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Former Canadiens Defender Out Several Months

Alexander Romanov (© Jean-Yves Ahern-Imagn Images)

The New York Islanders have announced that former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexander Romanov is set to have shoulder surgery and will be out for the next five to six months.

Romanov was injured during the Islanders' Nov. 18 matchup against the Dallas Stars after being hit from behind by Mikko Rantanen. Now, the Islanders have provided an update on Romanov, and it is certainly tough news for the former Canadiens blueliner. 

Romanov is a key part of the Islanders' blueline, so the Metropolitan Division club will now need to adjust to not having him in their lineup. In 15 games so far this season with the Islanders, Romanov has recorded one assist, 31 blocks, and 31 hits. This is after he had four goals, 20 points, 147 hits, and 165 blocks in 64 games this past season with the Islanders.

Based on the Islanders' update, the earliest Romanov is expected to return is in late April, which would be playoff time. However, if the former Canadiens defenseman ends up needing six months to fully recover, that would make him unavailable until late May. 

Romanov was selected by the Canadiens with the 38th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. In 133 games over two seasons with the Canadiens from 2020-21 to 2021-22, he recorded four goals, 15 assists, 19 points, 204 blocks, and 365 hits.

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Brett Berard Ready To Make Immediate Impact For Rangers Upon Call-Up

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Brett Berard is back in the fold for the New York Rangers after getting called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday. 

With the Rangers’ offense hindered by J.T. Miller’s injury and possibly now even Vincent Trocheck’s iffy status, Berard could play a pivotal role in the team’s Monday night game against the St. Louis Blues. 

It’s funny how things work sometimes, as it was just one week ago that Berard emphasized he’s not focused on getting called up to the NHL.

“Not focus on getting called up or not focused on what might happen,” Berard said last week in Hartford. “I'm here in Hartford, and I'm here to help the team win, and I love the guys in the room. I love the coaches, so it's been a blast coming to the rink every day.”

Now, Berard is back in the NHL with an opportunity to make an immediate impact for the Rangers. 

“I think being up here in the NHL is every kid's dream, and it feels like the first day I got called up last year too,” Berard said. “It's the same, same emotion, same excitement, happiness. Just going out there playing a free mind, playing my game. I think when I'm playing my game and fast is when I'm most free and not thinking. So just gonna try to do that, probably try to provide a spark for the guys and play physical. I'm super happy.”

Berard showed flashes of his potential during his 35 games spent in the NHL last year. However, the 23-year-old forward was sent down to the AHL toward the end of training camp, leading him down a downward spiral. 

He admitted that not making the Rangers’ opening-night roster hurt his confidence, and insinuated it impacted his level of play to open up the 2025-26 campaign with Wolf Pack where he went without a goal for the first 14 games of the season. 

“I kind of lost a little confidence there,” Berard confessed. “The first few games, it was hard to kind of get my game back. But I think it was also good and challenged my mental toughness, too, to kind of go through a little funk like that at the start of the year. So I think it was good, and especially the last two weeks, I've felt really confident in my game.”

The Rangers have lost four consecutive games, and Mike Sullivan has directed the blame at an overall lack of juice and energy. 

That’s exactly what Berard provides. The 5-foot-9 winger plays a fast, yet physical brand of hockey. 

Berard’s presence could be the exact sort of spark the Rangers need right now as they look to overcome this recent skid.

Rangers Recall Brett Berard And Dylan Garand Amid A Slew Of Injuries Rangers Recall Brett Berard And Dylan Garand Amid A Slew Of Injuries The New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> have recalled Brett Berard and Dylan Garand from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.

“The role that he'll play is an energy guy that can be disruptive, get in on the forecheck, help with our team speed,” Sullivan said of Berard. “But along with that, it becomes just the importance of playing a team game and attention to detail away from the puck, in particular. 

“Those types of guys, when you put them on the ice, you want to trust that they're reliable and dependable, and they know what their job is and they execute their job. A lot of that boils down to details. That's the message to those types of players. Berard is one of those guys. He can really skate. He brings a ton of energy. He brings a little physicality to our team, so I'm sure he'll give us a spark.”

Berard practiced on a line alongside Noah Laba and Conor Sheary during Monday’s practice. He’s expected to make his season debut on Monday night against the St. Louis Blues.

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Lawsuit claims Suns owner Mat Ishbia treated team like his ‘personal piggy bank’

The legal battle between Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia and two of the franchise’s minority owners took another turn Monday, with the stakeholders accusing Ishbia of using the basketball organizations as his own “personal piggy bank” while hiding details of his spending from them.

Andy Kohlberg and Scott Seldin say Ishbia has mismanaged the pro basketball organizations, accusing him of financial malfeasance and of trying to use a capital call to try to bully them out of some of their shares in the franchises. Instead, they allege, it blew up in Ishbia’s face and afforded them an opportunity to take a majority share of the teams.

The accusations come in a legal filing made last week in Delaware court in response to a countersuit filed by Ishbia last month against the two minority owners, who had originally sued in August to begin what has become a messy legal drama.

“Ishbia does not own the Suns to make money for the company but he does operate it as a personal fiefdom for his own personal gain and for the benefit of his other businesses, including his mortgage company United Wholesale Mortgage,” the legal filing states. “The reality is that Ishbia is using the Suns as his personal piggy bank, including through a lengthy list of conflicted transactions — only some of which the Minority Owners are aware of.”

Ishbia, the two minority owners allege, made a loan to the Suns at an interest rate that is significantly above market rate. They say he leased the Mercury’s new practice facility to himself. They also claim that he has turned the Suns and Mercury into money-losing franchises while he intends to make money through UWM.

“This isn’t a lawsuit; it’s a shameless shakedown dressed up as legal process,” a spokesperson for Ishbia said. “From day one, Mat Ishbia was transparent that he was going to do things differently. Contrary to how the team was previously managed, Mat made it very clear he would invest significantly into the Suns and Mercury. He told all the investors that they could step up with him or sell their stake and step aside. Kohlberg and Seldin stayed in and now they’re trying to freeload off the value Mat created.

“Kohlberg and Seldin want to drag the organization backward, and they openly admit in this filing that investing in the team and its fans ‘makes no business sense.’ They are advocating neglect. They are free to sell their shares in the open market and if they don’t, they should be prepared to lose this lawsuit and participate in Mat’s continued investments in the teams and community.”

