PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: LeBron James #23 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Update, 1:25 p.m.: LeBron James has officially been ruled out Saturday night vs. the Milwaukee Bucks.
And now we get our first glimpse of how the Sixers will manage back-to-backs this season.
Philadelphia released their injury report ahead of their matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday and they’ve listed LeBron James as questionable with back management. Joel Embiid was not listed at all, indicating those two will be staggered across the weekend. Embiid said after their home opener win that he was only going to play in one of them, and it’s safe to assume that will be the case for LeBron as well.
The Sixers should be able to dispense of the Bucks without James’ services. Milwaukee is playing on short rest themselves, having hosted the Chicago Bulls on Friday. How the Embiid-less Sixers fare against the size of the Detroit Pistons on Sunday will be a much harder challenge.
The rest of the injury report remains the same as it was for the first two games of the season. Dean Wade is again listed as questionable with an ankle sprain. He has yet to make his Sixers debut since rolling his left ankle in the team’s final preseason game. Dominick Barlow remains out, still over a week a way from his next evaluation, and Tacko Fall is out as well with his quad injury.
The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow's game vs. Milwaukee:
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The World Series is here, and no matter the result, it will be one for the history books.
This year’s Fall Classic between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers begins tonight, Oct. 23, and for the first time since 1980, whichever team wins will become a first-time World Series champion.
Though neither team has won, Tampa Bay came close in 2020, where they lost to the Dodgers. It’s just the second time ever for the Brewers, whose last and only World Series appearance came in 1982.
On the road to the World Series, the Rays swept the Yankees in three games in the ALDS and won the ALCS pennant over Cleveland in Game 6. Milwaukee took down the Padres in the NLDS before sweeping the 2025 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
Tonight, the Brewers will start their ace, Jacob Misiorowski, while the Rays will opt for Nick Martinez on the mound instead of their previous ALDS/ALCS Game 1 starter, Drew Rasmussen.
Here’s how to tune in to Game 1 of the World Series for free without cable.
What time does the World Series start tonight?
The first pitch in tonight’s World Series Game 1 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
What channel is the World Series on tonight?
Tonight’s (Oct. 23) World Series game (and every game of the series) will air on FOX.
How to watch the World Series Game 1 for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the Rays vs. Brewers World Series for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for trying live TV for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes FOX as part of its 125+ channel options.
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Rays vs. Brewers starting pitchers
Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) will start for the Rays. The Brewers’ ace Jacob Misiorowski (16-5, 1.80 ERA) will be on the mound for the home team.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson speaks ahead of Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers last week. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
Milwaukee is going absolutely nuts. The Brewers have sold out Game 3 and Game 4 of the World Series.
The Tampa Bay Rays will host those games, but the Brewers invited fans to come to their stadium and watch on the big screen. The Brewers sold more than 31,000 tickets to each of their watch parties at $15 apiece. On Friday morning, StubHub offered them for resale, starting at $168.
There is nothing quite like a city uniting behind a team that never has won a World Series. Ask Logan Henderson.
Henderson, the Brewers’ starting pitcher Saturday in Milwaukee, grew up a huge fan of the Houston Astros. He was 15 when he attended his first World Series game.
“My parents had always said, if we were fortunate enough to be able to watch them go to the World Series, we’re going to do everything we can to get there,” Henderson said. “I was blessed that my parents got tickets to go to the games.
“There’s nothing like it. I’m on the other side of it now. I was a spectator and a fan, now I’m a player. It’s definitely surreal.”
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson follows through on a pitch during Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers in Milwaukee on Oct. 12. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
“I went to the one before the crazy one,” he said. “L.A. ended up winning that game.”
In the crazy one, the Dodgers blew two four-run leads, tied the score with three runs in the ninth inning and lost in the 10th.
If we knew then what we know now, Game 4 would be the crazy one: Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood constantly changing his signs, suspicious that the Astros might be up to something, whatever that might be.
Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood delivers from the mound during Game 4 of the World Series against the Astros on Oct. 28, 2017, in Houston. (Pool / Getty Images)
Wood was vindicated three years later, when a league investigation revealed the Astros had been cheating in 2017, stealing signs from a television monitor next to the dugout and relaying them to batters by banging on trash cans. The practice, according to the report issued by commissioner Rob Manfred, was refined during the regular season and extended “throughout the postseason.”
The scandal outraged the Dodgers and their fans. The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to demand Manfred award the 2017 championship to the Dodgers. Their players wanted nothing to do with that. A real championship, after all, would come with champagne and beer in the clubhouse and a parade through the streets.
When the Astros’ team buses arrived at Dodger Stadium for games during the pandemic season of 2020, when ballparks were closed to the public, Dodgers fans gathered outside to boo.
