The one player the Dallas Mavericks didn’t want injured, Cooper Flagg, got hurt. But initial comments from coach Dusty May signaled some optimism that Flagg may have avoided a serious injury.
Flagg, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, suffered a left shoulder injury Friday, Oct. 23 in a game against the Indiana Pacers, after a flagrant foul by Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith on a breakaway dunk attempt sent Flagg tumbling to the court. The Mavericks officially designated the injury as left shoulder soreness, which may be a positive sign that Flagg avoided a serious ailment.
May said Flagg would be evaluated “in the next couple of days” and added that Flagg was in “good spirits” when he saw him in the locker room. Though imaging results will provide the official diagnosis, the timeline May put forward suggests that Flagg will miss Dallas’ next game, which is Saturday, Oct. 24 against the San Antonio Spurs.
During the play, Flagg was streaking toward the basket on a fast break before he was fouled. Nesmith swiped at Flagg’s right shoulder, causing him to lose his balance. Flagg tried to brace his fall but landed awkwardly on his left shoulder, near where camera operators sit along the baseline.
Flagg immediately favored his left shoulder as he writhed on the floor in apparent discomfort. Trainers hustled over to tend to him for several moments. The foul incensed Mavericks players, as forward Naji Marshall confronted Nesmith and shoved him.
This led to a brief altercation as multiple players from both sides started shoving each other. Assistant coaches eventually separated the players.
PACERS-MAVS GET CHIPPY AFTER A FLAGRANT FOUL ON COOPER FLAGG 😳
The foul was eventually reviewed and elevated to a flagrant 1. Flagg would step up to the line and convert both his free throw attempts, though he was immediately subbed out.
Shortly afterward, the Mavericks ruled Flagg out for the rest of the game.
Flagg played just 17 minutes and scored 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting. He also collected 5 rebounds, dished out 6 assists and recorded 3 steals.
Flagg is the franchise player and No. 1 selection from the 2025 NBA Draft. Dallas is undergoing something of a rebuild, as the team builds around the 19 year old Flagg.
“Look, Nesmith is a great guy – heck of a player,” May said. “I’ve known him since he was in high school. Obviously, an unfortunate play. Hopefully Coop is fine, but obviously it’s something we wished wouldn’t have happened.”
Flagg injured the same shoulder in his rookie season.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 23: Jamal Shead #1 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball while Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards defends during the second half at Capital One Arena on October 23, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards went to war with the Toronto Raptors on Friday, losing a contentious 112-102 clash at Capital One Arena.
The game was played with playoff intensity from start to finish. The Wizards got a taste of the Raptors’ defense, which limited the Chicago Bulls to 92 points in their season opener.
Washington was ice-cold in the first quarter, shooting just 4-for-21 from the field and committing 7 turnovers. Free throws kept the Wiz in the game — a theme throughout the contest — as they trailed 34-21 after one.
Toronto threatened to pull away in the second quarter. The Raptors opened the period with two quick buckets to increase their lead to 17. The Wizards countered with a 13-2 run of their own, keyed by back-to-back triples from Trae Young. Deandre Ayton also stepped up in the interior with several strong rebounds leading to second-chance opportunities.
Midway through the third, it didn’t feel like Washington had played all that well. The team missed several open threes and coughed up some sloppy turnovers. Kyshawn George was also out of rhythm due to foul trouble.
In years past, the Wiz kids would probably have been down by 20 in such a scenario. But a Justin Champagnie putback got the good guys within 78-75 with under two minutes left in the quarter. Washington hung tough with Toronto through defense and a favorable whistle.
Champagnie made three straight layups, with the final two off lobs from Young. Toronto led 81-77 after three.
The Raptors kept the Wizards at arm’s length for most of the fourth quarter. Tre Johnson scored 10 of his 20 points in the final period, keeping Washington in it with some timely shot-making. But it wasn’t enough as Toronto held on for the 10-point victory.
The Wizards’ second game was not pretty by any means. However, the team showed it could at least compete with a potential contender in the East.
The Raptors’ defense and active hands stifled the Wizards at times. The home team also missed several open three-pointers that could have swung the game. Washington shot just 38.0% from the field and 32.4% from beyond the arc and still felt very much in the contest.
