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Brandin Podziemski back in Warriors' starting lineup but shaken up vs. Grizzlies

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski started in the team's home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Oct. 23.

But his initial appearance proved to be brief. Podziemski left the game with 8:17 left in the first quarter after taking a shot from Grizzlies center Zach Edey.

Podziemski went backdoor and took a pass from Graham Ike as he went up for a layup over Edey. Podziemski scored but not without contact. Edey appeared to have struck Podziemski in the face as he was making a play on the ball. No whistle was blown and everyone played on ... except Podziemski, who stayed on the ground after the contact.

He got up and walked off the court and into the locker room on his own. Podziemski had scored four points, making both shot attempts.

He did eventually return to the bench and get back into the game.

Podziemski missed the Warriors' season opener, Wednesday's 127-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, due to a sore back.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters before Friday's game that Podziemski was not only available, but starting at the two-guard position.

"He had a workout this morning," Kerr said. "Went through it fine, so he'll be in the starting lineup."

Podziemski appeared in all 82 games for the Warriors last season. His availability was one of the many attributes that gave Golden State confidence before extending the 23-year-old.

The Warriors and Podziemski agreed to a five-year, $110 million rookie-scale contract extension, which includes an option for the final year in 2031–32.

Podziemski averaged career highs with Golden State last year (13.8 points per game, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals on 45% shooting). The Warriors drafted Podziemski out of Santa Clara with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brandin Podziemski back in Warriors' starting lineup but shaken up vs. Grizzlies

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Jayson Tatum saves the day, Celtics beat Knicks 107-103

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 23: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoots a three point basket during the game against the New York Knicks on October 23, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Jayson Tatum saved the day for the Celtics on Friday night with two clutch buckets late in the fourth quarter.

His 36 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists led the way as the Celtics beat the defending champion Knicks, 107-103.

The Celtics started their same five from the opener: Derrick White, Paul George, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum and former Knick Mitchell Robinson. Devin Carter once again did not play for Boston. The Knicks started their championship five of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns. Every Knick was available in this one.

Robinson committed two quick fouls and had to sit 3 minutes into the game and he was replaced by Neemias Queta.

In fact, it was a hack show for the Celtics early in the game. The Knicks were in the bonus at the 7:25 mark in the first quarter.

It was an up and down start for the Celtics who trailed 27-26. Jayson Tatum led the team with 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. No one else had more than one field goal in the period.

The 2nd quarter opened with two Luka Garza buckets, one off of an offensive rebound and one three-pointer to put the C’s up 4.

The Celtics defense was flying around, but offense wasn’t great in the 2nd quarter. Payton Pritchard couldn’t get it going and the Celtics had a few turnovers.

It was a low scoring 2nd quarter but a Paul George buzzer beater put the Celtics up 1 at the half, 50-49. Jayson Tatum led the team with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists while Neemias Queta had 7 points and 4 rebounds but was 2-6 from the field.

One thing the Celtics struggled with in the first half was the defensive glass. The Knicks had a 42.9% offensive rebounding rate in the first half, according to Cleaning the Glass.

The offense opened up a bit for the Celtics in the 2nd half. Back-to-back good Jayson Tatum drives put the Celtics up 7 at the 7:11 mark in the 3rd quarter.

Deuce McBride is a new Celtics killer. He had 11 points and was 3/4 from three point range off of the Knicks bench after he made an acrobatic play to save the ball and hit a three pointer.

McBride finished the game 6/8 from three.

The third quarter also saw a Neemias Queta make a three pointer!

A 13-4 run to cap the quarter gave the Celtics a 10-point lead entering the 4th quarter, 83-73. A monster third quarter from Jayson Tatum put him at 27 points and 9 rebounds to lead Boston.

Mitchell Robinson had back-to-back nice plays, first a big block on Karl-Anthony Towns and then a lob dunk on a not great pass from Derrick White. He then immediately picked up his 5th foul and had to sit.

This was a clutch game as Knicks made it a 5-point game just as 5 minutes were on the clock.

A tough Jalen Brunson shot cut the Celtics lead to 1 with 1:41 to go before Jayson Tatum hit a tough fallaway shot to put the Celtics up 3, 101-98.