Dodgers fans boo Jose Altuve of the Astros after he struck out in a game on Aug. 3, 2001, at Dodger Stadium. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
“That meant absolutely everything to the city. I hope that means what it did for me to the fans in Milwaukee here.”
The Rays also are trying to bring their first championship home to Tampa Bay. In 2017, hard as this might be to believe today, the mighty Dodgers had not won a championship in 29 years.
And now, as a major leaguer, Henderson has an acute appreciation of the little things that can mean the difference between victory and defeat, between a parade and another plaintive chorus of “wait ‘til next year.”
“I would rather face a player that was taking steroids than face a player that knew every pitch that was coming,” Wood tweeted after Manfred’s report on the Astros’ cheating.
Henderson knows how hard this is to do. The Brewers haven’t appeared in the World Series in 44 years, and owner Mark Attanasio said nervous fans already are wondering whether their next appearance will be 44 years away.
So I asked Henderson if, all these years later, the scandal changed how he felt about those Astros.
“Maybe a little bit,” Henderson said. “It’s unfortunate. I try not to think about it or talk on it too much. I think now, being in the game, my perspective on it is a little different.
“I think for the kid in me — and the huge baseball fan I was — that team will always have a special place in my heart.”
Trevor Megill was shouting in celebration and the Milwaukee Brewers were bolting out of the dugout to congratulate one another, believing they had just escaped a ninth-inning jam to win Game 1 of the World Series.
Not quite yet.
What initially was ruled a game-ending double play got overturned after a video review showed Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt’s right foot was slightly off the bag when he reached to catch a high throw from second baseman Brice Turang.
No problem.
Megill regrouped and struck out Jonny DeLuca with two runners in scoring position as Milwaukee edged the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Friday night.
“It’s good to get the first win out of the way,” Megill said. “That’s where all the nerves are at. First game, a lot of anticipation and build-up to where we are right now.”
The ninth inning was particularly nerve-racking for the Brewers and the sellout crowd attending Milwaukee’s first World Series game since 1982.
“You have a big range of emotions,” Milwaukee captain Christian Yelich said. “It’s a big credit to Trev for locking back in right there and making some huge pitches after you have that emotional dump and then have to get back on it.”
Tampa Bay trailed 3-1 and hadn’t put a runner on since the sixth until it mounted its comeback attempt against Megill.
Jonathan Aranda, who went 3 for 3 with a walk, and Chandler Simpson hit consecutive one-out singles. A double steal involving pinch-runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson put runners on second and third before Junior Caminero walked on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt to load the bases.
Liam Hicks hit a grounder to the right side, and Turang ranged well to his left to field the ball before throwing to Pratt to start what initially was called a 4-6-3 double play.
Fireworks went off, players poured onto the field and Milwaukee fans roared — before the crowd hushed as it watched the play again on the videoboard.
“You’ve got to think worst-case scenario there,” Megill said. “I thought the challenge was at first base, maybe a bobble or something. But it was pretty clear once the replay went up that it was on the play at second base. Zoomed in and it didn’t look good. It’s all right. We picked up Cooper there. He’ll pick us up tomorrow.”
The call was overturned by umpire Alfonso Márquez at the MLB Replay Center, which caught Pratt by surprise.
“Obviously, it was close,” the 22-year-old rookie said. “I just didn’t think it was enough to overturn, so I wasn’t thinking anything of it. The video I saw, thought my cleat was dragging. … There must have been some other angles that I haven’t seen. It ultimately didn’t matter because we won.”
The Brewers won because Megill got DeLuca to swing and miss at a 2-2 pitch, capping a night in which Tampa Bay went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.
“This is an extremely confident group,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “You know that. We know that. They’re going to be fine. I think the frustration comes from we were one swing of the bat away right at the end of potentially taking the lead.”
The Game 1 winner has gone on to win the World Series 62.8% of the time.
This marks the first World Series featuring two potential first-time champions since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals in six games. The only other major league teams without a World Series title are the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.
Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Nick Martinez. NL Cy Young Award favorite Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run and four hits over five innings to help the Brewers stay in front before relievers Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby shut down the Rays through the eighth.
Misiorowski, who had a season-low three strikeouts, opened the game with a 103.5 mph fastball — the fastest pitch ever thrown in a World Series.
“The adrenaline kind of took over, and I tensed up and threw it hard,” Misiorowski said. “Then I settled down, and that was the game plan, to settle in and do me. Don’t try and overdo it.”
Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio and William Contreras each had two hits, including an RBI single. Contreras also threw out two runners trying to steal.
Tampa Bay managed to hang around thanks in part to Martinez, who gave up those two runs in the first but held Milwaukee scoreless thorugh the rest of his five-inning stint. The Brewers added an insurance run in the seventh when Chourio singled home Pratt.
Then came all the action in the ninth, with the Brewers’ premature celebration followed by a team-wide sigh of relief as Pratt offered some parting words to Megill.