The Wizards could look like a different team when the threes start falling and when AJ Dybantsa is there to help draw more defensive attention.
Young led the way with 22 points and 12 assists. Johnson showed no hesitation off the bench, scoring 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting with four triples.
The Wizards have an immediate opportunity to get over .500 again with a game against the Chicago Bulls tomorrow night.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 23: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks takes a shot against Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during second quarter of the Celtics Home Opener at TD Garden on October 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks (0-2) traveled to Boston to face the Celtics (1-1) at TD Garden tonight. Each team was fighting for their first win of the season, and clearly pride was on the line. Through the first half, the game teetered to and fro, but the home team gained momentum in the third quarter. After falling behind by 12 in the fourth, New York fought back to a one-point deficit, but, in what felt like a postseason game, Jayson Tatum went on a heater and carried his team to victory, 107-103.
What else is there to say about Mitchell Robinson (4 PTS, 4 RBS, 22 MIN) in a green jersey? It’s a bummer. We keep it moving. Mitch had a lackluster first outing with his new team and started mediocre tonight, too. He managed to put back his own miss over OG Anunoby (20 PTS, 10 RBS, 8 AST), but two fouls sat him after three minutes.
Mitchell Robinson gets it going early against his former team ☘️
Tatum (36 PTS, 9 RBS, 7 AST) and Paul George (15 PTS, 7 RBS) got the C’s on the board to start, Karl-Anthony Towns (22 PTS, 10 RBS) and Jalen Brunson (19 PTS, 4 AST, 3 TO) scored, and we were off. Neither team impressed from deep, combining to make two of their first seven attempts, a trend that continued through the half. Unlike opening night, the whistles were fairly quiet, and the game had a better pace. The villains were pests on the glass, out-rebounding our heroes and turning five O-boards into five extra shots.
After trailing early, the guests used the free throw line to climb into the lead, and the score stayed closed from there. The ‘Bockers goosed their lead to five, and Boston clawed their way back. The bench contributed positive minutes yet again. Landry Shamet (8 PTS) checked in early to relieve a foul-carrying, blank-shooting Mikal Bridges. Also off the bench, Miles McBride (20 PTS, 6-of-8 3pt) took the floor around the six-minute mark. When he fired from the corner, TD Garden let loose a loud “Deeeuuuccceee” and were rewarded with a swish.
Late in the quarter, Anunoby was the only starter on the court, playing alongside Jose Alvarado, McBride, Shamet, and Andre Drummond. Twice we saw Alvarado wrestling a Celtic for the ball on the floor. His dogged defense helped to preserve a 27-26 lead a the break.
New York gave up five points to Luka Garza to start the second and Mike Brown needed a timeout before two minutes had passed. He replaced Andre Drummond with Karl-Anthony Towns. New York fell behind by eight before restoring their composure. At 7:30, Brunson returned to the fray and led Towns, Hart, and Jordan Clarkson led a comeback to tie the score, which was undone by buckets by Tatum and Neemiias Queta.
Robinson returned and continued to putter ineffectively for about six minutes. New Knicks reserve center, James Wiseman, made his season debut for New York with two minutes left in the half and promptly collected a loose ball foul. Fortunately, Josh Hart connected on his first triple of the night (after four tries) and followed that with an off-balance hook, but George knocked down a buzzer-beater for a 50-49 lead.
In the first half, the Knicks made just 30% from deep; Boston was a shade better at 35%. The orange-and-blue crew had taken 12 free throws to their opponent’s four, and each team had 21 boards at the break. In fact, the teams were nearly identical up and down the board. Towns topped all scorers with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Tatum had 11 points on 11 shots.
Anunoby was a bricklayer in the season opener (3-of-12 FG, 1-of-9 3PT), but his second dinger tonight, plus a cutting layup, got New York humming out of halftime. Jordan Walsh, Tatum, and Derrick White went on an 8-0 run before Brunson laced one from deep. In this game of runs, though, it seemed only a matter of time before one team hit the gas and began packing on a significant lead.
Weirdly, through two-and-a-half quarters, Queta was the only Celtic to take free throws—and just six at that. Clean defense so far by Gotham’s greatest!
