No. 23 Utah Utes at No. 15 BYU Cougars Game Preview
Draymond Green clarifies misconception about how Steve Kerr coaches Steph Curry
Draymond Green clarifies misconception about how Steve Kerr coaches Steph Curry originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
After over a decade of continuity for the Warriors, it’s clear that nobody in the organization gets special treatment. Not even the centerpiece.
Two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry is coached the same way as everyone else. Draymond Green elaborates on coach Steve Kerr’s style.
“Most people think Steph can do what he wants,” Green said. “No. He’s on Steph’s ass all the time. Defense, turnovers. He coaches Steph really, really, really hard. I don’t think people realize that.”
There have been multiple occasions where Kerr has shown his frustration with Curry through his body language. In a game early in the 2023 season, Curry flung a careless fourth-quarter pass in Minnesota, landing out of bounds near Kerr. The coach stomped around in disgust on the sidelines.
“The next day I pulled him aside,” Kerr said, relaying his message to Curry. “‘Hey, I was watching the tape and I saw my reaction, I shouldn’t have done that.'”
Curry’s response: “Hell no. That was a terrible decision. You got to coach me.”
Many coaches live by the theory that your best players should be coached the hardest in front of everyone to set the tone. Sometimes this can lead to a disconnect between star play and the coach.
“Not all players in this league can handle that being put out to the public,” Kerr said.
Curry is a rare breed. On the court, everyone can see why, but it’s his temperament outside the lines that can be overlooked.
“He actually probably gets on me more now than ever,” Curry said. “The one conversation we’ve had is to coach me like you would coach everybody because that’ll help strengthen your voice in the locker room, create that trust.”
Creating a culture starts with building an identity and holding everyone involved to the highest standard, including one of the best players of all time.
NBA season 2025-26 preview: Eastern Conference tiers, plus East and NBA Finals predictions
Everyone keeps talking about the "weaker" Eastern Conference, but two years ago the Celtics were a dominant force on their way to a title, and last season the Pacers pushed the Thunder to seven games in the NBA Finals and left us with one of the greatest "what ifs?" in NBA history.
This season, nobody is giving the Eastern Conference a chance. Underestimate these teams at your own peril. Which teams can not only make the Finals but threaten the Thunder, Nuggets or whoever comes out of the West? Let's break the East down by tiers.
TITLE CONTENDERS
1. Cavaliers
2. Knicks
SECOND CIRCLE CONTENDERS
3. Magic
4. Hawks
PLAYOFFS OR BUST
5. Bucks
6. Pistons
7. 76ers
HOPEFUL PLAY-IN TEAMS
8. Heat
9. Celtics
10. Raptors
11. Bulls
12. Pacers
13. Hornets
LOTTERY BOUND
14. Wizards
15. Nets
Eastern Conference Finals
Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the New York Knicks
NBA Finals
Denver Nuggets defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers
Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers pushing the Thunder in the Finals last season was a great story, but I don't see anything close to that happening again. I like Cleveland to win the East because of their defense and balance of scoring (I think they learned hard lessons in last year's playoffs), but it doesn't really matter if it's the Cavs or Knicks. Denver and Oklahoma City — whichever team comes out of the West (I have picked Denver) — are just better than anyone in the East. In particular, if the matchup is Cleveland and OKC, the East and the Cavaliers are in trouble (two similar teams in style and design, but the Thunder are just better at everything).
My prediction is that Nikola Jokic gets ring number two. What Denver was lacking a season ago, the front office addressed this offseason (somewhere Michael Malone is frustrated and just shaking his head). Cameron Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas will play critical roles (this team isn't going to fall off a cliff when Jokic sits, like previous years).
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There is a clear line drawn in the East, the top two teams appear a good step or two ahead of the rest of the pack. The Cavaliers won 64 games last season and learned the hard way about what it takes to win in the playoffs, now they are running back a talented and deep roster. They need to stay healthy (no Darius Garland to start the season) and Evan Mobley needs to take another step forward on the offensive end, but I expect those things to happen. New York feels it just needs to improve around the edges, and Mike Brown can bring a little more ball and player movement to New York to facilitate that, with a bench he can trust. The Knicks, led by the gritty Jalen Brunson and the sharp-shooting Karl-Anthony Towns, are still a team fully capable of taking the next step to the NBA Finals.
• Orlando is the one team that could crash the Knicks/Cavs party. This was a team already looking ready to make a leap behind Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, plus an elite defense. Now, they have added Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones to fill in needed gaps in shooting and having a floor general. Like just about everyone, I am high on Orlando, but they have to prove it on the court, and then they will learn their lessons about winning in the postseason.
