ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Robert Gasser delivered in the World Series unlike any left-handed starter since Sandy Koufax.
Gasser faced the minimum over six dominant innings, pitching the Milwaukee Brewers to the brink of their first championship in a 10-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
He’s the first starter to face the minimum over six in a World Series game since Curt Schilling for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 7 of the 2001 Fall Classic.
The last lefty to do it was Koufax, a Hall of Famer who spun his gem in Game 5 of the 1965 World Series.
The 27-year-old rookie nicknamed Bobby Diesel allowed a single to Yandy Diaz leading off the game but erased him on Chandler Simpson’s fielder’s choice. Catcher William Contreras then threw out Simpson attempting to steal second after Simpson slid off the bag.
Gasser retired 12 in a row until a leadoff walk to Victor Mesa Jr. in the sixth. Nick Fortes followed with a double-play groundout, and Taylor Walls grounded out to second on Gasser’s final pitch.
Gasser, who began the season in Triple-A Nashville, earned the win with six scoreless innings on one hit, one walk and three strikeouts. He is the first Brewers starter this postseason to record an out in the sixth inning.
“It’s a special opportunity that we all have to be here,” Gasser said. “To be nervous or scared would only be cheating myself and my teammates.”
Second baseman Brice Turang, who helped Gasser with three hits and two RBIs, was hardly surprised Gasser kept his cool.
“He’s very chill,” Turang said. “He drives chill, too. He’s really slow at driving. Everything about him is just chill.”
A second-round pick by San Diego in 2021, Gasser joined Milwaukee in a then-maligned deal for All-Star closer Josh Hader in 2022. He made his major league debut in 2024 but had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow after just five starts.
He struggled to regain his form until late in 2026, when he finished the regular season with a 1.67 ERA in his final six appearances.
“A big word is belief,” Gasser said. “I haven’t changed much over the years from mechanics to velocity. I think it always comes down to, ‘Do you believe in yourself?’”
No question, the Brewers believe in him.
Milwaukee has won four straight road postseason games, three of them started by Gasser. That includes five scoreless innings in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series at Dodger Stadium.
Prior to this year, Milwaukee had lost 12 straight postseason road games since 2018, matching the longest skid in major league history set by the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins from 1925-87.
“He’s been great for us all year, all postseason,” Brewers captain Christian Yelich said. “And he’s got that steady heartbeat. The moment’s never too big for him, and you know when he goes out there, you’re gonna have a great chance to win the game.”
Celtics broadcaster Brian Scalabrine got himself into some hot water in Boston.
In a stumbling live TV conversation, the Celtics’ color analyst struggled to explain comments he made earlier in the day claiming Brown demanded a trade — the first such claim from someone inside the Celtics’ orbit since Brown was shockingly dealt to the 76ers in the offseason.
“After the 48 calls I got today, and I listened, he technically didn’t demand to be traded,” Scalabrine said on the Celtics pregame show Monday. “I just summed it all up, and I summed up the word salad and kept it simple, but I think that’s what kind of got me in trouble there.”
Scalabrine was a bit more boisterous on his “The Starting Lineup” SiriusXM Radio show alongside Frank Isola just hours before his walkback.
“My understanding of this thing is he demanded to be traded,” Scalabrine said on the show earlier on Monday. “Not into the media, but to the organization.”
Scalabrine then got himself into even more hot water — likely with some within the organization, considering he’s a broadcaster for the Celtics with significantly more access than anyone on the outside — by alleging that Brown was recruiting players to join him at his next destination.
“But my understanding is Jaylen Brown went to the organization and had a list of demands,” Scalabrine said. “And it was like, ‘You either do this, or you trade me.’ And he was rooting to get traded to Milwaukee, including calling some other teammates about, ‘Hey man, what do you think of Milwaukee? We should go there.’”
Jaylen Brown (7) of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during a game against the Detroit Pistons at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Brown was rumored to be traded to the Bucks along with other draft picks or potential assets for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the trade did not happen, as the Heat acquired the former MVP.
Scalabrine attempted to walk all of that back now that he’s making headlines.
“I have no idea [what his demands were],” Scalabrine says while fumbling through his explanation. “Technically, he didn’t demand a trade; it was ‘do these things right here or else.’”
Brown was later traded to the 76ers for Paul George and draft compensation.
Brian Scalabrine admitted that he got himself in trouble after leaking details of Jaylen Brown’s trade demand.
Scalabrine did not specify whether one of those 48 calls that he “fended off” came from his bosses at NBC Sports Boston or Celtics team owners.
“I didn’t even know that this was going to be a thing,” Scalabrine said of the media blowback. “It was one of those things that lived in my mind for months. I finally used it because we were talking about the weirdest stuff, and now it’s out there.”
“I don’t understand the full reality of it,” Scalabrine attempted to explain.
Jayson Tatum (0) of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during a game against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden in Boston, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Brown and his former co-star, Jayson Tatum, have had a strange back-and-forth in the media in recent weeks, with the 76ers guard taking the latest shots.
Tatum had told reporters that his beef with Brown was “no f–king Shaq and Kobe. There’s no beef.”
But Brown appears to have stronger feelings than that.
Brown agreed, saying there is “no beef,” but added that there “might be a little lamb chops and some gravy,” with a cryptic “he should stay ready at all times.”
The 76ers play the Celtics on Nov. 10 in Philadelphia in the first meeting between the two stars since what has been viewed as an ugly breakup.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 23: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the New York Knicks during fourth quarter of the Celtics Home Opener at TD Garden on October 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Knicks 107-103. 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 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 23: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the New York Knicks during fourth quarter of the Celtics Home Opener at TD Garden on October 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Knicks 107-103. 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
It’s been rough for the Brooklyn Nets. Following a loss at Cleveland on Saturday night, they came home for a Sunday evening matchup against the Indiana Pacers and lost 136-109. Mikel Brown Jr. sat out (injury management) as things only got uglier.