Spoke too soon. Drummond gave Towns a breather at the five-minute mark and collected two infractions. After McBride picked off Queta and converted back-to-back treys, the Knicks trailed 70-69. Queta seemed hell-bent to prove his value as the Celtics’ center, hitting more free throws and a corner three to reach 12 points and pad his team’s lead. Shamet fouled on a screen, Drummond picked up a technical foul, Hart mishandled a Brunson pass, and the third frame ended with the Knicks down, 83-73.
Robinson punched back in to start the final period. He bodied Anunoby, blocked Towns, and slammed an alley-oop. The crowd went Mitch Crazy—and then the big fella committed foul number five. Back to the bench with eight-and-a-half to go. Many watching the Amazon Prime stream at home felt a shiver of déjà vu.
While the deficit reached 12, Bridges provided no offensive support. He shot 2-of-8 in the season opener and whiffed on all eight shots in Boston. He has yet to attempt a free throw this year. With production like that, we weren’t surprised when his night finished at 8:25. Meanwhile, McBride had netted 5-of-7 from deep for 23 points and counting with seven minutes remaining. That’ll bring up the team’s overall percentage!
KAT led the league with 56 double-doubles last season. With four minutes left, he grabbed his tenth board for his second double-double of the new campaign, flushed a Brunson miss, and brought the hole to three.
Hart was a shady shooter from downtown, missing five and making two—but that second one was clutch. Then KAT picked Queta’s pocket and Brunson pulled-up to make the score 99-98.
This might have been game two of the season, but it felt like Game 2 of the ECF. Tatum scored on back-to-back jumpers. OG made two freebies. The deficit was three when Tatum— who was on a heater—connected from deep with 30 seconds left. McBride hit his sixth triple at 14 seconds, but the Knicks were forced to foul and pray. Pritchard made one and missed one, and in the resulting fracas, George fouled Brunson. Cap missed a free throw with four seconds left, intentionally bricked the second, and OG missed a futile, final heave. Ballgame.
Quoth Good names all taken, “I took the over at 58. Still alive.” The season is young, the sky is not falling. After a short offseason and the usual rust, the Knicks have lost two close contests against playoff teams. Our heroes head home to host the O’Magic on Sunday, which should have a more favorable outcome. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
Jacob Misiorowski's first pitch of the 2026 World Series came in at 103.5 miles per hour.
That four-seamer to Yandy Diaz was a ball, but it certainly set the tone for the night. The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander made his longest postseason start against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 on Friday night at American Family Field. He held Tampa Bay to one run on four hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out three.
Misiorowski threw 37 pitches at 100 mph or faster out of 78. His four-seamer averaged 101.2 mph and 10 of them reached at least 102. None were faster than the opener, according to StatCast.
Velocity has never been the question for the 6-foot-7 Misiorowski. He went 16-5 this season and led the majors in ERA (1.80) and strikeouts (252), throwing his fastball harder on average than any other starter in the league. The question this October was how long can he stay on the mound.
He made Friday's start on 11 days' rest. In his first two starts this postseason, high pitch counts kept him from finishing five innings. He threw 88 pitches over four innings in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Then he needed 94 pitches for 4 ⅓ innings in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series, which the Brewers went on to sweep against the Dodgers.
Misiorowski was more efficient Friday night. He went to his four-seam fastball and mxed in his cutter, slider and an occasional curveball. That helped him get through five, tying the longest postseason start of his career. He pitched five innings and struck out nine in a relief appearance in Game 3 of the 2025 NLCS at Dodger Stadium.
The Rays put runners on against him right away Friday. Jonathan Aranda lined a single on a 101.3 mph fastball and Chandler Simpson followed with a slapped single to left. Junior Caminero lined into a double play to end the threat. Misiorowski retired seven consecutive Rays after that.
Tampa Bay broke through in the fourth. Aranda drew a walk and Caminero turned on a 101 mph fastball for a double before Liam Hicks brought in the Rays' first run with a groundout.
But his initial appearance proved to be brief. Podziemski left the game with 8:17 left in the first quarter after taking a shot from Grizzlies center Zach Edey.
Podziemski went backdoor and took a pass from Graham Ike as he went up for a layup over Edey. Podziemski scored but not without contact. Edey appeared to have struck Podziemski in the face as he was making a play on the ball. No whistle was blown and everyone played on ... except Podziemski, who stayed on the ground after the contact.