Jayson Tatum took over the game late. Hitting a tough long two in the corner and a three right over the head of Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks did answer both times so the Celtics were still only up 3 as Payton Pritchard went to the line.

He went 1/2, put the Celtics up 4 and the Knicks didn’t score the rest of the way.

The story was Tatum but there were contributions everywhere. Both Paul George and Neemias Queta had 15 points and the Celtics defense was awesome.

Boston shot 46% from the field and 39% from three while the Knicks shot 44% from the field and 40% from three. The Celtics next game is Monday at 7:30 pm EST from TD Garden against the Chicago Bulls.

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Brewers can’t stop thinking about LA: ‘The Dodgers were the lucky team last season’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Max Muncy reacts with disappointment while standing at home plate as catcher William Contreras looks on, Image 2 shows Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras celebrates after hitting an RBI single against the Tampa Bay Rays as cheering fans look on, Image 3 shows Milwaukee Brewers players Garrett Mitchell and William Contreras celebrate in the dugout

The Brewers have reached baseball’s biggest stage, but haven’t stopped talking about the Dodgers.

After Milwaukee swept the back-to-back World Series champions in the National League Championship Series, manager Pat Murphy took a jab at the Dodgers. Since then, Brewers owner Mark Attanasio has also thrown shade at the juggernaut and catcher William Contreras is the latest to mention the eliminated Dodgers.

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras celebrates after hitting an RBI single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Contreras penned a letter to fans in The Players Tribune and discussed the 2025 postseason where the Brewers were swept by the Dodgers.

“The playoff series against the Dodgers, we got swept…… It was terrible,” Contreras wrote. “I understand why there was not so much belief in us after a loss like that. But if you want the truth, I’ll tell you, because I was there. I’m the one who saw it from both sides, right? I’m behind the plate for their side … and I’m at the plate for our side.

“Here’s the truth: The Dodgers were the lucky team last season.

“No, I’m not saying they were lucky to be champions. Of course not. It’s a tremendous team, with tremendous players. I’ll take nothing away from them. But were they lucky to SWEEP us? That’s a different story.”

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras returns to the dugout as Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy slams his bat after striking out to end the sixth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell celebrates his solo home run with catcher William Contreras in the dugout during the sixth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Ashley Landis

While Contreras continues to express his belief in the National League’s best team, the ongoing comments surrounding the Dodgers have become a distraction to the Brewers’ success. Yes, the Dodgers fell short of their ultimate goal.

Yes, the Brewers played far better baseball than LA in the NLCS. But to continue mentioning the Dodgers only takes away from what Milwaukee can achieve with only four more wins.

The Brewers have the chance to take home its first World Series title in franchise history, but defeating the Dodgers appears to be the highlight of October for the squad.

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Devon Toews, Nazem Kadri Score as Avalanche Take 2-0 Lead Over Lightning

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are making their chances count and keeping Tampa Bay at arm’s length. Colorado took a 4-2 lead into the second intermission, answering the Lightning’s push with timely goals from Fedor Svechkov and Artturi Lehkonen, while Jake Guentzel scored twice on the power play to keep Tampa within striking distance. The Lightning lead 27-17 in shots on goal, but the Avalanche have made the most of their opportunities.

First Period

Martin Necas found Devon Toews in front of the net just 68 seconds into the game, with Nathan MacKinnon picking up the assist to give Colorado an early lead.

Jaden Schwartz appeared to tie the game nearly five minutes in, but the goal was waved off after he kicked the puck past Mackenzie Blackwood. Colorado capitalized shortly after, scoring on the power play at 5:52 with Brandon Hagel in the box for tripping. Nazem Kadri buried a pass from T.J. Hughes in the low slot to double the lead.

Martin Necas following practice on Monday.

Tampa had its chances, controlling possession at times and forcing Colorado’s defense to scramble around its own net. The Lightning also kept the Avalanche’s top line on the ice for extended shifts and tested Blackwood with a flurry of shots, but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Despite being outshot 12-9, Colorado took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Second Period

Fedor Svechkov made it 3-0 just 24 seconds into the period, knocking in his own rebound past Andrei Vasilevskiy. Svechkov appeared to be looking for T.J. Hughes at the backdoor, but after Vasilevskiy poke-checked the puck, the rebound fell right back to Svechkov, who finished the play.

