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Thunder at Clippers predictions: odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for November 4

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKingsrecent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.

Game Details and How to watch the Thunder vs. Clippers live

  • Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
  • Time: 11 PM EST
  • Site: Intuit Dome
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game odds for the Thunder at the Clippers

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Thunder (-285), Clippers (+230)
  • Spread: Thunder -7.5
  • Total: 222.5

That gives the Thunder an implied team point total of 114.5 and the Clippers 107.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups for the Thunder and the Clippers

Thunder

PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SG Cason Wallace

SF Lu Dort (questionable)

PF Chet Holmgren (questionable)

C Isaiah Hartenstein

Clippers

PG James Harden

SG Bradley Beal (questionable)

SF Kawhi Leonard (questionable)

PF Derrick Jones Jr

C Ivica Zubac

Injuries for the Thunder and the Clippers

Thunder

F Jalen Williams (wrist) is OUT for Tuesday's game
C Chet Holmgren (back) missed Sunday's game
G Lu Dort (illness) missed Sunday's game

Clippers

G Bradley Beal (load management) is questionable for Tuesday's game because of back-to-backs
F Kawhi Leonard (load management) is questionable for Tuesday's game because of back-to-backs
G Kobe Sanders (knee) is OUT for Tuesday's game
G Jordan Miller (hamstring) is OUT for Tuesday's game

Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Thunder at Clippers on Tuesday.

  • Oklahoma City is 3-4 ATS and 7-0 on the ML
  • Oklahoma City is 4-3 to the Over
  • Los Angeles is 3-2 to the Over
  • Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS, ranking fourth-worst
  • The Clippers have not been underdogs this season
  • The Clippers finished 21-16 ATS as a underdog last season and 21-15-1 to the Under
  • The Clippers finished 8-5 ATS as a home underdog last season and 7-6 to the Over
  • The Clippers were 14-23 on the ML as an underdog last year and 6-7 as a home underdog.

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Thunder & Clippers game:

  • Moneyline: Thunder ML (medium confidence)
  • Spread: Thunder -7.5 (high confidence)
  • Total: Under 223.5 (low confidence)

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

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Magic at Hawks predictions: odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for November 4

One of the premier matchups of the NBA slate is on NBC and Peacock tonight when two up-and-coming teams take center stage. The Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks link up for the first of four meetings this season, but this one will be missing a common sight in this divisional rivalry.

Atlanta lost to Cleveland, 117-109 on Sunday, and that was the Hawks first game without Trae Young who will miss nearly a month with a knee injury. While Atlanta has had Orlando's number in recent years, without Young, can the Hawks keep that success going?

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKingsrecent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.

Game Details and How to watch the Magic vs. Hawks live

  • Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
  • Time: 8 PM EST
  • Site: State Farm Arena Center
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game odds for the Magic at the Hawks

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Magic (-162), Hawks (+136)
  • Spread: Magic -3.5
  • Total: 227.5

That gives the Magic an implied team point total of 115.5 and the Hawks 112.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups for the Magic and the Hawks

Magic

PG Jalen Suggs

SG Desmond Bane

SF Franz Wagner

PF Paolo Banchero

C Wendell Carter Jr

Hawks

PG Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SG Dyson Daniels
SF Zaccharie Risacher
PF Jalen Johnson
C Kristaps Porzingis

Injuries for the Magic and the Hawks

Magic

C Mortiz Wagner (knee) was OUT in Sunday's game

Hawks

G Trae Young (knee) is OUT and will be reevaluated in four weeks

Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Magic at Hawks on Tuesday.

  • Atlanta and Orlando are 2-5 ATS, tied for 5th-worst
  • Atlanta and Orlando are 2 of 8 teams profitable to the Under so far (both 4-3 to the Under)
  • Atlanta is 0-2 ATS and 0-2 ML as home team
  • Orlando is 2-2 ATS and 2-2 ML as road team
  • Atlanta is 5-2 on the ML in the last 7 meetings versus Orlando
  • Atlanta is 5-1 on the ML in the last 6 at home versus Orlando

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Hawks & Magic game:

  • Moneyline: Magic ML (medium confidence)
  • Spread:  Magic -3.5 (high confidence)
  • Total: Under 227.5 (low confidence)

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

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The Stats Behind Game #14: Canucks 5, Predators 4 (OT)

Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 5–4 overtime win against the Nashville Predators. 