• Atlanta is the other team with a chance to crash the party, but a lot more things have to go right. At the top of the list: Kristaps Porzingis has to stay healthy, which is never a given. Beyond that, the question becomes, can Quin Snyder meld a roster with a lot of new parts — Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, plus a healthy Jalen Johnson — and find chemistry on a roster built to take advantage of Trae Young's skills. This is a make-or-break season in Atlanta. If Young and this roster can't compete at a high level, what do they pivot to?
After that top four, there's a drop off in the East.
• Milwaukee has Giannis Antetokounmpo — still one of the five best players in the world — and swapped out Damian Lillard for Myles Turner, but is there enough around two proven stars to make this team a contender? It doesn't feel like it.
• A lot of fans and pundits expect Cade Cunningham and Detroit to take another step forward this season, but I'm skeptical and expect more of a plateau (Jaden Ivey missing the first month of the season doesn't help).
• The 76ers could be a contender if everything goes right for them, but with a limited Joel Embiid to start the season — plus Paul George and Jared McCain out with injuries — it's tough to be truly optimistic. Embiid reportedly will play opening night but will be on a minutes limit and will not be playing back-to-backs — he is the key to it all, if Embiid is not back close to his MVP form, none of this works.
• Miami will punch above its weight but it's not a top-six threat as constructed.
• Boston and Indiana are two of the harder teams to project — elite teams that will spend the season (or, with the Celtics, at least most of the season) without their best player. Both teams didn't just lose their star, Boston is without Porzingis and Jrue Holiday now, Indiana is without Turner. Both of these teams still have high-level championship role players on the roster, but how far can they go without their stars at 100%? Maybe I'm too low on them to start the season, but how high can you be?
• The Bulls and Raptors are teams that maybe we're underestimating, but I'm not sold. Toronto has a fair amount of talent — Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley — but a lot of it overlaps. There are smart basketball minds that think this is a playoff team in the East. I need to be convinced. Chicago locked up Josh Giddey this summer and has some talent around him with Coby White, Matas Buzelis and rookie Noa Essengue, but this is a team retooling on the fly and not ready to compete with the big boys. Also, look for them to trade Nikola Vucevic during the season.
• There's a pattern with the bottom three teams in the conference. Charlotte and LaMelo Ball will be entertaining but lose a lot of games. The Wizards have some interesting young talent — Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington — but are going to lose a lot of games. Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. are going to put up a lot of points for Brooklyn, but the Nets are going to lose a lot of games.
Kings Come Up Short Against Penguins As Slow Start Continues
After losing three of their first four games of the 2025-26 season, the Los Angeles Kings entered Thursday night looking for a much-needed victory to get their season back on track.
However, they would have to battle through some early adversity as they would be without their captain and starting goaltender. Anze Kopitar and Darcy Kuemper were both sidelined against the Pittsburgh Penguins with injury.
The losses proved to be critical as the Kings once again fell short in a game that they should have come out on top.
Final from LA. #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/BlqsVTx33S
— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 17, 2025
First Period: Fast Start Gets Rewarded
From the initial drop of the puck, the Kings were the better team for the entire first period. The Kings were solid on both sides of the ice. At one point, they were outshooting Pittsburgh 8-2 before finishing the period with an 11-8 advantage in shots on goal.
Less than five minutes into the opening frame, Warren Foegele buried his first goal of the season. Foegele was rewarded after winning the battle for a loose puck off the rebound of his first shot attempt. After battling for the puck, Foegele powered it past Arturs Silovs to give LA an early 1-0 lead.
FIRST FOEGOAL OF THE YEAR! pic.twitter.com/uPddEqViMa
— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 17, 2025
Just under halfway through the period, Kevin Fiala made it 2-0 Kings with his third goal of the year. Fiala finished off a beautiful passing play by Joel Armia and Quinton Byfield. Armia carried the puck into the offensive zone before dishing it over to Byfield, who then found Fiala with a gorgeous setup.
After 20 minutes of play, it was clear that the Kings were the better team. With strong play on both ends of the ice, LA holds a 2-0 lead with 40 minutes of play to go.
Second Period: All of a Sudden, We're Tied
The Kings started the second period off strong, generating an early scoring chance. Fiala rifled a shot off the post after a nice play by Byfield. This is the second post for LA as Trevor Moore rang one off the iron in the first period.
After a rare occurrence of no penalties in the first, the Kings found themselves shorthanded early in the second period after Byfield was called for hooking. Special teams hurt them once again as Evgeni Malkin beat Anton Forsberg on the man advantage. Forsberg was beaten with a wrister from the face-off dot, one that he probably wants back.