“I just said, ‘Thank you, man. Thanks for picking me up,’” Pratt said. “That’s what this game is. It’s a game of pick-me-up. He picked me up today.”
Up next
Drew Rasmussen (16-5, 2.67 ERA) pitches for Tampa Bay and Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47) starts for Milwaukee in Game 2 on Saturday night. In this postseason, Rasmussen is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA and Henderson is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
Jake LaRavia’s “Iron Man” streak with the Lakers will come to an end on Friday night.
The fifth-year forward will sit out of his team’s home game against the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena because of a sprained right ankle that he suffered during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s season-opening win over the Warriors.
Jake LaRavia will miss his first game because of an injury or illness since joining the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
It’s LaRavia’s first missed regular season game because of an injury or illness since he signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Lakers in July 2025 after having played in all 82 regular season games in 2025-26.
He was one of 18 players to play in 82 regular season games last season.
LaRavia played in 90 straight games, the 82 regular season games and eight playoff games, in 2025-26 before being a DNP-CD (did not play, coach’s decision) for the Lakers’ final two playoff games of their four-game second round sweep against the Thunder.
Jake LaRavia’s impressive preseason carried over into the regular season before his injury. NBAE via Getty Images
The 6-foot-8 forward suffered the ankle injury midway through the fourth quarter, with the Lakers up by 33 points, when he attempted to drive into the paint with LJ Cryer guarding him.
Cryer impeded the drive, with the 2022 first-round draft pick awkwardly twisting his right ankle/lower leg before hobbling and falling to the floor.
LaRavia laid on the court and writhed in pain before team trainers helped him back to the bench.
He was able to put weight on the leg before going back to the locker room after subbing out of the game.
While coach JJ Redick didn’t have an update on the veteran forward immediately after the game, he was encouraged about his status compared to how it felt in the immediate aftermath of the injury.
Jake LaRavia (12) was having a strong season opener before leaving with an injury. NBAE via Getty Images
“I’m probably more positive than when it first happened,” Redick said.
LaRavia was having a strong game before going down with the injury, scoring 10 points on 4 of 5 shooting off of the bench.
“I saw him being himself,” Redick said. “Again when he is shooting with confidence and making catch-and-shoot 3s, that’s an added bonus. We have a group of guys that do a lot of things to impact winning that don’t necessarily show up in the box score, certainly won’t show up in a highlight reel on Instagram. He’s a winning player.”
The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon was seen on an exercise bike alongside Adou Thiero, who’s also sidelined because of left knee swelling, at shootaround Friday morning before being ruled out.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors moves the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of the preseason game at Chase Center on October 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Godofredo A. Vásquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are set for their home opener tonight, as they host the Memphis Grizzlies. The Dubs are hoping to collect their first win of the season, but, needless to say, it won’t be easy given how many improvements they need to make following Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
It also won’t be easy because the Warriors are once again dealing with some notable injuries and absences, though they’re hopefully getting some reinforcements as well. Here’s the full injury report.
Warriors
Out — Charles Bassey (right patellar tendinopathy)
Bassey, who was injured in last week’s preseason finale, missed Wednesday’s opener and will miss today’s game as well. The Dubs will certainly be hoping that Bassey makes some significant improvements in the next 24 hours, because they’ll be deeply undermanned at center on Saturday in Phoenix, as Al Horford won’t be available in the second half of the back-to-back.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL repair surgery) Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon repair surgery)
No new news for either of these two. The team is likely targeting a return around the All-Star break for each of them.
Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(not with team)
Also no new news for Porziņģis, who seems likely to have played his final game for the team … and possibly in the NBA.
Probable — Brandin Podziemski (bilateral low back soreness)
And finally some good news! Podziemski looks primed to make his season debut, after some late-occurring preseason back soreness kept him out of the opening night loss. Playmaking and shot creation beyond Steph Curry was a huge concern on Wednesday, and Podziemski should really help there.
Grizzlies
Doubtful — Cedric Coward (left wrist sprain)
Last year’s 11th overall pick figures to build on a successful rookie campaign, when he started over half of Memphis’ games, averaged 13.6 points, and finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. He’ll be in the Grizzlies’ starting five when healthy, but suffered a mild wrist injury in Wednesday’s opener.
Questionable — Isaiah Stewart (left ankle sprain)
After spending his first six seasons with the Detroit Pistons, Beef Stew is now on the Grizzlies, where he’ll provide a veteran presence at center next to young bigs Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey, and former Warrior Quinten Post. He didn’t play in Memphis’ season-opening victory over the Utah Jazz, and is questionable to debut tonight.
Enjoy the game, everyone! It tips off at 7:00 p.m. PT from the Chase Center on NBC Sports Bay Area.
He felt “pretty close” to playing on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena as he worked his way back from a strained right soleus (calf) that sidelined him for the entire preseason.