Early on in the game, Vancouver took the lead in even-strength scoring chances for, putting up nine in the first period compared to Nashville’s seven. However, after that, it was all Nashville in regulation, who had 20 after three periods. The Canucks dominated in overtime, keeping possession throughout the extra frame and putting two scoring chances up on the Predators. By the end of the game, Nashville led in scoring chances by a lead of 20 to 15. Nashville also led in high-danger chances for, putting up nine against Vancouver’s six. 

Vancouver was all over the place according to last night’s heat map, though most of their chances were taken a decent distance from the net. Their warmest position on the map was near the top of the faceoff dot. On the other hand, Nashville’s chances came predominantly from in front of Thatcher Demko, indicating that these issues that have persisted throughout the season still remain. 

Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators, November 3, 2025, Natural Stat Trick 

In his first game back from injury, Quinn Hughes had some good setups and looked as dynamic as usual when attempting to generate offence, which is backed up by analytics. While the defenceman finished the game with a 5-on-5 corsi-for of 40%, putting him at ninth on the team, he also placed fourth on Vancouver with 54.17% in all situations. He also put up an xGF% of 63.45% in all strengths, putting him third among the Canucks. Tom Willander finished the game with the highest value in this category with an impressive 76.44%. 

Oct 23, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) passes the puck against the Nashville Predators during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

With their road trip now over, the Canucks will head back to Vancouver to embark on a four-game homestand featuring games against the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, and Winnipeg Jets. Their next game will take place on Wednesday, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Power Play Soars, Penalty Kill Struggles In Canucks’ 5–4 Overtime Win Against The Nashville Predators

Why Monday Night Against The Predators Has Become An Early Season Must-Win For The Canucks

Vancouver Canucks Get Massive Boost As Quinn Hughes Returns Against The Nashville Predators

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

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Ranking Mets' top 5 trade targets for 2025-26 MLB offseason

Given the Mets' need to dramatically improve their starting pitching, team defense, and cohesion on offense, they're going to have to attack the offseason from all angles.

That means diving head first into a free agent market that is short on big headliners, but has plenty of intriguing options.

While New York has a need at first base with Pete Alonso again a free agent, and could seek an upgrade at third base and/or second base, it can be argued that those answers can easily be found via free agency. As can a mid-rotation starting pitcher and relief help. 

When it comes to finding a starting pitcher who profiles near the top of the rotation, though, the prediction here is that the Mets will find that pitcher via the trade market.

Combine the Mets' need for top end pitching, the arms expected to be available via trade, and the fact that New York has one of the best farm systems in baseball, and you get a perfect storm.

That's why all the trade targets listed below are starting pitchers.

Here are the ones the Mets should be going after this offseason, ranked:

5. RHP Paul Skenes

Skenes would be at the very top of this list if there was a belief that the Pirates were likely to trade him this offseason. 

But when you pair Skenes' years of team control remaining (four more seasons, through 2029) and Pittsburgh's seeming reluctance to either spend enough to be a contender or maximize Skenes' value on the trade market in order to try to contend in a different way, a deal at this point seems unlikely. 

Sep 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at PNC Park.
Sep 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at PNC Park. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

But every team with World Series hopes in 2026 should be calling the Pirates about Skenes anyway.

If offered a package that was truly outrageous, you would think Pittsburgh would have to at the very least consider it.

For example, the Mets should have Nolan McLean off limits in any other possible trade for a starting pitcher. In a deal for Skenes, McLean would be a must for the Pirates to even consider it. 

In a world where the Mets offered McLean, Jonah Tong, Jett Williams, and more, could Pittsburgh start to bend on Skenes? Probably not, when you take into account the fact that the Pirates have been unable to get out of their own way for the better part of 30 years. But it can't hurt to try!

4. RHP Freddy Peralta

In recent years, the Brewers -- often under strict payroll constraints -- have traded some of their most valuable players when they've gotten close to free agency.

They did it with Corbin Burnes during the 2023-24 offseason and Devin Williams last offseason. At the 2022 trade deadline, the Brewers dealt Josh Hader to the Padres when he still had a year and change of team control remaining.

Could the same kind of plan be in store regarding Peralta?

Peralta, who is about to enter his age-30 season, has an $8 million team option the Brewers will obviously pick up. But what happens with him after that is in question. 

Coming off a season where he had a 2.70 ERA and 1.07 WHIP while striking out 204 batters in 176.2 innings, Peralta's value will be sky high. And Milwaukee is positioned to cash in if he's made available. 