Ishbia, in an appearance on “The Draymond Green Show,” said the two minority partners “can sell if they want” and should be thanking him.

“Those people, they think about money. All the people think about money,” Ishbia said. “The way I look at it is, let’s do the right thing. Money follows success. It’s not the other way around.”

“And by the way, since I bought the team at $4 billion, it’s worth, what, $6 billion now? It’s gone up,” he said later. “I told them, ‘Instead of suing me, why don’t you just write me a letter and say, thank you? Your investment is worth more.”

 

The disagreement stems from a capital call this past summer. Kohlberg said he originally went to Ishbia last September looking for the majority owner to buy out his share because of his own liquidity issues. Ishbia bought more than half of the teams in early 2023 at a $4 billion valuation and has since then bought out other minority shareholders. Kohlberg, through the legal filing, said Ishbia did not respond initially. When he went to him again and asked that he answer his offer by June 1, 2025, Ishbia, the filing said, set a capital call for the next day.

That capital call, the two minority owners claim, was used as a way to dilute their shares in the teams, which could occur if they did not pay, and to create a new lower per-unit share price. They ended up contributing their share, but when another member did not, Ishbia set another capital call for the next month, according to the filing, and they paid again.

They later learned that more of the capital had not been funded and that Ishbia had used a debt-to-equity conversion to fill the financial gap. This maneuver, Kohlberg and Seldin say, was not the legitimate way to do that. The two minority owners also say that a July 8, 2025, capital call was also not fully funded on time. They argue that under the team’s operating agreement, they would be afforded to buy the shares Ishbia had not funded himself. If they did, they would then have a majority stake in the franchises.

“Ishbia blundered into the very trap he set for the Minority Owners and faced a devastating dilution of his ownership interest if his failure was discovered,” the filing said. ”A failure that would wipe off his net worth and put his continued status as an NBA team owner and governor in jeopardy.”

Since assuming controlling interest of the Phoenix organizations in February 2023, Ishbia has promised championships. He started by spending. With the Suns, he made a big, early splash, trading for superstar Kevin Durant. Ishbia and the front office later doubled down and traded for Bradley Beal despite the star guard’s injury history and burdensome contract that included a no-trade clause. The moves backfired.

Last season, the Suns were perhaps the NBA’s biggest disappointment. Built around Durant, Beal and Devin Booker, they had the league’s most expensive roster, yet they finished 36-46 and failed to make the Play-In Tournament. Ishbia promised change.

Over the offseason, he overhauled the roster and front office. Phoenix traded Durant to the Houston Rockets and negotiated a buyout of Beal, a move that got the Suns out of the second apron, a payroll threshold that limits an organization’s ability to make roster moves, as well as the luxury tax.

Built around Booker, this season’s team lacks star power but has played well over the season’s first month. Entering Monday, the Suns (11-6) were one of the NBA’s early surprises under first-year coach Jordan Ott and had won eight of their past nine.

The Mercury have been more successful. In July of 2024, the WNBA franchise opened a $100 million, 58,000-square-foot practice facility in downtown Phoenix. Last season, the Mercury advanced to the WNBA Finals, where the Las Vegas Aces swept them in four games.

But the off-court issues continue.

Kohlberg and Seldin, who have invested in the Suns for more than two decades, first began their legal battle against Ishbia this summer, when they sued him for a lack of transparency and the team’s unwillingness to provide them with internal financial records. They alleged that Ishbia’s capital call in June appeared to be “part of a leverage strategy to exert pressure on and dilute” their ownership shares.

Ishbia countersued last month, claiming the minority owners were trying to force him to buy out their ownership stakes at an “extortionate” cost. He dismissed their claims as part of a public-relations ploy.

Kohlberg and Seldin are the only remaining minority owners who still invested in the Suns and Mercury, and originally bought in while Robert Sarver led the franchises. Ishbia bought the two teams in early 2023 and has since rolled up minority stakes; he now owns roughly 85 percent of the franchises.

Ishbia professed this fall that he will not settle any of the seven lawsuits he and the teams face. In addition to the mismanagement complaint, former and current employees have accused the organization of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other issues. The Suns have denied these allegations.

“The truth is, you actually got to win a lawsuit,” Ishbia said in September. “And where I’m different than most successful people … is like, we don’t settle. If we don’t do anything wrong, I’m not paying someone. I hope you guys all report on how many lawsuits we actually lose.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, NBA, WNBA

2025 The Athletic Media Company

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Sabres Goaltending Situation Remains Crowded

It’s not like NHL clubs can put players on Overstock.com, but if they could, the Buffalo Sabres would be probably be first to post. The club continues to carry three goalies on the NHL roster and all three have been given limited runs as the primary starter. At this point, the philosophy on the part of head coach Lindy Ruff seems to be if you win, you stay in. 

Rookie Colten Ellis started four of five games earlier this month, but after a 6-2 loss to Calgary, Ruff returned to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who posted consecutive wins over Chicago and Carolina. Up to that point,  Luukkonen appeared to be the highest-paid third goalie in the NHL, as Alex Lyon made the bulk of the starts in the opening month, and Ellis got the net even after Luukkonen was completely healthy after injuries before and during training camp. 

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This led to some speculation from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that Luukkonen may become disenchanted with the logjam if it costs him a spot on Team Finland for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. Another could be the dearth of quality goaltending options at the trade deadline in March and in free agency next July. 

Teams with playoff aspirations like Edmonton in the West and Montreal in the East may be a goalie away from improving their playoff chances. The Sabres crowded crease was alleviated slightly by the contract termination of veteran Alexandar Georgiev (likely headed to Spartak of the KHL), who cleared waivers on Monday, but the Sabres seem to be stuck with a three-headed monster between the pipes for the entire season and with youngster Devon Levi in Rochester, on the outside looking in.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

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David Stearns discusses Jeff McNeil's Mets future: 'I think he wants to be a part of this'

A bit lost in the shuffle in the wake ofBrandon Nimmo getting traded to the Rangers for Marcus Semien, is what it could mean for the Mets future of Jeff McNeil.