Logan O’Connor, playing for the first time this season after recovering from a lower-body injury and dealing with the loss of his father, was called for a two-minute goaltender interference penalty. Vasilevskiy had left his crease to make a save near the backdoor, and O’Connor, closing in quickly, had little time to avoid the collision. Colorado killed off the penalty.

Tampa later earned a 4-on-3 power play after Taylor Makar tripped Conor Geekie. Following the whistle, Sam Malinski cross-checked Dominic James, sparking a brief scuffle along the boards. Both players received roughing minors. On the ensuing power play, Jake Guentzel cut into Colorado’s lead, punching in a rebound off a one-timer from Charle-Edouard D’Astous.

After Colorado killed off a tripping penalty to Lehkonen with 7:10 remaining, the winger got his own goal back. MacKinnon set him up in the low slot, and Lehkonen buried his ninth goal in 11 games to restore the Avalanche’s three-goal cushion at 4-1.

Unlike in their previous two games, the Avalanche were making their chances count while doing a better job defensively and breaking up Tampa’s plays.

Colorado was called for too many men on the ice with less than three minutes remaining, and Tampa struck again on the power play. Brayden Point fed Guentzel at the doorstep for his second goal of the night, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

The Avalanche challenged the goal, arguing that the puck had hit the upper netting before crossing the line. After an extensive review, officials determined the puck had hit the glass, not the netting, and the goal stood.

Through 40 minutes, Colorado held a 4-2 lead, but Tampa continued to pour on the pressure, building a 27-17 advantage in shots on goal.

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Steve Kerr calls out Yaxel Lendeborg’s defense on Luka Doncic: ‘Who the eff cares?’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Golden State Warriors guard Yaxel Lendeborg defends against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic during a game, Image 2 shows Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr watches the game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Image 3 shows Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers

SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Kerr “loved” the back-and-forth between Yaxel Lendeborg and Luka Doncic on opening night. He had other bones to pick with the Warriors’ rookie’s debut.

Doncic went off for 28 points while the Lakers handed Golden State a blowout loss Wednesday night, but that didn’t stop Lendeborg from continuing his war of words afterward.

Besides saying that he “lost all respect” for the Lakers superstar for his “whining” to the refs, Lendeborg touted his individual defense on Doncic. He said that he told Doncic that he couldn’t score on him, and the stats backed that up to a degree, holding him to 1-of-5 in their matchups.

That’s where Kerr took issue with the rookie running his mouth. 

Golden State Warriors guard Yaxel Lendeborg defends against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Getty Images

“Who the eff cares?” Kerr said of the one-on-one matchup. “He did a good job on Luka 1-on-1, but we got torched by Luka as a team. I don’t care. … It’s like, they scored 120 on us. That stuff’s all bulls–t. It’s our defense. He knows that. I talked to him the other day. Our defense was not good regardless of him individually when he guarded the ball.”

Lendeborg finished with 12 points, four personal fouls and one technical in 29 minutes. He has another emotionally charged matchup Friday in the Warriors’ home opener against the Grizzlies.

It will be the first NBA showdown between Lendeborg and the No. 3 overall pick out of Duke, Cameron Boozer, which the Michigan man drafted eight slots later said he circled on his calendar. But Kerr wasn’t too concerned about the rookie’s mindset.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr calls a play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Getty Images

He had more concrete feedback from Lendeborg’s NBA debut.

“He’s a little bit of a coaster,” Kerr said. “I want to see him run the floor harder. I think that will open up a lot of opportunities. He’s so skilled and big that if we get him to run the court — both ways — a little harder, a little faster, he’s going to end up finding the ball more and be more of a threat.”

Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

Kerr agreed with Steph Curry that Lendeborg will have to back up his talking with his play on the court. He won’t have to wait long before he sees Doncic again.

The Lakers visit Chase Center next Friday, and Lendeborg is sure to have a target on his back.

“I love the young guy. He’s really talented. I love his competitiveness,” Kerr said. “Like I said, I didn’t mind the stuff the other day. But as Steph said, you’ve got to back it up. That’s the thing. 