The Boston Celtics look different this season after a busy offseason, but their early results have been encouraging. They enter Tuesday’s matchup coming off a 134-99 blowout against the Chicago Bulls.
Game Info & Broadcast Details
Matchup: Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics
Time: 7:30 PM EDT (6:30 PM CDT)
Venue: TD Garden (Boston, MA)
TV/Streaming: YES Network/DAZN
Nets vs. Celtics: Who’s Out?
Brooklyn Nets
Joshua Jefferson: OUT – G League Assignment
Drake Powell: OUT – G League Assignment
Ben Saraf: OUT – G League Assignment
Tyler Bilodeau: OUT – G League (Two-Way)
Grant Nelson: OUT – G League (Two-Way)
Boston Celtics: TBD
This is the second night of a back-to-back for Boston so we’ll find out a few hours before tip-off.
The Game
Jordi Fernandez’s message after Sunday was simple: “The performance that we put on after the first quarter was just unacceptable. 112 points in three quarters — you’re not winning basketball games.”
Indeed.
As we noted in our season preview roundtable, bad defense is a killer and things have gotten pretty ugly already. Erik Slater of ClutchPoints discussed the amount of open threes the Nets have been allowing through the first week of the season, and teams have punished those mistakes early and often. The Celtics have been top-four in three-pointers attempted per game dating back to 2022.
If Brooklyn’s defense continues to spring leaks, this game could get ugly quick.
One of Boston’s newest faces has been around a lot longer than you’d think. This is Year 17 for Paul George and he’s been a solid hand for Joe Mazzulla’s squad. George is a versatile vet with lower usage compared to what we remember — he doesn’t need to do the heavy lifting on most nights.
The downside to being in the game this long is you’re gonna get got every so often.
Mikel Brown Jr is back against Boston and that should be a welcome sight for Nets fans.
The 20-year-old will be one of several guards chasing Payton Pritchard around tonight. Pritchard hit for 28 points and seven three-pointers last night as he had the Bulls in a blender. PP has been one of the best reserve guards in recent years and is someone Mazzulla and the team can count on to deliver no matter what the role is on a given night. His ascension allows for more flexibility and makes things easier across the board for his teammates.
For Brown Jr, Pritchard offers a great test against on the defensive side of the ball, while playing against elite competition overall. It should be fun to see how he shapes out against one of the most prepared teams in the NBA.
Player to Watch: Jayson Tatum
“He should stay ready at all times,” said former teammate Jaylen Brown.
As the face of the franchise, Jayson Tatum has a lot to think about it. He’s the lead option on a championship contender and faces all pressure to keep the team afloat in a treacherous Eastern Conference. And these days, he’s awfully busy discussing his former All-Star teammate.
Either way, it’s a lot to handle for one superstar to handle.
On the court, Tatum continues to be one of the best around. After shooting 0-for-7 night from three on opening night, he’s starting to regain his rhythm. Tatum can hurt teams in more ways than scoring. Even when his outside shot isn’t falling, he contributes as a playmaker and rebounder while still applying pressure on the defense. Brooklyn needs to make him work for his looks and avoid giving him easy opportunities to get going.
As for the Nets: When a team is going through an early rut like this, it takes a lot to turn things around. Losses pile up if you aren’t careful and three losses can turn into five, five turn into eight — you get the rest. The schedule doesn’t help either. Neither does playing against someone like Jayson Tatum.
From the Vault
My dear friend and colleague Lucas Kaplan is leaving NetsDaily to work for the Los Angeles Sparks. Lucas is the best of us and while I’m sad he’s no longer working with us, I can speak for everyone when I say I’m beyond thrilled he gets to begin such an exciting new adventure!
With that in mind, I wanna revisit the best, most fun night of basketball we ever got to cover together.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 26: A general view of Tropicana Field during Game Three of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 26, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The 2026 MLB Playoffs continue today with Game 4 of the World Series between the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, who hold a 3-0 series lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, who are just trying to stay alive for another game.
Tonight’s game begins at 5:00 p.m. PT, airing on Fox/Fox One, with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.
As of the time this is being written, the Brewers have not yet announced a starting pitcher. Whoever it ends up being will face off against Rays right-hander Griffin Jax, who ended the regular season with a 3.53 ERA, 3.76 FIP, with 116 strikeouts to 35 walks in 112.1 innings pitched. His last start in this postseason was in the Rays’ 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on October 15th, in which he allowed three runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in four innings.
Personally, I’ve got to root for the Rays tonight. As much as I am hoping the Brewers take the series, a sweep is only fun if it’s your team doing it (as in 2012). I’d love to see the Rays come back and at least make the series a little more interesting. But I wouldn’t be unhappy to see the Brewers win it all tonight, either.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 30: David Peterson #19 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the National League Wild Card game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 30, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
So far this offseason, we have talked about some of the bigger names on the free agent market. That includes the likes of Michael King, Adrian Morejon and Brandon Lowe. Today I want to discuss some under the radar targets that have surprising upside. David Peterson, Kris Bubic and Kyle Hart all have risk, but they also have the ability to outperform their contracts.
For fans of the NL East, Peterson is the biggest name here, so let’s start with him. The lefty spent parts of 7 seasons with the Mets before being traded to the Cubs in June. Since 2022, Peterson has had his ups and downs, but has been largely reliable. He has thrown at least 105 innings every year and has posted a WAR of at least 1.
After a dreadful start to 2026, the trade reinvigorated Peterson. He posted a 3.70 ERA with the Cubs and was arguably their best pitcher after the All-Star break. Following the midsummer classic, Peterson posted a 2.73 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 66 innings.