3. RHP Sandy Alcantara

It was a struggle for Alcantara during the first half of last season in what was his first year back after having Tommy John surgery.

Ahead of his start on July 23, Alcantara posted a 7.14 ERA in 97.0 innings pitched. 

But from that start through the end of the season, Alcantara turned it on.

In 12 starts over 77.2 innings from that point, Alcantara had a 3.13 ERA. Along the way, he completed 7.0 innings seven times.

Alcantara has two years to go until hitting free agency. But it would be wise for the Marlins, whose core of young pitching includes Eury Perez and Edward Cabrera, to deal the former Cy Young winner this offseason in order to maximize his value.

Twins pitcher Joe Ryan
Twins pitcher Joe Ryan / Imagn Images/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image

2. RHP Joe Ryan

Ryan had the best season of his career in 2025, posting a 3.42 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while striking out 10.2 batters per nine in a career-high 171.0 innings. He has always missed lots of bats (his career strikeout rate is 10.1 per nine) and his four-seam fastball (which he uses about half the time) has graded out as one of the best in baseball each of the last four seasons.

The big question here is whether the Twins would trade Ryan, who has two more years of arbitration remaining and will be very inexpensive (he made just $3 million in 2025).

In the midst of an incredibly disappointing 2025 season, Minnesota had a fire sale, trading 10 players from the big league roster. That included Carlos Correa, Griffin Jax, and elite closer Jhoan Duran, who -- like Ryan -- has two more years of arbitration remaining and will be wildly inexpensive in 2026 (he made just $1.3 million this past season).

The Twins can definitely get a haul for Ryan this offseason, and it would behoove them to take advantage of that as they embark on some form of a rebuild.

1. LHP Tarik Skubal

Skubal is set for free agency after 2026, so the Mets -- and any other team expecting to contend next season -- should be on the Tigers' case about him.

Would it be surprising if Detroit traded the best pitcher in the American League fresh off back-to-back Cy Young seasons? Perhaps.

But what makes this intriguing is that when the Tigers attempted to extend Skubal, it was reportedly not just a non-competitive offer, but one that was relatively insulting. And owner Christopher Ilitch gave a bit of a weird answer recently when asked about a possible Skubal extension. The 28-year-old left-hander is repped by Scott Boras.

Even with just one year left on his deal, it would likely take a King's ransom to pry Skubal from Detroit.

For the Mets, that could mean trading Jonah Tong and/or Brandon Sproat along with Jett Williams or Carson Benge. For a talent like Skubal, though, that's simply the cost of doing business. 

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2025-26 NBA MVP ladder, race: Odds, power rankings, frontrunners including Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Week 2 is in the books and it'll likely be a weekly theme of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attempting to hold his throne atop the MVP polls. Luka Doncic returned from a three-game absence and dropped 44 points before sitting again, while Nikola Jokic triple-doubled in four-straight games but cooled off in his last two. There's been plenty of big games from star players to put the heat on SGA like Giannis Antetokounmpo's game-winner over Indiana.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Vaughn Dalzell’s Week 3 MVP Rankings

Oklahoma City Thunder Primary Logo
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (+190)
Points Per Game: 33.6 (3rd)
Assists Per Game: 5.9 (T-20th)
Rebounds Per Game: 5.1 RPG (T-90th)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are 7-0 and became the third team in NBA history to start 7-0 in back-to-back seasons and the first since the 1993-95 Rockets. Without Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City hasn't skipped a beat as another example of how valuable SGA is.

SGA is third in usage rate (32.3%) and scored at least 30 points in six out of seven games, including three-straight. The reigning MVP is also getting to the free-throw line 9.6 times per game, which is the most since his 2022-23 season, and 5.9 triples per game — the most in his career.

The "free-throw merchant" as social media likes to call him, continues to find new ways to score while he's in his prime. In reality, SGA has three double-digit free-throw attempt games and four of six or less, so he's not getting to the free-throw line consistently like the world assumes.

San Antonio Spurs Primary Logo
2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (+300)
Points Per Game: 26.7 (11th)
Rebounds Per Game: 13.7 (2nd)
Blocks Per Game: 4.7 (1st)

The Spurs started off 5-0 for the first time in franchise history (shocking stat) before taking a loss to the Suns on Sunday. Victor Wembanyama was blazing through the first five with 30.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, 4.8 blocks, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

In the loss to Phoenix, Wemby played 34 minutes and went 4-of-14 from the field, 1-of-5 from three with no free-throws for 9 points. The Spurs star added 9 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists, but coming off his worst game of the season means I certainly have to drop him back down to No. 2.

