Sep 22, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates his two run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays with designated hitter Ben Rice (22) during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Thanks to an ill-timed storm in Cleveland, we were left without baseball last night. Baseball-less nights will be a fate we’ll soon have to resign ourselves to, once the World Series concludes, and with a lockout on the other side, we have little idea of when the MLB-less stretch of the calendar will end once it starts. Best not to think about that now! If you’re able to stomach watching the ALCS without the Yankees’ participation, they’re gonna give it another go tonight, with the Guardians looking to extend their lead over the Rays.
On the site today, Nick will profile Red Rolfe, one of the great supporting players on many of the Yankees’ early championship teams. Later, Matt looks back on the finest pitching performances by the Yankees in 2026, and Michael delivers his weekly Arizona Fall League update. And also, Peter writes why Ryan McMahon was the Yankees’ LVP this year, and Kento analyzes the Yankees’ (lack of) a plan against Drew Rasmussen in the ALDS.
Today’s Playoff Matchups:
American League Championship Series Game 4 (Cleveland leads, 2-1)
Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays (TBD vs. RHP Nick Martinez)
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: TBS/HBO Max/truTV
Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Questions/Prompts:
1. The buzz has it that the Yankees are likely to tender David Bednar a qualifying offer. What are the odds that he accepts?
2. How worried should the Dodgers be that their decline has at last begun? Will they no longer be the juggernaut that paces the NL every year? Or will they bounce back in 2027?
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Zaccharie Risacher might be the most interesting player on the Mavericks this season because I genuinely have no idea what he’ll become.
Two years ago, he was the No. 1 overall pick in a draft class that was widely viewed as weak at the top. No one saw an obvious generational prospect, a consensus superstar, or a player anyone felt great about taking first. Atlanta eventually settled on Risacher because of what he could become: a 6-foot-9 wing with shooting touch, defensive versatility, and enough feel to fit next to better players. Even NBA.com’s scouting at the time framed him more as a high-level complementary piece than a future heliocentric star.
His rookie year was encouraging. Risacher averaged 12.6 points, shot 35.5 percent from three and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Then everything went backward. Last season, his scoring dropped to 9.6 points per game, his minutes fell, he lost his starting job in March, and Atlanta took off once they pushed him further down the rotation. Over the Hawks’ final 15 games, Risacher averaged just 16.3 minutes per night and even got a DNP-CD.
That’s where Dallas enters the story.
The Mavericks acquired Risacher this summer in a three-team deal that sent Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta and cost Dallas a second-round pick. At the same time, Dallas also received a protected second-rounder back. It was a classic buy-low swing on a former No. 1 pick whose value had completely cratered.
Now the expectations are different.
Dallas does not need Risacher to justify being drafted first overall. It just needs him to become a good NBA player.
Biggest question
What is Zaccharie Risacher actually good at?
That sounds harsh, but I think it is the entire point of this season. For the Mavericks to make this experiment work, they have to figure out where Risacher helps them win. Is he a spot-up shooter? Can he be a connective passer? Can he defend well enough to close games? Is he a wing, a big guard, or something in between? Does he need the ball at all, or is he better spacing the floor and playing off Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving? The theoretical version of Risacher fits Dallas almost perfectly. The Mavericks need size on the perimeter, shooting next to Flagg and Kyrie, plus another defender who can take on difficult wing assignments. Risacher was supposed to be exactly that kind of player coming into the league. Ht has actually got to become that player.
Dallas has started him in both preseason games so far, and although the results have been mixed, that at least tells us Dusty May is willing to give him a real chance. He had nine points and eight rebounds in the preseason opener, then showed a little more life in the second game with two made threes and some hustle plays.
Best case scenario
The best-case scenario is not Risacher suddenly turning into a 25-point-per-game star. It is much simpler than that. He becomes a dependable two-way starter.
If Risacher can shoot somewhere around 37 to 38 percent from three, defend at a legitimate NBA level, and make quick decisions without needing the offense built around him, he suddenly makes a ton of sense next to Flagg and Kyrie. He does not need to dominate the ball. He does not even need to be the third option every night. He needs to become the kind of player who makes lineups work. That is probably the most encouraging part of his situation in Dallas. The pressure is gone.
No one is asking him to save the franchise or carry an offense because he was drafted first overall. Flagg is the centerpiece. Kyrie is the veteran star. Dallas has P.J. Washington, Santi Aldama, Naji Marshall, and others who can take on bigger offensive roles when needed.
Worst-case scenario
The worst-case scenario is that Atlanta was simply right. Maybe Risacher is not good enough to consistently help a winning team. That is the uncomfortable possibility Dallas has to be prepared for.
He was not just struggling last season. At times, he actively hurt Atlanta when he was on the floor. His role shrank as the Hawks improved, and that is never a great sign for a young player whose value is supposed to come from being easy to fit around others. If the jumper is inconsistent, the defense is average, and he cannot create anything off the bounce, then there is not much left.
That version of Risacher gets pushed out of the starting lineup pretty quickly. Dallas has too many forwards and wings fighting for minutes to let him play simply because of where he was drafted two years ago. If that happens, he becomes another developmental project instead of a real part of the core.