“We play the Lakers again next week, so, OK, here you go.”

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Preview: Wizards play Bulls Saturday night

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards reacts during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 08, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards play the Chicago Bulls tomorrow. Let’s go.

Game Info

When: Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: United Center

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Injury Report

Wizards: Jamir Watkins and Tristan Vukcevic are out. AJ Dybantsa is day to day.

Bulls: Nic Claxton is out.

What to watch for

The Wizards are about to go on their first road trip where they will be out for three straight games. They began their first game of the season last Wednesday against the same Raptors team Washington is hosting and lost 135-92. Today, they played the Milwaukee Bucks and won 132-25.

Tomorrow should be winnable despite the loss to the Raptors tonight, but the Bulls will be pumped of their own home opener.

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The Nets’ plan for Mikel Brown Jr. is going to require plenty of patience

Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) dribbles past Charlotte Hornets guard Christian Anderson (5).
Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) looks for an opening as Charlotte Hornets guard Christian Anderson (5) defends during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Barclays Center in New York. The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Brooklyn Nets.

Mikel Brown Jr.’s second career game could present him with a long-awaited matchup against his friend and mentor, Donovan Mitchell. 

But the former Louisville stars won’t share the court for much — if any — time Saturday night in Cleveland. 

The minutes restriction placed on the No. 6 overall pick in his NBA debut will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. 

“It’s how it is until we change it, and right now we know the sample size is going to be way bigger,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said after Friday’s practice. “It’s not just, ‘Oh, one game, he’s good to go.’ … I mean, if you guys think about it, he played [21 games last season]. This season is 82, right? Is he gonna play all 82? No. 

Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) looks for an opening as Charlotte Hornets guard Christian Anderson (5) defends during the fourth quarter on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Barclays Center in New York. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post

“We feel like he can take steps. Obviously, at some point he’ll be able to play more games and be able to play back to backs, but it’s not right now or anytime soon.” 

Brown — who could sit against the Cavaliers or for Sunday’s home game against the Pacers — missed the Nets’ first three preseason games with an ankle injury. The 20-year-old was then limited to 18 minutes in the preseason finale and just under 20 minutes in the season-opening loss to the Hornets, in which he finished with six points, three rebounds and three assists while shooting 2 of 8 from the field. 

In his lone season at Louisville, Brown missed 14 games due to a lower back injury, but Brooklyn felt comfortable enough with his recovery to make the 6-foot-4 guard the franchise’s highest draft pick in 16 years. 

“We’re gonna build him to be healthy and to be a strong NBA player,” Fernández said. “We have a plan for him. Obviously, we’re not gonna disclose every step of the way, but the No. 1 thing is to build him up and build up his body to be able to sustain the minutes that can help the team win games.” 

Louisville was 16-3 with Brown in the lineup before he suffered the back injury that sidelined him for the postseason. He scored 29 points in his third college game in a win over rival Kentucky. He tied a school record and set an ACC freshman single-game record with 45 points in February. 

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez speaks with Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. during the fourth quarter of on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post

The need for Brown’s explosiveness was evident in Game 1 in Brooklyn, when the Nets had only two double-digit scorers (Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr.). 

But patience is required. 

His ceiling won’t be seen anytime soon. 

“I’m really excited for Mikel to continue to grow and play and get more minutes and be out there with us,” Porter Jr. said. “There’s been practices where he’s completely dominated, played with the second group and won the day because he was killing it. He has so many tools to be elite offensively and defensively in the future. 

“But offensively, for sure he’s a high-level scorer, he’s a high-level shotmaker, he can get others involved, so there’s not a lot of weakness in his game. As he gets more minutes, it’ll slow down for him. He has a very bright future. He has already shown that.”

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Paolo Banchero injury update: Why Magic star exited game vs. Timberwolves

For the Orlando Magic, it has already started.

A team that has had abysmal injury luck with its best players, the Magic may have another issue on their hands. Star forward Paolo Banchero left Orlando’s game Friday, Oct. 23 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with an ankle issue; the team later declared him doubtful to return with a sore right ankle designation.

Banchero tweaked his ankle early in the third quarter, prompting him to get subbed out and head to the locker room. The issue appeared to happen after he and Magic guard Jalen Suggs were going for a rebound. Banchero landed awkwardly and immediately grabbed his ankle as he fell to the floor.