David Peterson stays hot with another quality start:
The 31 year old southpaw is not a flashy pitcher by any means. He throws his two low-90’s fastballs over 50% of the time. However, those offerings play up due to Peterson’s elite extension. His slider, changeup and curveball give him a trio of solid secondary pitches. Peterson relies heavily on ground balls, which makes his ERA heavily reliant on BABIP, but his FIP has generally been in the mid to high 3’s throughout his 5 year run.
Peterson will be more expensive than the free agents the Nats have signed over the past few years, but compared to a King or Peralta, he will be cheaper. Something in the ballpark of 3-years $33 million should get it done. One potential issue I would have is that Peterson is fairly reliant on a good defense, but I like his steadiness. He is a solid arm, who can make playoff starts when he is at his best.
Kris Bubic is also a soft tossing lefty, but he is very different from Peterson. The 29 year old lefty has a very high ceiling but his injury prone nature makes him a big risk. However, that risk is also a potential opportunity for the Nats. If Bubic hits, he can be a true middle of the rotation starter while not being paid like one.
Over his last 217.2 innings, Bubic has a 2.98 ERA with a 2.91 FIP and 227 strikeouts. The problem here is that he has only thrown 217.2 innings since 2023. This season, Bubic suffered from forearm and shoulder issues, which is obviously terrifying. However, he got back on the mound at the end of the year and threw in the playoffs for the Dodgers.
In 2025, the one season where Bubic was relatively healthy, he had a 2.55 ERA in 116.1 innings and made the All-Star game. Bubic’s fastball only averages 92, but it has elite ride from a lower slot which makes it a very good pitch. He also has a filthy changeup which plays beautifully off the fastball. His sweeper and slider cap off a very complete arsenal.
With his injury issues, Bubic will likely have to take a one-year deal, maybe with a club option. If Paul Toboni is hunting for upside on the free agent market, this would be a great opportunity. We have seen injury prone pitchers suddenly stay healthy before, with Shane Baz and Jacob Degrom being recent examples.
LHP Kris Bubic [29 y.o.]
2026 stats: 14 games (9 starts) 3.76 ERA 3.54 FIP 25% K%/12% BB% 49% GB%
Given the nature of his injury history, he is due for a 1+1 (club option) contract as high as $10-15M for 2027. His versatility in both a rotation and bullpen role could excite… pic.twitter.com/5oOilu3JHy
If the Nats can somehow keep Bubic healthy, he would be a great signing. He might not be able to be a full time starter, but I think he could provide value as a reliever if that is how you keep him healthy. Bubic is the type of high upside, lower cost move I could see the Nats making.
One of the Nats biggest needs this offseason is a matchup lefty. Paul Toboni tried so hard to find a left handed reliever who could consistently get left handed hitters out. He never really got his guy though. Thankfully, there are plenty of lefty relievers on the market.
There are top tier guys such as Alex Vesia and Adrian Morejon. This class also has a nice second tier consisting of JoJo Romero, Brock Burke, Sean Newcomb, Gregory Soto and more. However, I have a third tier option that could outproduce that second tier in 2027.
We will see if the Padres pick up Kyle Hart’s $2.5 million club option, but if they don’t I like the lefty. On the surface, this sounds weird. He posted a 4.92 ERA this year and the 33 year old has a 6.25 ERA in his career. However, his peripherals and stuff tell a different story.
Despite that 4.92 ERA, Hart had a 3.63 FIP and xERA. Hart did a fantastic job of limiting hard contact and getting ground balls. His velocity also went up by over 2 MPH after being moved to a full time bullpen role. If you are looking for a stuff demon, Hart is a sneaky option.
Kyle “The Hartthrob” Hart is awesome and that sweeper is a nasty. Not sure I agree with having him go 2 innings as the opener but I don’t think Randy would have done too much better that second inning anyway. Defense didn’t help him, but that run was probably scoring regardless. pic.twitter.com/QjDSWUrnee
— Francis Alipranti (Papa Frank) (@fxalipranti_) June 28, 2026
In addition to the harder fastball, Hart also introduced a splitter, which got very good results. Batters hit just .163 against the pitch with a 39.4% whiff rate. That helped him a lot against right handed hitters. Hart’s sweeper is also a very strong weapon against lefties.
He has never fully turned that stuff into results, which is why the Padres might not pick up his option. After all, he is out of minor league options and was left off the playoff roster. However, I think he could be primed for a late career breakout entering his age 34 season. Hart will be quite cheap and I think he could outperform better known options such as JoJo Romero or Brock Burke.
None of these three arms are perfect, but they would not be sleeper options if they were. However, I think Peterson, Bubic and Hart all have the ability to outperform their contracts by quite a bit. You would be taking a risk, but the reward could be huge and the price won’t be massive.
Coast 2 Coast Tuesday returns to NBC and Peacock tonight with a thrilling doubleheader. First at 8:00 PM ET, Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons take on Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Later, at 11:00 PM ET, Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers take on Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers.
See below to find out how to watch both games as well as additional information on how to live stream NBA games on Peacock.
The Pistons improved to 3-0, defeating LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers 106-93 on Sunday night.
Cunningham had 26 points and 8 rebounds, Duncan Robinson finished with 21 points, and Daniss Jenkins with 18 points and 8 rebounds.
The Pistons, who are off to their best start since 2018, never dropped the lead in Sunday's win.
Despite the early success, Detroit lost All-Star center Jalen Duren to a right hamstring strain suffered in last Friday's win against Miami. He is expected to miss at least two weeks.
Detroit re-signed Duren on a 5-year, $200 million deal on October 2. He is coming off of the best regular season of his career, where he was named an All-Star and to the All-NBA 3rd Team for the first time.
"It's tough when you lose a guy that means as much to us as JD does," head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before Sunday’s game in Philadelphia. "It's tough. Tough for him. Trying to come back and get himself situated to start the year. You miss those days. It's obviously a little bit difficult for us."