McNeil, whom the Mets were open to trading before the Nimmo deal went down, was the regular second baseman for New York in 2025 -- playing 79 games there. 

But while McNeil played second base most of the time last season, he also got time at all three outfield spots and even made two appearances at first base.

With McNeil basically blocked at second base by Semien, president of baseball operationsDavid Stearns discussed what his role could be in 2026.

"I think Jeff, by virtue of his positional versatility, still has the ability to impact our team in a variety of ways," Stearns explained during a Zoom with reporters on Monday. "What exactly that's going to look like is probably going to have to wait until we watch the rest of the offseason unfold. But certainly his ability to play corner outfield is a help. There may still be days if Semien needs a blow, where he's playing some second base. We may ask Jeff to play some first base, depending on how the offseason pans out.

"I talked to Jeff yesterday. He understands where we're headed. I think he wants to be a part of this, and he understands his positional versatility is a real asset for us."

Reading between the lines a bit, it seems McNeil -- if he remains a Met -- might be viewed as a super utility player rather than someone who is a regular.

McNeil underwent a "minor" procedure for thoracic outlet syndrome shortly after the end of the 2025 season.

His agent said that the injury caused McNeil pain when he swung a bat late in the season, and that he is expected to be ready to go for spring training.

McNeil, 33, is owed $15.75 million in 2026 in what is the fourth and final guaranteed year of the deal he signed before the 2023 campaign. The Mets hold a club option for the 2027 season that is worth $15.75 million and contains a $2 million buyout.

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Estêvão ready to rival Lamine Yamal in battle of the teenage prodigies

When Chelsea host Barcelona, fans can assess two 18-year-olds who are equally tipped as future Ballon d’Or winners

Comparisons mean little to Estêvão Willian. The Brazil winger did not even take kindly to being nicknamed Messinho – “Little Messi” – earlier in his career. He called the nickname “disruptive” and made clear that he had no interest in trying to be someone else. “I don’t like comparisons,” the 18-year-old told ESPN Brasil last year. “For those who don’t know how to deal with it, it’s quite disruptive. Me being Estêvão is very good.”

Chelsea no doubt agree. After all, opposition defenders aside, who could possibly complain about Estêvão just being Estêvão? Not for nothing is he widely tipped to win the Ballon d’Or one day. The teenager’s talent is outrageous, his start to life in England has been better than expected and, although the obvious risk with heaping too much praise on a young prospect is that it makes them take their eye off the ball, it is telling that those who know Estêvão say one of the qualities that set him apart is his character.

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Canucks Recall Goaltender Nikita Tolopilo Under Emergency Conditions, Re-Assign Jiří Patera To AHL

The Vancouver Canucks have swapped a couple of their goaltenders ahead of practice on Monday, calling up Nikita Tolopilo under emergency conditions and re-assigning Jiří Patera to the Abbotsford Canucks. This comes only a couple of days after Tolopilo made his return to Abbotsford's lineup after missing around a month due to injury. 

This move comes ahead of Vancouver's upcoming road trip to California, during which they will play the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings within the span of four days. After, they will make a trip to Colorado to play the Colorado Avalanche before returning to Rogers Arena. Seeing as their games against San Jose and Los Angeles will occur back-to-back, Vancouver would be wise not to force Kevin Lankinen into too many games. 

As mentioned, Tolopilo has missed a good chunk of the season due to injury after being removed from Abbotsford's home-opener on October 24. He made his first start in a little less than a month after on Friday night, stopping 28 of 32 shots faced in Abbotsford's 5-3 loss to the San Jose Barracuda. 

Patera recently made his Canucks debut last Monday, manning the net in his first NHL game since March 26, 2024. In this 8-5 loss to the Florida Panthers, he faced 40 shots and stopped 33 of them. Patera will now return to Abbotsford to play alongside Ty Young. 

Apr 14, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) in the net against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Canucks' next opponent is the Ducks, who they'll play on Wednesday night in Anaheim. The Ducks currently sit at the top of the Pacific Division and do not look to be slowing down. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT. 

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

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Game Day: Everything You Need To Know Ahead Of Predators' Nov. 24 Matchup vs. Panthers

Feb 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight (30) celebrates the win with his team against the Nashville Predators during the third half at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The Nashville Predators would love to have the first 15 seconds of Saturday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche back.

That’s when the Preds gave up the only 5v5 tally of the game and eventually fell 3-0 to the best team in the NHL on Hockey Fights Cancer Night at Bridgestone Arena. Colorado’s final two goals were empty-netters after the Preds pulled Juuse Saros in the third period.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier, as the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers pay a visit to Smashville Monday night. The Preds outshot the Avalanche, 35-26, but couldn't find the back of the net for the second consecutive game.

The only good news that came out of Saturday’s loss was the return of defenseman and team captain Roman Josi, who came off injured reserve after missing 12 games following an upper-body injury. Josi registered four shots and blocked a shot in 19:40 of ice time.

Nashville is 3-4-2 with Josi in the lineup this season; during his 12-game absence, the Predators went 3-7-2.

The Panthers are also coming into Monday’s game off a loss, so the Preds will once again have their hands full in trying to halt a two-game losing skid. Here’s everything you need to know about Monday’s matchup.

Game Day

Who: Florida Panthers (11-9-1) at Nashville Predators (6-11-4)

Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.

When: 7 Pm CST

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Radio: 102.5 The Game

Betting line (via BetMGM):

Panthers

-1.5 (+155)

O 6 (+100)

-150

Predators

+1.5 (-190)

U 6 (-120)

+125

Injury Report

Preds: Cole Smith (upper body) is currently on injured reserve.

Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov remain out due to injury.

Power Play Struggles Continue

Nashville’s power play is currently 10-for-65 (15.4%), putting them 26th in the NHL.

Head coach Andrew Brunette practiced his true first and second unit during Monday’s morning skate. The first unit featured Josi, Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O’Reilly.

Skating on the second unit were Nick Blankenburg, Brady Skjei,Luke Evangelista, Matthew Wood and Michael Bunting.

As for the penalty kill, the Preds rank 13th at 82.0% (11-of-61).