Lakers guard Collin Sexton spoke with reporters after the team’s shootaround ahead of his season debut against the Clippers. Khobi Price
But the 6-foot-3 guard needed a little bit more time before he was ready to make his season debut.
The wait will end on Friday night when the Lakers host the Clippers in their second game of the regular season, with Sexton set to make his debut for his new team after being removed from the injury report.
“I’m super excited,” he said after Friday’s shootaround. “Look forward to it. Just ready to get out there and get it to the guys and be back playing some basketball again.”
The 6-foot-3 Collin Sexton, who the Lakers signed to a two-year, $19.2 million contract in July, has career averages of 18.3 points and 3.6 assists. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Sexton expects to be on a playing time restriction when he makes his season debut but wasn’t sure how many minutes he’d be allowed to play as of Friday morning.
“I haven’t talked to [coach JJ Redick] just yet, but we’ll go over it after shootaround,” he said.
The No. 8 pick in the 2018 draft said it was “definitely disappointing” to sit out of the season opener.
But it allowed him to apply his focus elsewhere.
“One thing I was able to do is just stay present, just continue to be a leader, and continue to use my voice as much as I can,” Sexton said. “Just continue to come in with the right attitude and the right approach. Sometimes those are things – the only thing you can control, so that’s how it goes.”
Collin Sexton of the Los Angeles Lakers has recovered from his calf injury. NBAE via Getty Images
The former Alabama guard was also able to witness Walker Kessler, who he was teammates with in Utah from 2022-25, have a historic performance in his Lakers debut.
The 7-foot-2 center scored 26 points on a perfect 12-for-12 shooting performance in the Lakers’ dominant win over the Warriors.
He became just the second player in Lakers franchise history to make at least 12 field goals without missing, joining Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 34 points on 14-for-14 shooting in 1969.
And his 10 dunks were the most by a Laker since Shaquille O’Neal in 2003, according to ESPN, and the most dunks by a player in the league’s play-by-play era (since 1996-97)
“Walker had a great game,” Sexton said. “It was one of those games where [he] just let the jitters out. So, it was pretty cool to see him start his Laker debut like that. I was super excited for him.”
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 22: World Series signage is seen during a workout day prior to game on of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hey you!
Sitting there at your watch party, observing Nick Martinez induce yet another weak fly ball to Chandler Simpson while the Rays have jumped to a 2-0 lead in Game One of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Wouldn’t you like some random knowledge about the Rays and Brewers to throw out the revelers among your group to showcase how intelligent and fun you are. Imagine how impressed everyone will be when you shout out that the first trade between the Rays and Brewers was on March 24th, 2003 when Tampa Bay sent Javier Valentin to Milwaukee for outfielder Jason Conti. If you want to depress those around you, you could bring up that after Conti’s player career, he became a professional chef and started a restaurant where he tragically suffered a stroke and struck his head, dying from the injury a week later in 2025.
The Rays and Brewers have matched up for 17 transactions over the years with names like Aaron Civale, Willy Adames, Drew Rasmussen, Jesus Aguilar, Brad Miller, Ji-Man Choi, Mike Brosseau, Seth McClung,and Grant Balfour among the players dealt.
As for on-field matches, the Rays are 13-15 all-time against the Milwaukee Brewers. The first game between the two teams was held on June 13th, 2005 with Tampa Bay edging out Milwaukee, 5-3. Doug Waechter took the mound for Tampa Bay and allowed 3 runs over 8 innings of work, outdueling Chris Capuano. A notable footnote about that game was it featured the MLB debut of a Brewers top prospect, Prince Fielder; Fielder collected his first big league hit two days later.
The Brewers swept the Rays in the season series back in 2022, but the two sides have split all the games since then with each team winning six games against the other since the start of the 2023 season.
Tampa Bay’s top offensive player all-time against Milwaukee with at least 20 PA is current Rays speedster Chandler Simpson. The 25-year old has played six games against Milwaukee thus far in his career and is hitting .350/.409/.550 over 22 PA.
The best single-game team offensive performance against Milwaukee came during that first game mentioned above when the team hit .370/.371/.686. They notched 13 hits on the day, including five doubles and two homeruns (courtesy of Jonny Gomes and Travis Lee), but were only able to scratch across 5 runs.
The best individual offensive game in team history against the Brewers was provided by outfielder Josh Lowe. On May 21st, 2023, Josh Lowe went 3-4 with a game tying 3-run homerun and a stolen base, gving him a RE24 of 3.33, the highest of any player for the Rays against the Brewers in franchise history.
On the mound, the best start in team history against the Brewers was provided by the stalwart Alex Cobb back on July 29th, 2014. That summer night featured a pitching duel between Cobb and former Ray Matt Garza. Both pitchers had great games, but it was Cobb who prevailed. Overall, Cobb allowed 1 run on 3 hits, while striking out 12 . The game was tied at 1 entering the bottom of the 8th, the Rays scored four runs, sending all nine hitters in the lineup to the plate. Grant Balfour locked things down in the top of the 9th to record the save.
