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Ottawa Senators' Nick Cousins Fined For Embellishment

The NHL fined Ottawa Senators winger Nick Cousins $2,000 for embellishment on Tuesday.

The league's hockey operations department flagged Cousins for two incidents since the start of the season, which triggers the $2,000 fine.

Cousins previously received a warning following an incident on Oct. 25 against the Washington Capitals. The second citation stems from the Senators' 4-2 win over the Utah Mammoth on Nov. 9.

During the first period, Cousins knocked a puck away from Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev at the attacking blueline. Utah winger JJ Peterka passed the puck back to Dylan Guenther and appeared to make contact with Cousins, who fell to the ice. Peterka was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for interference. The Senators failed to score on the power play.

NHL Hockey Operations tracks all games and not only logs penalties for diving or embellishment but flags all plays not called on the ice that in its opinion deserved such a penalty. When the department is convinced that a player warrants sanction after internally deliberating, it issues a citation.

Nick Cousins (David Banks-Imagn Images)

Rule 64 of the NHL rulebook is meant to more seriously punish players and teams the more they embellish to draw a penalty. Here's what happens when a player is cited for embellishment or diving under Rule 64:

  • First citation: warning
  • Second citation: $2,000 fine
  • Third citation: $3,000 fine
  • Fourth citation: $4,000 fine
  • Fifth citation onward: $5,000 fine each

If a team combines for four fines, whether it's a player or collective team receiving the fine, the head coach starts to get fined as follows:

  • Four fines total: coach is fined $2,000
  • Five fines total: coach is fined $3,000
  • Six fines total: coach is fined $4,000
  • Seven-plus fines total: coach is fined $5,000 each

The fined money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Cousins, 32, is tied with center Tim Stutzle for the most drawn penalties on the Senators, with nine. They're also tied for 15th in the NHL in that category. San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini leads the league, with 13.

As a team, the Senators have drawn 84 penalties, the sixth-most in the NHL.

Cousins has three goals and four points in 19 games. He's also at 199 career points in 661 regular-season games.

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Pittsburgh Penguins Forward Has Big Opportunity

Sam Poulin (© Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins called up former first-round pick Sam Poulin from the American Hockey League (AHL) on Nov. 18. This was in response to the Penguins placing forward Ville Koivunen on injured reserve (IR).

Poulin getting the chance to play on Pittsburgh's roster is entirely understandable. The 24-year-old forward has been having a strong season down in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, as he has recorded seven goals, eight assists, and 15 points in 16 games. Now, he will be looking to translate some of this offense over to the NHL after getting this latest call-up to Pittsburgh's roster.

Poulin also has a big opportunity to try to prove to the Penguins that he is ready to take that next step and be a full-time NHL player. If the 2019 first-round pick can stand out during this call-up, it could very well help his chances of sticking around on the Penguins' NHL roster once they start getting healthier.

It will be very interesting to see how much of an impact Poulin can make after getting called up to Pittsburgh's roster. In 13 career NHL games over three seasons with the Penguins, Poulin has recorded two assists, six penalty minutes, and 18 hits. 

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Warriors' Steve Kerr ‘very concerned' by trend of lower-body injuries around NBA

Warriors' Steve Kerr ‘very concerned' by trend of lower-body injuries around NBA originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steve Kerr entered the season knowing the Warriors would require considerable handling to have any chance of maintaining the health of a roster with such a vulnerable core.

So far, mostly good for Golden State.

But Kerr also is hoping that the Warriors don’t become susceptible to a disturbing trend around the NBA involving injuries. Rarely does a day go by without a player sustaining a lower-body injury that sidelines him for at least a week. Of the 53 players declared “out” on the injury report Tuesday, 42 fall into one of seven categories: Hip, groin, hamstring, calf, knee, ankle or foot.