The positive news was that Banchero not only returned to the bench, but also returned to action.

Yet, Banchero was subbed out at the start of the fourth quarter, which might be precautionary, as the Magic were getting blown out and down by 26 points at the time.

Both Banchero and fellow Magic forward Franz Wagner had injury issues over the past two seasons. During the 2024-25 campaign, an oblique injury limited Banchero to only 46 games. Wagner battled a similar injury the same season and played only 60 games that year; last season, he played just 34.

Banchero scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting Friday night, adding 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal.

The Magic lost 115-93.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paolo Banchero injury update: Why Magic star exited game vs. Timberwolves

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Hawks’ defense shines, defeat Hornets 128-81

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 23: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks drives by Brandon Miller #24 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of basketball game at Spectrum Center on October 23, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Hawks were in Charlotte on Friday evening to face the Hornets. Both teams are coming off wins in their season opener, with the Hawks defeating the Orlando Magic and the Hornets defeating the Brooklyn Nets.

The Hawks and Hornets had a few battles last season, but the latter has made several changes to its roster since then. Outside of those moves, they actually have injuries to some key players, such as Kon Knuppel and Coby White. As for the Hawks, they’re fully healthy outside of Mouhamed Gueye, who’s still recovering from his injury in the offseason.

Onyeka Okongwu was able to get the Hawks on the board with his first 3-pointer of the season.

Dyson Daniels found Jalen Johnson on the cut for him to finish with the and-1.

CJ McCollum got off to a fast start for the Hawks, scoring 11 points in the first quarter with a few 3-pointers. The Hawks were active on defense as well, leading to steals and deflections, and it worked in their favor as they built a double digit lead.

Lu Dort was the first player off the bench for the Hawks, and he came in knocked down a 3-pointer.

The Hawks’ second unit was able to maintain the lead strictly off their defense, but they were able to get some easy shots, like this one from Aaron Wiggins.

Going into the second quarter, the Hawks led 29-18.

It was the Wiggins show through the first half of the quarter, and whether it was a shot from deep or an easy layup, he got any shot he wanted.

The Hawks found themselves up by as much as 21 points in the quarter. The Hawks’ second-unit defense was also strong through that stretch, which helped them gain a bigger lead.

It wasn’t just the second unit that was doing work on that side of the ball, but even the starters kept that same level of intensity.

The Hornets made a small run to cut down their deficit, but the Hawks responded in a huge way, which led to them going into halftime with a 68-43 lead.

The Hawks continued their strong defense to start the second half, and it was Daniels who made life hard for the Hornets. He had four steals in the third, and it felt like the Hornets were just willingly giving him the ball. He wasn’t just making an impact on defense either.

The Hawks’ ball movement was strong all night, and Jock Landale found Johnson on this cut.

Just when you thought the Hawks played their best defense in the first and second quarters, they held the Hornets to just 19 points in the third and went into the fourth with a 97-62 lead.

The Hawks kept the pressure on the Hornets in the fourth, and the Hornets didn’t have an answer. With how lopsided the score was, the Hawks were able to put in their end of the bench guys around the seven-minute mark, giving the main guys a much-needed rest with a back-to-back tomorrow.

Flemings made his first career 3-pointer in the quarter.

Zuby Ejiofor also knocked down his first career 3-pointer.

Johnson finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists; Wiggins finished with 19 points, Daniels finished with 11 points, nine rebounds; and Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with 14 points.

The Hawks will be back in action tomorrow night against the Houston Rockets.

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A Glove-First Outfielder

San Diego, CA - September 27: Jase Bowen #4 of the San Diego Padres catches a fly ball hit by Jordan Lawlar #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on September 27, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability). 

A Glove-First Outfielder

After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round of the 2019 draft, Jase Bowen flashed potential in his final season in the Pirates’ system. In 2025, he slashed .272/.353/.449 across four levels of the minor leagues. Most impressively, Bowen hit .294 with an .870 OPS in 36 games for Triple-A Indianapolis. In November of ‘25, Bowen elected free agency and signed with San Diego. He posted a .292/.362/.600 slash line in 49 games with Triple-A El Paso before being called up to make his MLB debut.