Season goal
Become boring. That is honestly what I want from Risacher this year. No more massive expectations. No more conversation about whether he lived up to being the No. 1 pick. No more trying to figure out whether he is secretly a future star. Just become reliable. Hit open shots. Defend. Move the ball. Run the floor. Make the right read. Stay on the court. If Risacher can become a player Dusty May trusts for 25 to 30 minutes every night and does not have to think twice about closing with, that would be a huge success.
Overall
Risacher is probably one of the biggest swing players on the entire roster. The Mavericks do not need him to become what Atlanta hoped it was drafting in 2024. They need him to become the kind of player Dallas thought it was buying low on this summer—a big wing who can shoot, defend, and fit around better players. On paper, that player makes perfect sense next to Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. The problem is we have spent two years waiting to see if that player actually exists.
Pete DeBoer discussed his meritocracy and in-game demotions for Cal Ritchie and Anthony Duclair: “The players make those decisions for me.” [Post | THN]
Five early questions for the Isles, including what the hell can be expected of Mat Barzal. [Newsday]
Semyon Varlamov did his job the other night, but the team couldn’t hold up their end. [Post]
Island Ice podcast with Andrew Gross: The ups and downs that are sure to continue, plus Logan Stanley. [Newsday]
Elsewhere
Well-traveled former Islanders coach Rick Bowness has the cantankerous old-man thing going early and hard with the Blue Jackets, who he says should be embaraassed for their poor defensive play thus far. “I’m not a babysitter. I’m too old to be a babysitter for these guys.” [NHL | Sportsnet]
Former Blue, Oiler, Penguin, Duck, Blue, Golden Knight, Blue, Senator, Red Wing, and Senator David Perron has signed with the Stars for his 20th season. [NHL]
The Oilers are off to a great star that will ultimately be undone by their goaltending, but Mike Babcock admitted to playing his top stars too much during their loss to the Mammoth. [Sportsnet]
On the winless Kings and Flyers, Sidney Crosby on pace for only 48 points, and more. [Sportsnet]
(Original Caption) 4/18/62 -BOSTON,MA.- : HAPPY CHAMPS...The victorious Boston Celtics, NBA basketball champions for the fourth consecutive year, whoop it up in the dressing room, flanking their coach Red Auerbach {white shirt} Gov. John Volpe of Mass., {rear,L} and Celtics owner Walter Brown {front,L}. The Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 110-107, Boston Garden{4/18}.
There have been a lot of great coaches in basketball. In high school, we saw Bob Hurley Sr. of St. Anthony’s and Morgan Wootten of DeMatha.
In college, we’ve seen Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith, and John Wooden.
And in the pros, we’ve seen Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, and perhaps most of all, Red Auerbach.
What he built in Boston is still astonishing. The Celtics were good, and when he saw that he had a chance to get the final piece, Bill Russell, he swung a trade that made it happen.
Russell won the last game of every season he played in the NBA except for two: 1958, when he was injured, and 1967, when the Philadelphia 76ers had a truly great team.
After Russell retired, Auerbach rebuilt around an undersized Dave Cowens and John Havlicek, and then again around Larry Bird.
But it wasn’t just about talent. It was about how he dealt with people. Auerbach had many talents, and was an intense competitor, but his greatest talent may have been his insights into people. He knew how to deal with Russell, which wasn’t easy. He knew just how far he could push Bob Cousy.
He knew how to deal with every player on his team as a coach or under his supervision as GM or team president.
This video gets into a lot of what made Auerbach one of, at a minimum, the two or three best coaches in the history of basketball. He was unbelievably good at what he did.
The Saturday afternoon game between the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals should be a fun one with plenty of offense. The Capitals are coming off a game where they scored five goals, while the Devils are coming off two games where they combined for 12 goals.
It’s also a game that, like the one against the New York Rangers the other night, will say a lot about where the Devils stand in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils are 4-3 and look like a middle-of-the-pack team, but a win against the Capitals proves they can beat anyone in their division.
The Capitals are also a prime example for many teams of how it’s possible, with the right moves and patience, to retool on the fly. To remain competitive, turn over the roster, and not move on from the core. The Devils are hopeful they can do the same, at least after the first offseason of general manager Sunny Mehta’s tenure.
Capitals Took Some Swings To Revitalize Their Core
In the 2022 offseason, the Capitals took a chance on Dylan Strome. He was a good but not great player with the Chicago Blackhawks, someone they didn’t see as part of their plans. The Capitals saw him as a late-bloomer who still had his best in front of him.
Two years later, the Capitals made a move for Pierre-Luc Dubois, a 25-year-old center who previously played on three teams. That same offseason, the Capitals made a move for Jakob Chychrun, hoping he’d hit his stride in Washington.
All three moves worked out and gave the Capitals a new core to build around. Strome was a point-per-game player in 2024-25, while Chychrun became the scoring defenseman to take the offense to another level.
Fast forward, and the Capitals rolled the dice with a busy summer, acquiring Alex Tuch, Boone Jenner, and Jordan Kyrou. To varying degrees, all three moves are paying off and turning the Capitals into a Cup contender.
Mehta took similar swings this summer. Luke Evangelista is at a similar point in his career as Strome was when he joined the Capitals. Declan Chisholm, like Dubois, saw multiple teams move on from him before he ended up with the Devils. Mehta hopes these players become key parts of the Devils this season.
It will take time before the Devils find out if the swings paid off. There’s plenty of hope that it will, with the new players fitting in with the core so far. Moreover, there’s a chance some of them become building blocks for the future, whether it’s Evangelista or Amadeus Lombardi, who has shown flashes as a depth forward.