Preds Leaders

Nov 16, 2025; Stockholm, SWEDEN; Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) talks with Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a Global Series ice hockey game at Avicii Arena. Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

Filip Forsberg paces the Preds with eight goals and 15 points, followed by Ryan O’Reilly with six goals and 13 points. Rookie Matthew Wood has six goals as well, and he, along with Michael Bunting (4g-6a), Erik Haula (3g-7a) and Luke Evangelista (2g-8a) all have 10 points apiece.

Juuse Saros, who took the hard-luck loss against Colorado on Saturday, is 6-8-3 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .896 save percentage. Justus Annunen is 0-4-1.

Scouting The Panthers

Florida fell to the Edmonton Oilers by a 6-3 score in a Stanley Cup Final rematch on Saturday night. The defending Stanley Cup champs have won four of their last six games, and are 5-5-0 against the Preds in their last 10 meetings.

Florida swept the two-game series with Nashville last season, outscoring the Preds 10-3 in the two meetings. They are 8-2-0 during their past 10 visits to Bridgestone Arena, and have outscored the Preds 40-28 during that span, averaging 4.5 goals per contest in those eight victories.

Brad Marchand leads the Panthers with 13 goals and 24 points, followed by Sam Reinhart with 12 goals and 18 points.

In net, Sergei Bobrovsky is 10-6-0 with a 2.80 GAA and .887 SP.

Daniil Tarasov, who will get the start against the Preds Monday night, is 1-3-1,2.34, .910. Tarasov relieved Bobrovsky in the loss to Edmonton, stopping all 12 of the shots he faced including five high-danger chances.

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Jets' Neal Pionk Suffers Second Lower-Body Injury in 8 Months, Listed As Day-to-Day

During Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets fans grew concerned only minutes into the game when Neal Pionk left the ice and did not return. After the game, the Jets announced that Pionk is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury and will undergo further evaluation on Monday. 

He exited just over two minutes into the first period after delivering a fairly routine check in the Jets’ zone on Minnesota’s Danila Yurov. Pionk skated away from the play with a pained expression while bent over and holding his right knee. The sequence was not particularly intense, which made the injury seem unusual.

Pionk was sidelined earlier this year in March with a separate undisclosed lower-body injury that kept him out for a month before he returned in mid-April. The hope is that he has not aggravated that issue, especially since he plays a key role on the Jets’ blue line in the second pairing with Dylan Samberg, who has only recently returned from injury himself.

NHL Insider Weighs In On Jets' Brad Lambert Situation, Potential Trade ReturnNHL Insider Weighs In On Jets' Brad Lambert Situation, Potential Trade ReturnNHL insider reveals the Jets' strategy for trading prized prospect Brad Lambert, drawing parallels to a past high-profile deal.

It is still unclear who would replace Pionk if he cannot travel with the Jets for their upcoming three-game road trip that begins Wednesday in Washington. If Pionk is cleared to play, the team likely will not make any roster adjustments. If there is any uncertainty regarding his availability, a call-up on Monday seems very likely. 

The most probable candidate for the call is Kale Clague, a former NHL defenseman with the Buffalo Sabres, although he would probably see limited ice time. In that scenario, Luke Schenn and Colin Miller would both enter the lineup rather than continuing to rotate into the third pairing with Logan Stanley.

Pionk has been steady this season, recording one goal and two assists over his past five games. Overall, the 33-year-old Omaha, Nebraska native has five points in 21 games and is on pace for a 20-point campaign. His track record of reaching at least 30 points in six straight seasons suggests he is likely to find his rhythm as the season progresses.

Image

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Celebrating The 71st Anniversary Of A Gigantic Blueshirts Trade

&nbsp;Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK

There won't be any drum rolls at Madison Square Garden today, nor banner-hanging tonight  buy maybe there should be.

Am I the only one between here and the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel who realizes this is a major date in Rangers history.

Granted, I'm getting personal about this because 71 years ago today, I was working in the Rangers publicity department – we didn't know from "public relations" in those days – and a big, BIG story broke.

I knew how big it was by the speed with which my boss, press agent Herb Goren, rushed over to my desk and snapped, "Getcha coat on, kid, you got some runnin' ta do."

Then, Herbie explained that the Rangers had swung a deal with the Chicago Black Hawks. Heading to the Windy City was our noble defenseman Allan Stanley along with forward Nick Mickoski. Coming our way was defenseman Bill Gadsby and forward Pete Connacher. 

My boss then handed me seven press releases, the addresses of the seven New York Dailies, carfare and a final word. "Make sure you give the releases to the sports editor. This is big stuff!."

It was in a lot of ways. Allan Stanley was a solid defenseman but Ranger fans hated him because he never threw his weight around. They wanted a tough guy and they got a stylist instead.

By contrast, Mickoski was loveable – besides being a personal friend of mine – had come through the farm system but never quite clicked. I was sad about us losing both them.

But Bill Gadsby had been Chicago's best defenseman and Peter Conacher was the son of Hall of Famer Charlie Conacher, one of the NHL's all-time scorers as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

Beyond excited, I hit the Times. Herald-Tribune, Journal-American, Post, World-Telegram, Daily News and Daily Mirror; not once missing a sports editor. When I returned to the Garden that afternoon, our hockey department was overflowing with newsmen interviewing our general manager Frank Boucher.

"We hated to lose Big Al and Nick," Boucher explained, "But I felt we needed a shakeup. The new guys will give us a boost in the back and up front."

It's Getting Late Early For The Beloved BlueshirtsIt's Getting Late Early For The Beloved BlueshirtsFor a team with a 10-11-2 record, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> should be miles and miles and miles from Panics-ville-On-The-Hudson.

He was right. Gadsby was outstanding the next night when we beat the hated Bruins, Unfortunately, with about a minute left and a win in the bag, Gads went down to block a shot and took the puck in the jaw. We lost him for a month. 

Conacher tried hard but the only resemblance to his father was the name Conacher. 

No problem, neither Stanley nor Big Nick did much for Chicago. Mickoski eventually found a niche in the minors while Stanley was dealt to Boston and finally to Toronto

After recovering from his broken jaw, Gadsby became the Rangers best defenseman. He helped the Rangers make the playoffs in 1956, 1957, and 1958. Eventually he was traded to Detroit where he played the best hockey of his life.

The irony of this story belongs to Allan Stanley who was getting old when Toronto GM Punch Imlach picked him up in the Used Defenseman's Lot. Under Imlach, Stanley was pivotal in guiding the Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cups in seven years.