Milwaukee Bucks Primary Logo
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (+650)
Points Per Game: 34.0 (1st)
Rebounds Per Game: 13.3 (3rd)
Assists Per Game: 6.8 (16th)

Giannis Antetokounmpo at the buzzer! The Greek Freak sent the crowd into a disheveled frenzy when he nailed an awkward fadeaway over two defenders at with no time remaining to give the Bucks a 117-15 win over the Pacers in Indiana. Antetokounmpo dropped 33 points and it was his fifth 30-point game in six contests with five double-doubles.

It's early in the year, but point Giannis is averaging a career-high 6.8 assists per game as the main facilitator for the Bucks, while posting a career-high 13.3 rebounds thanks to better spacing thanks to Myles Turner.

The only downfall of Antetokounmpo's awesome season so far once again is his free-throw shooting. Giannis is shooting 61.5% from the charity stripe, which is a career-low. He could lead the NBA in points per game if he was making his freebies, and those time of things make a significant difference come end of the year.

Los Angeles Lakers Primary Logo
4. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers (+500)
Points Per Game: 41.3
Assists Per Game: 11.5
Rebounds Per Game: 8.3

Luka Doncic returned in glorious fashion against the Grizzlies dropping 44 points on 14-of-27 from the field, 6-of-15 from three, and 10-for-13 from the line. Doncic also double-doubled with 12 boards and added six assists over 39 minutes.

Through four games without LeBron James, Doncic averages 13.5 free-throw attempts, 12.0 three-point attempts, 11.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. Doncic's 39.3% usage rate leads the NBA with Giannis Antetokounmpo in secluded second (34.3%).

However, Doncic rested against Portland on Monday (Lakers won), which is concerning for his games played mark. Doncic already missed three games and is getting rest seven games in. It's a long season and Los Angeles is without LeBron James, so it makes sense they don't want to push Doncic, but load management hurts an MVP case. We know that SGA, Jokic, and Wembanyama won't have load many, if any load management nights.

Denver Nuggets Primary Logo
5. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (+425)
Points Per Game: 22.7 (22nd)
Rebounds Per Game: 13.2 (4th)
Assists Per Game: 11.3 (1st)

Through five games, Nikola Jokic triple-doubled four-straight, but failed with nine assists, then seven rebounds in his next two games as his streak ended. Denver has started 4-2 with losses to Portland and Golden State — two of the better defensive squads in a league with limited defense.

Two of the downfalls to Jokic's start is his three-point shooting, which rose from 23.8% to 29% after last night's win over the Kings. Jokic was 5-of-21 entering the game with only 4.4 free-throw attempts per game, but last night he recorded 34 points, 4-of-10 from three, and 2-for-3 from the free-throw line.

Jokic's scoring overall is down at 22.7 points per game, but things are looking up after a season-high 34 versus the Kings. He leads the NBA with 11.3 assists per game and fourth in rebounding (13.2), so he's clearly still top five, but five for me.

Stock Up

Philadelphia 76ers Primary Logo
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (+7000)
Points Per Game: 33.7 (2nd)
Rebounds Per Game: 4.8 (T-103rd)
Assists Per Game: 9.0 (T-5th)

The player saw the highest rise in odds from last week to this week is Tyrese Maxey. The 76ers have started off a hot 5-1, including four-straight to win the season. Maxey exploded for 39 or more points in three of those five games with at least six assists in every contest and 39 or more minutes. I wouldn't put my money on him because there are far too many factors into how the 76ers season can go with Joel Embiid and Paul George dealing with early season injuries and load management.

Stock Down

Minnesota Timberwolves Primary Logo
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (+8000)
Points Per Game: 25.7
Rebounds Per Game: 2.0
Assists Per Game: 4.0

As stated last week, Anthony Edwards went down with an injury and his odds moved from +2000 to +3500. Now they are +8000 as he missed his fourth consecutive game and likely going to miss the next handful. Minnesota plays New York, Utah, Sacramento, and Utah again until a break between Nov. 11-14. I would target Edwards to come back after that for one of the back-to-back games versus Sacramento and Denver.