Overall Grade: C-

To that end, Bowen struggled. He never quite found a groove at the plate in the big leagues. Bowen often looked overwhelmed against big-league pitching, batting an anemic .146 with a .438 OPS. The power all but disappeared. Bowen had hit 13 homers in 49 games with El Paso, but launched just two in 83 contests at the big-league level.

Some of that is due to his usage as a defensive replacement. Bowen was really only put in games late, often not starting. Of the 83 games that Bowen played in, he started in less than a quarter of them. He boasts a phenomenal glove, posting +2 Fielding Run Value and +1 Outs Above Average in such a small sample (283.0 INN). Still, his glove is not enough to keep him on the roster.

Bowen has a potent bat, but he needs more time to develop. Starting the season in Triple-A to get more time against high-caliber pitching could help him mature enough to face big-leaguers. Alternatively, if he shows improvement during Cactus League play, Bowen could work his way onto the Opening Day roster. That said, Bowen needs to improve, otherwise he’s not going to last long on this squad in a stacked outfield crop.

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Nets’ young players facing uphill battle for minutes in new-look rotation

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell (4) moves the ball against the Miami Heat, Image 2 shows Danny Wolf of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball past an opponent during a game

Drake Powell appeared in 63 games (24 starts) as a rookie, averaging 21 minutes per game. Danny Wolf made 57 appearances (15 starts) for the Nets, averaging nearly 21 minutes per game. Ben Saraf also played nearly 21 minutes per game across 44 games (11 starts) in his first season. 

But none of them — three of the Nets’ five 2025 first-round picks — were among the 10 players who saw the floor for Brooklyn in its season-opening loss to Charlotte. 

“Nobody has guaranteed minutes,” head coach Jordi Fernández said Friday. 

Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell (4) moves the ball against the Miami Heat during a game on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at Kaseya Center in Miami. NBAE via Getty Images

Minutes are harder to come by in a season that doesn’t begin with a focus on the next NBA Draft, especially following the acquisition of Julius Randle, the selection of Mikel Brown Jr. and the signings of Keon Ellis and Mo Wagner. 

And Fernández wants to see what this group can produce before he bails on the rotation he’s envisioned. 

“I gotta give them enough consistency,” Fernández said. “I gotta be a little bit patient with what I want to see. But then at the same time, if I feel I have to make changes because of the benefit of the group, I will. It’s a process. It’s [one] game. If I [was] changing things right now, it would be a sign of freaking out, and I think we’re not there. 

“This group is great. The guys in rotation have done a great job. The guys that are not in rotation are working hard, and they’re working because when their number is called, they gotta take advantage of the minutes, and that’s how competition within the group works.” 

Danny Wolf (2) of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York. NBAE via Getty Images

Michael Porter Jr. wants to make the most of his 6-foot-10 frame. 

The 28-year-old forward has averaged 6.5 rebounds per game in his career, topping out at 7.3 per game during his second season (2020-21) in Denver. 

But Porter believes he can still become one of the best rebounders in the league. 

“I had seven rebounds [against the Hornets and] I need to be closer to the 10-rebound range,” Porter said. “I think I can really help the team in that area. … As far as being a good rebounding team, I know a lot of that is on me.” 

Ellis returns to Cleveland for Saturday’s game against the Cavaliers. 

The fifth-year guard spent his entire career in Sacramento before being traded to Cleveland for the final 29 games of last regular season and the Cavs’ run to the Eastern Conference finals. 

Ellis, 26, tied Porter Jr. for the second-most minutes (34) played on the team in the season opener, including the entire fourth quarter. 

“He played with a lot of composure, steady, did his job,” Fernández said. “That’s why he’s more of a veteran even though he’s still very young.”

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Cooper Flagg injury: Mavs star out after Flagrant-1 foul from Pacers on fastbreak

Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks were in the process of spoiling Tyrese Haliburton’s return in front of the home fans when the 19-year-old forward exited the game with injury. Flagg has been ruled out after sustaining a shoulder injury on a Flagrant-1 foul by Indiana Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith on a fastbreak. The injury happened in the final minute of the first half, and the Mavericks were already up 33 points when it happened.