Over two fruitful NHL decades Gadsby remained a star but never played for a Cup-winner –  once even beaten by Al Stanley's Leafs.

But on that Thanksgiving Eve day in the hockey department at the Old Garden 71 years ago, The Maven got a firsthand baptism of trading fire.

One little postscript: Well after the big trade, Stanley played a fine game against the Rangers and exited the Old Garden via the West 49th Street players' door. He then turned left and walked east toward Eighth Avenue. 

Recognized on the sidewalk by a Rangers fan, Big Al stopped as the teenager went up to him and very plaintively asked: "Allan; why didn't you play that way for us?'

Stanley digested the question and softly replied: "But, I did. But I did!"

And that's the reason Allan Stanley is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. For other reasons, Bill Gadsby is a Hall of Famer as well!

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How to watch Houston Rockets vs Phoenix Suns: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

The Houston Rockets head to Phoenix for a showdown against the Suns tonight on Peacock. This will be the first of four meetings between the two teams this season. Tip-off is at 9:30 PM ET, following the Cavaliers vs. Raptors game at 7:30 PM.

See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's Rockets vs. Suns game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz
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Check out the latest fantasy basketball rankings update as December approaches.

Houston Rockets:

Tonight's game was supposed to be Kevin Durant's first return to Phoenix since being traded to the Rockets in July, but the 15-time All-Star will miss both tonight's game and Wednesday's matchup against Golden State due to personal reasons. He leads the team with 24.6 ppg this season.

The Rockets are looking to bounce back after falling 112-109 to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, which ended their 5-game win streak.

Houston currently leads the league in 3-point shooting (42.0%), rebounding (49.6 rpg), and offensive rating (122.5).

Phoenix Suns:

The Suns have won 10 of their last 12 matchups, including the last three straight. In last night's 111-102 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker led the way for the Suns, scoring 25 and 24 points, respectively.

Booker is averaging a team-high 26.9 points per game. He has already recorded four double-doubles this season, including seven games with 30 or more points.

How to watch Houston Rockets vs Cleveland Suns:

  • When: Tonight, Monday, November 24
  • Where: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona
  • Time: 9:30 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Cup 2025: Standings update, key remaining games, format for NBA’s in-season tournament
Entering the final week of group play, there are some critical games, including Clippers at Lakers Tuesday night on NBC and Peacock.

What other NBA games are on tonight?

How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors:

  • When: Tonight, Monday, November 24
  • Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
  • Time: 7:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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'He’s Playing Like A Wall Right Now': Wild's Jesper Wallstedt Continues Historic Streak

The Minnesota Wild (12-7-4) has won five straight games and is 9-1-1 in its last 11 games. The Wild have scored the first goal in 12 consecutive games as well. But nothing during this stretch has been better than the goaltending believe it or not.

Since Nov. 1, Jesper Wallstedt is 5-0-0 with a .970 save percentage, an 0.99 goals-against average and has three shutouts. Filip Gustavsson is 4-1-1 in that stretch with a .921 save percentage, a 1.95 goals-against average and has one shutout.

The Wild have now posted shutouts in two consecutive games and have three in their last five games and four in their last seven. 

 Wallstedt and Gustavsson have kept the Wild from trailing in regulation for 480 straight minutes since Nov. 7. The goaltending tandem has now became the first team with a run of that length since the Vancouver Canucks from Jan. 8-24, 2024 (488:43).

Wallstedt, 23, has played in eight games this year. He has yet to lose in regulation and has given the Wild a point in all eight games with a 6-0-2 record. He is first in the NHL in save percentage (.935), goals-against average (1.94) and shutouts (3).

"He is playing like a wall right now,” Wild defenseman Brock Faber said after the game on Sunday. “It’s fun to watch and it gives us all confidence. You can tell that he’s just gaining confidence as every day goes by, it’s so great to see. It took time for him to get here. He worked and battled and went through adversity and ups and downs, and to see him playing the way he can play, it’s incredible and we just need to keep it rolling, him and [Gustavsson].”

Over his eight-game point streak, Wallstedt has earned shutouts against the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners (Jets), current Pacific Division leader (Ducks) and a team that fell outside the playoff line due to a tiebreaker in 2024-25 (Flames).

Four of Wallstedt’s six wins this season have also come against teams currently in a playoff position, with the Minnesota goaltender having only allowed a combined eight goals through those contests.

Per NHL Stats, Wallstedt is the only goaltender to play at least eight games this season and have no regulation losses. He set the franchise benchmark for longest season-opening point streak, besting Niklas Backstrom (6-0-1 in 2008-09) and became the third rookie netminder League-wide with a run of that length in the past 30 years, following Mike Condon (8 GP in 2015-16) and Martin Jones (8 GP in 2013-14).

He also became the second rookie goaltender in the NHL's Expansion Era, since 1967-68, to post three shutouts through his first eight games of a season, joining Jones (3 in 6 GP in 2013-14).

“I have a great team in front of me,” Wallstedt said postgame. “The way our team has sacrificed themselves, I feel like we’re one of the teams that blocks the most shots. We try to get in front of every puck. They take away sticks and everything and boxing out, so I can focus on my job. I feel like pucks have been getting stuck in me. Hopefully I show some calmness back there, that I can show that they can trust me.”

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

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

'I Would Anticipate That Moving Forward': Wild Will Commit To A Goalie Rotation Between Gustavsson, Wallstedt'I Would Anticipate That Moving Forward': Wild Will Commit To A Goalie Rotation Between Gustavsson, WallstedtEmerging rookie brilliance forces the Wild's hand, creating a dynamic tandem that will share net duties going forward.

- Wild's Ryan Hartman Out Week-To-Week With Lower-Body Injury.

- Wild's Rookie Center Gets First Huge Opportunity: First-Line Center.