Follow my plays for the season on X @VmoneySports, Instagram @VmoneySports_ and Action App @vaughndalzell.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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Which NBA star's rise made Steph Curry realize his impact on basketball

Which NBA star's rise made Steph Curry realize his impact on basketball originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In 2015, former broadcaster and Warriors coach Mark Jackson said that Steph Curry was “hurting the game,” noting that kids learning to play basketball would prioritize 3-point shooting over other areas of development. 

Whether or not Curry’s impact is detrimental can be left for debate, but the existence of that impact itself is clear. The average 3-pointers made per game in the NBA has more than doubled since Curry debuted. 

On the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James and Steve Nash, James asked Curry at what point did he realize his game was transcendent? 

“When [Atlanta Hawks guard] Trae Young came in the league, and that was like the first person they said was the next ‘me’,” Curry said, “even though he’s a different player.” 

Heading into the 2018 NBA Draft, Young often was compared to Curry on account of his 3-point shooting from long range and volume while playing at Oklahoma. The comparison was one of the first times that Curry realized his impact. 

“That might be the first time I thought of it or really experienced what the impact was,” Curry said. “But I got that ‘you ruined the game’ question after Mark said it. Now it’s kind of tongue-in-cheek, just because you understand there is an influence. Now it’s about how can you allow kids to hear the story about the entire journey and not just the finish point.” 

Despite the comparisons solely due to 3-point shooting, Young has not shot at the same volume as Curry in his eight years in the NBA. Young averages 7.5 3-point attempts per game to Curry’s 9.4 3-point attempts per game.  

“When he was a kid, they came to one of our games, I got to talk to him,” Curry recounted. “Next thing you know, he’s getting drafted, like ‘he’s the next [Steph Curry]’. Like no, he’s his own player.” 

Even though the comparison might not be completely accurate, Curry’s impact on the evolution of players like Young is unquestionable. 

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Ben Stokes signals 2027 Ashes readiness by signing new two-year central contract

  • Root also among 14 players committed to national team

  • Bethell and Archer among the other notable inclusions

Ben Stokes has signalled his desire to play in the 2027 Ashes at home after signing a new two-year central contract with England.

Aged 34, and having sustained hamstring and shoulder injuries in the past 12 months, there was a school of thought that this winter’s Ashes – less than three weeks away – could be the Test captain’s swansong.

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Do Flyers Fans Owe John Tortorella an Apology?

Less than a quarter into the 2025-26 season, Philadelphia Flyers fans are already having difficulty coping with the team's lifeless offense and overall struggles under new head coach Rick Tocchet.

This isn't necessarily to say that Tocchet can't turn things around in Philadelphia, because we're 12 games in, but his teams have historically always played like this.

A Sportsnet infographic that has gone semi-viral online has shown that, in his last four seasons as a head coach, including this season and excluding 2022-23, Tocchet's teams have ranked no higher than 26th in the NHL in shots per game.

The good news for Tocchet is that his assistant coach pick, Todd Reirden, has the defense humming despite a considerable talent gap relative to most competitive teams around the league.

Goalies Dan Vladar and Aleksei Kolosov, who have been below-average NHL netminders statistically throughout their young careers, have save percentages of .924 and .929, respectively.

To an extent, Tocchet's system is working, but the results are the results. The Flyers, at the time of this writing, are in last place in the Eastern Conference, have scored the fourth-fewest goals, and don't have a win on the road yet.

All of these factors have made some fans appreciate Tortorella more, and there are some who have yet to see it that way.

The truth is that Tortorella's fingerprints are all over this roster, debacles with Cam York and Sean Couturier aside.

Noah Cates and Bobby Brink both made the jump from inconsistent players who may or may not play to lineup staples relied upon to perform in an important checking role.

Tyson Foerster has quietly emerged as one of the league's best defensive wingers while taking on a new role as a penalty killer, while Owen Tippett, too, is adding more responsibility to his game.

Under Tortorella, Tippett went from an unwanted prospect to a three-time 20-goal-scorer, with a career-best 28 goals, 25 assists, and 53 points coming in his second year under the former Flyers boss in 2023-24.

Ex-Flyers Coach John Tortorella Recounts Golden Matvei Michkov StoryEx-Flyers Coach John Tortorella Recounts Golden Matvei Michkov StoryTortorella dished on Michkov's surprising but enthusiastic penalty box strategy, which goes to show how well the two understood each other while they were together on the Flyers.

Travis Sanheim experienced a career rebirth playing for Tortorella and ultimately leveled up as a player, and his partner in crime, Travis Konecny, also had the three most prolific years of his career over the last three seasons.

