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Cubs BCB After Dark: Should the Cubs sign Adrián Morejón as a starter?

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Adrian Morejon #50 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning at Petco Park on September 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s the start of another week here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the fall chill. We’ve been expecting you. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. We still have a few tables available. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last week, I asked you which 2026 Cub free agent would you most want the Cubs to re-sign and bring back? With 36 percent of the vote, you want to see catcher Carson Kelly be a Cub in 2027. It was a close vote, as 35 percent of you would like Clay Holmes to return.

Here’s the part with the music and the movies. You’re welcome to join us. It should be a good time.

Tonight we have a piece of classic jazz from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967. This is Tony Bennett with Count Basie and his Orchestra playing the Duke Ellington tune “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.”

I’ve got a holdover Halloween movie with the 1992 film Highway to Hell, directed by Ate de Jong and starring Patrick Bergin, Chad Lowe and Kristy Swanson. This film gave me a lot of video store “Direct-to-video” vibes, although I guess it did get a token theatrical release before going almost direct-to-video. I’ve read online that it’s become a cult classic over the years and it is currently streaming on the Criterion Channel, so some people think it’s a worthwhile project. For me, it was very reminiscent of the film that you checked out of your local video store because you got there at 8 pm on a Saturday night and everything else was gone. You’re expecting it to be really bad and after you watch it, you’re like “Hey! That’s a lot better than I expected.” Not that it’s really good, but it was at least good enough that you’re not embarrassed that you rented it. And if you’re really a fan of those direct-to-video B-movies, then you probably told your friends about it.

First off, Highway to Hell is based on the myth of Orpheus, so there’s at least a little ambition there. Charlie Sykes (Chad Lowe—Rob’s brother) and Rachel Clark (Swanson) are young lovers running off to Las Vegas to elope against her parents’ wishes. Rachel is underage and still a virgin, so that probably plays some role in their objections.

Convinced that Rachel’s parents have hired someone to follow them, Charlie takes a dark backroad to Vegas. He gets a bit lost, so he stops for gas and directions at Sam’s (Richard Farnsworth) gas station. He tells them to get back on the interstate but if they insist upon going on, don’t stop between the two Joshua trees. Of course, Charlie ignores him, falls asleep and goes off the road between the two Joshua trees. The two encounter Hellcop (C.J. Graham) who immediately grabs Rachel and disappears with her.

Charlie returns to Sam who tells him that the Devil abducts young virgins on that road, taking them down to Hell to serve him. It happened to him fifty years ago when his young fiancée Clara (Pamela Gidley) was carried to the underworld. (When Charlie asks why he didn’t say this in the first place, Sam says he never would have believed him) Charlie is determined to go down to Hell and retrieve Rachel, so Sam gives Charlie a special shotgun with demon-splashing shells and his old souped-up thirties-era car. Charlie goes into the underworld where he needs to fight off countless demons and navigate the politics of Hell to bring Rachel back to the world of the living.

There are a lot of cameos along the way. The entire Stiller family is here—Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara and their children Ben and Amy Stiller all have minor roles as mythological or just the damned in Hell. Singer Lita Ford appears as a hitchhiker. Gilbert Gottfried plays Hitler in Hell, which, is pretty much what it sounds like. Gottfried doing his schtick dressed up as Hitler. Hell also has “reserved” table for four still-living people in 1992, including one very surprising choice. So as you can tell, this is a film that wisely isn’t taking itself seriously.

Obviously this is a low-budget affair with a lot of silly stuff going on. The scares are pretty rare as the film almost always goes for ridiculous over frightening. The demon makeup is pretty standard stuff for an early-nineties direct-to-video film. Most of the film was shot in the desert areas of Arizona and Utah.

It’s hard to say a lot about Highway to Hell other than watching it in 2026 gave me real nineties video store flashbacks. This is probably one of the better titles that is more concerned with the title and box illustrations to catch a browser’s eye more than what’s actually on the videocassette. It’s to the credit of director de Jong and the cast that they didn’t just phone the whole film in. Despite it’s Greek myth setup, it’s not meant to be any sort of classic. But everyone does just enough to keep the popcorn flowing on a Saturday night in someone’s basement den.

Here’s the trailer for Highway to Hell. No, the AC/DC song is not in the movie. I’m sure they’d have loved to have had it but it was likely too expensive. The film does have some Tangerine Dream electronic music for the musical score.

Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.