Over the course of MLB history, there have been 86 players to have played for both the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. The best player in Rays history to have played for Milwaukee would be Willy Adames (7.5 bWAR) while the best player in Brewers history to play for the Rays would be Carlos Gomez (19.0 bWAR). There are plenty of notable players though to have donned the uniforms, including Greg Vaughn, Rickie Weeks, Jake Bauers, Julio Franco, Nelson Cruz, and Rays postseason hero Brett Phillips.
What history will be added the legacy of the Brewers-Rays rivalry this October?
Jaylen Brown isn’t buying ex-teammate Jayson Tatum’s reaction to his trade over the summer.
In an interview posted to his YouTube account, Tatum explained that he was “just as caught off guard as the rest of the world” when Brown was traded to the 76ers over the summer. Tatum claimed he was told personally about the trade by ESPN insider Shams Charania following a pickup game in Las Vegas.
“Shams walks over, he hands me the towel,” Tatum said. “He’s like, ‘Yo, put this over your face. Don’t react. They just traded him.’
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons. NBAE via Getty Images
“I said, ‘We traded him down the street?’” Tatum explained.
Brown commented a cap emoji on a clip of the interview, insinuating that he doesn’t believe that was Tatum’s reaction to the blockbuster trade.
Tatum also discussed his and Brown’s relationship after nearly a decade together on the Celtics.
“Every time I stepped on the court, that’s when it was time to go to war,” Tatum said. “I looked to my left and my right, and No. 7 was over there, I knew that he was going to do everything it took for us to try to win.
“The way we pushed each other, I definitely made him better, and he made me better. And we made our team better, we made the organization better. We won a championship. We are forever stitched in stone in NBA history. We held up that trophy. It won’t ever be forgotten.”
Knicks guard Mikal Bridges defends against 76ers Jaylen Brown. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After news of the Brown trade broke, Charania reported on the state of Brown and Tatum’s off-the-court relationship.
“It is a tale of two different people,” Charania explained. “On the court, they were great, but over the last year or so, that personal relationship, it was as close to non-existent as you could have.”
At his 76ers introduction, Brown seemed unhappy with how the Celtics handled the trade and said he and Tatum had “not really” spoken since the trade went through.
Brown and Tatum won the 2024 title together, their second Finals appearance after losing to the Warriors in 2022. They never missed the playoffs in nine seasons spent together in Boston.
One of Week 7's most anticipated matchups unfolds on prime time as the Seattle Seahawks host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. While this game could have playoff implications, the biggest storyline centers around Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III's return to the Pacific Northwest to face his old team.
Here's how the "Football 301" podcast crew of Nate Tice and Matt Harmon sees this matchup playing out on Sunday.
What to expect from Walker's return to Seattle
After an offseason that saw the Seahawks make a controversial decision to let Super Bowl MVP Walker walk in free agency, the Chiefs pounced, handing the explosive playmaker a backfield all to himself. Walker has swiftly become the "identity force" in Kansas City, revitalizing a Chiefs run game that had long struggled for consistency and big plays.
During the Football 301 podcast, the emotional and strategic angles were not lost. "Sometimes the Revenge Game stuff is nonsense," Harmon said. "I kind of think he wants to come in here and have a big game against the team that pretty much just said, 'Thanks for winning us that Super Bowl… we're going to give your money to Rashid Shaheed'"
Despite Kansas City coaches' comments to the contrary, Walker's workload has been heavy. He has 106 carries for an NFL-leading 665 yards and six touchdowns, along with two receiving TDs.
Good on good: elite offense vs. elite defense
On paper, the game promises classic strength-on-strength. Kansas City's offense, first in both yards per play and success rate, goes up against a Seahawks defense ranked first in both explosive plays and yards per play allowed.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes appears to be in peak form, making big throws, improvising under pressure and enabling a receiving corps that, while not loaded with stars, features a blend of vertical threats and physical role players. Tight end Travis Kelce's impact remains high both as a receiver and as a blocker, giving the Chiefs versatility to attack Seattle multiple ways.
Seattle's defense, led by creative play-caller Mike Macdonald, enjoys a deep line rotation and formidable secondary. Their ability to limit explosive plays and force offenses into inefficiency has been a hallmark, setting up an intriguing chess match between two of the NFL's brightest minds in Macdonald and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
How will Seattle respond?
For the Seahawks, the question is whether their defense can keep Walker in check and slow a surging Kansas City attack. "If you can get this Seahawks defense in any ways… sometimes running backs in the passing game [are the answer]," the podcast highlighted.