Finding Depth
The biggest difference between the Capitals and the Devils recently is the depth. The Devils might have just as good, if not better, a core than the Capitals, considering Alexander Ovechkin is in the twilight of his career. It’s the production that comes from the bottom six and the second or third pair that made the difference.
Like the offseason moves, the Capitals slowly added depth to their roster. Matt Roy isn’t a household name, but a key part of their defense. Likewise, a handful of the prospects initially filled in but slowly worked their way up in the lineup.
The Devils are still searching for depth. The recent games suggest they’ve found it, whether it’s Anthony Mantha and Evan Rodrigues leading the third pair or Johnathan Kovacevic and Brenden Dillon rounding out the defense. The Devils have won three of their past four and look like a complete team, something they want to see throughout the season.
Adding Young NHLers Through The Pipeline
For years, the Capitals have had a strong farm system thanks to their American Hockey League team, the Hershey Bears. The Bears are one of the few independently owned teams in the AHL and focus on winning first and developing second. It’s a contrast to the rest of the league, but it created a culture that helped prospects develop.
It all came together with the Capitals' turnaround. It started with depth players joining the NHL roster, whether it was Ethan Frank or Ivan Miroshnichenko. Now, they have some high-end prospects joining the team, including Ilya Protas, who is a middle-six center, and Andrew Cristall, who is an exciting winger who is still developing with the Bears.
It’s unlikely Mehta wants the same thing with the Utica Comets, where the AHL team’s primary focus is winning. However, he wants something similar to what the Florida Panthers had with the Charlotte Checkers: a winning culture that helped the players develop and join the NHL team ready to go.
A hot start from the Comets is a promising sign that a winning culture is being developed. It’s allowing the prospects to take strides forward, whether it’s defenseman Anton Silaev or 22-year-old forward Lenni Hämeenaho, who has a team-leading five points in three games. It’s a bright spot for the Devils, who hope to have the reinforcements soon enough.
NBA referee Bill Kennedy is known for his sideline theatrics, and he’s used to being the star of the show when announcing whether a coach’s challenge has succeeded or failed.
Enter Steph Curry.
The Warriors star took the opportunity to practice his golf swing during a review on Friday night at Chase Center, and Kennedy couldn’t help but notice his big reveal was being upstaged.
Curry is an avid golfer and gets his practice swing in wherever he can — which often includes the basketball court during timeouts, in pregame warmups and even as a celebration. But Golden State’s point guard should have known Kennedy was bound to call him out, even if it was through a simple, yet hilarious, side-eye and point of his thumb.
Get a load of this guy, Kennedy appeared to gesture.
The longtime NBA official has a knack for turning replay rulings into viral moments and is widely respected. He also is the league’s second openly gay official and was announced as an inductee into the 2026 LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame class in January of this year.
Kennedy’s rulings alone are pure comedy, but adding Curry’s nonchalant stardom into the mix made for an all-timer on Friday night.
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The Steve Kerr lookalike who went viral over two years ago for, well, looking like the Warriors coach was at Chase Center again Friday night for Golden State’s NBA preseason win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
And despite this not being the first time, it appeared as if Kerr couldn’t believe his eyes.
Steve Kerr was visibly confused seeing a complete doppelgänger of himself at a game 😭 pic.twitter.com/9KvZTLFylj
It’s not common that I find myself on the edge of my seat and yelling at my TV over a preseason NBA game but I found myself in that exact position tonight watching the Boston Celtics defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 125-120 in overtime. In a game where the 76ers started all of their starters against the Celtics who ran out what could end up being their Maine Celtics lineup at some point this year, Boston overcame the adversity and took down the Goliath. Am I being a bit hyperbolic for a preseason game? Yes. But it was still an entertaining game to watch despite it not being a game that actually counts.
The Boston Celtics beat the Super Team Philadelphia 76ers with this Starting Lineup pic.twitter.com/gSQ1pc1hLf
What did impress me the most out of the group the Celtics played tonight was the fact that no one seemed afraid of the moment. Even in a preseason game, there are a lot of guys in Boston’s starting lineup that are fighting for a roster spot with either the Celtics on a two-way deal or just a G League spot. Philadelphia’s starters had a combined 89,240 Career NBA Points to their name while Boston had a combined 6 points, all by Hayden Gray who played in one NBA game with the Utah Jazz last season.
Everyone on the roster in this game looked to be aggressive and they didn’t care that NBA Champions and MVPs like LeBron James, Joel Embiid or Jaylen Brown were in the way. There was sloppy play at times from the Celtics but it was the hustle stats that told the story. Boston out-rebounded the Philadelphia 63-46, finished 16 more shot attempts, and forced 18 turnovers. There were times where Boston looked to be the better team with the 76ers starters on the floor and I think that is a huge testament to the culture of the Celtics.
2. Head Coach Sam Cassell
Similar to the first game of the preseason when assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay took the reigns from Joe Mazzulla, Sam Cassell made his Celtics head coaching debut for Boston in their matchup against the 76ers. Cassell was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers from 2020-2023 before joining the Celtics coaching staff in June of 2023. He was tied for 5th in the 2026-27 NBA GM Survey as the best assistant coach in the NBA and has been a hot name in the head coaching candidate circles a lot in the past.