“I’m very concerned,” Kerr told reporters before the Warriors vs. Magic game in Orlando. “The pace difference is dramatic. This team tonight (the Magic) has really upped their pace compared to last year. Across the league, everybody understands now that it’s just easier to score if you can beat the opponent down the floor and get out and transition.

“But when everybody’s doing that, the games are much faster-paced. And then everyone has to cover out to 25 feet because everybody can shoot 3s.”

Kerr isn’t the only coach to lay the blame for so many injuries, particularly to hamstrings and calves, on overuse. The Warriors opened the season with 17 games over the first 29 days, including a league-high five back-to-back sets – including two on the current road trip.

Moreover, medical and training staffs, including Golden State’s group led by Dr. Rick Celebrini, are acutely aware of the impact of scheduling and pace.

“We have all the data,” Kerr said. “Players are running faster and further than ever before, so we’re trying to do the best we can to protect them. But we basically have a game every other night and it’s not an easy thing to do.”

“Medical and training staffs believe that the wear and tear, the speed, the pace and the mileage … it’s all factoring into these injuries.”

Among those listed out on the Tuesday injury report were Orlando’s Paolo Banchero (groin), Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas (hamstring), Memphis’ Ja Morant (calf), San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama (calf) and Portland’s Jrue Holiday (calf).

And that doesn’t include four stars caught up in the spate of ruptured Achilles’ tendons sustained last year: Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and New Orleans’ Dejounte Murray.

Kerr has long been a proponent of reducing the regular-season schedule from 82 to the 72-75 range. The problem with that is the loss of revenue. Neither the players nor the ownership groups have thus far been in favor of that.

“I bring it up a lot,” Kerr said of league meetings. “I just think it’s if we’re actually focused on the product, it would be great.”

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Ex-Blackhawks Forward Is Heating Up Right Now

Taylor Hall (© Steve Roberts-Imagn Images)

During this past season, the Chicago Blackhawks traded Taylor Hall to the Carolina Hurricanes. Seeing Hall on the move was understandable, as he was a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), and the Blackhawks were out of the playoff hunt. 

Now, after signing a three-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Hurricanes, Hall is in his second season in Carolina. So far, the former Blackhawks forward is having a solid start to the year, posting five goals, seven assists, 12 points, and a plus-6 rating in 19 games. 

However, Hall is only heating up as the season carries on. In his last six games with the Hurricanes, the former Blackhawks winger has posted three goals and six points. This included him scoring a goal and recording an assist in the Blackhawks' most recent contest against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 17.

With numbers like these, there is no question that Hall is giving the Hurricanes solid secondary scoring right now. He is continuing to be a solid fit on their roster, and his goal will be to stay hot from here. 

In two seasons with the Blackhawks from 2023-24 to 2024-25, Hall posted 11 goals, 17 assists, 28 points, 30 hits, and 30 blocks. 

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Pete Alonso buzz, Edwin Diaz at 50/50, and a new top 30 prospects list | The Mets Pod

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo keep talking Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, and also dive into a new Mets Top 30 Prospects list.

First up, the guys look at the deal that Josh Naylor signed in Seattle to stay with the Mariners, and discuss whether or not that contract truly affects the free agent market for Alonso.

Then, Connor and Joe react to comments from Diaz about the odds for his Mets return being "50/50."

Later, the guys get into Joe’s new prospects list, and open the Mailbag to take on questions about Ketel Marte, Alex Bregman, Tatsuya Imai, Nate Lavender, and the potential of David Stearns hiring a GM.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Avengers will not reassemble: Stephen Curry says he is 'highly doubtful' for Los Angeles Olympics, LeBron out

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will not be one last reunion for LeBron James and Stephen Curry. The Avengers of 2024 in Paris will not reassemble.

"I will be watching it from Cabo," LeBron James said on his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash, part two of a sit-down with Curry. LeBron has competed in four Olympic Games and has three gold medals (and a bronze from 2004) to show for it.

Curry likely isn't suiting up for Team USA either, but he would not completely shut the door.