On the flip side, the crew noted the Seahawks' offense is hampered by a struggling run game and a lack of complementary weapons for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Defenses have heavily clouded and bracketed him, daring Seattle to win elsewhere. The Chiefs' defense, meanwhile, excels at bracketing top receivers and will likely try to take away JSN, forcing someone else to step up.
QB Sam Darnold's struggles under pressure and against man coverage were cited as a vulnerability for Seattle — particularly with Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo dialing up exotic blitzes.
Prediction
Both analysts expect the game to tilt toward the Chiefs due to their offensive versatility and the Seahawks' challenges in finding secondary offensive contributors. If the Chiefs' offense is neutralized by the Seahawks' D, the Chiefs' defense still holds advantages against a one-dimensional Seattle attack. The recipe for Seattle to pull the upset would require new wrinkles from their offensive coaching staff — something there's little indication of so far.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: The sneakers worn by John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 03: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before game one of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on October 03, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our bi-weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
Craig Z. asks: It would seem a qualifying offer to Bednar is a given. The QO to Jazz also seems likely as Yankees will perceive he will reject it and, unlike the gamble with Grisham that was a huge miscalculation on Cashman’s part, Jazz will probably reject it. Your thoughts?
I don’t know if I’d agree with your second point, as reports have come out saying that the team is actually unlikely to offer the qualifying offer to Jazz Chisholm Jr. this offseason. The gamble over whether Chisholm would accept the deal or not mirroring what happened with Trent Grisham last year is probably informing their decision on that matter, as while I wouldn’t hate bringing Jazz back on a one-year deal the team seems to be angling towards allowing him to walk. Whereas Grisham was coming off of a career-best year, Chisholm had his worst season in pinstripes, but the argument could be made that Grisham knew the market was a lot more crowded with excellent choices while Chisholm is still one of the best options in a free agent field lacking a true superstar or even many stars to compete against.
With that in mind, it might be a more reasonable gamble to give Chisholm the QO and not lose him for nothing than it was with Grisham, but again the team clearly cares about their budget and potentially handing out over $45 million in 2027 salary between Bednar and Chisholm before free agency even opens might restrict them too much to make other moves. I’m not thrilled with the backup option to Chisholm being running Anthony Volpe at the keystone, but if it leads to improvements elsewhere on the roster I could see the logic in the move — and we’ll talk about where that upgrade is most needed in a moment. Ultimately, while I know Chisholm had a disappointing year for New York (and perhaps set himself up to with talk of having a 50-50 season during spring), I think it’s unlikely they field a better player at his position than him in 2027 and I think that makes the QO a worthwhile choice, but it looks like that won’t be the case.
Anton H. asks:With Ryan McMahon struggling to solve the Yankees’ third base problem as hoped, do you think the team will try to trade him this offseason, or is a DFA more likely? Given his $16 million salary for 2027, what teams, if any, could make a compelling case for acquiring him despite the financial commitment?
Now, here is where the resources need to be allocated to improve the position. Third base has been a black hole for damn near a decade at this point, with only small bursts of quality play like Gio Urshela’s 2019 run sparkling before being swallowed back up by the void. Ryan McMahon was never expected to be a quality hitter when the Yankees acquired him, but they were certainly expecting better than the 78 wRC+ he posted in 124 games. He was also expected to overcome his offensive capabilities by providing stellar defense, and while he lived up to that in 2025 his play at the hot corner sizzled out completely in 2026 leading to a frustrating experience where he really didn’t provide much of anything.
That’s not really a compelling case to bring towards any potential suitors, so while the team would surely love to trade him away for whatever they could get, it would require tacking on prospects to get even partial salary relief at the moment. Normally I’d say they’re better off just going the DFA route like they did with DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Hicks, but the team is also staring down the prospect of moving on from Giancarlo Stanton’s contract as well and I’m not sure that Hal Steinbrenner could stomach two deadweight contracts for players not even on the team anymore. Of the two, it would be easier to sell McMahon with a prospect attached than it would Stanton, who has a full no-trade clause and an extra year on his deal even if it is a team option. If push comes to shove the team is better off moving on from McMahon and DFA’ing him would suffice, but if they can find an angle to move him that doesn’t cost any of their blue chip prospects it wouldn’t be a bad move to make — they can’t all make it to the big leagues, and using prospect capital to improve the roster by subtraction is still an improvement. I trust the player development team to find enough talent to keep the pipeline greased up, and they didn’t offload too much in this year’s deadline.
jws85 asks:Assuming no additions during free agency, who would be the best leadoff hitter? Rice and Judge needs to be 2-4. Lombard, Bellinger, or Volpe could be options. Wells, García, Stanton, and Jones makes no sense.