Cassell did a great job when it came to coaching up the players who didn’t have a lot of playing time during the rest of the preseason games this year. He was actively engaged on the sidelines and helped lead Boston back from a 14 point deficit midway through the the third quarter.
When asked postgame about the starting lineup, Cassell said, “We wanted to reward these guys…they pushed our guys in training camp the last three or four weeks and Joe was like let’s reward them…It’s a big thing to be a starter for the Boston Celtics and this something I’m pretty sure none of them will ever forget in their lives.”
It was cool to see Joe Mazzulla give his assistant coaches the chance to shine in this preseason. It feels like Cassell will eventually get a head coaching job in the NBA one day and even though it will be sad to see him leave the Celtics, he is more than deserving of an opportunity.
Sam Cassell on the Celtics starting a group who are mostly on E10s in the preseason finale:
“They pushed our guys in training camp…Joe was like, ‘Let’s reward them.’
Similar to Mazzulla and Cassell giving them the start, I wanted to highlight the contributions of the lesser known names from the starting lineup. Hayden Gray, Milos Uzan, Tucker Devries, and Gabe McGlothan all played a pivotal role in the Celtics win tonight with their play down the stretch of the fourth quarter and overtime.
Starting with Hayden Gray who finished with 7 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals on 3-6 shooting while also being a +11. Gray was impressive early, showing his two-man game with Celtics 2026 first round pick Chris Cenac Jr. We even saw a play similar to Rajon Rondo where after a steal, he made a behind the back pass to Cenac Jr. for an easy dunk. Gray was also a stabilizing force as a ball handler for Boston late in the game as similar lineups struggled when it came to getting the ball up the court. It feels like Gray will end up with a two-way contract at some point this season whether its with Boston or not and I am excited to see how his NBA career will unfold.
Milos Uzan was the leading scorer of the starting lineup, finishing with 14 points on 4-9 shooting. Uzan also had chemistry with his former Houston Cougars teammate Chris Cenac Jr. as Cassell seemed to stagger their minutes together. His biggest moment of the game came at the end of overtime where he hit a dagger shot as the shot clock was expiring to give Boston a 7 point lead, all but sealing the win. Uzan is another guy I can see on a two-way contract at some point this season and I hope we are able to see him play for the Maine Celtics this year because he is a solid player.
Tucker DeVries was another standout when it came to his shooting, finishing with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals and shot 3-5 from three in the fourth quarter. DeVries gave Boston their first lead after being down by 14 points midway through the third quarter and gave them life for the rest of the game. He will be another fun guy to watch with the Maine Celtics this year just for his ability to get hot from beyond the arc.
Finally, we have Gabe McGlothan who was an absolute monster on boards, finishing with 6 points and 13 rebounds, 5 of which coming on the offensive glass. McGlothan played a lot of small ball center for Boston at the end of the fourth quarter and overtime and did a great job keeping the Celtics alive. He felt like the guy that got the least amount of playing time this preseason but he made a name for himself when given the opportunity in this game. Another guy who will be a fun watch in the G League this year.
4. Gonzalez Shined Again
Hugo Gonzalez saved his best performance in his stellar preseason this year for last as against the 76ers he finished with a team-high 21 points with 4 rebounds and 3 assists on 6-10 shooting from the field and 3-7 from three. Gonzalez finished the preseason shooting an impressive 19-30 (63%) overall while also shooting 11-20 (55%) from beyond the arc. This is a great sign for the Celtics as we could be in store for a big Year 2 from Hugo.
His offense was the biggest standout for me in this game as he looked like a complete offensive player. His drives to the paint for tough buckets over taller defenders was impressive but his three point shooting was also great. Gonzalez was able to catch the ball in the corner and with no hesitation pull the trigger on a wide open three. His most impressive shot to me came in the second quarter when he hit a pull-up three over Tyrese Maxey who was draped all over him.
This is the type of shot creation we didn’t see last year and after not playing much in the Celtics game against the Hornets on Wednesday, Gonzalez was able to put his full skillset on display. I hope this means we get to see more of him in the rotation during the regular season because it feels like good things happen when he is on the court.
5. Harper Jr. First Full Preseason Action
After missing the first two games of the preseason with a shoulder injury, Ron Harper Jr. played in 6 minutes in the fourth quarter of the Celtics third preseason game against the Hornets. That changed a lot in this matchup against the 76ers where he played in 35 minutes, finishing with 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists on 7-20 shooting. Although the three point shot wasn’t there in this game and he finished with 5 turnovers, Harper Jr. was the main offensive option down the stretch, playing almost every minute of the fourth quarter and overtime. Harper Jr. shot 6-12 in the fourth quarter with a lot of great cuts to the basket and nice finishes.
Harper Jr. being the leader at the end of the game felt fitting considering he was in a similar position to a lot of the guys he played with on the court. Starting in the G League with the Celtics before eventually working his way up to a two-way contract and then eventually a long term extension this offseason. In his postgame interview with Abby Chin on NBC Sports Boston, he highlighted this work ethic by saying, “Nobody expected us to win, especially when we roll out that (starting) lineup and they see who’s playing and not playing, but we don’t really care. We just go out there and play Boston Celtics basketball and find a way to get it done.”
Ron Harper Jr. knows what it takes to play for the Celtics and it feels like he is in store for a big season this year. It would not surprise me if we see a handful of games where due to injuries or rest, Harper Jr. puts up some big performances for Boston off the bench.