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NBA power rankings 2025-26: Thunder remain on top, Pistons jump to second, Lakers enter top five

We are a quarter of the way into the NBA season and we now have a pretty good sense of who most teams are. Now we also get to see how teams perform under a little bit of pressure with the NBA Cup, and here we talk about the teams facing it.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

(17-1, last week No. 1)
Oklahoma City's defense hasn't just been good this season, it's been suffocating — OKC's 103 defensive rating is 7 points better than second-place Detroit. Nobody is close to them. While that's a team effort — they play defense on a string and have a wealth of quality perimeter defenders — Chet Holmgren and his rim protection could be rewarded. He is going to get mentioned in Defensive Player of the Year conversations already, and if Victor Wembanyama can't reach the 65-game threshold set by the league for awards (a real possibility with him being out with a calf strain), Holmgren becomes the favorite. One other note to scare the rest of the league: Oklahoma City could have two lottery picks next June. They own the Clippers' first-round pick (the last of the Paul George trade). OKC also owns Utah's first-rounder, but the Jazz pick is top-eight-protected, so it depends on how much Lauri Markkanen lifts his team up the rest of the way (Utah would currently draft ninth).

2. Detroit Pistons

(14-2, last week No. 3)
Detroit has had one of the best fourth quarter offenses in the NBA this season, averaging 30.3 points per game in the fourth, and has outscored opponents by 2.4 points in the fourth (third best in the league). With that, the Pistons are 11-0 this season when taking a lead into the fourth quarter. Detroit and Jalen Duran were nowhere close to a contract extension last offseason, and to his credit Duran is playing himself into a huge payday — he averages 20.5 points and 11.5 rebounds a game and looks like an All-Star, an All Defensive Team player and might be the Most Improved Player frontrunner. Duran is now critical to the Pistons' future, and he is going to get paid like it this summer.

3. Denver Nuggets

(12-4, last week No. 2)
Denver's improved depth is getting put to the test. Starter Christian Braun was already going to miss six weeks with a sprained ankle, and now Aaron Gordon is going to miss 4-6 weeks with a hamstring strain. Sometimes when a starter goes out injured, it’s the bench that suffers, and Denver's bench was already bottom 10 in the league in scoring, averaging 18.6 points a game before Braun got injured. In the first two games after he went out that bench scored 15 and 9 points, but then it bounced back with two 33-point games against the Pelicans and Rockets, followed by 20 in a loss to the Kings. Peyton Watson has become a key starter now and he has averaged 14.8 points and seven rebounds per game, shooting 58.1% from the floor, when asked to start this season. He has been stepping up. Denver needs a big win vs. San Antonio Friday night to have a chance to advance to the knockout round of the NBA Cup.

4. Houston Rockets

(10-4, last week No. 4)
Kevin Durant is out for the next couple of games for personal reasons, which could put a dent in what has been the best offense in the NBA, but one doing it in a very unconventional way. The Rockets have the league's lowest 3-point attempt rate — just 33.2% of their shots — but the league's highest in offensive rebound rate, getting a second chance on 38.5% of their missed shots. They are top 10 in the league in points in the paint per game, 53.3. This team is mashing its way to the best offense in the league, but will that work as well without the outlet of Durant on the court? See for yourself when the Rockets take on the Suns in a fascinating second game on Peacock NBA Monday.

5. Los Angeles Lakers

(12-4, last week No. 7)
LeBron James is back, and what's maybe most impressive about him is not that this is his 23rd NBA season (a record) or how his mind still just processes the game faster than anyone (as evidenced by his passing), it's his willingness to accept a new, smaller role. This is Luka Doncic's team now. Austin Reaves had become a significant presence and key shot creator. LeBron is willingly working to fit in around them. "I can fit in with anybody. I don't understand why that was even a question," James said in front of his locker after his debut. LeBron’s Lakers were the winners of the inaugural NBA Cup (then called the In-Season Tournament), and with a win Tuesday over the Clippers, they will clinch a spot in the quarterfinals/knockout round, a game you can watch on Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock.

6. Toronto Raptors

(12-5, last week No. 9)
Toronto became the first team to punch its ticket to the quarterfinals (the knockout round) of the NBA Cup, going 3-0 in Cup play so far (they have one Group A Cup game left, against the Pacers, and while it will not impact them getting in it will matter for seeding). The NBA Cup quarterfinals are Dec. 9-10, with the higher-seeded team hosting that game (and the winner advancing to Las Vegas for Semifinals and, potentially, Finals). “I think our guys deserve the opportunity to compete in that setup,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said. “It's gonna be a really different feeling for us because it’s going to be one game that will decide if we're going to the final four or not. Definitely we have the ambition and desire to be there.”

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

(12-6, last week No. 6)
Donovan Mitchell is comfortable where the Cavaliers are so far this season because he sees the growth and potential with a team that has a top-10 defense and an improving offense. "I think for us, this is perfect," Mitchell said after Sunday's win over the Clippers. “There's so many learning lessons. We have good games, we have bad games. Obviously, you want to continue to trend the right way, and I feel like we are. But I think 12-6 is right where we need to be. Continue to just progress."

8. Phoenix Suns

(11-6, last week No. 15)

Jordan Ott has impressed in his first season as a head coach, and may even be in line for some Coach of the Year votes if Phoenix keeps playing this well. The first thing that stands out is he just has the Suns playing hard, which is a big step forward for anyone forced to watch this team the past couple of seasons. One of the things Ott has preached is Phoenix winning the possession game, and you saw that Sunday in a comeback win over San Antonio when the Suns took 20 more shots on the night. Can they do that on Peacock NBA Monday in a great early-season showdown against Houston, a game worth streaming to catch?

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

(10-6, last week No. 8)
Minnesota drafted Rob Dillingham No. 8 in 2024, envisioning someone who could step up and be the point guard of the future for them as Mike Conley aged out of the job. Well, Father Time caught up with Conley quickly (6.2 points and 3.5 assists a game this season, he looks slow), and Rob Dillingham has not been ready to step up: 4.7 points and 1.9 assists a game on 38.6% shooting (20% on 3-pointers). It's too early to write a 20-year-old off, the Timberwolves are going to give Dillingham more time to figure it out. But this is a win-now roster, and it's no accident that the Wolves come up in talks about potential trades for point guards such as LaMelo Ball, Ja Morant and Trae Young (whether any of those is a fit in Minnesota is another question). Point guard is now a long term concern for Minnesota.

