursday night.

Nick Cousins opened the scoring for Ottawa at midway through the first period. Matvei Michkov tied it in a power play at 7:46 of the second.

Linus Ullmark made 29 saves to help the Senators improve to 3-1-0.

Joseph Woll stopped 24 shots for Philadelphia. The Flyers are 0-3-2.

Michael Bunting made his Flyers debut after signing with the team Tuesday and Ottawa defenseman Hoyt Stanley made his NHL debut.

Up next

Flyers: At Boston on Saturday.

Senators: Host Nashville on Saturday night.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Sixers’ starters dazzle at times, play sloppy at others in preseason loss to Nets

BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 8: Jaylen Brown #7 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers high five during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 8, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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

It’s understandable if it’s still hard to believe, but the Sixers’ starting lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid made its debut Thursday night in Brooklyn.

It was just a preseason game, but it gave us a fun glimpse of what can be in the Sixers’ 114-108 loss to the Nets.

Brown led the way with 18 points while Maxey had 14 points and James finished with 10 points, five assists and four rebounds. Maxey and James did not play in the second half. Edgecombe chipped in with 11 points. Embiid had six points, three rebounds and three assists, but looked rusty, committing eight turnovers.

Anfernee Simons (hamstring), Dominick Barlow (back) and Adem Bona (foot) were all out.

Next up for the Sixers is their penultimate preseason game in Boston against the Celtics Saturday night.

First quarter

  • Embiid comfortably switching onto Keon Ellis on the first possession of his first preseason game feels like a massive positive. He had another possession on Nolan Traore which led to a miss. He was moving extremely well. The only blemish for Embiid was his three turnovers. He looked a little rusty dealing with ball pressure.
  • The Sixers’ first basket of the game was on a LeBron hit-ahead pass to Edgecombe. This team should be a nightmare to handle in transition. The ball movement was breath-taking at times.
  • Maxey’s first bucket was a dunk on a baseline drive. He then buried a couple threes off movement. This lineup is going to allow Maxey to flourish as an off-ball scorer. He led the Sixers with 10 points in the first.
  • A brief scare as Mo Wagner pushed Embiid in the back on a box out and the big man rolled into Brown. Brown was down for minute grabbing his right knee, but got up and appeared no worse for wear.
  • Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were the first subs. Wade did exactly what you’d hope he’d do, snagging two offensive rebounds, burying a corner three and playing stout defense.
  • The defense looked leaky to say the least, but the offense was ridiculous. They had 10 assists on 12 made field goals. LeBron had half of the those dimes and finished the quarter with four points, five assists and two rebounds. The game was tied at 33-33 after one.

Second quarter

  • Nearly a highlight-reel alley-oop to start the second. After great hustle from Wade and Jabari Walker, KCP was on the break with Edgecombe. Unfortunately, Ellis broke up what would’ve been a nasty slam.
  • Labaron Philon, Jr. getting some minutes with the regulars and buries a three off a Maxey drive. Love Nurse experimenting with a smaller backcourt, though those minutes will likely be Simons’ when he’s healthy.
  • Another turnover for Embiid. Mo Wagner is playing like it’s the NBA Finals, which good for him, but it did look like he might’ve fouled Embiid. Embiid then picked up a frustration foul (it was a bit soft) followed by a technical. It’s been a frustrating night for Embiid offensively.
  • If there was one aspect of Embiid’s game that looked good it was his passing. He delivered a frozen rope pass to Wade on the baseline, who was then fouled.
  • Speaking of Wade, he’s proving to be an outstanding cutter so far. He had a few impressive defensive possessions on the strong-bodied Julius Randle as well. He looks like an oustanding fit.
  • Again, the defense has been rough at times, but the Nets only shot 39.2% from the field. The turnover battle was the issue, with the Sixers only forcing four in the first half while committing 14. That — and a serious Sixers’ free throw advantage — led to Brooklyn taking 20 more field goal attempts. Embiid had seven. Many of the giveaways were a clear result of guys simply not playing together.
  • With all that said, the offensive talent is just so overwhelming. There are mismatches and advantages on every single possession. The Sixers were up 58-56 at half. Maxey led the way with 14 points while James had 10 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Third quarter

  • Embiid, Brown and Edgecombe were all out to start the second half. Wade and Philon joined them as LeBron and Maxey sat.
  • Brown started to take over a little offensively like he did the other night. He had an excellent kick-out pass to Wade on a drive for another three.
  • Another turnover for Embiid. He’s really got to tighten it up. Sure, a couple have been caused by timing issues, but a few have just been plain sloppy.
  • The Nets’ strategy seemed to be to make the officials call fouls. On one hand, it did seem to slow the Philly offense down. On the other, Wagner had five fouls and Randle four not even midway through the third quarter.
  • Without James and Maxey, the offense seemed to get stagnant. The ball stopped moving and there was a bit too much iso ball.
  • Brown really started cooking with a bench-heavy unit. He made a gorgeous teardrop, buried a three and then delivered a beautiful behind-the-back pass to Jabari Walker, which led to a foul. He scored 18 points in just under 24 minutes.
  • Walker is having an excellent preseason. He put back a Justin Edwards missed three and then took a charge on the ensuing possession. Walker proving to be a legitimate stretch big option would be a welcomed development.
  • The Nets went on an 11-0 run as the Sixers subbed out most of their regulars. Brooklyn took a 93-81 lead into the fourth.