Ron Harper Jr. to @tvabby: "Nobody expected us to win, especially when we roll out that (starting) lineup and they see who's playing and not playing, but we don't really care. We just go out there and play Boston Celtics basketball and find a way to get it done." pic.twitter.com/dE71pODUHk
Similar to Gonzalez, another guy who has had an impressive preseason for the Celtics has been Luka Garza. In this game he finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds on 3-6 shooting from the field, 2-4 from three, and 5-7 from the free throw line. Garza is once again showing why he deserves some time in Boston’s rotation. Garza finished the preseason averaging 14.3 points and 6.0 rebounds and it felt like every time he was on the floor for Boston he made his presence known.
The first quarter was what impressed me the most about Garza’s performance. In 6 minutes he had 7 points and 4 offensive rebounds, all in quick succession. The best coming off of a fast break for the Celtics where he grabbed the board over three 76ers in the vicinity. He might not be as skilled as Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, but his ability to crash the offensive glass is special and much like Ron Harper Jr, he will win Boston a few games this year with his effort alone.
7. Cenac Jr. Best Game
After an electric Summer League the Celtics 2026 first round pick Chris Cenac Jr. was a name to watch throughout the preseason. In his first game against the Cavaliers he got a ton of minutes but shot 3-13 and after that got fourth quarter minutes once Boston’s starters started playing. However, against the 76ers in this game, Cenac Jr. was in the starting lineup for the Celtics and played well, finishing with 12 points and 8 rebounds on 6-10 shooting despite fouling out in the fourth quarter.
At 19 years old, Cenac Jr. held his own against the likes of LeBron James and Joel Embiid on defense, even getting a block on Tyrese Maxey. On offense he was a great play finisher, a noteable improvement from his first game. He did a great job rolling to the basket and cutting out of the corners that lead to a ton of easy dunks. It’s a part of his game that has me the most excited because of the Celtics great history of developing big men. I wonder if he starts the season in Boston or ends up with Maine to get more playing time? Either way he will be a fun piece for the future of the Celtics.
8. Sharp Shooter Mitchell
When Dillon Mitchell was at St. John’s this past season for college basketball, he was known as being a crazy athlete but he was not known as a shooter at all. In fact, in his senior season, he only attempted 15 shots from three and making only 1. It was going to be a real test to see if the Celtics could fix his jumper so he could hit it at even an average level. In the Summer League there were good signs as he finished shooting 3-8 from beyond the arc in 3 games played but there were still questions.
In the preseason, Mitchell only attempted 1 three before this game but in this game he attempted 2. One came in the fourth quarter where he missed but the second came in maybe the biggest moment of the game in overtime. With 1:31 left, Mitchell pulled a three that looked to shock everyone and cashed it to put the Celtics up by 5. This is a great example of the hard work paying off for Dillon Mitchell and hopefully we are able to see him shoot the ball with even more comfortability as the season goes on.
9. Brown vs Boston Looked Weird
After playing 10 years for the Boston Celtics, developing into a 5 time All-Star, a 2 time All-NBA player, a 2024 NBA Champion, and 2024 Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown played his game against his former club and I won’t lie to you, it was really weird to see. Brown played in parts of all four quarters in this game, finishing with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks on 8-14 shooting and I hated watching every second of it. Watching him size up his former teammates that he mentored all last season just looked uncanny.
Postgame, all of those same teammates like Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr. went up to him to say good game and Brown had some words for them as well. “He said we’re still ugly, that just means he misses us” Harper Jr. said in his postgame interview when asked about his conversation with Brown and that just hit me all in the feels.
Abby asked Ron Harper Jr. what Jaylen Brown said to the guys after the game: "He said we're still ugly, that just means he misses us" 😂 pic.twitter.com/rv38zM5Ca9
When asked if the trip to TD Garden and playing against his former team tonight made the emotions of playing the Celtics go away, Jaylen Brown said in his postgame interview, “I played there for 10 years, so it’ll never be out of the way.” Safe to say the feeling is mutual when it comes to both Brown and Boston fan’s as a whole. His time in Boston will never be forgotten even if he’s wearing a 76ers jersey now. It still feels insane that the NBA scheduled Brown’s regular season return to Boston on January 21st.
10. Perfect Preseason
With their win over the 76ers, the Celtics finished with a perfect 4-0 record in the preseason this year. The last time Boston finished with a 4-0 record in the preseason was all the way back in the 2019-20 season. That team went on to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, so surely there is a direct correlation to an undefeated preseason and postseason success right? Probably not.
Celtics finish 4-0 in the Preseason for the first time since the 2019-20 season pic.twitter.com/oQ94LnqcVu
Either way this was a fun preseason to watch for a new look Boston Celtics squad. We got to see the new guys like Paul George and Mitchell Robinson showcase a little bit of their talents. We saw the young guys like Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh show real improvements. Finally, we got to see what could be the start of some great seasons by guys like Payton Pritchard and Jayson Tatum. Either way, preseason is finally over and that means we finally get some real Boston Celtics basketball once again.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 16: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The past three months have been all about preparation for Hugo González.
In July, González joined the Spain national team for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers, logging appearances against Denmark, Georgia, and Greece. In Las Vegas, he joined the Boston Celtics and began to impress, leading the team in scoring (18.3 points) throughout Summer League — putting his offseason strides on full display.