Of course, the 5-foot-9 Emil Andrae blossomed with the guidance of Tortorella, of all people, only to fall behind the likes of Egor Zamula, Adam Ginning, and Noah Juulsen with Tocchet in charge. And that's almost exclusively due to his diminutive stature.

On top of that, Tortorella helped weed out underachieving talents in Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee while dealing with key losses at the trade deadline in consecutive years.

The most important part of this is Matvei Michkov, the Flyers' franchise player who expressed on record his disappointment for seeing his first NHL coach leave after just one season of working with him.

Tortorella, despite the healthy scratches, benchings, and heated verbal exchanges, helped guide a 19-year-old (turned 20 midseason) Michkov to a successful 26-goal, 63-point rookie campaign that saw the Russian pace all rookies in goals.

That same Michkov, only a handful of months later, has just one goal in 12 games under Tocchet, and his ice time has dramatically decreased from 16:41 a game to 14:58.

The Flyers star is shooting less, scoring less, and playing less under Tocchet, and he just lined up against the Calgary Flames next to Rodrigo Abols, of all players.

That's no slight against Abols, but he's a career journeyman who scratched and clawed his way onto the roster and has sat out some games to start this season.

The lack of ice time for Nikita Grebenkin - who also hasn't played every game - despite Tocchet's acknowledgement that the forward needed to play more, has been a similarly frustrating pain point for many.

Matvei Michkov Says He Was 'Very Upset' When Flyers Fired John TortorellaMatvei Michkov Says He Was 'Very Upset' When Flyers Fired John TortorellaThe relationship between star <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> rookie Matvei Michkov and fired head coach John Tortorella was much better than many have made it out to be.

A player as prodigious as Michkov, and a player who has a knack for making plays like Grebenkin, should be playing with similarly skilled players, but it didn't happen.

Plus, Michkov hasn't been able to recreate the magic he had with Sean Couturier and Konecny last season, though the latter has drastically improved his own play over the last week.

That said, the only Flyers forward who has been a consistent proprietor of offense this season has been Trevor Zegras, who has impressively tallied 13 points in 12 games to kick off his Flyers career.

Tortorella, for better or for worse, didn't have that kind of support at center over the last three seasons.

Speaking of centers, it can also be noted that Jett Luchanko objectively took a step back this season.

The 2024 first-round pick averaged 14:03 a game in four matches under Tortorella, but that plummeted to 8:58 last month under Tocchet.

Maybe a then-18-year-old Luchanko wasn't ready for the NHL, but at least Tortorella had a plan for him and mostly executed it before the team collectively pulled the plug.

How John Tortorella Protected Matvei Michkov in Flyers Debut, Rookie SeasonHow John Tortorella Protected Matvei Michkov in Flyers Debut, Rookie SeasonJohn Tortorella may not be the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers anymore, but in his short time coaching rookies Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko, the polarizing bench boss left his mark.

With Luchanko, and with the rest of the team, it's still wait-and-see mode with Tocchet, but a dreadful back-to-back on home ice this past weekend is already affirming fans' fears and increasing impatience with the club icon.

After all, the Flyers handed the Toronto Maple Leafs their first road win of the season on Saturday, then lost to the worst team in the NHL in the Flames on Sunday, scoring just two goals at even strength between both games.

Few view Tortorella as a coach who aided a rebuild, but perhaps his Flyers tenure wasn't so bad after all.

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Panthers begin west coast swing looking for revenge against high-flying Ducks

The road has not been particularly kind to the Florida Panthers so far in the early stages of the new NHL season.

Despite holding a strong 5-1-1 record on home ice, Florida has faltered when traveling away from Sunrise.

So far through five road games, the Panthers are just 1-4-0 while being outscored 18-8, and now they’re starting a west coast trip that could just as easily chew them up and spit them out.

The first if four games out west begins on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.

Anaheim has been one of the surprise teams of the Western Conference early this season.

They enter play Tuesday holding one of the three playoff spots in the Pacific Division, skating to an impressive 7-3-1 mark through their first 11 outings.

The Ducks have currently won three straight games, five of their past six overall and are 5-1-1 over their past seven, a stretch that includes last Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout win over the Panthers in Sunrise.

Youngster Cutter Gauthier has been on fire of late, riding a six-game point streak in which he’s logged four goals and nine points.