Not even one minute after Malkin cut the LA lead in half, Conor Dewar made it 2-2. Dewar scored after gaining possession of a loose puck in front of the Kings' net. Kind of a whacky goal, but another one that Forsberg probably wants another stab at.
With just under four minutes left in the middle frame, LA found themselves on the man advantage after Sidney Crosby was called for tripping. Despite the Pens captain being in the box, the Kings couldn't get anything going on the power play.
Third Period: Special Teams Prove to be not so Special
Once again, that silly red post got in the way of a potential Kings goal as Cody Ceci fired a shot off the crossbar. After a slower-paced third period, LA had a chance to redeem themselves on the power play after Crosby was called for his second stick infraction of the evening.
They did exactly the opposite. Another terrible power play proves to be costly. The Penguins managed to escape their zone, leading to a brief two-on-one that was shut down. However, the Kings fell asleep after that, and Filip Hallander took advantage by banging home the loose puck for his first career NHL goal, which was also the eventual game-winning goal.
Los Angeles pushed to tie the game, but to no avail. With 30 seconds left in the final frame, Crosby iced the gam,e making it 4-2 with an empty net goal.
Result: Penguins Win 4-2
Another disappointing loss. After a first period that looked like the Kings might run away with the game, the Penguins competed hard and battled back to steal two points. This loss is due to horrendous special teams and the lack of big saves. Hopefully, those issues can be chalked up to the absence of Kopitar and Kuemper. If not, those issues need to be figured out as soon as possible.
The Kings (1-3-1) will have their hands full next game as they face the Carolina Hurricanes (4-0-0) on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. PT, 9:00 p.m. ET.
How Steph Curry, Steve Kerr developed bond through golf after Mark Jackson exit
How Steph Curry, Steve Kerr developed bond through golf after Mark Jackson exit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Before they bonded on the court, Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr bonded on the green.
In an interview with ESPN’s Anthony Slater published Friday, the Warriors’ star guard and coach revealed how a golf outing shortly after Kerr was hired in 2014 helped the duo form the chemistry that ignited Golden State’s dynasty.
As Slater writes, Kerr felt he needed to connect with Curry, the team’s star, who had voiced support for the Warriors’ previous coach Mark Jackson before his firing in May 2014. That connection came when he and Golden State CEO Joe Lacob met Curry and his father, Dell, for a two-on-two match at Pebble Beach.
“That’s when I really went into my spiel,” Kerr told Slater of his conversation with Curry between holes. “My whole thing was: ‘I’m here to help you build on the foundation that Mark has already built.’ I told him they were the fourth-ranked defense. Mark changed the culture and got them serious about two-way basketball. He established that. I said, ‘I’m not here to do anything other than help you build on the foundation that’s already there.’ And it was genuine.”
Those words resonated with Curry.
“It helped that [Kerr] is a former player,” Curry told Slater. “It helped that you heard him talk on TV for years. It helped that I knew he was a GM [with the Phoenix Suns] even though that job didn’t go great. It helped that he wasn’t trying to blow everything up.”
At the time, the Warriors were in trade discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a potential blockbuster: Klay Thompson for Minnesota forward Kevin Love. Kerr, as Curry told Slater, was “very pro-Klay” when the subject came up on the course. In keeping with Kerr’s message of continuity to Curry, the team eventually chose to stick with its foundation and keep Thompson.
It was a productive day at the links, even if it featured something that would prove rare for Curry over the coming years: a defeat.
“[Kerr and Lacob] beat us,” Curry told Slater, shaking his head. “Joe played solid.”
The Hockey News Big Show: Reacting To Carter Hart Joining The Golden Knights
The Hockey News Big Show is here on Friday to dive into significant topics across the NHL and beyond.
Here’s what former NHL player Drew Shore, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode:
00:40: Reacting to Carter Hart joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization on a tryout
03:30: How much of an impact will the layoff be for Hart?
06:20: Are you worried about the Minnesota Wild's offense?
08:30: Are there any concerns that Connor McDavid has yet to score?
11:00: Can Scott Wedgewood become the No. 1 goalie for the Colorado Avalanche?
16:40: The NHL announced a media partnership to broadcast games in Australia. How else can the NHL expand its presence internationally?
21:30: How much talk is there about players in Europe who make an NHL team? How much do European
22:20: How many points will Connor Bedard get this season?
25:00: Do the Chicago Blackhawks need to go after Artemi Panarin?
28:00: Revisiting the Dylan Cozens-Josh Norris trade from last season between the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres
33:30: Who had the better overtime goal this week: Auston Matthews or Cole Caulfield?