"God willing, I still have the choice and physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team," Curry said. "I never say never, but I highly doubt it."

"We could never top those last two games," LeBron said, referencing close wins over Nikola Jokic and Serbia, followed by Victor Wembanyama and the French team. "Like, we literally played France in Paris in the finals."

The USA brought home its fifth consecutive Olympic gold in men's basketball from Paris, with LeBron being named tournament MVP. Winning a sixth will require the next generation of American stars to step up — Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and others — and face the deepest pool of international teams the Games will have ever seen. A more mature, improved Wembanyama will lead a French team that has a legitimate shot at gold.

The LA28 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony is set for July 14, 2028, and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

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Jimmy Butler threatens Buddy Hield after turnover in Warriors' game vs. Magic

Jimmy Butler threatens Buddy Hield after turnover in Warriors' game vs. Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler was not happy with Buddy Hield toward the end of the first quarter of Tuesday’s game.

During an inbounds play with less than one minute remaining in the opening frame, Butler’s pass intended for Hield was intercepted by Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane. After the apparent miscommunication between the two teammates, Butler shared a not-so-subtle threat to the Warriors guard.

“Put your hands up,” Butler shouted. “I’m never passing you the ball again.”

Yikes.

It appears Hield is on a short leash with Butler.

Of course, the two have a great relationship off the court that has been adored by Dub Nation since Butler was traded to the Warriors in February.

But Butler is a fierce competitor, and perhaps his warning was an attempt to motivate Hield to better lock in as the Warriors seek their fourth consecutive win amid their current six-game road trip.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has been adamant and overly vocal about limiting turnovers after his team has made some careless mistakes throughout the early part of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Hopefully for the Warriors, Hield is receptive to the constructive — and outspoken — criticism from his teammate.

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Clippers injuries keep piling up: Derrick Jones Jr. out at least six weeks with MCL sprain

It looked bad when it happened: Jaylen Brown lost his dribble then reached out to get it back as he went to the floor, and in doing so his arm hit the Clippers' Derrick Jones Jr. in the knee and bent it sideways. Jones had to be helped off the court.

Following an MRI, the Clippers have announced that Jones has suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and is out, to be re-evaluated in six weeks. While not ideal, the concern around the Clippers was that this was something much worse, so there was some relief.

Jones joins Kawhi Leonard (ankle/foot sprain) and Bradley Beal (hip surgery, out for the season) as three planned starters in street clothes for Los Angeles. Tyronn Lue had to go to his seventh starting lineup through 14 games on Monday night against Philadelphia, starting two-way player Kobe Sanders in Jones' place.

Don't let the counting stats fool you — 10.9 points and 2.5 rebounds a game in 26 minutes a night — Jones was a key piece for the Clippers, one of their few real transition finishing options, plus one of their best man defenders.

The Clippers are 4-10 on the season but have no motivation to tank, they owe next June's first-round pick to Oklahoma City as the last part of the Paul George trade.

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Steph Curry passes Vince Carter for 22nd place on NBA's all-time scoring list

Steph Curry passes Vince Carter for 22nd place on NBA's all-time scoring list originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Human Torch has vanquished Half-Man/Half-Amazing.

With his 14th point in Tuesday’s Warriors game against the Orlando Magic, Steph Curry passed Hall of Famer Vince Carter for No. 22 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Curry entered the day with 25,715 career points and trailed Carter by 13 points.

The Warriors star continues to climb up the all-time scoring list, and if he stays healthy this season, he could pass another eight Naismith Memorial Hall of Famers.

Next up for Curry is former Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets great Kevin Garnett, who finished with 26,071 points in 21 NBA seasons.

At his current average of 29.1 points per game, Curry could catch Garnett by mid-December.

Curry has a legitimate chance to finish his career in the top 10 on the all-time scoring list, which would cement his status as one of the greatest players in NBA history.

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