He got up and walked off the court and into the locker room on his own. Podziemski had scored four points, making both shot attempts.
He did eventually return to the bench and get back into the game.
Brandin Podziemski went to the locker room after Zach Edey appeared to hit him on the head https://t.co/uunqOyl0C4
Podziemski missed the Warriors' season opener, Wednesday's 127-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, due to a sore back.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters before Friday's game that Podziemski was not only available, but starting at the two-guard position.
"He had a workout this morning," Kerr said. "Went through it fine, so he'll be in the starting lineup."
Podziemski appeared in all 82 games for the Warriors last season. His availability was one of the many attributes that gave Golden State confidence before extending the 23-year-old.
The Warriors and Podziemski agreed to a five-year, $110 million rookie-scale contract extension, which includes an option for the final year in 2031–32.
Podziemski averaged career highs with Golden State last year (13.8 points per game, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals on 45% shooting). The Warriors drafted Podziemski out of Santa Clara with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 23: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoots a three point basket during the game against the New York Knicks on October 23, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jayson Tatum saved the day for the Celtics on Friday night with two clutch buckets late in the fourth quarter.
JAYSON TATUM TOOK OVER IN THE 4TH TO BEAT THE KNICKS 😳
36 PTS and the W! https://t.co/z2SrlW47He
His 36 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists led the way as the Celtics beat the defending champion Knicks, 107-103.
The Celtics started their same five from the opener: Derrick White, Paul George, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum and former Knick Mitchell Robinson. Devin Carter once again did not play for Boston. The Knicks started their championship five of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns. Every Knick was available in this one.
Robinson committed two quick fouls and had to sit 3 minutes into the game and he was replaced by Neemias Queta.
In fact, it was a hack show for the Celtics early in the game. The Knicks were in the bonus at the 7:25 mark in the first quarter.
It was an up and down start for the Celtics who trailed 27-26. Jayson Tatum led the team with 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. No one else had more than one field goal in the period.
The 2nd quarter opened with two Luka Garza buckets, one off of an offensive rebound and one three-pointer to put the C’s up 4.
The Celtics defense was flying around, but offense wasn’t great in the 2nd quarter. Payton Pritchard couldn’t get it going and the Celtics had a few turnovers.
It was a low scoring 2nd quarter but a Paul George buzzer beater put the Celtics up 1 at the half, 50-49. Jayson Tatum led the team with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists while Neemias Queta had 7 points and 4 rebounds but was 2-6 from the field.
One thing the Celtics struggled with in the first half was the defensive glass. The Knicks had a 42.9% offensive rebounding rate in the first half, according to Cleaning the Glass.
The offense opened up a bit for the Celtics in the 2nd half. Back-to-back good Jayson Tatum drives put the Celtics up 7 at the 7:11 mark in the 3rd quarter.
Deuce McBride is a new Celtics killer. He had 11 points and was 3/4 from three point range off of the Knicks bench after he made an acrobatic play to save the ball and hit a three pointer.
A 13-4 run to cap the quarter gave the Celtics a 10-point lead entering the 4th quarter, 83-73. A monster third quarter from Jayson Tatum put him at 27 points and 9 rebounds to lead Boston.
Mitchell Robinson had back-to-back nice plays, first a big block on Karl-Anthony Towns and then a lob dunk on a not great pass from Derrick White. He then immediately picked up his 5th foul and had to sit.
This was a clutch game as Knicks made it a 5-point game just as 5 minutes were on the clock.
A tough Jalen Brunson shot cut the Celtics lead to 1 with 1:41 to go before Jayson Tatum hit a tough fallaway shot to put the Celtics up 3, 101-98.
Jayson Tatum took over the game late. Hitting a tough long two in the corner and a three right over the head of Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks did answer both times so the Celtics were still only up 3 as Payton Pritchard went to the line.
He went 1/2, put the Celtics up 4 and the Knicks didn’t score the rest of the way.
mood at the end of the game. https://t.co/sHDz8Va5vC
The story was Tatum but there were contributions everywhere. Both Paul George and Neemias Queta had 15 points and the Celtics defense was awesome.