35:40: How concerned are you about Evan Bouchard's defensive play for the Oilers?
38:30: Will next summer's off-season be a snooze fest?
40:40: Who are you most impressed with and disappointed with so far?
43:00: Can the Ottawa Senators make the playoffs despite Brady Tkachuk's injury?
Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.
How to watch No. 20 USC vs. No. 13 Notre Dame: TV, live stream info, storylines for Saturday’s game
One of college football's most storied rivalries takes center stage this Saturday night on NBC and Peacock.
Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: 15 tips to make draft day (and your season) more fun
With the preseason concluding on Friday, October 17, many fantasy leagues usually hold their drafts now. There are no games to worry about over the weekend, and NBA teams will finalize their rosters. We'll have a general idea of each team's rotation, including factoring in how they'll compensate for players who won't be available when the regular season begins on October 21.
The NBA returns to NBC and streams on Peacock on Tuesday, October 21 with an Opening Night doubleheader featuring the Houston Rockets vs. the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Golden State Warriors at the Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m.
With many fantasy basketball drafts being held this weekend, Rotoworld's Raphielle Johnson, Noah Rubin and Zak Hanshew have some tips that should help make the fantasy basketball process fun and hopefully rewarding.
With fantasy basketball drafts beginning this month, here’s everything first-time players need to know about how to play and win their league.
Raphielle Johnson1. Enter the draft with a list of “your guys,” but don’t be afraid to pivot
No matter which draft guide you've read during the preseason, writers will have lists of their "guys" that they're high on entering the season. You can and should use that information and your gut feelings to craft a list of players you're hoping to land in your draft. However, whether or not you get those players will be impacted by the roster build and the moves made by other managers. Don't be afraid to go in a different direction based on who's still on the board. - Raphielle Johnson
2. Reach for your guys
I've broken this rule enough to know it never feels good when you leave your draft without that player. For me, Jalen Johnson and Ausar Thompson fit this description best this season. Last season, it was Dyson Daniels. The year before, it was Derrick White. This isn't me saying that it will always hit; I have definitely had players I just HAD to have that ended up having a terrible season. But the worst thing is when you try to wait for your guy at ADP, and they get scooped up by someone else. Don't let it happen. - Noah Rubin
3.Read and React
If you've played or watched basketball at any level, you've heard the phrase "Read and React." You're taking what the defense gives you on offense rather than running a play and going through the motions. See the backdoor cut, find an open three-point shooter, drive the lane if the defense is spread out. You get the idea.
The same is true when drafting a fantasy basketball team. I may come into a draft with certain players on my "Do Not Draft" list, but lists like that should be loose. I won't take Joel Embiid in the first three rounds, but if he's available at Pick 50, you bet I'll be scooping him up! RJ Barrett at Pick 120? Say less.
Don't be stubborn in your strategy. Be adaptable. Take what the Draft Room gives you. Read and React. - Zak Hanshew
4. You’ll want to draft a high-level big man early
The good news is that, after Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama, there will still be more than a few post players on the board who can return excellent value. So, this advice won't apply to the first round alone. You may want to draft at least one high-level frontcourt player early. Alperen Şengün appears poised for a big year in Houston, while Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis has consistently offered excellent value (his ADP may be a bit high for my liking). Being able to build out a roster and not have to worry about the center position can be helpful, as it will likely be easier to find solid guards and wings in the later rounds than big men. - RJ
5. Do Your Homework
Pay attention to the latest news. Preseason injuries have piled up quickly this year, and being out of the loop can have dramatic consequences. Guys like Domantas Sabonis, Jalen Williams and Jalen Green are all set to miss time to start the season. Ditto LeBron James. Oh, and don't forget Paul George.
Joel Embiid? He might actually play in the season-opener. Staying up-to-date on the latest news can keep you from reaching for a player who may not be readily available. It can also give you insight into who might pick up the slack. Is Cason Wallace a sneaky upside pick in standard leagues? What about Aaron Wiggins in deeper formats? Can GraysonAllen provide early-season value as a starter for the Suns? Is Embiid worth a look in Rounds 4-5? - ZH
6.Draft players that you want to watch
Is it fun to draft players and watch the box score to see who wins? I mean, maybe for some people, but getting a little skin in the game makes things more entertaining for me. Get someone from your favorite or local team. Watch them in person if you're able. Fantasy basketball is most fun when you're watching your team's stars shine. - NR
7.Remain flexible when it comes to your draft strategy
Sometimes, it can be easy to lock yourself into a particular strategy early in a draft. For many who draft Giannis Antetokounmpo, it's easy to decide at that point that you'll be punting free-throw percentage and/or three-pointers. However, one should remain flexible in this approach. One can never know what the other managers in a league will do with their draft picks, so stay flexible. The ability to do so could be the difference between winning some money and ending the season empty-handed. - RJ
Depending on the category you’re willing to punt, players like Giannis Antetokounmpo will have greater fantasy value.