The Knicks, 0-3, are off to their worst start since the 2019-2020 season, following Sunday night's 111-102 loss to the Orlando Magic.
New York shot just 38-for-93 from the field and 9-for-38 (23.7%) from three. The Knicks are currently second to last in the league with a field goal percentage of 40.8.
“Everyone can say it’s early in the season. We can use that as an excuse, but I think the one thing I see is when we get those runs and start to look like the team that we did in the past, we get comfortable,” Brunson said.
“So we have to continue to put our foot on the gas and execute like we did last year. And we’re not going to be the same as last year. That’s just human nature. But we have to accept this part of the journey and find a way to be better. Hopefully, after a couple games, we can look back and say we grew from that.”
How to watch 2026-27 NBA games on NBC and Peacock?
The NBA is back on NBC and Peacock for the 2026-27 season with 100 regular-season games across its three marquee nights of the week: Peacock NBA Monday, Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, and Sunday Night Basketball, beginning Jan. 24, 2027.
All NBA games presented by NBC Sports will stream live on Peacock and all Peacock-exclusive games on Monday nights will also be presented on NBCSN. Telemundo, NBCUniversal’s Spanish-language broadcast network, will present 10 Sunday Night Basketballgames as well as the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 21, 2027.
What is the full 2026-27 NBA on NBC and Peacock schedule?
You can see the full schedule of 2026-27 NBA games airing on NBC, Peacock, NBCSN, and Telemundo here.
How do I sign up for Peacock to watch NBA games?
Peacock is available across a variety of devices. To get started, find or download the Peacock application on your device or head directly to PeacockTV.com to create a Peacock account. Then, you’re ready to watch!
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 17: Brian Scalabrine and Drew Carter reports before the game between the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics for NBC Sports News in Boston on January 17, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The ongoing war of words between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum took an unexpected turn Monday courtesy of Celtics television analyst and SiriusXM radio host Brian Scalabrine.
To briefly recap: Last Thursday, Brown posted a cap emoji on an Instagram video where Tatum talked about his reaction to the Celtics trading Brown to the Sixers. The next night, Tatum told reporters, “This ain’t no f–king Shaq and Kobe, there’s no beef.” Brown concurred Saturday, telling reporters, “There’s no beef, but there might be a little lamb chops and some gravy.” (He also added that Tatum had “hell of a PR team,” which is a phenomenal dig. 10/10, no notes.)
That brings us to Monday. On his SiriusXM radio show, Scalabrine said Brown “demanded to be traded” from the Celtics, “not through the media, but to the organization.”
Pretty explosive stuff here from Brian Scalabrine:
"My understanding of this thing is that (Jaylen Brown) demanded to be traded. Not through the media, but to the organization." …
"My understanding is that Jaylen Brown went to the organization and had a list of demands, and… https://t.co/GC7fpjc7qh
“If you’re actually doing that, and you’re going to say Tatum is the one that’s lying, your whole basis of this thing is a lie,” he concluded.
As it turns out, Scalabrine might need to look in a mirror before calling someone else a liar. On the NBC Sports Boston broadcast prior to Monday’s game against the Celtics and Chicago Bulls, Scalabrine cleared up his report by essentially rebutting everything he said earlier in the day.
“He technically didn’t demand to be traded,” Scalabrine said. “I just summed it all up, I just summed up the entire word salad and kept it simple, but I think that’s what got me in trouble there.”
When asked what Brown’s demand was, Scalabrine replied, “I have no idea. I don’t know what the ultimatum was or the demand or whatever it was, but he technically did not demand to be traded. It was ‘Do these things right here or else.'”
A representative from Brown’s team told ESPN’s Kris Rhim that Scalabrine’s report was “10000% a lie.” The representative added that once the Celtics informed Brown that they planned to trade him, his “only request was to have input on his destination,” which Chris Hine of the Philadelphia Inquireralso reported.
Journalism is currently in a state of disrepair for countless reasons. The rise of AI will only make things exponentially worse. (It already has.) But one of the fundamental tenets of journalism—at least back in its heyday—was that you double-check what you’re reporting before you actually report it. Once upon a time, they had these things called “editors” and “fact-checkers” who were an extra layer of review to ensure that journalists weren’t reporting inaccurate information. (Most of them have now been laid off because they didn’t make their company’s Line Go Up quickly enough.)
Of course, the live, off-the-cuff nature of radio and TV make it far more difficult to vet information in real time. That’s why you do that work beforehand before spouting it to a national audience. We’ve all been on the internet long enough at this point to know that aggregators will pounce on any juicy material and disseminate it widely. Lo and behold, that’s exactly what happened to Scalabrine on Monday.
Jaylen Brown was reportedly the one who demanded a trade from Boston and was pushing for a move to Milwaukee, per @Scalabrine
“I think Jaylen Brown lives in his own reality. But because it wasn’t being documented that he demanded to be traded, then I don’t think that anybody,… pic.twitter.com/mnZGpK6LfQ
As the father of two young boys, teaching accountability has been one of the biggest parenting challenges to date. It’s hard to own up to your mistakes and admit that you screwed up; it’s far easier to blame someone else or deflect responsibility. But is that the world we want to live in?
Scalabrine shouldn’t necessarily lose his job over a mistake like this, but he should feel compelled to apologize and own it. No hedging, no wishy-washy, “Well, there’s nuance, but…” The only words out of his mouth should be, “I screwed up, I deeply regret the error, and I will not report anything unless I am 100 percent sure it is accurate moving forward.”