Flagg raced down the floor in transition following a bad turnover by Indiana forward Pascal Siakam. Nesmith charged after him and challenged the play from behind. The two sides scuffled after Flagg went down, and the refs reviewed the play before assessing a Flagrant-1 on Nesmith. Flagg stayed in the game to make both free throws, and then headed the locker room. He didn’t start the second half, and wasn’t even on the Dallas bench.

Watch the play where Flagg was injured here:

Nesmith remained in the game. Players are only ejected for Flagrant-2 fouls, which Nesmith didn’t get because he hit Flagg in the arm while going for the ball, not his head.

Here’s the injury announcement from the Mavericks. The team called it “left shoulder soreness.”

Flagg had 14 minutes, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals in 17 minutes at the time of the injury.

We’ll update this story as it develops.

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Mavericks ran smear campaign to justify Luka Doncic trade with Lakers: report

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a game against the Golden State Warriors, Image 2 shows Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers prepares to shoot a free throw, Image 3 shows Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison looks on before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickie's Arena

The Mavericks shocked the league by trading franchise star Luka Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025.

Dallas reportedly ran a smear campaign to justify the shocking blockbuster deal, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick. Reports about Doncic’s weight, work ethic and other slanders surfaced about the superstar upon his arrival to Los Angeles.

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena. NBAE via Getty Images

The Lakers have profited greatly from the trade as Doncic has kicked off a new era for the storied franchise.

Doncic has worked incredibly hard to negate any of the speculation surrounding his tenure in Dallas, including his weight. He has transformed his body, sporting the cover of Men’s Health with a new-and-improved form.

This season, Doncic has a lot to prove to Lakers fans and to the rest of the league.

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena. NBAE via Getty Images
Former Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison looks on before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickie’s Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

NBA general managers voted anonymously in a survey predicting the league’s Most Valuable Player. Doncic received zero votes for the prestigious award, a sign that while he is extremely talented his greatness has recently been overlooked by many.

If Doncic can continue competing how he did on Opening Night against the Warriors, the Lakers have a chance of emerging as a top contender in a loaded Western Conference. The Lakers superstar has made his intentions extremely clear, penning a heartfelt letter to the city of LA ahead of the season opener.

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The Suns got punched in the mouth. Now what?

Oct 21, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) and Phoenix Suns forward Miles Bridges (22) battle for control of the ball during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It’s been nearly 48 hours since the Phoenix Suns tipped off their season, and boy did that opener get a reaction out of me. It wasn’t what we wanted, it certainly wasn’t what we expected, and it was absolutely cause for concern.

Now that some time has passed and emotions have settled, combined with taking a broader look at the NBA landscape in its entirety, I’m feeling a bit calmer. I’m no less frustrated by what transpired Wednesday night, but I’m more willing to trust the process and find some hope where it felt completely absent just two nights ago.

The season opener is something I’m sure none of us are going to forget anytime soon, primarily because it was the season opener. It was our first opportunity to see what all that continuity was supposed to bring. And when you enter a game with that much pent-up excitement, only to be unbelievably disappointed without experiencing a single moment of joy, you’re going to walk away frustrated, upset, and concerned.

If the Phoenix Suns want to be successful this season, knowing that championship aspirations aren’t necessarily part of the equation, they’re going to have to earn it with the way they play. They’re going to have to earn it through the development of their young players, and it certainly wouldn’t hurt if one or two of them took a significant leap toward becoming more than rotational pieces. They’re going to have to earn it by generating extra possessions and rebounding collectively as a team. Because shooting isn’t going to be this team’s forte, at least from an efficiency standpoint, and rebounding is going to be a struggle.

Every opposing team is going to key in on Khaman Maluach, knowing he’s Phoenix’s biggest rebounding threat. That means players like Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks are going to have to produce some of the best rebounding seasons of their careers if the Suns want to be effective in that aspect of the game.

Know that the Suns aren’t alone in brain farting their way through the beginning of the season. The Bulls lost by more than Phoenix did, although I recognize that comparing yourself to Chicago isn’t exactly where you want to be. The Denver Nuggets scored only one more point than the Suns in their season opener, although they were on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder. So anomalies happen.