Boston shot 46% from the field and 39% from three while the Knicks shot 44% from the field and 40% from three. The Celtics next game is Monday at 7:30 pm EST from TD Garden against the Chicago Bulls.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras celebrates after hitting an RBI single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Contreras penned a letter to fans in The Players Tribune and discussed the 2025 postseason where the Brewers were swept by the Dodgers.
“The playoff series against the Dodgers, we got swept…… It was terrible,” Contreras wrote. “I understand why there was not so much belief in us after a loss like that. But if you want the truth, I’ll tell you, because I was there. I’m the one who saw it from both sides, right? I’m behind the plate for their side … and I’m at the plate for our side.
“Here’s the truth: The Dodgers were the lucky team last season.
“No, I’m not saying they were lucky to be champions. Of course not. It’s a tremendous team, with tremendous players. I’ll take nothing away from them. But were they lucky to SWEEP us? That’s a different story.”
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras returns to the dugout as Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy slams his bat after striking out to end the sixth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Gregory BullMilwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell celebrates his solo home run with catcher William Contreras in the dugout during the sixth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
While Contreras continues to express his belief in the National League’s best team, the ongoing comments surrounding the Dodgers have become a distraction to the Brewers’ success. Yes, the Dodgers fell short of their ultimate goal.
Yes, the Brewers played far better baseball than LA in the NLCS. But to continue mentioning the Dodgers only takes away from what Milwaukee can achieve with only four more wins.
The Brewers have the chance to take home its first World Series title in franchise history, but defeating the Dodgers appears to be the highlight of October for the squad.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are making their chances count and keeping Tampa Bay at arm’s length. Colorado took a 4-2 lead into the second intermission, answering the Lightning’s push with timely goals from Fedor Svechkov and Artturi Lehkonen, while Jake Guentzel scored twice on the power play to keep Tampa within striking distance. The Lightning lead 27-17 in shots on goal, but the Avalanche have made the most of their opportunities.
First Period
Martin Necas found Devon Toews in front of the net just 68 seconds into the game, with Nathan MacKinnon picking up the assist to give Colorado an early lead.
Jaden Schwartz appeared to tie the game nearly five minutes in, but the goal was waved off after he kicked the puck past Mackenzie Blackwood. Colorado capitalized shortly after, scoring on the power play at 5:52 with Brandon Hagel in the box for tripping. Nazem Kadri buried a pass from T.J. Hughes in the low slot to double the lead.
Martin Necas following practice on Monday.
Tampa had its chances, controlling possession at times and forcing Colorado’s defense to scramble around its own net. The Lightning also kept the Avalanche’s top line on the ice for extended shifts and tested Blackwood with a flurry of shots, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Despite being outshot 12-9, Colorado took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Second Period
Fedor Svechkov made it 3-0 just 24 seconds into the period, knocking in his own rebound past Andrei Vasilevskiy. Svechkov appeared to be looking for T.J. Hughes at the backdoor, but after Vasilevskiy poke-checked the puck, the rebound fell right back to Svechkov, who finished the play.
Logan O’Connor, playing for the first time this season after recovering from a lower-body injury and dealing with the loss of his father, was called for a two-minute goaltender interference penalty. Vasilevskiy had left his crease to make a save near the backdoor, and O’Connor, closing in quickly, had little time to avoid the collision. Colorado killed off the penalty.
Tampa later earned a 4-on-3 power play after Taylor Makar tripped Conor Geekie. Following the whistle, Sam Malinski cross-checked Dominic James, sparking a brief scuffle along the boards. Both players received roughing minors. On the ensuing power play, Jake Guentzel cut into Colorado’s lead, punching in a rebound off a one-timer from Charle-Edouard D’Astous.
After Colorado killed off a tripping penalty to Lehkonen with 7:10 remaining, the winger got his own goal back. MacKinnon set him up in the low slot, and Lehkonen buried his ninth goal in 11 games to restore the Avalanche’s three-goal cushion at 4-1.
Unlike in their previous two games, the Avalanche were making their chances count while doing a better job defensively and breaking up Tampa’s plays.
Colorado was called for too many men on the ice with less than three minutes remaining, and Tampa struck again on the power play. Brayden Point fed Guentzel at the doorstep for his second goal of the night, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
The Avalanche challenged the goal, arguing that the puck had hit the upper netting before crossing the line. After an extensive review, officials determined the puck had hit the glass, not the netting, and the goal stood.