Fourth quarter

  • Philon hasn’t shot well in the first two preseason games, but when you watch him, you see the potential. The handle and the creation ability are real. He’ll start to make more of these as the game reps increase.
  • It’s been a struggle for Justin Edwards so far. I thought he’d have a chance to compete with KCP for minutes this season. Thus far he looks like the team’s 14th man. He did make a few shots late, which will hopefully give him a confidence boost going forward.
  • Take it for what it’s worth, but Kate Scott mentioned on the broadcast that Tacko Fall might be available for Saturday’s game in Boston. It would be fun to watch the 7-foot-6 center play, but he also has a legitimate chance to earn the Sixers’ final two-way deal. With the season-ending injury to Ariel Hukporti, it’s not crazy to think Fall would get regular season minutes if he earns that spot.
  • Jameer Nelson Jr. has been really good! He plays his butt off on both ends. Should be a solid addition to the Blue Coats this season. Honestly, the team down in Delaware should be entertaining.

José Ramírez hits go-ahead home run for Guardians in ALDS Game 4

The Cleveland Guardians are storming.

The team hit two home runs in the fifth inning in Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, Oct. 8 at Rate Field.

José Ramírez hit a go-ahead two-run home run to put the Guardians up 3-2. With the count 0-1, the third baseman was tossed a fastball by White Sox pitcher Jordan Hicks just above the strike zone. He smacked it hard and watched it sail into the bullpen in right field. Steven Kwan also scored after hitting a single.

Ramírez was the first batter Hicks faced after coming in for Erick Fedde.

Earlier that inning, Patrick Bailey hit a solo home run to put the Guardians on the board.

Cleveland had not hit a home run in the first three games of the series.

With a victory, the White Sox win the series. Whoever wins the series will face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: José Ramírez hits go-ahead home run for Guardians in ALDS Game 4

Pastrnak scores 2 goals, adds 2 assists in the Bruins' 6-1 rout of the Mammoth

BOSTON (AP) — David Pastrnak scored his first two goals of the season and added two assists as the Boston Bruins routed the Utah Mammoth 6-1 in Thursday night.

Matthew Poitras, Casey Mittelstadt, Mason Lohrei and Morgan Geekie also scored for the Bruins, who led 3-0 after one period and 6-0 after two. Jeremy Swayman made 36 saves.

Pastrnak scored his first goal with 5:38 left in the first period on a power-play wrist shot, assisted by Frederic Brunet and Geekie. He tacked on a power-play slap shot 4:40 into the second period, assisted by Geekie and Hampus Lindholm.

Jack McBain scored for the Mammoth midway through the third period to spoil Swayman's shutout bid.

Karel Vejmelka stopped 11 of 14 shots he faced before he was replaced by Sebastian Cossa, who made five saves for the Mammoth.

The Bruins scored three power-play goals, while the Mammoth went scoreless on the power play. The Bruins blocked 23 shots in the win.

Up next

Utah: Visits the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.

Boston: Hosts the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Knicks offense falls short again in preseason action, struck down by Wizards

In their return to the Garden for the first time since Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, the Knicks struggled to keep up with a young Washington Wizards core, losing by just two points, 111-109, for their second loss of the preseason.

Here are some takeaways...

-- Just as in Monday's 120-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks' starting lineup comprised the five stars that powered the team to its NBA Finals win in June: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. For the Wizards, the game marked their first of the preseason, as well as their first chance to see how newly-acquired vets Trae Young and Anthony Davis — as well as 2026 first-overall pick AJ Dybantsa — fit into Washington's rebuild. 

-- The Knicks' offense got off to a slow start, turning the ball over thrice in the first three minutes of the game. After the Wizards went up 1-0 on a free throw from Dybantsa, Brunson landed a three to kickstart a back-and-forth offensive effort that would extend through the end of the first half.

Miles McBride and Andre Drummond were the first two Knicks to come off the bench, shortly followed by Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado. McBride, who enters the season as the longest-tenured Knick, made a convincing argument for the contract extension he's pursuing, quickly dumping in a three before drawing a foul and adding a fourth point on the free throw.

They finished the first quarter down one point, 29-30.

-- New York's bench saw more action in the early portion of the second, with Mohamed Diawara and Jordan Clarkson taking the court for the first time. Just as in Philadelphia on Monday, New York's offense continued to ebb and flow but found a groove at the end, taking a six-point lead (63-57) into the half. Hart led the team in both minutes (16) and points (13) through the first 24 minutes of play.

-- The game's pace quickened in the third, but the Knicks' offense remained steady, increasing its lead thanks to Shamet. The shooting guard landed three straight three-point attempts for nine of the team's 21points scored in the frame. New York was up by as many as 10 points, but Washington narrowed the gap to just three by the end of the quarter.

-- The Wizards began to run away with the game in the middle of the final frame, gaining a seven-point lead until Pacome Dadiet sank a 26-foot three-pointer to put the Knicks back in the fight. The Knicks closed the deficit to just two in a chaotic final minute of play, but their effort was to no avail. 

-- Overall, the Knicks shot just 42 percent from the field and 29 percent from three (11-for-38). New York's starters played much more than in the preseason opener in Philly, each crossing the 19-minute mark. Hart led the star five with 21 minutes, tying with Brunson for 13 points. Leading the bench, Shamet also had 13 points. 

-- Dybantsa, 19, scored 11 points in his debut and led the Wizards in minutes (23) and steals (4). He went zero-for-three from three.

Game MVP: Anthony Davis

The 33-year-old power forward scored almost as many points (16) as he played minutes (17), landed two of his three three-point attempts, and went two-for-two from the free-throw line in his first game with Washington.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks are set to host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in their third preseason contest.