8. “To Thine Own Self Be True”
Polonius' immortal words from Shakespeare's Hamlet fit aptly into the realm of fantasy basketball.
There are so many excellent fantasy analysts, and they deliver a TON of content on the web, in apps and on social media. Absorb the information, and seek other points of view so you're not lost in an echo chamber. Digest that information, but don't let it change how you draft. Like a guy in the mid rounds, but his "expert ranking" is in the later rounds? Take him where you think it's appropriate. High on a player labeled as a "consensus bust?" Draft him anyway.
Stay true to yourself when drafting your fantasy basketball team. Whether you like playing it safe or prefer to swing for the fences with high-risk, high-reward players, do what feels right. Take in the outside noise, but don't let it change your strategy. - ZH
9. Check your league’s scoring settings
It's not fun to draft a team that would've been good in a different league but doesn't have the same juice in the one you're playing in. This is more for points leagues, though it can still be important in category leagues if it isn't the standard nine categories. I've played in leagues with bonuses for double-doubles and triple-doubles, leagues that take points for ejections, leagues that give you two points per rebound and another for an offensive rebound and a bunch of other weird rules. If you know where to take advantage early on, you can exploit the rankings in your draft room. - NR
10. Know the league roster rules
This may not be the "sexiest" piece of advice when competing in a fantasy league, but it may be the most important. If you don't know what your league's roster is supposed to look like, how are you supposed to win? Managers who neglect to understand their rosters fully can certainly come out on top, but you're saving yourself some potential aggravation by knowing that information before the draft begins. How many centers do you need to have in your lineup? Does your league have standard IL spots or the far superior IL+ spots?
Also, be sure to know the rules for free agents. Is it "first come, first served," or will you have to place a bid for all, whether the player is a free agent or on waivers? If you don't have to worry about knowing the rules, that's a big part of the battle regarding winning your league. - RJ
Rotoworld basketball analysts Cole Huff, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew pick their “guys” for the upcoming fantasy season.
11. Mock Draft
Practice makes perfect. Mock draft from multiple different spots and with many different people. Start early and continue throughout the offseason to understand trends, track ADP risers and fallers and get a general feel for how you like to approach the early, middle and late rounds of drafts. A good opening is important in chess, but Garry Kasparov wouldn't have become one of the greatest of all time without a strong endgame. Ensure you are prepared for as many scenarios as possible so you don't get stumped on draft day. - ZH
12. Play with people you know
This isn't saying you can't have fun playing with strangers, but I have found that the optimal experience for me is to play with people I want to talk to throughout the season. Whether it's friends I can meet up with in person for a draft or people I know online, it makes it more fun to talk trash, tell jokes, or communicate throughout the year. It also makes it easier to make trades. If you're playing with people you don't know, get to know them! Use a league chat, whether it's on your fantasy platform or on a different app, create a space to talk to your league mates. - NR
13. This one is serious. Know your limits, whether it’s financially or what “forfeit” you’re willing to do if you finish dead last
Losing is no fun; quite frankly, no one wants to plan for the possibility. But, be sure only to take on what you're willing and able to handle, whether it's a financial loss or potentially having to do something silly if your team finishes dead last (like getting a tattoo, for example). Failing to do so can result in a negative fantasy experience, and possibly some hard feelings if playing amongst friends. Be sure to keep things fun. - RJ
14. Branch Out, Have Fun!
Of course, you're going to take it seriously. Of course, you're going to dive into analytics and mock drafts. Of course, you're going to do your homework and keep up-to-date on the latest news. But at the end of the day, don't forget that fantasy hoops is about having fun. Get your guys. Try playing using a new format. Play with new groups of people. Get your family and friends involved. Enjoy yourself! Otherwise, what are we doing here? - ZH
➡️ 15. Use the Rotoworld Draft Prep Guide
Too on the nose? I don't care! One last plug for the content we've worked on throughout the preseason. Mock drafts, rankings, strategy guides and player profiles to help you win your league. Utilize the free content to help you make decisions! - NR
NBA's new 'Tap to Watch' feature will make it easy to find games, taking viewers directly to broadcast
The NBA feels different this season — and not just because we all sense the changing of the guard from the LeBron/Curry/Durant era to a younger generation of stars such as Victor Wembanyama, Cooper Flagg, Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
It's also because of the league's new broadcast partners bringing new energy, including the NBA's return to NBC and debut on Peacock. Those new partners mean fans will have to discover where to watch their favorite players and teams this season.