But given the state of everything these days, this faux pas will probably put him in line to be the next White House press secretary by next week.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Patsy Dougherty, circa 1910. (Photo by FPG/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Patrick “Patsy” Dougherty undoubtedly had his most success elsewhere as a big leaguer. In his sophomore season in Boston, he hit two home runs in a World Series game (one of them an inside-the-parker) to help secure a title in the very first Fall Classic. A few years later, he won another championship with the White Sox, in one of baseball’s most famous World Series.
In between those two stops, he spent some time in New York, manning the outfield. And getting in a fistfight with his manager. But let one who has never wanted to fight their boss cast the first stone. (And he isn’t the last man in franchise history to get into it with his manager, obviously.) Finally, in an historical quirk, he’s specifically linked to the name “Yankees,” and might be the first player ever officially referred to by that famed moniker.
Patrick Henry “Patsy” Dougherty Born: October 27, 1876 (Andover, NY) Died: April 30, 1940 (Bolivar, NY) Yankees Tenure: 1904-06
The son of an Irish immigrant, Dougherty grew up in southwestern New York, with his family settling in Bolivar. He drew attention on his high school team and gradually made the climb from the prep ranks to town ball to the minors and then to California late in 1901. They had a winter league back then, and his manager in LA happened to also be the skipper of Boston’s new American League club. So Patsy broke in with Boston in 1902 and hit the cover off the ball. He hit .342 as a rookie (a career-best) with a .407 OBP (ditto) and .805 OPS (likewise). He followed that up with a sensational sophomore season in 1903 that saw him pace the Junior Circuit in at-bats, runs, and hits, while hitting .331. Not a bad first two years.
That year, he also starred in a game against the New York Highlanders that one would expect to be a pitcher’s duel. Cy Young versus Jack Chesbro. That’s supposed to be a battle of the titans. Instead, it was more like a sustained exchange of artillery fire. The Highlanders outlasted the Americans 15-14 and Dougherty hit for the cycle.
Come playoff time, Dougherty etched his name in baseball history. With a pair of round-trippers in Game 2 of the World Series against Pittsburgh, he became the first player to homer twice in a World Series game. It was all part of an .827 OPS series as Boston won the first Fall Classic, five games to three ina best-of-nine.
In 1904, his bat fell off and, perhaps due to that, Boston was willing to move him. It might also have had something to do with Dougherty pushing to be paid more, after two pretty darn good first seasons in the big leagues. Either way, Boston moved him. In June 1904, the Americans sent him to New York for the somewhat-infamous Bob Unglaub.
The Boston Herald trumpeted “DOUGHERTY AS A YANKEE,” the first time on record the club was referred to by the name that has become ubiquitous. Meanwhile, Boston fans were furious, seeing through the club’s justifications of Dougherty’s defensive lapses being reason to send him packing. Le plus ca change, as they say.
Patsy quickly adjusted to life in New York. Though his bat never rebounded to its peak in Boston, he was still comfortably above-average with the stick for New York (120 OPS+ in 1904 after the trade). The Highlanders, unfortunately, missed the playoffs. Boston beat them out by 1.5 games to take home the American League pennant, with his new teammate and ace Chesbro uncorking a wild one to doom them in the penultimate game of the season.
Dougherty may not have been the greatest defender though, in fairness to Boston’s front office. On August 15th, 1905, Dougherty dropped two fly balls in left field, costing New York against Detroit and prompting The New York Times to declare “DOUGHERTY’S MISTAKES DEFEAT NEW YORK.” He also went through the worst offensive season of his career, coinciding with the Highlanders slipping to sixth place in the Junior Circuit.
1906 saw another contract dispute between Dougherty and his club. Worse, he got in a fistfight with New York skipper Clark Griffith. Unsurprisingly, he was gone from New York shortly after. Dougherty abandoned the team for the Tri-State League and found himself banned from the American League by president Ban Johnson.
Eventually, in July, the Chicago White Sox managed to massage things with Johnson and purchased his contract. He struggled down the stretch and was putrid in the World Series (2-for-20) but won his second World Series title nonetheless, as the “Hitless Wonder” White Sox pulled off an all-time upset against the crosstown rival 116-win Cubs of “Tinker to Evers to Chance” fame.
Dougherty spent the rest of his career in the Windy City and rediscovered his stroke, remaining a productive big-league hitter through his final season in 1911. Reputedly wealthy due to investments during his playing days, Dougherty began working at a bank shortly after his retirement, where he remained for almost three decades.
Patsy Dougherty died of a heart attack on April 30, 1940. He would have been 150 years old today. Happy birthday to a man nearly as old as the National League itself.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer must like Aaron Civale a lot, because he’s acquired him not once, but twice.
The White Sox waived him at the end of August 2025 and the Cubs claimed him. He pitched just five times in September, but very well: 2.08 ERA, 0.538 WHIP and one save in 13 innings, with 14 strikeouts. That was good enough for 0.3 bWAR — in just five appearances, that’s pretty impressive.
(Incidentally, as well as the White Sox have done in trades lately, their acquisition of Civale in June 2025 was a terrible deal on their part — they got him for Andrew Vaughn, who’s done quite well in Milwaukee, while Civale posted a 5.37 ERA in 13 starts for the Sox.)
Anyway, the Cubs let Civale walk in free agency last offseason and he signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the A’s, who put him in their rotation. He wasn’t any good there, either, posting a 5.42 ERA and 1.621 WHIP, with 16 home runs allowed in 74.2 innings. (In fairness, part of that was due to the A’s minor league home park, Sutter Health Park, where 238 home runs were hit in 2026. That led MLB… tied with Wrigley Field.)
On July 18, the Cubs traded a minor league prospect named Aiden Moffett to the A’s for Civale. Trust me when I say I don’t think the Cubs will miss Moffett. In 17 relief appearances combined between the Cubs’ Arizona Complex League team and Low-A Myrtle Beach, Moffett walked 42 batters in 22.1 innings and no, that is not a typo, that’s a 34.1 percent walk rate, which is just awful.