10. Miami Heat

(11-6, last week No. 17)
Winners of four in a row, and now Tyler Herro is set to make his return to the court Monday night against Dallas. It will be interesting to see him fit into the Heat's new isolation style attacking offense, or whether they run a few more pick-and-rolls for the best P&R ball handler on the roster. If Miami can defeat Milwaukee on Wednesday, it will move to the top of East Group C and have a chance to advance to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup (the Heat would be 3-1, but the Knicks control their own destiny and would take the group if they win out).

11. San Antonio Spurs

(11-6, last week No. 11)
The Spurs have gone 3-1 without Victor Wembanyama, who is out with a calf strain (and the buzz around the league is he could miss closer to a month, in part because San Antonio will be cautious with his return). The Spurs also have been without Stephon Castle the past three games, forcing Julian Champagnie and Luke Kornet into the starting five. That starting unit has not impressed, but the bench has, which is why the Spurs won their first three games without Wemby (and had a double-digit lead over the Suns but couldn't hold it).

12. Boston Celtics

(9-8, last week No. 18)
The biggest question coming into the season in Boston was at center, because Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and Al Horford were all gone. Neemias Queta has answered that question — he has been impressive as the starting five, averaging 9.3 points on 62.8% shooting, and grabbing 7.9 rebounds a game. However, his more significant impact is on the defensive end, where the Celtics are 19.8 points per 100 possessions better when he is on the court.

13. Orlando Magic

(10-8, last week No. 16)
The Magic have gone 3-2 without Paolo Banchero (left groin strain), but with a good +6.4 net rating. The idea that the Magic are better without Banchero is foolish, but it's fair to question whether there is a ceiling on this offense with him and another natural forward, Franz Wagner, as the primary shot creators. It just doesn't flow. That said, Orlando has gone 8-4 in its last 12 games (with a +7.1 net rating) after a 1-4 start to the season, thanks in large part to Desmond Bane looking more comfortable and an improved defense.

14. New York Knicks

(9-6, last week No. 5)
This ranking feels a little low for the Knicks, but they have stumbled of late. New York is 1-2 on its current five-game road trip and is now 1-5 for the season away from Madison Square Garden — and that lone win, against Dallas last week, only happened because Brandon Williams got called for hooking Landry Shamet on a drive for a game-tying layup. The Knicks control their own destiny in the NBA Cup, beat Charlotte on the road on Wednesday then Milwaukee at home on Friday and the Knicks advance to the quarterfinals.

15. Atlanta Hawks

(11-7, last week No. 13)
Since Trae Young went out with a sprained knee, the Hawks are 9-4 with a +6.3 net rating, with a slightly above average offense and a top-10 in the league defense. Not only did the wheels not fall off without Young on the court, but this stretch may also have shown a path to a future without him. Atlanta went into this season with a roster specifically built to maximize Young's strengths, and the front office wanted to see what that roster could do before making any long-term decisions about a new contract for Young (they did not extend him last summer, and he can opt out and become a free agent next summer) or Kristaps Porzingis. What they have learned so far is that this team is not bad without Young. That could play into future decisions.

16. Philadelphia 76ers

(9-7, last week No. 14)
Paul George has been on a minute restriction since his return, averaging 13.3 points in 22 minutes a night, and Philly has a -2.2 net rating with him on the court in that small sample size. Whether George and Joel Embiid are playing or not, this is Tyrese Maxey's team, he drives the offense and leads the league in touches, averaging five more a night than Nikola Jokic. Behind him, the 76ers have been one of the best fourth quarter teams in the league this season, averaging 30.1 points per game in the fourth (fourth best in the league), they are outscoring opponents by 5.1 in the fourth (best in the league), and with that have a solid 6-5 record in games where they trailed entering the fourth.

17. Chicago Bulls

(9-7, last week No. 19)
On paper, the Bulls had a good week, winning three of four, including beating the Nuggets, and Nikola Vucevic drained a game-winner against the Trail Blazers. However, after the Bulls beat the lowly Wizards 121-120 Sunday, Vucevic was not happy and tried to explain to a young roster why: “For three quarters, we were very soft. We gave no resistance. We didn't do anything that we talked about. Just played really soft. It was really bad." Chicago is on the road this week, but with winnable games against New Orleans, Charlotte and Indiana.

18. Golden State Warriors

(9-9, last week No. 10)
Golden State is 4-6 in its last 10 games and, according to Jimmy Butler, the issue is the team's defense in that stretch. Over those 10 games, the Warriors have a defensive rating of 112.4, 12th in the league. Jimmy Butler summed it up this way: “We're just not guarding nobody. From what I can tell, I haven't been here long, but that's never been the formula here. To win a championship, you got to take each and every matchup personal. Yeah, help's going to be there, but we got to do way better guarding on that side of the ball."

19. Milwaukee Bucks

(8-9, last week No. 12)
The Bucks have dropped both games since Giannis Antetokounmpo went out with a groin strain and now have dropped four in a row and 5-of-6, with a -9 net rating in those six games. Milwaukee controls its own destiny in the NBA Cup but will have to beat Miami and New York on the road — without Antetokounmpo — to advance. That's a big ask.

20. Portland Trail Blazers

(7-10, last week No. 20)
The Trail Blazers surprisingly control their own destiny and can win the NBA Cup West Group C — the "group of death" with five of the top nine teams in the conference — by beating San Antonio on Wednesday night. That will mean turning things around fast, the Trail Blazers are 2-7 in their last nine with a -7.9 net rating in those games.

21. Los Angeles Clippers

(5-12, last week No. 23)
Kawhi Leonard made his return to the court after missing 10 games with an ankle/foot sprain, and scored 20 in a loss to the Cavaliers, shooting 6-of-13 in his 26 minutes. Just his return should help other Clippers because of his gravity. For example, the most underrated player in the league is not so underrated anymore — Ivica Zubac is drawing a lot more defensive attention this season, something coach Tyronn Lue talked about recently: "Just double team the post, not let him get a rhythm on the post. Also just fronting the post a lot, so now we got a flash and trying to hit him over the top. But [teams] doing a good job just trying to keep it out of his hands, and when they can try to push him off the block so he's not in his sweet spot.” Part of the reason teams are collapsing on Zubac is that without Norman Powell or near enough shot creation and shooting, teams are not penalized for packing the paint and focusing on stopping him. Despite the rough start, the Clippers can go to 3-0 in NBA Cup play and put themselves in the driver's seat to advance to the knockout round with a win “on the road” against the Lakers this week, a game you can watch on Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock.