I’ve been talking a lot about free agent left-hander reliever Adrián Morejón in this space lately, despite the fact that all of the articles linking him to the Cubs are speculation and not based on inside information, as far as I know.

But we need something to talk about and there’s no doubt that the Cubs would like Morejón at the right price. Over the past three seasons, Morejón has been healthy, averaging just over 70 innings a year. In those 223.1 innings, Morejón has struck out 248 batters and posted a 2.58 ERA. He’s only allowed ten home runs over three years and issued just 66 walks.

If the Cubs are going to sign Morejón, they’ll have to give him a lot more money than they’ve traditionally been comfortable giving a relief pitcher. Kiley McDaniel estimates that Morejón will accept an offer of four years and $88 million and Tim Britton goes nuts with a five-year, $110 million offer.

I have trouble seeing Morejón getting over $100 million, with McDaniels’ estimate more in line for a top-flight reliever who is still young at 27. But, there’s another factor that Britton brings up and I’ve seen other people bring up in connection to the Cubs. What if Morejón converts to starting?

It’s not an outlandish idea. Morejón was a top starting pitching prospect when he signed with the Padres after leaving Cuba. He started throughout the minors and even started a bit with the Padres until he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021. Since he’s returned from that, he’s pitched out of the bullpen and has been dominating. But several reports state that he still wants to start.

That’s where the Cubs come in. The Cubs could certainly use Morejón out of the bullpen, but the starting rotation is a bigger issue of concern for the Cubs this offseason. Beyond money, the Cubs could offer Morejón a chance to start. As a reliever, Britton’s contract estimate for Morejón looks too rich for the Cubs’ (and most other teams’) blood. But as a starter who doesn’t turn 28 until February? That’s a bargain for a young top starter.

So tonight’s question is “Would you offer Adrián Morejón a chance to start to sign with the Cubs?” Obviously if he couldn’t hack it, he could move back to the bullpen as what we hope would be an effective, if overpaid, reliever. But the Cubs would have to give it some time to succeed. You couldn’t promise Morejón a chance to start and then pull the plug after six-to-eight starts. If the Cubs did that, no free agent would ever trust this front office again. You’d have to at least give him a year, unless he decided to move back to the bullpen on his own earlier.

There have been some notable successes in turning relievers to starters lately. Clay Holmes was a top-ten closer before the Mets decided to make a starting pitcher out of him. The White Sox successfully moved Garrett Crochet from the bullpen to the starting rotation. Tampa Bay moved Griffin Jax from the pen to the rotation last year with some success as well.

Morejón certainly has the stuff to start and he started in the minor leagues and early in his major league career. However, he also has never thrown more than the 86 innings in one season that he did in 2026. So it’s not like he has a long tradition of being able to stand up to the physical demands of being a starter. And in case you’ve forgotten, the Padres moved Morejón to the bullpen because he got injured as a starter and had to have Tommy John surgery. So there’s no doubt that there is a lot of injury risk in such a move.

So what would you do? Would you sign Adrián Morejón as a starting pitcher?

Thank you for stopping by tonight. We’re always happy to have a friendly face around. Please get home safely. Call a ride if you need one. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.

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Draisaitl scores twice and McDavid nets goal to extend point streak as Oilers top Rangers 3-1

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Leon Draisaitl scored twice, Connor McDavid also had a goal and the Edmonton Oilers held off the New York Rangers 3-1 on Monday night to sweep their season series.

Devon Levi made 28 saves in improving to 8-1-0 for the Oilers (13-3-3), who won 4-1 in New York on Nov. 1.

Jaroslav Chmelar scored a short-handed goal for the Rangers (10-8-1), who had won three straight games. Dylan Garand stopped 17 shots, but gave away the puck to McDavid for an easy, unassisted goal that opened the scoring 6:42 into the first period.

McDavid leads the NHL with 48 points (11 goals, 37 assists). The three-time MVP became the fourth player in league history with a 19-game point streak to begin a season, joining Wayne Gretzky, Dany Heatley and Mats Sundin.

For the first time this season, however, McDavid failed to record an assist — ending his record-setting streak to start a season at 18 games.

Draisaitl scored on a snap shot at 2:59 of the second for a 2-0 lead.

Just more than two minutes later, the Rangers killed off a brief 5-on-3 Edmonton power play and Mika Zibanejad sprung Chmelar on a breakaway as he exited the penalty box. Chmelar beat Levi for his second goal of the season.