Friday night was no different. The 20-year-old, poised to make a major leap this season, placed his cherry on top against the Philadelphia 76ers with another elite performance. This time, facing a star-studded Philadelphia squad that started LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey, González stole the spotlight at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Fighting from behind a 14-point deficit in the second half, González was Boston’s difference-maker in their 125-120 overtime win over Philadelphia.
González scored a team-leading 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 19 minutes off the bench. He went 3-of-7 from beyond the arc and didn’t commit a single turnover, unveiling his polished 3-point shot and improved ball-handling.
Philadelphia countered Boston’s starting lineup of Hayden Gray, Milos Uzan, Gabe McGlothan, Tucker DeVries and Chris Cenac Jr. with four of its top players. With Jayson Tatum, Paul George and Boston’s other regulars sidelined, the Celtics had every reason to struggle against a lineup riddled with future Hall of Famers in a game that counted towards absolutely nothing.
But González didn’t approach the team’s final competitive opportunity before Opening Night with that thought in mind.
Much like the Celtics saw during Summer League, González carries himself with greater confidence. You can see it in his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and his drives to the basket. He has a different kind of swagger when he attacks the rim, which pairs well with the boldness he enforces defensively.
In the first quarter, González picked Brown’s pocket and flushed a wide-open two-handed dunk on the other end.
While the disengaged, such as James, cruised, González hustled and sparked the Celtics. For the second time this preseason, Boston didn’t need its regulars to take care of the best their opposition had for them. In the opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as Boston sat its most-rotated veterans, González came through with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, helping put away Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
The same way González embraced the Celtics’ stay-ready culture as a rookie last season was the same way he approached Friday night’s finale.
Just because stakes are minimal for both teams involved doesn’t mean González needs to take his foot off the gas. That’s his approach. He’s constantly in attack mode, and it’s a part of him he can’t turn off when he’s suited up and on the floor.
After the final buzzer, Brown went straight to González to shake his former teammate’s hand.
“It was good to see some of the young guys,” Brown told reporters postgame. “I spent a lot of time with those guys. To see them develop and get better, it’s good to see.”
If the version of González we’ve seen in FIBA, the Summer League, and preseason shows up this season, the Celtics have a lot to be excited about. González earned president of basketball operations Brad Stevens plenty of brownie points last year for snipping him 28th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, but that was just the start.
Boston now has a better idea of González’s potential, along with a clear role for him to fill.
So far, all signs point toward González taking that next step. He’s returned an upgraded version of his rookie self with the same hard-nosed motor that earned him immediate respect and admiration from Celtics fans last season. Now, all that’s left is to put it all together.
SAN FRANCISCO – Stephen Curry dug up his typhoon energy. Draymond Green window-shopped a triple-double. Al Horford was raining 3-pointers as if he were alone on the court.
The uncles at the core of the Warriors were vibrant Friday night at Chase Center, and their work in the NBA preseason finale fed a 128-118 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers and in the process sprinkled some encouragement five days before the regular-season opener.
Playing in all four quarters, Curry exited with 8:29 remaining after tying his preseason high in assists with five and posting preseason highs in points (20), rebounds (four) and, perhaps most significantly, minutes (26).
“He’s on a different routine this camp,” coach Steve Kerr said. “And we’ve ramped him up more slowly, so he’s been kind of working his way to this point. He’s not yet where he wants to be, but he’s on track.”
After shaking off a substandard first half (seven points, 3-of-12 shooting), Curry in the third quarter looked a lot like the point guard who has dazzled the NBA for the better part of two decades. The 38-year-old scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including 2 of 3 from distance, and was plus-15 over seven minutes.
Green, who submitted a solid preseason despite still being in the conditioning phase, saved his best for last. Starting at power forward between center Charles Bassey and rookie small forward Yaxel Lendeborg, Green made the most of his 24 minutes: seven points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and three steals.
Green, 36, had three turnovers, but that’s generally acceptable when accompanied by 10 assists. He has been given an adjusted role and an edict to reduce turnovers, but in this game looked like the good Draymond of old. He posted a team-high plus-18.
“Draymond really lifted us; he was fantastic,” Kerr said.
“He’s going to orchestrate the offense, (and) tonight it was just a clear example of how he got it going,” Horford said of Green. “He was playing at his own pace and just kind of controlling the tempo out there. I think that it’s almost like he welcomes that position that he’s in right now. He knows he’s going to have to do it and there’s just no way around it.”
Horford, at 40 the eldest uncle, came off the bench to drench the Blazers in triples. He scored 15 points in 15 minutes, shooting 5 of 8 from beyond the arc.
The youngest Warrior and the newest member of the rotation, Lendeborg, played a terrific two-man game, with the rookie using his impressive processing of the offense to find the vet with timely passes. Of Horford’s five 3-pointers, three were assisted by Lendeborg.
“The pick-and-pop is a real threat, and it changes everything,” Kerr said. “It forces the defense to have to stretch out, so if we can get that from Al it’s a game changer. Even if he’s not making them, just the fact that he’s picking and popping and taking eight threes, the defense has to honor that.”
It’s Curry and Green, though, who must break some old habits for the revamped offense to succeed. They’ve been teammates for 14 NBA seasons, and their chemistry is in some ways unmatched within the league.