Civale, meanwhile, turned into an impressive reliever for the Cubs. In 18 appearances covering 36.2 innings, he posted a 1.77 ERA and 1.064 WHIP, allowing just two home runs and striking out 33. He posted his first save of 2026 July 30 against the Cardinals, striking out Lars Nootbaar to end the game. Just look at this nasty curveball! [VIDEO]
This hints that maybe, just maybe, late-career Civale (he turns 32 in June) could be a useful relief piece in 2027. Now, relievers are fungible, as we all know, but over 24 career relief appearances (52 innings) Civale has a 2.52 ERA and 1.019 WHIP and 51 strikeouts and only 13 walks.
Keep that up and that’s a really good setup type guy.
If I were the Cubs I’d offer him a one-year deal at $4 million with a $6 million team option for 2028 and a $1 million buyout, to be a bullpen piece.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 5: Steward Berroa #39 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Citizens Bank Park on June 5, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 8-6. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A fact that may interest you about Steward Berroa: His name is Steward, not Stewart as most people probably assumed when they heard it for the first time. (I tried to find a way to work in a Denethor joke.) Sadly, there wasn’t all that much else interesting about Berroa or his contributions to the 2026 Phillies.
This was his third major league season, spending the previous two with the Blue Jays and Brewers. The Phillies purchased him from Milwaukee in early June and stashed him in AAA for most of the year. He was called up at the end of May and appeared in six games before returning to the minors for the remainder of the season.
Oh, he also pitched a game for Lehigh Valley, so that’s slightly interesting!
The stats: 6 games, .143/.143/.143, 0 HR, 0 RBI, -0.1 WAR
What went right
He got an RBI single in his Phillies debut, but that was about it as far as major league accomplishments go.
In the minors, he had a good on-base percentage (.363) along with 15 stolen bases.
He also had a child in June, so good for him!
What went wrong
He only batted .251 with five home runs in 242 plate appearances with Lehigh Valley.
The future
He’s a switch hitter with good speed and defensive ability, so it might be worth keeping him around as a “Quad-A” outfielder next season. Maybe he’ll be a late bloomer, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll ever hit well enough to stick for long on a major league roster.
Grade: D
He had an RBI and he wasn’t the worst reserve outfielder the Phillies trotted out there this season, but that was a low bar to clear.
Tonight’s matchup at crypto.com Arena pits two of the Western Conference’s remaining unbeaten teams against each other as the Los Angeles Lakers (3-0) host the Portland Trail Blazers (2-0). Los Angeles has opened the season with victories over Golden State, the Clippers and Utah, while Portland has beaten Phoenix and Sacramento. Both offenses have been explosive in the small early-season sample: the Lakers are averaging 128.0 points per game, with Portland at 126.0, setting up an intriguing test between a Los Angeles offense led by Luka Doncic and a Portland team that has allowed only 101.5 points per game through two contests.
The Lakers’ most recent victory was their most dramatic. Los Angeles erased an 18-point deficit Sunday at Utah and beat the Jazz 132-123, with Doncic exploding for 52 points and Austin Reaves adding 29. Doncic enters tonight averaging 34.3 points, 8.0 assists and 7.3 rebounds through the Lakers’ first three games, while Reaves is averaging 26.7 points. Portland has had a few extra days to prepare after winning 128-120 at Sacramento on Friday, following a dominant 124-83 victory over Phoenix in its opener. Tonight represents an early measuring stick for two teams with numerous new pieces from last year’s squads.
The major storyline is the chance for both teams to protect perfect starts, but injuries could complicate Portland’s task. Shaedon Sharpe is out following right meniscus surgery, while Scoot Henderson is questionable with left ankle soreness and Branden Carlson is questionable under the concussion protocol; Chris Youngblood is also listed out with left ankle soreness by one current injury report. Los Angeles is healthier at the top of its rotation: Adou Thiero is out with a left knee issue. Walker Kessler is available despite wearing a splint for a finger injury.
Recent series history has belonged to Portland. The Trail Blazers have won seven of the last 10 meetings with the Lakers, including the most recent matchup on January 17, 2026, when Portland defeated Los Angeles 132-116. Portland also won the previous meeting, 123-115 on November 3, 2025, after the Lakers had taken the first matchup of that season, 122-108 on October 27, 2025. Exactly one year after that Lakers victory, the teams meet again with neither having lost a game this season.
Lets take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
The NBA on NBC YouTube channel continues to deliver fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Trail Blazers vs. Lakers: Game Details and How to Watch
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Time: 11:00PM EST
Site: crypto.com Arena
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: NBC
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Trail Blazers vs. Lakers: Odds
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy ofDraftKings:
Moneyline: Portland Trail Blazers (+120), Los Angeles Lakers (-142)
Spread: Lakers -2.5
Total: 235.5 points
The Total has been bet down a point since opening at 236.5 but the Spread remains where it opened.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Trail Blazers vs. Lakers: Expected Starting Lineups
Portland Trail Blazers (2026-27 Scoring Average)
PG Ja Morant (13.0PPG)
SG Damian Lillard (22.0PPG)
C Donovan Clingan (9.5PPG)
SF Toumani Camara (18.5PPG)
PF Deni Avdija (22.0PPG)
Los Angeles Lakers(2026-27 Scoring Average)
PG Luka Doncic (34.3PPG)
SG Austin Reaves (26.7PPG)
C Walker Kessler (16.7PPG)
SF Ziaire Williams (11.3PPG)
PF Matisse Thybulle (9.0PPG)
Trail Blazers vs. Lakers: Injury Report
Portland Trail Blazers
Shaedon Sharpe (knee) is OUT for tonight’s game
Scoot Henderson (ankle) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Branden Carlson (concussion) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Chris Youngblood (ankle) is OUT for tonight’s game
Los Angeles Lakers
Adou Thiero (knee) is OUT for tonight’s game
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Trail Blazers and the Lakers:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Spread
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 235.5
The Best Bet: Game Total UNDER 235.5
The strongest play on the board, and the market has been moving this direction all week. The Total opened at 236.5 and has been bet down to 233.5 across the board. The historical case is the loudest number here. None of the last 10 meetings between these teams closed with a total above 229.5. This one opened at 236.5, which is a massive jump against recent history, and the market has been correcting toward that reality ever since. The matchup supports the correction. Both offenses have padded their early numbers against poor defenses. Portland's defense ranks 1st in effective field goal percentage allowed (47.4%), 1st in three-point percentage allowed (25.0%), 1st in corner three percentage allowed (11.1%), and 3rd in defensive rating (100.5). That's a unit built to take away exactly what the Lakers do best.