22. Memphis Grizzlies

(6-11, last week No. 25)
The Grizzlies took advantage of the schedule and snapped a streak where they had lost 9-of-10 and knocked off the Kings and Mavericks in their last two games — doing so without the services of injured-but-still-talking-trash Ja Morant and the just injured Jaren Jackson Jr. It may be tough to keep that streak going against Denver on Monday (and don't trash talk Jokic, you don't want him playing angry), the Memphis heads out on the road again for its next four.

23. Utah Jazz

(5-11, last week No. 22)
Lauri Markkanen is averaging 29.3 points per game, but is doing it while barely dribbling the ball — 91% of his shot attempts have come off two dribbles or fewer (compare that to SGA, where more than 45% of his shots come off 7+ dribbles). It’s because the Jazz work hard to free him with off-ball actions, which makes him very difficult to cover. Lakers coach J.J. Redick talked about it before one of their matchups last week. "He's getting about 31 off-ball screens a game ... I'm not comparing him to Steph Curry, but there's a similarity to the scout in terms of his your awareness on him. If he's head under and he's not trying to duck you in or post you up, he's going to come off something. He's going to come off a smash or he's going to come off a pin down. He's at the top of the floor, he's going to get a chest. If he's in the corner, he's going to get a single or a double, like you just have to have heightened awareness on him at all times."

24. Dallas Mavericks

(5-13, last week No. 24)
Dallas has gone 3-10 with Anthony Davis in street clothes, although he could be nearing a return (depending on what the Dallas medical staff is thinking). If Mavericks fans want something to be thankful for through all of this it's not just Cooper Flagg, but how much better and more comfortable Flagg has looked when played on the wing, his natural spot (the point forward experiment is over).

25. Charlotte Hornets

(4-13, last week No. 21)
The good news is that Brandon Miller is back after missing 13 games with a shoulder injury (and he scored 21 in his return against the Clippers). The other good news in Charlotte to start the season is just how well rookie Kon Knueppel has played. His 18.8 points per game is top among rookies, he's shooting 42.1% from 3-point range and grabbing 5.8 rebounds a game. It's early, but Knueppel is right in the middle of the Rookie of the Year discussion with Cooper Flagg and V.J. Edgecombe.

26. Brooklyn Nets

(3-13, last week No. 27)
Brooklyn has the second-worst defense in the league, but one guy who might start to turn things around on that end — and be a key piece for this team long term — is rookie Drake Powell, coach Jordi Fernandez said this week. "He's very capable of being one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He's just a rookie right now, and he doesn't even know it, but I see the tools. He just has to keep embracing that part and believing that he can do it. And what he’s doing right now is good, but it could be even better. If he has that belief, conviction and work ethic, the sky's the limit for him defensively." Egor Demin could be part of the future, too, but he's got to start getting downhill more: He's taken 14 shots in the restricted area this season (13.3% of this attempts) and 73 3-point attempts (69.6% of his total shot attempts).

27. Sacramento Kings

(4-13, last week No. 26)
DeMar DeRozan summed up where the Kings are emotionally after losing eight straight, saying they are "In a s**** place. Don't nobody want to lose the way we've been losing… I think it's just everything right now for us is just s****, honestly. Sometimes when you're in the deep end, it's hard to hear anything. You're just trying to swim your way out, one way or another." Adding to Sacramento's pile of, um, manure is the news that Domantas Sabonis will be out at least a month with a torn meniscus. If you're a Sacramento fan searching for a reason to believe the team can turn things around, there is this: the Kings have played the toughest schedule in the league so far this season. Things will get easier.

28. New Orleans Pelicans

(2-15, last week No. 28)
Zion Williamson returned to the court this week and averaged 18 points and 4.5 rebounds in the two games played. The story in New Orleans has been Derik Queen. He faced some unfair expectations because of the overpay Joe Dumars gave up to get him (control of the Pelcians' 2026 first-round pick, which looks like it will be a high one in a deep draft), but Queen himself has been impressive. He put up 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a couple of blocks going up against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, for the first time, and after the game earned praise from Jokic: "He's an amazing player. You can see some similarities [to me]. I don't want people to see him and tell him he's something like me. He's a good enough player to have his own story."

29. Indiana Pacers

(2-14, last week No. 29)
Pacers fans looking for a bright spot can point to the return of Bennedict Mathurin to the lineup. He has played in just five games this season, but is averaging 26.4 points a night. The Pacers picked up a win last week against lowly Charlotte and have a good shot at another one Friday against the one team below them in these rankings.

30. Washington Wizards

(1-15, last week No. 30)
Washington hasn't won a game since a week before Halloween. The biggest problem is that the young team — even with a couple of veterans like CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton — can't close games. Washington averages 24.9 points a game in the fourth quarter, and they get outscored by 7.5 points a game in the fourth, both of which are the worst in the league. Washington is 0-11 when trailing heading into the fourth and 1-4 when they are ahead entering the final frame.

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Steph Curry amazingly wears Michael Jordan's ‘flu game' shoes before Jazz game

Steph Curry amazingly wears Michael Jordan's ‘flu game' shoes before Jazz game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Utah Jazz aren’t immune to shots from Steph “Petty King” Curry.

Before Monday’s game between the Warriors and Jazz at Chase Center, Curry, a sneaker free agent, entered the arena wearing Michael Jordan’s infamous “flu game” Jordan XIIs.

During the 1997 NBA Finals, Jordan fought through flu-like symptoms to score 38 points to help the Chicago Bulls beat the … Jazz … in Game 5 to take a three-games-to-two series lead.

Curry switched to Jordan 14s for his pregame warmups Monday night.

Since parting ways with Under Armour on Nov. 13, Curry has been wearing different shoes as he arrives at arenas and during pregame warmups.

Once the game begins, Curry has been wearing his own Curry Brand shoes.

As Curry pays tribute to Jordan, the 37-year-old is one 40-point game away from breaking a tie with the six-time NBA champion for most such games after turning 30 years old.

The Warriors are in desperate need of a win, so there would be no better time for Curry to drop a 40-piece on the Jazz.

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