New York pulled Garand for an extra skater late in the third and drew a penalty that produced a 6-on-4 advantage. Draisaitl picked off a soft backpass and lofted the puck into an empty net from his own zone for his NHL-best 18th goal.

That extended his goal-scoring streak to four games and his point streak to six.

Edmonton is 11-0-2 when scoring first. The Rangers are 0-7-1 when allowing the first goal, making them the only team in the league without a win after falling behind at the outset.

Up next

Rangers: Visit the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.

Oilers: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Seven times Jamal Shead looked Kyle Lowry-esque in loss to Grizzlies

TORONTO, ON - November 9 In first half action, Jamal Shead (1) of the Raptors works some defence on Jerami Grant (3) of the Grizzlies The Toronto Raptors played the Memphis Grizzlies in NBA basketball action at the Scotiabank Arena. November 9 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images

The Toronto Raptors may have fallen to the Memphis Grizzlies 118-102 on Monday, but there was a familiar presence on the court that both softened the blow of a loss and boosted hopes for the future.

With Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles and especially Immanuel Quickley out with injury, it was a chance for Jamal Shead to step up. Shead ultimately did so while summoning the spirit of Kyle Lowry.

Here are seven examples of how Shead looked like the Raptors legend during the game:

Finding what the team needs the most

One thing Lowry was known for – other than his ability to lull opponents into committing offensive fouls – was his uncanny feel for the game. Whatever the Raptors needed at any given moment, Lowry usually dug into his deep bag of tricks to supply it. When Toronto was a horrendous 0-for-6 from the perimeter, it was Shead who hit the team’s first three of the game.

The point guard followed that up with two additional threes before the end of the first quarter. Shead’s three triples were the only shots Toronto made from beyond-the-arc in the opening frame. Considering Shead entered the contest shooting a career-low 21.7 per cent from the perimeter, it was very “Lowry” of him to transform into a deadly shooter when the moment called for it.

“Me being aggressive is going to add fuel to us,” said Shead. “They won’t be able to load up on Scottie, load up on Kawhi, load up on IQ.”

Shead finished with four three-pointers, the most he’s made this season. It’s the most threes Shead has made since Dec. 9, 2025 against the New York Knicks.

The signature Lowry move

Speaking of lulling opponents into a false sense of security, a player can’t have a Lowry-type game without drawing at least one offensive foul. In the second quarter, while Memphis was in semi-transition, Shead drew an offensive foul on Taylor Hendricks.

After the whistle was blown, and while Shead was on the ground, the point guard enthusiastically pointed the other way. It was easy for those in attendance at the Scotiabank Arena to cheer the blue-collar play. Even for those who don’t ever see the sequence, if you’ve watched the Raptors before, you know exactly what this looked like.

A night to remember

Despite the outcome, it still ended up being one of Shead’s best performances as a professional. Shead finished with 20 points on 35.2 per cent shooting. He was two points shy of tying his career-high (22 points vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 11 in 2026).

The uptick in usage was obviously due to the Raptors’ injuries, but Shead was ready for the call.

“A lot of guys wait for those opportunities and are just ready to play,” said Shead. “Obviously those are really important pieces for us…but when they’re out, it’s just next-man up.”

Authoring a career-type game while undermanned is very Lowry-coded.

Mighty mouse in the house

Lowry’s stature may have prevented him from living above the rim during his 20-year career, but it didn’t stop him from controlling the painted area – and it didn’t matter how much height he was giving up.

On two separate occasions, Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer had Shead pinned in the paint. The first example occurred in the opening quarter. Shead leaned his body into Boozer’s back, daring Memphis to throw the entry pass. Instead, the Grizzlies opted out.

Later in the game, Boozer received a pass near the basket with Shead guarding him. While Shead’s help lurked nearby, Boozer quickly passed to the opposite side instead of taking advantage of his size.

The set-up man

While Shead may be light-years away from reaching Lowry’s all-time Raptors assists record – 3,447 to be exact – that shouldn’t take away from the fact that he’s an excellent table-setter. After setting a career-high in assists (16) against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 6, Shead continued to show his playmaking chops against Memphis. He led Toronto in assists with 11.

It’s also the way he got his teammates the ball that mirrored Lowry.

Shead’s Nash dribble as he exited the baseline before throwing the lob pass was fun. Later in the game, Shead’s dribble drive opened up the lanes and as soon as the Memphis defence committed, he kicked it to the corner for an Allen Graves three. Shead’s paint touches and vision also make the game visibly easier for Jakob Poeltl.