Wednesday night also served as a reminder that sometimes being so close to a team, constantly analyzing and overanalyzing who they are and what they can become throughout the offseason, can be a disservice. You start talking yourself into the buzzwords you’ve heard. You begin believing that every transaction the organization makes is another step toward becoming a better basketball team. I’m certainly not alone in doing that, and I recognize there are plenty of you who never bought into any of it.

But at the end of the day, there’s one thing we have to accept as an undeniable fact: that was the first game of the season. There are 81 more to go. And I can guarantee you this team isn’t going 0–82. I can guarantee you they’re not going to start every game trailing 21–0. They were overwhelmed by an avalanche of Trail Blazers momentum, and if this team truly possesses the attitude, grit, connectivity, and continuity we’ve heard so much about, they should’ve been better equipped to handle it. Quite simply, they weren’t. They had an off night collectively, and there’s no getting around that.

It’s too early to dissect statistical trends or draw conclusions about individual performances, as there simply isn’t a meaningful sample size yet. If what we witnessed Wednesday night becomes a recurring theme, that’s when the cause for concern becomes legitimate. That’s when difficult conversations need to happen, and decisions need to be made.

At this point, overreaction is human nature, even if it isn’t necessarily warranted. And that’s coming from somebody who certainly overreacted to what transpired in that first game. But much like the complimentary hardware used to watch Suns games, our antennas are up. The rose-colored glasses have come off, and I think we’re all going to be watching this team with a much more critical eye. We’re wary of how quickly things can unravel because we’ve already witnessed exactly what that looks like.

In the same breath, perhaps it’s a good thing the Suns got punched in the mouth right out of the gate. They’ve tasted the blood in their mouths. They’ve experienced what happens when they fail to execute, communicate, and compete at the level necessary to win in this league.

Now the question becomes how they respond. And more importantly, whether they can respond consistently. We’ll learn a little more Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors.

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It’s time for Basketball: San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets

SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 7: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup on November 7, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.

After a couple of days off to ponder what went wrong in their season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder — poor three-point shooting (duh), coming out too hyped (according to Mitch Johnson), mind elsewhere (which Victor Wembanyama seemed to admit about himself after the game), or any other reason under the sun — the Spurs have a chance to get the sour taste out of their mouths tonight against another heated rival in the Houston Rockets.

They probably couldn’t have asked for a more disappointing way to start the season, with Wemby having the worst offensive game of his career while Chet Holmgren got a dose of revenge for the playoffs and rookie Aday Mara gave Thunder fans glimpse of a possible future as a Wemby adversary. They also had one of their signature terrible quarters (in this case, the 2nd), sinking them into too deep of a hole to dig out of.

Still, there were some positives to take away: they played much better after halftime, cutting what had been a 26-point deficit to single digits a few times, and the guard trio for the most part pulled their weight on offense (although I’m not sure how much longer it should continue being the starting line-up). The Spurs played about as bad as they could have while the Thunder hardly could have been better, and yet they still stood a change until the waning moments of the game. We know what this team is capable of — they made the Finals, after all — they just need to get right, and now is as good of a time as any.

As for the Rockets, after losing Fred VanVleet and playing their first season with Kevin Durant without a point guard last season, they flew under the radar to 52 wins last season before quietly bowing out in the first round to a Lakers team that was missing Luka Doncic. Now, they too will look to get back on track and prove that even if they aren’t quite on the same tier as the Spurs and Thunder, they have the potential to be top 4 team in the West and a force to be reckoned with.

Pre-game rant

You’ll probably see this again in the Final Score (which I have tonight), but I have mixed opinion about this being one of the Austin games. (Don’t tell Mark!) I don’t like giving up a true home game to an in-state rival, making it easier to bring the crowd closer to a neutral site, and Longhorn Durant having a homecoming of his own may bring in some extra non-Spurs fans as well. But hey! It’s a nationally televised streamed game, so at least I don’t have to listen to those awful Rockets announcers! (Although here’s to hoping Prime’s announcers are better than Noah Eagle and Grant Hill were for NBC/Peacock on Tuesday. Woof.)

San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets (in Austin)
October 23, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
TV/Streaming: Prime
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