Through 40 minutes, Colorado held a 4-2 lead, but Tampa continued to pour on the pressure, building a 27-17 advantage in shots on goal.
That’s where Kerr took issue with the rookie running his mouth.
Golden State Warriors guard Yaxel Lendeborg defends against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Getty Images
“Who the eff cares?” Kerr said of the one-on-one matchup. “He did a good job on Luka 1-on-1, but we got torched by Luka as a team. I don’t care. … It’s like, they scored 120 on us. That stuff’s all bulls–t. It’s our defense. He knows that. I talked to him the other day. Our defense was not good regardless of him individually when he guarded the ball.”
Lendeborg finished with 12 points, four personal fouls and one technical in 29 minutes. He has another emotionally charged matchup Friday in the Warriors’ home opener against the Grizzlies.
It will be the first NBA showdown between Lendeborg and the No. 3 overall pick out of Duke, Cameron Boozer, which the Michigan man drafted eight slots later said he circled on his calendar. But Kerr wasn’t too concerned about the rookie’s mindset.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr calls a play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Getty Images
He had more concrete feedback from Lendeborg’s NBA debut.
“He’s a little bit of a coaster,” Kerr said. “I want to see him run the floor harder. I think that will open up a lot of opportunities. He’s so skilled and big that if we get him to run the court — both ways — a little harder, a little faster, he’s going to end up finding the ball more and be more of a threat.”
Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Kerr agreed with Steph Curry that Lendeborg will have to back up his talking with his play on the court. He won’t have to wait long before he sees Doncic again.
The Lakers visit Chase Center next Friday, and Lendeborg is sure to have a target on his back.
“I love the young guy. He’s really talented. I love his competitiveness,” Kerr said. “Like I said, I didn’t mind the stuff the other day. But as Steph said, you’ve got to back it up. That’s the thing.
“We play the Lakers again next week, so, OK, here you go.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards reacts during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 08, 2026 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Chicago Bulls tomorrow. Let’s go.
Game Info
When: Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: United Center
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injury Report
Wizards: Jamir Watkins and Tristan Vukcevic are out. AJ Dybantsa is day to day.
Bulls: Nic Claxton is out.
What to watch for
The Wizards are about to go on their first road trip where they will be out for three straight games. They began their first game of the season last Wednesday against the same Raptors team Washington is hosting and lost 135-92. Today, they played the Milwaukee Bucks and won 132-25.
Tomorrow should be winnable despite the loss to the Raptors tonight, but the Bulls will be pumped of their own home opener.
Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) looks for an opening as Charlotte Hornets guard Christian Anderson (5) defends during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Barclays Center in New York. The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Brooklyn Nets.
But the former Louisville stars won’t share the court for much — if any — time Saturday night in Cleveland.
The minutes restriction placed on the No. 6 overall pick in his NBA debut will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.
“It’s how it is until we change it, and right now we know the sample size is going to be way bigger,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said after Friday’s practice. “It’s not just, ‘Oh, one game, he’s good to go.’ … I mean, if you guys think about it, he played [21 games last season]. This season is 82, right? Is he gonna play all 82? No.
Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) looks for an opening as Charlotte Hornets guard Christian Anderson (5) defends during the fourth quarter on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Barclays Center in New York. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
“We feel like he can take steps. Obviously, at some point he’ll be able to play more games and be able to play back to backs, but it’s not right now or anytime soon.”
Brown — who could sit against the Cavaliers or for Sunday’s home game against the Pacers — missed the Nets’ first three preseason games with an ankle injury. The 20-year-old was then limited to 18 minutes in the preseason finale and just under 20 minutes in the season-opening loss to the Hornets, in which he finished with six points, three rebounds and three assists while shooting 2 of 8 from the field.
In his lone season at Louisville, Brown missed 14 games due to a lower back injury, but Brooklyn felt comfortable enough with his recovery to make the 6-foot-4 guard the franchise’s highest draft pick in 16 years.
“We’re gonna build him to be healthy and to be a strong NBA player,” Fernández said. “We have a plan for him. Obviously, we’re not gonna disclose every step of the way, but the No. 1 thing is to build him up and build up his body to be able to sustain the minutes that can help the team win games.”