If you’re forcing me to keep Ben Rice and Aaron Judge somewhere in the 2-4 range then I’d set my sights on George Lombard Jr. earning the leadoff role, as the rookie showed solid results at the plate during his whirlwind debut in the second half and throughout the postseason. The defensive misplays were atypical of his performance down in the minors, but the bat showed some promise and the only other candidate I see would be Volpe, who has already had his chance to be a leadoff hitter to no avail. However, what I would rather do in this scenario is just have Rice hit leadoff, bat Judge second and have Bellinger flanking him with Lombard or Jones at cleanup and García hitting fifth. Rice proved that he’s a capable enough table-setter, and without an ideal OBP-driven player in the lineup as is you might as well give your best hitters the earliest chances to get up to bat.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball past Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden on April 09, 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 Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York Knicks (0-1) at Boston Celtics (0-1) Friday, October 23, 2026 7:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #2 Home Game #1 TV: Prime Video Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics home opener brings the reigning NBA Champion New York Knicks to the TD Garden. This is the first of 4 games between these division rivals this season. They will play at Boston once again on January 13 and then two times at New York on March 14 and April 4. The Celtics were 1-3 against the Knicks last season, winning one game at home. They are 309-193 overall all time and 167-69 all time in games played in Boston.
The biggest story of the Knicks roster is that Mitchell Robinson, who was a key member of last year’s championship team, was signed as a free agent by the Celtics. They also lost Jeremy Sochan to Portland and Ariel Hukporti to Philadelphia. They signed Andre Drummond to replace Robinson as a back up center. They also drafted Tyler Nickel with the 49th pick in the draft.
The swap of Jaylen Brown for Paul George makes the Celtics a very different team from last season. They have Jayson Tatum back after missing most of last season with the torn Achilles. They added Mitchell Robinson, and Mike Conley as free agents. And they drafted Chris Cenac, Jr and Dillon Mitchell and signed Devin Carter as a 2-Way player.
The Celtics went 4-0 in the preseason, winning with both starters in 2 games and reserves and Exhibit 10 players in 2 others. They beat Cleveland, Charlotte and Philadelphia twice. The Knicks went 0-4 in the preseason, losing to Philadelphia, Washington, Minnesota, and Toronto. Both teams lost their opening night game and are looking for their first win of the season.
After this game, the Celtics will play home games against Chicago, Brooklyn and Chicago again. They will then play at Orlando and Houston and then home against Milwaukee before a road tripp takes them through Charlotte, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Toronto. They play Dallas and Orlando at home before a West coast trip that takes them through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington.
The Knicks will host Orlando and Detroit before playing at Chicago and Philadelphia. They then play at home against Brooklyn and Chicago before a game at Cleveland and then back home to host Milwaukee and Cleveland. Then they have a 4 game road trip through Indiana, 2 games at Toronto, and Minnesota. They finish the month with a 5 game home stand against Portland, Indiana, Cleveland, Miami and Atlanta.
The Celtics started White, Walsh, George, Tatum and Mitchell against the Pistons. I have listed the same starters for this game, but I could see Joe switching things up for this game and possibly starting Hauser, Scheierman or Queta in this one. For the Knicks, I expect the Knicks to start Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart, and Towns once again.
Both teams are mostly healthy for their second regular season game. The Celtics have only Devin Carter listed as out with an illness. After missing the final 3 games of the preseason, Carter was diagnosed with mononucleosis and is without a timetable for a return. Mitchell Robinson turned his ankle in Tuesday’s game but is expected to be ok to play in this one. The Knicks have no one listed on their injury report.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesJalen Brunson | Getty Images
SG: Jordan Walsh vs Mikal Bridges
Jordan Walsh | Getty ImagesMikal Bridges | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Paul George vs OG Anunoby
Paul George | NBAE via Getty ImagesOG Anunoby | Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Josh Hart
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesJosh Hart | NBAE via Getty Images
C Mitchell Robinson vs Karl-Anthony Towns
Mitchell Robinson | NBAE via Getty ImagesKarl-Anthony Towns | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley, Jr Luka Garza Hugo Gonzalez Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Payton Pritchard Neemias Queta Baylor Scheierman Two Way Players Devin Carter Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams Injuries/Out Devin Carter (illness) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Knicks Reserves Jose Alvarado Jordan Clarkson Pacome Dadiet Mohamed Diawara Andre Drummond Tyler Kolek Miles McBride Landry Shamet James Wiseman
Key Matchups Jayson Tatum vs Josh Hart Hart finished Tuesday’s game with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal. He shot 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. The Celtics will need to defend him well. On the other side, Hart is a good defender and will look to make it harder for Tatum to score. Tatum needs to have a good game while not forcing things as he looks to come back from a poor showing against the Pistons.
Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson Brunson is key for the Knicks. He finished the first game against the 76ere with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 31.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him especially well because he is capable of having a big game both scoring and distributing. Against the Pistons, Derrick White shot the ball well and hopefully that continues.