“We had a lot of great conversations during the game about where he’s going to be,” said Shead. “He’s very mobile and can kind of handle the ball. He’s really smart…it’s really easy playing with Jak.”

An endless amount of pocket passes, dump-offs and alley-oops allowed Poeltl to have his best game of the season. Poeltl finished with 18 points and eight rebounds.

QB1 at the one

The only player that might’ve thrown a better outlet pass as a Raptor than Lowry was Marc Gasol, but Shead definitely added to his resume against the Grizzlies. In the second quarter, Shead corralled a defensive rebound and immediately threw a deep ball to Walter on the break. The play shifted the momentum and brought the entire Raptors bench, including Barnes, off their feet.

“Those guys really want to be out there,” said Shead. “But they’re really engaged with us regardless if they’re out there or not, and that’s really helpful.”

Later in the fourth quarter, Shead fought through the trees and somehow snagged the defensive rebound. Without hesitation, he launched a perfect outlet pass to Jamison Battle in stride, subsequently leading to an easy two points during a pivotal moment in the game.

Electric defensive plays

Lowry had a knack for coming up with clutch defensive plays, especially when the Raptors were in dire need of a stop. When Graves helped knock a ball loose at the top of the arc, Shead teleported to the ball and rushed down the court for a breakaway layup, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Moments later, while getting back on defence, Shead motioned to the bench to ask for a breather. Before the whistle blew, Shead swiped at the ball while Canadian Zach Edey had it under the basket, causing it to go off his leg and out of bounds. As the crowd roared, Shead yelled as he walked back to the bench. The play was ultimately overturned due to a Poeltl foul, but it highlighted just how much passion and bravado Shead brings to the team.

Even while taking on a larger responsibility on the offensive end, Shead is still finding ways to impact the game defensively, just like Lowry.

“The more minutes I’ve been playing, I’ve took off the gas a little bit on the defensive side,” said Shead. “Once those guys come back, I get to do what I do best and go guard the ball.”

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Carey Price, Patrice Bergeron among 6 inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame

TORONTO (AP) — Carey Price first visited the Hockey Hall of Fame as a teenager.

The longtime Montreal Canadiens goaltender joked over the weekend he wouldn’t mind trying one of the interactive games — specifically featuring a netminder sporting very familiar equipment — that sits among the many tributes to the sport’s history.

“It’s pretty special to be able to look around,” Price said before adding with a smile: “I was hoping to get the chance to shoot on myself downstairs.”

The 39-year-old was once at the pinnacle of his craft. Now he’s taken his place alongside the game’s greats.

Price was inducted into the hall as part of the 2026 class alongside Patrice Bergeron, Pekka Rinne, Keith Tkachuk and Cindy Curley in the player category Monday. Brian Burke was enshrined as a builder.

“When I was a kid, I had a dream that I can vividly remember,” Price, who played all 15 of his NHL seasons for the Canadiens, said during his speech in downtown Toronto. “I was walking down a red carpet, just like in the Bell Centre. As I was walking, I approached a mountain of a figure.

“It was Patrick Roy, the very image of what I wanted to be.”

The No. 5 pick of the 2005 draft, Price won the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina Trophy as its top goaltender in 2015.

He finished with a 361-261-79 record, .917 save percentage, 2.51 goals-against average and 49 shutouts across 712 games in a career cut short by injury.

Price had even better numbers in high-pressure moments before a knee issue ended his playing days beyond the 2021-22 campaign. He owned a .919 save percentage, 2.39 GAA and eight shutouts in 92 playoff games. He was at his best during his final postseason, carrying the underdog Canadiens to the 2021 Stanley Cup final.

“All I can ever really remember wanting to be was a hockey player,” said an emotional Price, who was in his second year of eligibility. “Growing up in a remote community, there was a very slim chance of this happening without a relentless desire and an opportunity.

“That opportunity was provided with sacrifice. As a parent of a young family, I now understand what the biggest of many was — it was time.”

Bergeron urges young hockey players to chase their dreams

The 41-year-old Bergeron, a record-setting six-time Selke Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defensive forward after being selected 45th overall in 2003, helped the Boston Bruins to a Cup victory in 2011.

The center had 1,040 points (427 goals 613 assists) in 1,294 regular-season games. He added 128 points in 170 playoff games before retiring in 2023.

“I hope my journey inspires future generations to dream big (and) believe in themselves,” said Bergeron, who spent all 19 of his NHL seasons with Boston, including the final three as captain. “And never stop chasing those dreams.”