The goal, according to Kerr, is less improvisation and more structure.
“We’re trying to be way more organized than we have been in the past with our spacing and our cutting and the beginning of our formations,’’ Kerr said. “We’ve thrived in chaos over the years, generating chaos with speed with turnovers. I learned early on that whatever Steph wants to do is a good thing.
“But what’s happened the last couple of years, the league has changed so much. It’s faster. There’s way more 3-point shooting. Teams are more talented 1 through 5. Ten years ago, hardly anyone had 4s and 5s shooting 3s. Now everybody does it, so it’s become much more of a possession game. Based on where our roster is now compared to 10 years ago, we have to win more in the margins.”
Golden State won on the margins, with a 19-10 advantage in fast-break points, committing a preseason-low 14 turnovers and shooting 40.9 percent from deep to Portland’s 35 percent.
The Warriors hope to find symmetry between the uncles and the nephews on the roster; it’s their best path to prosperity. They took noticeable strides in that direction while closing out the preseason.
Boston Bruins (6-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (0-3-2, in the Pacific Division)
Los Angeles; Saturday, 9 p.m. EDT
LINE: Kings -138, Bruins +113; over/under is 6
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Kings take on the Boston Bruins as losers of five straight games.
Los Angeles is 0-3-2 overall and 0-2-0 in home games. The Kings have given up 21 goals while scoring 11 for a -10 scoring differential.
Boston has gone 3-1-0 in road games and 6-2 overall. The Bruins have a +12 scoring differential, with 30 total goals scored and 18 given up.
Saturday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season.
INJURIES: Kings: Jakub Dvorak: out (upper-body), Mats Zuccarello: out (undisclosed), Kevin Fiala: out (leg), Jan Jenik: out (undisclosed), Alex Turcotte: out (undisclosed).
Bruins: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Jayson Tatum #0 and Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics sit on the bench during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics are deep. Really deep.
Heading into Opening Night, there’s a possibility that Mike Conley who started fifteen games last year in Minnesota may not even see the floor. Ron Harper Jr. signed a three-year contract over the summer and he might be the odd man out. Fifteen points and six rebounds a night over the preseason? That may not be enough for Luka Garza to get off the bench in Detroit next week.
As the poll results suggest, playing time and pecking order don’t really matter because “the vibes are good.” But we asked anyway, “who will be the Celtics’ second leading scorer” presumably behind Jayson Tatum?
Conventional wisdom suggests that veterans Derrick White and Paul George would pick up the mantle of being Robin to JT’s Batman. That might still happen, but our readers resoundingly voted for Payton Pritchard to be the #2.
I clicked on “Doesn’t matter, vibes are good” but I agree it’s likely PP, not only because he’s a talented scorer but also because I expect PG & DW will be more focused on being all-around “contributes to winning” players than on scoring.
So far in the preseason, the former Sixth Man of the Year has returned to the bench with head coach Joe Mazzulla opting to start the more complementary Jordan Walsh. There’s no guarantee that that’s what it will look like on October 21 against the Pistons, but for now, Pritchard becomes the designated scorer of the second unit.
After a 4-0 preseason and Pritchard falling into a familiar role, Our friends at FanDuel remain bullish on Boston and still have the Celtics (+1400) with the fifth highest odds to win a championship behind the Thunder (+240), Spurs (+270), Knicks (+1000), and Sixers (+1000).
Rasmus Andersson has moved on from Calgary, but he hasn't stopped caring about the people he left behind.
As the Flames stumble through the early stages of a rebuild, the former Calgary defenceman has a message for fans: have faith.
Andersson spent nine seasons with the Flames before joining the Vegas Golden Knights, giving him plenty of firsthand experience with the expectations that come with playing in Calgary. He knows how much the team means to the city, which is why watching it struggle isn't easy.
But speaking with Sportsnet’s Eric Francis, Andersson pointed to a reality that can get lost when losses start piling up. Calgary made the decision to rebuild, and that process was never going to be pretty from the start.
“You just can't have it both ways,” Andersson said, addressing fans calling for changes amid the team's disastrous opening stretch.
The Flames have stumbled out of the gate, going 1-6 through their first seven games. They’ve scored just 14 goals, the second-fewest in the league ahead of only the Los Angeles Kings (11), while their 35 goals against are also the second-most, trailing only the Vancouver Canucks (41).
The 29-year-old isn't dismissing the frustration. He's simply reminding supporters that building a contender takes more than a few good weeks, particularly when a roster is going through significant changes.
Andersson still keeps tabs on his old club, even if he doesn't follow the day-to-day conversation as closely as he did while playing there. Seeing familiar faces in a very different lineup has been an adjustment, but his feelings toward the organization haven't changed.
He remains in touch with his former teammates and the coaching staff, while hoping to see Calgary’s younger players develop into established NHL talents. The bonds he formed during his nine years with the Flames haven’t faded just because he’s moved on.
“They’re all gonna be friends for the rest of my life,” Andersson said.
Life in Las Vegas has treated him and his family well. He signed a seven-year, $59.5-million contract this summer and is settling into his new surroundings, but Calgary hasn't become just another stop in his career.
The Scotiabank Saddledome, where his son took his first strides on skates, still holds plenty of memories. With the Flames nearing the end of their time in the building, Andersson is looking forward to returning in February.