2025-26 NBA Season Watch Guide ✍️
— NBA (@NBA) August 14, 2025
Through the NBA’s partnership renewal with Disney and new agreements with NBCUniversal and Amazon, the 2025-26 schedule of national games will generally feature Mondays on Peacock, Tuesdays on NBC/Peacock, Wednesdays on ESPN/ESPN App,… pic.twitter.com/4KVpP76Vtq
The NBA is making that easier with its new "Tap to Watch" digital initiative — one button to click that takes you directly to the broadcast of the game, whether it is national, local, or NBA League Pass.
Available on NBA.com and the NBA app, a version of it will also be available here at NBCSports.com. Fans will find the same thing with the NBA's other broadcast partners, as well as NBA partners such as Google, Meta, X, Snap, Reddit, Roku, Dapper Labs and more. Wherever a fan may be online checking the score of the game, there will be one "Tap to Watch" button that can take you directly to that game's broadcast, making finding it that much easier.
"We're proud to collaborate with our partners across the NBA digital ecosystem to make live games more accessible for our fans with Tap to Watch," said NBA Head of Direct-to-Consumer Products, Technology & Operations Chris Benyarko. "Whether scrolling social media, using the NBA App, or checking scores on a partner platform, fans will know exactly where our games are and be taken directly to them."
The NBA season tips off Tuesday, Oct. 21, with a doubleheader here on NBC and Peacock. First up, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will get their championship rings and raise the first-ever championship banner to the rafters in Oklahoma City — all in front of the Rockets and Kevin Durant, the franchise legend who left to head to the Bay Area to get his rings. After that, Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers will take on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in a battle of two other legendary franchises that still have championship goals in the West.
If you have any trouble finding those games, or any other during the season, just find the "Tap to Watch" links that will be everywhere.
Max Scherzer turns back the clock and Blue Jays beat Mariners 8-2 in Game 4 to even ALCS
SEATTLE — Mad Max nearly had a month to fume, seethe and boil as he waited for his October opportunity.
Finally given the ball in the playoffs, he shut down the Seattle Mariners — and his own manager, too.
A fiery Scherzer turned back the clock with his vintage pitching performance and Andrés Giménez homered and drove in four runs as the Toronto Blue Jays beat Seattle 8-2 to even the American League Championship Series at two games apiece.
The 41-year-old Scherzer, left off the Division Series roster against the New York Yankees while dealing with neck pain, showed he still had plenty left in the tank by allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
“This is what you play for,” Scherzer said. “You work so hard the whole year, make all the sacrifices, put all the work in to get to this moment to have these types of moments to be able to win in the postseason.”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his fifth playoff homer for the Blue Jays, who have outscored the Mariners 21-6 in Seattle after losing the first two games at home.
Game 5 in the best-of-seven series has Kevin Gausman scheduled to start for Toronto against Game 1 winner Bryce Miller.
Scherzer earned his eighth postseason win and first since the 2019 World Series for Washington against Houston. Making his 500th major league start, regular season and postseason combined, he became the oldest pitcher to start a postseason game since Jamie Moyer was 45 with the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 World Series.
Moyer, who spent 11 years with the Mariners from 1996-2006, threw out the ceremonial first pitch Thursday.
Scherzer yielded three hits, one of which was a solo home run by Josh Naylor in the second inning. But the veteran right-hander settled in from there, even picking a runner off first base for the first time since 2013, and was not removed until manager John Schneider’s second mound visit.
With two outs in the fifth, Schneider approached Scherzer on the field and the three-time Cy Young Award winner told his skipper — in no uncertain terms — he had no interest in coming out of the game at that point.
“I thought he was going to kill me. It was great. He locked eyes with me, both colors, as I walked out,” Schneider said with a smile. “He has this Mad Max persona, but he backed it up tonight.”
Scherzer said he was busy thinking about the sequence of pitches he wanted to throw to Randy Arozarena.
“And all of a sudden I see Schneids coming out and it kind of caught me off guard,” Scherzer explained. “That’s just one of those moments where I know I wanted the ball. I knew the situation of the game. I wanted the ball and I basically told him that in a little bit different language.”
Schneider left Scherzer in and the eight-time All-Star promptly struck out Arozarena swinging at a curveball.
“When a Hall of Famer like this tells you he’s good, you ought to leave him in the game,” Guerrero said. “And he showed he’s good.”