Trail Blazers vs. Lakers: Top Player Props
Jrue Holiday Assists + Rebounds Over 6.5
The splits are the reason this tops the prop card. As a visitor, he's hit this 100% of the time at 10.0 combined, and against the Lakers specifically he's 100% across three career meetings at 9.0. His projection sits at 6.91, above the number, and the matchup grades at 22nd in defense versus position — a favorable draw.
Ja Morant OVER 6.5 Assists
The best price on the board for a player with a perfect recent record. Morant has cleared 6.5 assists in both games this season. The recent form is running well above that number, and his 34.1% assist percentage with a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio reflects a genuine primary playmaker.
Damian Lillard 3-Pointers Made Over 2.5
A volume three-point play on a player whose role guarantees attempts. Lillard has hit three or more threes in 50% of his games this season at a 4.0-per-game clip across two games, and his projection sits at 3.11 makes against a 2.5 line. The one flag: his visitor split is 0% at 2.0 makes in one road game. But at -155 for a shooter averaging four attempts a night, the volume is the bet.
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The Hurricanes had one of the best turnarounds in the nation last season in Jai Lucas' first year as coach, going from 7-24 in 2024-25 to winning 26 games, returning to the AP Top 25 and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament (and in a season where he had zero returning players from the previous regime). This season, the Hurricanes will have the burden of expectations, which is exactly the way Lucas wants it. The preseason poll ranking of No. 14 is the third-best in school history; the Hurricanes entered the season No. 13 on two previous occasions.
Players to watch
It starts with Malik Reneau, whose eligibility was extended by a court order and now could be one of the favorites to win the Atlantic Coast Conference's player of the year award. Miami already figured to be good this season — and then back comes Reneau, who averaged a team-best 18.9 points per game.
Shelton Henderson started all 35 games for Miami last season, when the forward averaged 13.8 points and made 62% of his 2-point attempts. Transfer guard Acaden Lewis was an All-Big East player last season at Villanova; he now takes over as the quarterback for a group that will want to play fast, fast, fast.
Departures and arrivals
Losing Tre Donaldson (16.4 points per game) and Ernest Udeh Jr. (9.2 rebounds per game) will hurt, but Lucas clearly restocked the roster well — keeping five-star recruit Caleb Gaskins from Miami's famed Christopher Columbus High home and adding, among others, Somto Cyril from Georgia to help anchor the frontcourt. Cyril shot 76% from the floor last season.
Top games
Miami opens Nov. 2 against No. 1 Florida in Tampa, will be part of an absurdly stacked Players Era tournament in Las Vegas around Thanksgiving, plays host to Alabama in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 2 and goes to Houston to meet Texas on Dec. 12. The Hurricanes face Duke and North Carolina only once each in ACC play this season; both are on the road.
Facts and figures
Miami was one of two ACC teams to finish among the top five in the conference in both scoring offense and scoring defense last season. Duke was the other. ... The Hurricanes set a school record by shooting 49.7% from the field last season. But free throw shooting (68.3%) was an issue. ... Miami was 26-4 when holding teams to 81 points or less last season, 0-5 when giving up 82 or more.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 22: Evgeni Malkin #71 celebrates his third period goal with Ville Koivunen #41 of the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Florida Panthers at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Not since Dominik Simon has there been a more polarizing figure in a Pittsburgh Penguins sweater than Ville Koivunen.
He’s always been an analytics MVP, and when he has been on the ice, good things have generally happened. It has just never really turned into individual results for him, and the eye-test has not always been passed.
While he has struggled to produce for himself at the NHL level, his AHL play has always been really, really solid, while he has always looked like a confident, engaged player. Getting that to translate to the big leagues has been the problem.
Then the Penguins went and did something completely unexpected this offseason and signed him to an eight-year, $32 million contract that instantly shocked everybody. Given some of the other deals that were signed around the NHL this offseason with comparably unproven players, it became obvious that teams were willing to take bets on potential in the hopes that they get a long-term steal under the salary cap. They struck before the eight-year term limit went away, and they struck while there is a more reasonable buyout for players under the age of 25 in the event the gamble does not pay off.
I get it.
I see the logic.
It’s the type of move a lot of Major League Baseball teams make with unproven young talent.
There is also the reality that, given where the salary cap is going, Koivunen does not need to reach that high of a level for the contract to pay for itself and be a steal.
He still has to get there, and he still has to prove he can be an NHL player.
Over the past few games, you are really starting to see some signs that maybe, just maybe, he is figuring it out and everything that he was doing at the AHL is starting to translate over to the NHL.
The numbers are still painting a strong picture from a team perspective. When he is on the ice, good things are still happening for the Penguins. They are outscoring teams, out-chancing teams, and the play is generally in the correct end of the ice. He is getting some soft deployments and a lot of help in that regard, but they are still taking advantage of it.
He is also starting to be more noticeable in making contributions to that success.