Louisville was 16-3 with Brown in the lineup before he suffered the back injury that sidelined him for the postseason. He scored 29 points in his third college game in a win over rival Kentucky. He tied a school record and set an ACC freshman single-game record with 45 points in February.
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez speaks with Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. during the fourth quarter of on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
The need for Brown’s explosiveness was evident in Game 1 in Brooklyn, when the Nets had only two double-digit scorers (Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr.).
But patience is required.
His ceiling won’t be seen anytime soon.
“I’m really excited for Mikel to continue to grow and play and get more minutes and be out there with us,” Porter Jr. said. “There’s been practices where he’s completely dominated, played with the second group and won the day because he was killing it. He has so many tools to be elite offensively and defensively in the future.
“But offensively, for sure he’s a high-level scorer, he’s a high-level shotmaker, he can get others involved, so there’s not a lot of weakness in his game. As he gets more minutes, it’ll slow down for him. He has a very bright future. He has already shown that.”
A team that has had abysmal injury luck with its best players, the Magic may have another issue on their hands. Star forward Paolo Banchero left Orlando’s game Friday, Oct. 23 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with an ankle issue; the team later declared him doubtful to return with a sore right ankle designation.
Banchero tweaked his ankle early in the third quarter, prompting him to get subbed out and head to the locker room. The issue appeared to happen after he and Magic guard Jalen Suggs were going for a rebound. Banchero landed awkwardly and immediately grabbed his ankle as he fell to the floor.
The positive news was that Banchero not only returned to the bench, but also returned to action.
Yet, Banchero was subbed out at the start of the fourth quarter, which might be precautionary, as the Magic were getting blown out and down by 26 points at the time.
Both Banchero and fellow Magic forward Franz Wagner had injury issues over the past two seasons. During the 2024-25 campaign, an oblique injury limited Banchero to only 46 games. Wagner battled a similar injury the same season and played only 60 games that year; last season, he played just 34.
Banchero scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting Friday night, adding 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 23: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks drives by Brandon Miller #24 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of basketball game at Spectrum Center on October 23, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks were in Charlotte on Friday evening to face the Hornets. Both teams are coming off wins in their season opener, with the Hawks defeating the Orlando Magic and the Hornets defeating the Brooklyn Nets.
The Hawks and Hornets had a few battles last season, but the latter has made several changes to its roster since then. Outside of those moves, they actually have injuries to some key players, such as Kon Knuppel and Coby White. As for the Hawks, they’re fully healthy outside of Mouhamed Gueye, who’s still recovering from his injury in the offseason.
Onyeka Okongwu was able to get the Hawks on the board with his first 3-pointer of the season.
CJ McCollum got off to a fast start for the Hawks, scoring 11 points in the first quarter with a few 3-pointers. The Hawks were active on defense as well, leading to steals and deflections, and it worked in their favor as they built a double digit lead.
Lu Dort was the first player off the bench for the Hawks, and he came in knocked down a 3-pointer.
The Hawks’ second unit was able to maintain the lead strictly off their defense, but they were able to get some easy shots, like this one from Aaron Wiggins.
The Hawks found themselves up by as much as 21 points in the quarter. The Hawks’ second-unit defense was also strong through that stretch, which helped them gain a bigger lead.
It wasn’t just the second unit that was doing work on that side of the ball, but even the starters kept that same level of intensity.
The Hornets made a small run to cut down their deficit, but the Hawks responded in a huge way, which led to them going into halftime with a 68-43 lead.
The Hawks continued their strong defense to start the second half, and it was Daniels who made life hard for the Hornets. He had four steals in the third, and it felt like the Hornets were just willingly giving him the ball. He wasn’t just making an impact on defense either.
Just when you thought the Hawks played their best defense in the first and second quarters, they held the Hornets to just 19 points in the third and went into the fourth with a 97-62 lead.
The Hawks kept the pressure on the Hornets in the fourth, and the Hornets didn’t have an answer. With how lopsided the score was, the Hawks were able to put in their end of the bench guys around the seven-minute mark, giving the main guys a much-needed rest with a back-to-back tomorrow.
Flemings made his first career 3-pointer in the quarter.
Johnson finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists; Wiggins finished with 19 points, Daniels finished with 11 points, nine rebounds; and Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with 14 points.