Price, who also won the Ted Lindsay Award as the league’s most outstanding player voted on by the NHL Players' Association in 2015, and Bergeron enjoyed success representing Canada together.

The duo was on the 2014 Olympic team that topped the field before capturing the World Cup of Hockey two years later. Bergeron also claimed gold at the 2010 Games on home soil to go along with victories at the 2005 world junior hockey championship and the 2004 men’s worlds.

“To the boys, I have enough memories to last three lifetimes,” Price said of his teammates. “I wish I could do it all over again. Thank you for clearing the front of the net, blocking shots and backchecking.

“As a forward now, I do none of these things.”

Rinne says he wasn't a top prospect

Rinne, 43, finished with a 369-213-75 record in 15 seasons with the Nashville Predators. The 2018 Vezina winner from Finland — selected 258th overall in 2004 — had a .917 save percentage, 2.43 GAA and 60 shutouts in 683 regular-season games.

“If there’s something that I want to pass on to any young athlete who’s watching tonight, it’s this: You don’t have to be the most highly touted prospect,” he said. “You don’t have to have everything figured out when you’re young. Your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

“Mine certainly didn’t.”

Curley captained the U.S. to three silver medals at the women’s worlds in the 1990s.

“I’m often called the pioneer, but I’d like to think I just grew up with women’s hockey,” said the 62-year-old. “Hockey is a very special game that gave so much more to me than I could ever give back.”

Burke had a management career that included stops with the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins following a stint at the league office.

“When I first got the call from the selection committee, I paused,” said the 71-year-old, who won the Cup with Anaheim in 2007. “Nobody starts playing hockey at 13 years old in Minnesota and says, ‘Someday I’m going to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame.’

“Unless you’re an idiot.”

Tkachuk registered 1,065 points (538 goals, 527 assists) in 1,201 games in 18 seasons.

“This game has welcomed me at every level,” said the 54-year-old. “I accept this honor with gratitude to everyone who has been part of my journey.

“I am honored to be here tonight — and now forever.”

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Luka Doncic nearly notches triple-double as he continues to dominate NBA

Luka Dončić didn't miss a beat.

The Los Angeles Lakers star nearly notched a triple-double on Monday, Nov. 9 in his return from injury when he tallied 32 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in a 124-114 win against the Atlanta Hawks.

Dončić missed one game with back tightness, a win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, Nov. 8, but he returned to the starting lineup on day later at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Sandro Mamukelashvili contributed 23 points off the bench, and Walker Kessler added 21 points and 10 boards.

CJ McCollum led Atlanta with 21 points off the bench. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points.

The Hawks took an early 15-7 lead in the first quarter, but the Lakers took control from there and didn't trail the rest of the game.

Los Angeles snaps the Hawks' four-game winning streak. On Saturday, Nov. 7, Atlanta had a star of their own return from injury. Jalen Johnson had 30 points and bounced back from a hurt ankle to help his team come back from a 17-point deficit and notch a victory against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Luka Dončić stats this season

Dončić's last outing was a massive – a 53-point effort in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Nov. 6.

The six-time All-Star is averaging a league-high 39.3 points per game this season. He adds 7.9 assists per outing, which ranks seventh in the NBA, and 7.8 rebounds and is making an early case for MVP. Dončić also leads the league in field goals made per game (12.1), 3-pointers (5.5) and free throws (9.6), while 49.8% from the field, 40.7% from beyond the arc and 88.1% from the charity stripe.

This is his third season with the Lakers after a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks that also involved Anthony Davis.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic nearly notches triple-double as he continues to dominate NBA

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Stephen Curry tries on former teammate Jordan Poole's sunglasses

SAN FRANCISCO ― There's a reunion going on in the Bay Area as the Golden State Warriors prepared to host the New Orleans Pelicans in a regular-season meeting at Chase Center on Monday, Nov. 9.

Featured on the Pelicans roster is their reserve point guard Jordan Poole, who was drafted by the Warriors with the 28th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Poole helped the Warriors win a championship in 2022.

During pregame warmups, Poole – who rocked a pair of athletic shades – had briefly reunited with his former backcourt mate, Warriors star Stephen Curry. Poole just finished his shootaround and was headed back to the locker room when Curry was also warming up on the court.

The two completed their signature handshake from years ago when Poole stopped to greet Curry. Curry couldn't help but to notice Poole's cool shades.