He may be on the other side now, but there's no hard feeling toward Calgary. If anything, he wants to see the rebuild work — and give the fans who supported him for nine years a reason to celebrate again.
DENVER — Sports are largely the theatre of the unexpected.
We’ve seen it throughout history, from Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson to the Arizona Diamondbacks beating the New York Yankees in the World Series. More recently, the Milwaukee Brewers reminded us that money doesn’t guarantee success, spending $146.2 million less than the two-time reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers before sweeping them out of the National League Championship Series.
The Colorado Avalanche are coming off a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ball Arena. T.J. Hughes scored his first goal, Nathan MacKinnon had a four-point night, Artturi Lehkonen is off to the best start of his professional career, and Mackenzie Blackwood is making his critics look foolish.
Things are going well for Colorado. But Monday’s matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers is the kind of game the Avalanche cannot afford to take lightly.
Philadelphia has yet to win through its first nine games. Suggesting that a winless team could pose a serious threat might sound ridiculous, but I’ve covered sports long enough, particularly boxing, to know that records don’t always tell the whole story.
Just ask Anthony Joshua.
When Andy Ruiz Shocked the Boxing World
In 2019, Joshua was widely considered the king of the heavyweight division. The British fighter and 2012 Olympic gold medalist held three of boxing’s four major world titles, with Deontay Wilder holding the fourth. Despite years of anticipation, Joshua and Wilder never fought.
Joshua was preparing to make his American debut against undefeated contender Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller in New York. Miller, who was promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions, was supposed to be Joshua’s opponent for a major world title defense.
I had a personal connection to the promotion through my friend Clifford Mass, an investor in the company who also served as its vice president of business development.
On April 16, 2019, I received information from multiple sources that Miller had scored a pair of hat-tricks—but not the kind celebrated on the ice.
Miller failed three separate drug tests, testing positive for three different performance-enhancing substances: EPO, human growth hormone, and GW1516. He had previously failed a drug test as a kickboxer and had refused testing on another occasion.
I texted Mass what I knew to be true. His response, following a string of profanities, was memorable: “You just delivered the worst news I’ve gotten in a long time. Oh well.”
Miller was pulled from the card, leaving promoters scrambling for a replacement.
Enter Andy Ruiz Jr.
Ruiz was undefeated and had remarkably fast hands, but his physique didn't fit the typical image of a heavyweight champion. Some observers made jokes about his build, comparing it to a stack of jelly rolls. Few expected him to beat Joshua.
What happened in the ring, however, was nothing short of stunning
Joshua scored an early knockdown, and it looked as though the fight might go according to plan. But he became reckless, at times appearing to admire his own work rather than remain focused on Ruiz. The challenger took advantage, dropping Joshua four times before stopping him in the seventh round in one of the biggest upsets in modern sports history.
Ruiz became an instant celebrity. Credit: USA Today
That's what makes this story relevant to Colorado.
The Flyers Have Already Burned Colorado Once
On paper, the Avalanche have a significant advantage over Philadelphia. Colorado's 36 goals are tied for the NHL lead with the Vegas Golden Knights, the same team that swept the Avalanche out of the Western Conference Final this season.
The Flyers, meanwhile, have scored just 11 goals through nine games, the fewest in the league. Their 33 goals allowed also ranked third-worst in the NHL as of publication, behind only the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
But a struggling team can still have players capable of changing a game in a hurry. And the Flyers have already shown Colorado what that looks like.
On January 23 at Ball Arena, Philadelphia handed the Avalanche a 7-3 loss. Owen Tippett recorded a hat trick and an assist, while Matvei Michkov had two goals and an assist. Denver Barkey and then-Flyer Bobby Brink also scored.
Colorado fell behind 2-0 in the first period but fought back, scoring three times in the second to tie the game at 3-3. Then everything fell apart. Philadelphia scored four times in the final period, turning a competitive game into a blowout that head coach Jared Bednar described as “horrible.”
The Flyers were 23-17-9 at the time, so they weren't the winless team we're seeing now. Still, the result should serve as a reminder that Philadelphia can hurt Colorado when the Avalanche make mistakes.
And that's been a concern for Colorado at times. The Avalanche have occasionally played down to their opposition, leading to costly turnovers and defensive breakdowns. Against a team desperate for its first win, those mistakes could be all the encouragement Philadelphia needs.
The last thing Colorado wants is to hand the Flyers their first victory of the season. A 7-3 loss to a winless opponent would be an ugly result, especially for a team with championship aspirations.
No Game Is Won on Paper
The Avalanche have more than enough talent to win this matchup. MacKinnon and the offense are producing, Hughes is finding his footing, Lehkonen is playing some of the best hockey of his career, and Blackwood has been answering his critics.
But none of that matters if Colorado takes its foot off the gas.
Joshua was the heavyweight champion, and Ruiz was the replacement almost nobody expected to win. Yet Ruiz seized his opportunity, and Joshua never recovered.
Colorado doesn't need to fear Philadelphia, but it does need to respect the matchup. The Flyers have struggled badly, yet they've beaten the Avalanche convincingly before. That alone should be enough to get Colorado's attention.
Monday should be a game the Avalanche expect to win. The challenge is making sure they don't start playing as though they've already won it.
Because sports have a funny way of punishing teams that underestimate their opponents. And the Avalanche have already seen what can happen when the unexpected becomes reality.