The Hawks will be back in action tomorrow night against the Houston Rockets.
San Diego, CA - September 27: Jase Bowen #4 of the San Diego Padres catches a fly ball hit by Jordan Lawlar #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on September 27, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).
A Glove-First Outfielder
After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round of the 2019 draft, Jase Bowen flashed potential in his final season in the Pirates’ system. In 2025, he slashed .272/.353/.449 across four levels of the minor leagues. Most impressively, Bowen hit .294 with an .870 OPS in 36 games for Triple-A Indianapolis. In November of ‘25, Bowen elected free agency and signed with San Diego. He posted a .292/.362/.600 slash line in 49 games with Triple-A El Paso before being called up to make his MLB debut.
Overall Grade: C-
To that end, Bowen struggled. He never quite found a groove at the plate in the big leagues. Bowen often looked overwhelmed against big-league pitching, batting an anemic .146 with a .438 OPS. The power all but disappeared. Bowen had hit 13 homers in 49 games with El Paso, but launched just two in 83 contests at the big-league level.
Some of that is due to his usage as a defensive replacement. Bowen was really only put in games late, often not starting. Of the 83 games that Bowen played in, he started in less than a quarter of them. He boasts a phenomenal glove, posting +2 Fielding Run Value and +1 Outs Above Average in such a small sample (283.0 INN). Still, his glove is not enough to keep him on the roster.
Bowen has a potent bat, but he needs more time to develop. Starting the season in Triple-A to get more time against high-caliber pitching could help him mature enough to face big-leaguers. Alternatively, if he shows improvement during Cactus League play, Bowen could work his way onto the Opening Day roster. That said, Bowen needs to improve, otherwise he’s not going to last long on this squad in a stacked outfield crop.
Drake Powell appeared in 63 games (24 starts) as a rookie, averaging 21 minutes per game. Danny Wolf made 57 appearances (15 starts) for the Nets, averaging nearly 21 minutes per game. Ben Saraf also played nearly 21 minutes per game across 44 games (11 starts) in his first season.
But none of them — three of the Nets’ five 2025 first-round picks — were among the 10 players who saw the floor for Brooklyn in its season-opening loss to Charlotte.
“Nobody has guaranteed minutes,” head coach Jordi Fernández said Friday.
Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell (4) moves the ball against the Miami Heat during a game on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at Kaseya Center in Miami. NBAE via Getty Images
Minutes are harder to come by in a season that doesn’t begin with a focus on the next NBA Draft, especially following the acquisition of Julius Randle, the selection of Mikel Brown Jr. and the signings of Keon Ellis and Mo Wagner.
And Fernández wants to see what this group can produce before he bails on the rotation he’s envisioned.
“I gotta give them enough consistency,” Fernández said. “I gotta be a little bit patient with what I want to see. But then at the same time, if I feel I have to make changes because of the benefit of the group, I will. It’s a process. It’s [one] game. If I [was] changing things right now, it would be a sign of freaking out, and I think we’re not there.
“This group is great. The guys in rotation have done a great job. The guys that are not in rotation are working hard, and they’re working because when their number is called, they gotta take advantage of the minutes, and that’s how competition within the group works.”
Danny Wolf (2) of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York. NBAE via Getty Images
Michael Porter Jr. wants to make the most of his 6-foot-10 frame.
The 28-year-old forward has averaged 6.5 rebounds per game in his career, topping out at 7.3 per game during his second season (2020-21) in Denver.
But Porter believes he can still become one of the best rebounders in the league.
“I had seven rebounds [against the Hornets and] I need to be closer to the 10-rebound range,” Porter said. “I think I can really help the team in that area. … As far as being a good rebounding team, I know a lot of that is on me.”
Ellis returns to Cleveland for Saturday’s game against the Cavaliers.
The fifth-year guard spent his entire career in Sacramento before being traded to Cleveland for the final 29 games of last regular season and the Cavs’ run to the Eastern Conference finals.
Ellis, 26, tied Porter Jr. for the second-most minutes (34) played on the team in the season opener, including the entire fourth quarter.
“He played with a lot of composure, steady, did his job,” Fernández said. “That’s why he’s more of a veteran even though he’s still very young.”