With his overtime goal on Saturday, he is up to five points in 10 games this season, with three points in his past five games. While that may not seem like anything special, that’s still a 40-point pace, and it’s still useful production for a player on that cap hit, in this cap environment. Especially when combined with the positive underlying numbers.
What really stands out about Koivunen so far is that he just looks like a more confident, engaged player.
He kept getting chances during the 2025-26 season, and when they would not go in he always seemed like he was on the verge of snapping a stick in half mid-shift. He had the world’s worst poker face and would obviously get down on himself. When he would get the puck in prime scoring areas, there always seemed to be a slight hesitation that would give defenders an opportunity to close on him and either take away the shot opportunity, or block it, or just get a stick on it to harmlessly deflect it away. There always seemed to be more thinking than reacting.
Right now? He simply looks more confident. He is more engaged with the action and not afraid to mix things up a little bit. He doe not look as consistently frustrated. Maybe finding the back of the net a couple of times early in the season is helping with that. He is also demonstrating the vision and playmaking that should be the focal point of his game.
The latter skill has always been there. Teammates always talk about how smart of a player he is and the way he can see the ice. We know he can play at a reasonably high level in the AHL, and they just needed him to figure out a way to make it work in the NHL. He might be taking steps toward doing that. It is still early, and there is still a lot of hockey to be played this season, but he had to start somewhere. Right now he is at least looking like a player that belongs in the NHL on his own merits and not just because the team made a reasonably large investment in him. There are a lot of positive signs. He needs to keep building on them.
It's been all Brewers so far in this year's World Series, with Milwaukee up 3-0 over the Tampa Bay Rays as it looks to finish the four-game sweep tonight in St. Petersburg. After tallying 10 runs in Game 3, the Brew Crew have outscored the Rays 18-7 through three games.
Ahead of Game 4, get everything you need to know below, including TV/streaming information, the full World Series schedule and more.
How to watch Rays vs. Brewers 2026 World Series Game 4
When: Tuesday, Oct. 27
Where: Tropicana Field - St. Petersburg, Florida
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: FOX, FOX Deportes
Streaming: FOX One
Rays vs. Brewers 2026 World Series schedule and results
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 5: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason game on October 5, 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
An eventful offseason for the Detroit Pistons made the last few months feel short. After the dust settled, suddenly, we had games! And with them came plenty of early impressions.
The overarching impression? Detroit looks really good again.
The Pistons have not only won their first three games, but they’ve looked like the big boys against the teams everyone expected to be among the conference’s big boys. All the talk about Detroit regressing this season may have played right into the hands of a team that needed an edge after a 60-win campaign last year.
Both Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson missed the most recent game against Philadelphia with injuries, yet the team arguably played its most complete game of the young season. The last time we saw Detroit, its weaknesses were exposed. But it’s easy to forget just how dominant the Pistons can look when opponents aren’t ready to match their level of intensity.
Let’s get into three thoughts from Detroit’s opening stretch of wins.
1. Spacing!
Outside of contract situations that dominated the offseason, plenty of noise came from doubters (like myself) who felt the front office hadn’t done enough to add scoring to a team that desperately needed it in the postseason. While I still believe there will eventually be a need, for now, that noise has quieted.
It was evident in the season opener against Boston that there has been a shift toward prioritizing spacing around Cade Cunningham. Duncan Robinson has been excellent through the first three games and clearly has the green light to let it fly, averaging 19.7 points and 5.0 made threes per game. The team as a whole ranks third in the NBA in three-point percentage and fourth in made threes per game.
May 1, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) celebrates his three pointer agains the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images | Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
We may look back at the end of the season and realize that prioritizing depth and shooting this offseason made a lot more sense than going all in on a superstar. On the flip side, teams will start to game-plan differently and try to limit what Detroit has done so well early on. There will likely be some regression to the mean, but for the Pistons to shoot this well against three teams with legitimate championship aspirations is a huge boost.
2. No Stew, no problem?
Isaiah Stewart’s impact on the identity of this new iteration of the “Bad Boy” Pistons has been well documented over the years. A fantastic defensive player, Stewart became a fan favorite during his six seasons in Detroit, making it easy to understand why many took issue with his offseason departure in a trade to Memphis.
His exit also raised questions about whether the team’s defensive identity would take a step back without him. So far, it hasn’t.
Through the first week, Detroit hasn’t skipped a beat defensively compared to what we saw last season. The Pistons rank fifth in points allowed per game, fourth in blocks and second in loose balls recovered. Yes, it’s a small sample size, but these are the kinds of numbers many might have expected to regress immediately without Stewart in the rotation.
That was evident in some games last year when Detroit was without its top players, but it’s increasingly clear that this team’s identity is rooted in collective defensive pride, not just a few standout defenders.
Daniss Jenkins said after the win over Philadelphia, “We feel like we’re the baddest dudes in the world.” That’s exactly what you feel watching this team compete for every possession, especially on the defensive end.
3. Ebuka Okorie’s role
When a top-20 draft pick has a hard time finding minutes on his new team, it’s usually a sign of one of two things: the team is loaded with talent, or the rookie is struggling to earn a role. Detroit likely falls into the former category, as its depth of experienced guards has made it difficult for Stanford rookie Ebuka Okorie to see much playing time through the first few games. Still, I don’t expect that to be a season-long theme.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 05: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons plays against the Phoenix Suns during a pre season game at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Okorie got on the floor for a brief stint against Philadelphia and scored his first NBA points at the free-throw line after drawing a foul on a back cut. That short appearance could be a soft launch toward a larger role for a rookie who likely deserves the opportunity after a strong preseason.
Okorie was an immediate spark plug during the preseason, playing well down the stretch of games and, at times, willed the team to victory. Whether it’s because of injuries or his own development, I expect the rookie to find his way onto the floor more consistently at some point.
Kurt Helin
Raphielle Johnson