Veteran Chris Kreider, one of the newest Ducks this season, has started his career in Anaheim with six goals over his first seven games, including tallies in each of his past two outings.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Tuesday’s tilt with the Quackers:

Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand

Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Jesper Boqvist

A.J. Greer – Cole Schwindt – Noah Gregor

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones

Dominic Sebrango – Jeff Petry

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Photo caption: Oct 28, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (19) scores a goal past Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) during an overtime shootout at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

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Making sense of the Celtics' early-season slumps, bumps and grumps

Making sense of the Celtics' early-season slumps, bumps and grumps originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The losses were not supposed to sting this much.

We were certain that, with a new-look roster and tempered expectations, the Boston Celtics’ viewing experience would be largely stress free. We were convinced fans wouldn’t feel the bumps in the road as much as they have in past seasons, where every loss in a championship-or-bust campaign felt like a stomach punch. If this new campaign was going to be a bit of a roller coaster, we were prepared with transition-year Dramamine.

We couldn’t have been more wrong. 

The losses still gnaw at you — in large part because, while the team looks different, the losses often look the same.

These Celtics can’t hold double-digit leads. Their play vacillates wildly from quarter to quarter. When their 3-point shots are not falling, they remain a tough watch, particularly given their propensity to let empty offensive possessions impact their defensive effort.

On Monday night, the Celtics should have been eager to dust themselves off after a beatdown from the championship-chasing Houston Rockets at the tail end of a five-game-in-seven-days stretch. That one was easy to chalk up as a schedule loss. But Monday was the ultimate “get right” game against a Utah Jazz team that had gotten pummeled in Charlotte the night before and was missing one of its key bigs in Walker Kessler. 

Yet, somehow, it was Boston that didn’t have enough gas in the tank in the second half Monday night, as offensive rebounds still came back to bite the Celtics.

After a defensive gem of a first half that put the Celtics ahead by double digits, Boston’s defense disappeared in the second half, the team’s effort waning as it repeatedly clanged quality 3-point looks. Keyonte George morphed into Michael Jordan for a stretch, 37-year-old Kevin Love rolled back the clocks, and Jusuf Nurkic’s putback in the final moments lifted Utah to a 105-103 triumph at TD Garden.

The Celtics’ 3-point shooting was historically bad for their volume. The C’s set an NBA record by missing 40 their 51 triples, posting the lowest 3-point percentage (21.6 percent) in league history by a team with 50-plus attempts. 

Would it make you feel any better to know the NBA tracking data suggested all those 3-point looks were pretty good? It probably won’t, right? But 50 of Boston’s 51 attempts came with 4+ feet of space from the nearest defender. The Celtics made just 2 of 21 attempts with 4 to 6 feet of space, and 9 of 29 attempts with 6+ feet of space. 

Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, who both made 3s in the opening minutes when Boston ripped off a 10-0 run, quickly reverted to their season-opening struggles. There are 178 players who qualify on the list of NBA’s 3-point percentage leaders this season. Here’s where Boston players rank:

  • 178th: Payton Pritchard
  • 171st: Derrick White
  • 95th: Anfernee Simons
  • 92nd: Jaylen Brown
  • 69th: Sam Hauser

Pritchard and White were a combined 7 for 19 on Monday night, which is actually progress. Hauser improbably went 1 for 8 from distance. Simons wasn’t much better (2 for 8). Brown missed all nine 3-pointers he attempted, though he kept Boston’s offense afloat by making 13 of 19 shots inside the arc while producing a team-high 36 points. 

It seems impossible that White and Pritchard won’t eventually get on track. But as they struggle from distance to start the season, it only makes the margins that much slimmer for a Boston team with a bunch of new vulnerabilities. And, yet, if the Celtics’ defensive energy didn’t wane in the second half, they very well might have survived a historically bad shooting night.

Spare us all the chatter about the referees’ missed call on a George trip of Brown in the final minute. Yes, it should have been a whistle. No, it’s not a valid excuse for not winning this game. We don’t need a Last 2 Minute report to confirm the referee error.

Our Last 24 Minute report notes the Celtics tripped all over themselves repeatedly in the second half without aid from the Jazz or the referees. 

Brown has been fantastic, and it’s frustrating that Boston’s supporting cast hasn’t been able to help him more. It’s also annoying that, with multiple last-gasp opportunities in tight games against Philadelphia and Utah, the Celtics have been unable to get Brown a clean look at a winning shot. Brown got whistled (correctly) for a push-off before the Celtics’ final possession with 0.6 seconds to play Monday night.