It was one of five strikeouts for Scherzer, who pounded his glove in excitement.
“I tried to stay away from him,” teammate George Springer said. “You don’t really want to get in Max’s way, so you kind of just let Max be Max. It was entertaining, for sure.”
Said Schneider: “I’ve been waiting for that all year, for Max to yell at me on the mound. I think at that point there’s numbers, there’s projections, there’s strategy, and there’s people. So I was trusting people.”
The Blue Jays’ offense, meanwhile, picked up where it left off after scoring 13 runs in Game 3. Giménez hit a two-run homer in the third inning for the second consecutive day, this one off starter Luis Castillo to give Toronto a lead it didn’t relinquish. The Blue Jays tacked on another run in the inning when reliever Gabe Speier walked in a run.
Toronto added to its advantage in the fourth on an RBI double from Springer, who came around to score on a wild pitch by Matt Brash. Guerrero, who singled earlier in the game, smacked an opposite-field homer to right in the seventh off Eduard Bazardo.
Guerrero leads the majors with five homers in these playoffs — breaking the Blue Jays record for one postseason that he had shared with José Bautista (2015).
Giménez provided more insurance in the eighth with a two-run single up the middle that deflected off reliever Emerson Hancock’s glove.
Up next
Miller has a 2.61 ERA in two playoff starts this October while Gausman, a two-time All-Star, is 1-3 with a 4.14 ERA in 10 career postseason games.
Mariners pitching pounded again as Seattle squanders ALCS lead at home
SEATTLE — After coming home with a huge advantage in the American League Championship Series, the Seattle Mariners quickly squandered it on the mound.
Luis Castillo turned in Seattle’s second consecutive shaky start and the Toronto Blue Jays pounded Mariners pitching again in an 8-2 victory that tied the best-of-seven ALCS at two games apiece.
Seattle starters have given up 11 runs and 13 hits in 6 1/3 innings over the past two games, and the entire staff has allowed 21 runs, 29 hits and seven homers in 18 innings.
“They’re a good team,” Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh said. “When you leave pitches in the middle, they usually take advantage. So we’ve just got to do a better job of executing.”
After winning twice on the road in Canada, the Mariners arrived home to sellout crowds needing two wins in three potential games in their own ballpark to reach the franchise’s first World Series.
It seemed an ideal setup.
Now, no matter what occurs in Game 5, they’re going to have to travel north of the border once again to try to close out the series in Toronto.
“This is two good teams going at it,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “This is what the Championship Series is all about. We will make our adjustments and continue to do the things that we do that make us successful as well.”
The winning formula for the AL West champion Mariners this year has been no secret to the rest of the league: They had strong starting pitching and a stingy bullpen, and their lineup is stacked with home run hitters.
Seattle hit three homers in Game 3 and another in Game 4, but the pitching staff has flopped at T-Mobile Park.
Mariners starter George Kirby was rocked for eight runs and eight hits — including three homers — in four innings of a 13-4 loss. The 32-year-old Castillo didn’t even last that long. He left with the bases loaded and was charged with three runs and five hits on 48 pitches in 2 1/3 innings.
No. 9 batter Andrés Giménez homered off Castillo — the second two-run shot for Giménez in two days.
Left-handed reliever Gabe Speier walked in a run and gave up an RBI double to George Springer, who scored on Matt Brash’s wild pitch to make it 5-1 in the fourth.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. connected off Eduard Bazardo in the seventh for his fifth postseason homer.
“They’re a good hitting team, and we’re aggressive with our pitches,” Speier said. “They got us in the last two, for sure. We’re going to continue to attack. We need to play a little bit better, throw a little bit better pitches. But other than that, keep attacking.”
Wilson also insisted the Mariners will keep going right at Blue Jays hitters with strikes.
“On the mound, we attack the zone, and we just need to continue to get back to that,” he said. “That’s what we do well, and we’ll get back to that tomorrow and bounce back in the series.”
Josh Naylor hit an early solo homer off 41-year-old Toronto starter Max Scherzer and finished 3 for 3 at the plate, but the rest of the Mariners went 2 for 26 combined. And their best chance at a comeback was thwarted when Naylor made a baserunning blunder to end the sixth, getting thrown out at third base on an RBI single by Eugenio Suárez.
Seattle shortstop J.P. Crawford, the longest-tenured player on the Mariners roster, said the plan for Game 5 is simple: flush the bad feelings from the last two games and get ready to play.
“Our game is tomorrow,” Crawford said. “Be ready for that. Get some good sleep and be ready to compete tomorrow.”