Honorable Mention Mitchell Robinson vs Karl-Anthony Towns Assuming that Robinson starts once again, he will likely want to have a big game against his former team. Towns will do his best to keep him from doing so. Against the 76ers, Towns finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks and 1 steal. The Celtics will need to keep him off the boards and out of the paint.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is the key to winning this, and every, game. In the preseason, the Celtics were tops in the league with a defensive rating of 98.6. In the second half of Tuesday’s game the Celtics allowed the Pistons to score 78 points. The biggest problem in the Celtics collapse against the Pistons was their failure on the defensive end. The Celtics must make defense their priority and the offense will feed off of that.
Rebound – As with defense, rebounding will always be a key to winning. The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team and go after every rebound. In the preseason, the Celtics were 1st with 55 rebounds per game and 3rd with 16.8 offensive rebounds per game. The Knicks were 25th with 42.4 rebounds per game. Against the Pistons, the Celtics had just 39 rebounds while the Knicks had 53 rebounds against the 76ers. Robinson and Queta are 2 of the best rebounders in the league but they struggled in the first game. They need to get back to what they do best and win the rebounding battle against the Knicks. Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In the first half against the Pistons, the Celtics played hard and stayed focused, taking care of the ball and taking and making good shots. In the second half, the Pistons were the team that played harder and the Celtics lost focus on both ends of the court. The Knicks play hard and the Celtics must match that effort and they need to stay focused on playing the right way.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics need to move the ball to get the best shots. The Celtics are much better when they move the ball and don’t lapse into iso ball. hopefully this season we will see much less iso ball than in the past. But, they have to be careful with the ball and avoid turnovers. They turned the ball over 14 times against the Pistons. They need to make the extra pass to find the best shot but they also need to stay focused and make careful passes.
X-Factors Home Opener – The Celtics need to take advantage of home court and the boost their fans can give them. The Knicks will face a hostile crowd and an unfamiliar arena along with travel which will hopefully give the Celtics the edge. If the Knicks had one crack in their armor last season, it was playing on the road. They were just 22-19 on the road last season. The Celtics need to play hard and with focus and take advantage of playing at home.
Mitchell Robinson Revenge Game – After 8 years with the Knicks and helping them win a championship, they allowed him to walk in free agency in order to stay under the tax. Robinson is going to want to show them that they made a mistake and will want to beat his old team. The Knicks, on the other hand, will want to show him that they are fine without him. Hopefully Mitch will play well and not try to do too much.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. The Celtics also have to be aware of the new points of emphasis for this season and try to avoid flopping, off‑arm push‑offs, reckless closeouts, delays before free throws, and illegal screens. Paul George was already fined for a flop in the first game.
Forest were the dominant side but, not for the first time this season, their final-third bluntness cost them victory
2 min: It’s windy in Suffolk. Walton batters a clearance upfield as best he can. Forest very much playing with the wind at their back in this first half.
Most everyone takes the knee … there’s no room for racism … then Forest get the ball rolling. Or flying. Gibbs-White hoicks it straight out for a goal kick.
DENVER — Taylor Makar has been recalled to the Colorado Avalanche as the team prepares to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.
Makar has gotten off to a strong start with the Colorado Eagles, recording three goals and one assist in six games this season. In 12 NHL appearances last season, Makar has yet to record a point.
The 25-year-old forward was selected by Colorado in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft and spent four seasons playing college hockey, including three years at UMass Amherst before transferring to the University of Maine.
In his final season at Maine, Makar recorded 18 goals and 12 assists for 30 points in 38 games. He also put up 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) in 52 games with the Eagles last season.
Martin Necas after practice on Monday.
The Avalanche are expected to dress 12 forwards against Tampa Bay after frequently using an 11-forward, seven-defenseman lineup this season due to injuries to Nicolas Roy, Logan O’Connor and Zach L’Heureux.
O’Connor is set to return to the lineup Friday, while Gavin Brindley, who has played in each of Colorado’s last four games, is heading back to the minors.
The Avalanche (5-4-1) will face a Lightning team (6-2) coming off a 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. Vegas, of course, was the team that swept Colorado out of the Western Conference Final back in May.
The Avalanche return to Denver after a disappointing road trip that saw them drop consecutive games. Colorado fell 3-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers, who entered the matchup with just one win on the season, before losing 4-3 to the New Jersey Devils. The Avalanche trailed 4-1 in that game before Artturi Lehkonen scored twice late, but New Jersey had controlled much of the matchup.
Head coach Jared Bednar didn’t mince words when discussing his team’s performance, telling Altitude Sports Radio that they were “two of the worst games I’ve seen our team play in years.”
Colorado will look to turn things around Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Taylor Makar could provide a fresh face in the lineup. The forward is off to a strong start with the Colorado Eagles, recording three goals and an assist in six games, and will look to carry that production over as he searches for his first career NHL goal.