Brown vented about the missed tripping call after the game but, like a good leader, eventually suggested he has to do more to help his team as this group hunts for an identity early in the new season. The truth is the supporting cast has to do more, and Brown’s efforts have been spoiled by the team’s shooting funks.

Neemias Queta will kick himself about a missed late-game free throw and his inability to box out Nurkic on Utah’s winning shot. Josh Minott can’t get in early foul trouble, which limited his floor time. Boston needs more from its bench, where every single player not named Chris Boucher was in the negative for plus/minus Monday night. 

Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that the Celtics are experiencing these growing pains. But it all seems so preventable, which makes it harder to stomach. Boston has all the potential to outkick its tempered expectations and yet hasn’t played with anywhere near the sort of consistency that would allow that.

Chalk it up to early-season growing pains, but the Celtics’ lack of focus and discipline Monday night was inexcusable. The Rockets were simply on a different level on Saturday and the rest disadvantage didn’t help. But much of Boston’s woes in the team’s other four losses this season were largely self-inflicted.

Maybe all this team needs is White and Pritchard to get off the 3-point schneid. Maybe the Celtics just need to be mentally tougher when shots aren’t falling and lean into their obvious defensive potential instead of losing their minds. 

It’s easy to say we should have braced ourselves for these bumps given the roster changes. But there’s too much talent and potential here to be OK with the Celtics losing games the way they did Monday night.

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After tense 2025, should the Phils move on from Castellanos?

After tense 2025, should the Phils move on from Castellanos? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Few players in Philadelphia sparked more conversation in 2025 than Nick Castellanos. Now, entering the final year of his five-year, $100 million deal, the focus shifts from his performance to his future with the Phils in 2026.

A season blemished by tension

Castellanos’ frustration boiled over multiple times last year.

On June 16 against the Marlins, Phils manager Rob Thomson pulled him late for defense — a move that led to what the skipper later called “an inappropriate comment” from Castellanos and a one-game benching. The decision snapped a streak of 236 consecutive starts.

“I wasn’t happy about it,” Castellanos said afterward. “I spoke my mind, and he said I crossed a line.”

The situation didn’t improve after the trade deadline. When the Phillies acquired Harrison Bader from Minnesota, the outfield suddenly became crowded — Bader, Brandon Marsh, Max Kepler and Castellanos vying for consistent at-bats.

On August 20, Castellanos even told reporters that Bader was “pretty frustrated” with his part-time role, a strange comment given the two were competing for playing time.

A week and a half later, when Thomson again replaced him defensively, Castellanos voiced disappointment about the lack of communication between the two. “I don’t really talk to Rob all that often,” he said. “The communication over the years has been questionable, at least in my experience.”

Even during the postseason, the frustration lingered. After the Phillies’ Game 2 loss to the Dodgers in the NLDS, Castellanos commented on the energy at Citizens Bank Park:

“When the game is going good, it’s wind at our back, but when the game is not going good, it’s wind in our face. The environment can be with us and the environment can be against us.”

That quote reflected how his tone to the manager, the media and the fans worked against his favor this season.

Through it all, the production simply wasn’t there in his 13th professional campaign. Castellanos finished with a .250/.294/.400 slash line, 17 home runs and a -1.0 WAR. Defensively, he ranked last among qualified outfielders with -12 outs above average and -90 defensive runs saved since 2016, the worst total in baseball over that span. Each of those stats are calculated based on the “average” player showing just how substandard his defense has been.

The path forward

Castellanos is still owed $20 million in 2026. For a player now best suited for a designated-hitter role, that salary is a financial burden given his below average run production at the plate. The Phillies could try to trade him, eating part of his remaining salary, or, if no trade partner emerges, designate him for assignment and absorb the entire cost.

There’s reason to expect the front office to explore those options. Dombrowski said at the season’s end, “We’ll see what happens. I’m not going to get into specific players.”

With younger outfielders like Otto Kemp, Johan Rojas and top prospects Justin Crawford and Gabriel Rincones Jr. nearing solidified roles on the big league roster, the willingness to retain a declining veteran has faded – especially one who injected tension in the clubhouse.

Castellanos’ time in Philadelphia featured key postseason moments – his October in 2023 included six homers – and stretches of strong production. 

But after four playoff runs without a title, the Phillies may need to do what Castellanos once told the On Base podcast: “Help the team however it needs to be to win a World Series.”

In this case, the Phils may have to move on.