Jacob Misiorowski’s velocity drops in 6th inning and Brewers’ chances against Dodgers dim
LOS ANGELES — Jacob Misiorowski held off the Los Angeles Dodgers with 102 mph heat. When he faded, so did the Milwaukee Brewers.
The 6-foot-7 rookie right-hander came out of the bullpen to escape a first-inning jam and struck out nine as the Brewers rallied in a game that remained tied through five innings.
When his velocity dropped in the sixth, Tommy Edman hit a go-ahead single and the Dodgers went on to a 3-1 victory and a 3-0 NL Championship Series lead.
“I think I had a few starts during the year that I felt better, but I felt good,” Misiorowski said. “I did my job and felt like I performed the way they needed me to.”
Misiorowski debuted in June and went 5-3 with a 4.36 ERA in 14 starts and one relief appearance. Milwaukee has used him three times in relief during the playoffs. He has a 1.50 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 12 innings with three walks.
He threw 17 pitches from 100.1 mph to 102.5 mph from the first through fifth innings, but his fastball ranged from 97.6 mph to 99.1 mph in the sixth.
Will Smith singled with one out on a slider in the middle of the strike zone and Freddie Freeman walked after falling behind 1-2 in the count. Edman, who had struck out twice against Misiorowski, lined a low slider into center on Misiorowski’s 73rd and final pitch. Smith scored for a 2-1 lead as Sal Frelick made a weak throw.
Abner Uribe relieved made a run-scoring error on an errant pickoff attempt.
“We needed him today, and he was there for us,” Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin said of Misiorowski. “Wish we could’ve had his back a little bit more.”
Top-ranked Ohio State’s Carnell Tate enjoying breakout season
Carnell Tate is an overnight sensation — three years in the making — for top-ranked Ohio State.
No. 8 Oregon looks to get back on track against Rutgers in 1st game between the schools
The Ducks are coming off a 30-20 loss to then-No. 7 Indiana in which Dante Moore threw for less than 200 yards for the first time this season and two interceptions.
Guelph Adds Blueline Depth In Former Top Defense Prospect; Brantford Acquires Draft Capital
The Guelph Storm added some depth on the backend after trading for a former high draft pick from the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, while, adjacent, the Brantford Bulldogs took advantage of their surplus of defensemen to acquire draft capital.
General Manager George Burnett announced today that the Storm have acquired defenseman Patrick Babin from the Brantford Bulldogs in exchange for a 2nd round pick (OSH) in 2028 and a 3rd round pick (GUE) in the 2029 OHL Priority Selection.
— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) October 17, 2025
Read More | https://t.co/CVbCkV2tNOpic.twitter.com/rZD2YT56TN
On Thursday, the Storm announced that they have acquired right-shot blueliner Patrick Babin from the Bulldogs in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick (Oshawa) and a 2029 third-round pick.
“Patrick is a talented young defenseman and amongst the top players in his draft class,” said Guelph GM George Burnett. “He had an exceptional year of development last season, and we are pleased to add him to our group here in Guelph.”
Babin, 17, has started this season playing in a depth role for Brantford, registering one assist in six games. He was the second pick of the second round (23rd overall) in the 2024 draft and was scouted as one of the top defensemen in his draft class.
Last season, the Niagara Falls, Ontario, native spent developing in the OHL’s developmental hockey league, the GOJHL, playing for the Brantford Titans. Babin recorded 34 points (8 goals, 24 assists) in 39 regular season games, which was the most by a U17 defenseman. He added another 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) in 11 playoff games.
Maple Leafs 7th Round Prospect Announces NCAA Commitment Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Sam McCue has announced his commitment to play in the NCAA for Bowling Green State University upon completion of his OHL career.The Bulldogs signed right-shot Czech import defender Vladimir Dravecky and welcomed back fellow countryman Adam Jiricek, strengthening the right side of their defense. Unless injuries occur, Babin may struggle to secure consistent playing time in Brantford.
However, it’s not set in stone that Babin has an immediate roster spot in Guelph. After all, their right side is also strong, featuring Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Quinn Beauchesne, 2026 NHL draft prospect Rylan Singh, and third-year pro Rowan Topp. Meanwhile, the left side has Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Grant Spada, Daniil Skvortsov, and Noah Jenken.
To me, Brantford GM Spencer Hyman having been afforded a second and third-rounder for a player who probably wasn’t going to be a full-timer for them this season seemed too good to pass up.
That’s not to say this is a bad deal for the Guelph Storm. The addition of Babin allows the organization to let 2009-born rookies Hayden Martin and Zackery Naish develop in the OJHL and CCHL.
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