He signals to try them and on as Poole takes them off his face and hands him to Curry to wear for himself. Curry, of course, took and did 3-point shot with them on.

All net.

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MORE: Is the greatness of Warriors' Steph Curry being taken for granted?

Jordan Poole career with Warriors

Poole played four seasons with the Warriors from 2019 to 2023, during which he averaged 15.8 points, 3.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game across 266 total regular-season games. He became known for his microwave-like scoring off the bench as he worked up trust between his teammates. He excelled enough to run the backcourt alongside Curry as a starter during the 2021-22 season as Klay Thompson, then, recovered from a torn ACL.

Poole developed the nickname "Poole Party" for his 3-point shooting and the range he began to develop.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stephen Curry tries on former teammate Jordan Poole's sunglasses

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Pistons vs Wizards final score: Detroit wins first game of home-and-home

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 9: John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons dunks the ball in the game against the Washington Wizards on November 9, 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For those of you DBB sickos who care, I’m officially a married man! We had a spooky wedding on Halloween night and spent the past week in Cabo San Lucas for our honeymoon. We had a great time celebrating over the past week and a half!

Now we’re back to Pistons hoops.

JB Bickerstaff decided to mix up the starting lineup by starting John Collins at center. Paul Reed moved to the bench, and Daniss Jenkins was inserted into the starting lineup. Detroit started small with Duncan Robinson at the 3 and Ausar Thompson at the 4.

It proved to be the right idea early, as Collins was the leading scorer for Detroit after the first quarter with nine points. The Wizards took a 32-31 lead heading into the second, behind 12 points from Trae Young and 11 from Anthony Davis.

Detroit struggled to have an answer defensively for AD, and this was another game where Detroit missed Jalen Duren’s physicality and inside presence. Davis had 30 points and eight rebounds at the halfway point while only missing one of his 11 attempts. The Pistons put up 37 points in the quarter with five different players scoring more than seven points. Collins led the way with 15, Duncan had 14, and Cade had 11 as Detroit held a 68-58 lead.

The third quarter was all about Daniss Jenkins. Cade picked up his fifth foul halfway through the third, and DJ took the reins. He made Trae Young look like a traffic cone on defense as Jenkins went on to score 13 in the quarter. He consistently attacked Young, and Young never stood a chance. Detroit continued to extend their lead as they were up 103-87 heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter was highlighted by two beautiful plays by Ebuka Okorie and Ausar Thompson.

First, watch Ausar find Okorie in transition as Okorie does his best Kyrie Irving impression:

Second, the Human Swiss Army knife blocks the 7-footer Alex Sarr on one end, then follows that up by directing traffic and finding an open DJ with a great bounce pass for a wide-open dunk:

The Pistons will continue to hope for a speedy recovery for Jalen Duren as they needed his inside physicality against Anthony Davis, who finished with 44 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 16-for-21 from the field. Detroit still managed to pull away with a 122-111 win behind three different players who scored 20+ points, despite none of them being Cade Cunningham.

John Collins, in his starting small-ball five role, led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 9-for-13 from the field. Both Daniss Jenkins and Duncan Robinson added 22 points each, and Jenkins led Detroit with eight assists. Your fun fact of the night: Robinson led the Pistons with seven free throw attempts. There has been a clear difference in his game this year as he looks to get to the line more often. Cunningham added 17 points and seven assists.

The Pistons improve to 7-3 on the season. Detroit’s home-and-home matchup with the Wizards continues as the Pistons will travel to Washington for Round 2 on Thursday night.

Go Stones.

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Sal Stewart wins 2026 National League Rookie of the Year Award

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 25: Cincinnati Reds Infielder Sal Stewart (27) celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run during the MLB regular season game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Toronto Blue Jays on September 25, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

There was a time and place when swatting 32 homers and driving in 112 runs during one’s rookie year would have made one an absolute lock to take home Rookie of the Year honors. In calendar year 2026, though, there are a whole lot more factors that go into the decision making process among voters to determine which rookies were the most valuable during their respective first full seasons.

Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds put up those marks in a monster campaign this past season, and though he was named a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award last week for his accomplishments there were another pair of finalists that were every bit as deserving in their own ways.

On Sunday night, though, the voting revealed it was Sal who’d taken home the award, besting both JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals and Carson Benge of the New York Mets.

Sal’s counting stats were impossible to ignore for voters despite Wetherholt having put up a 4 WAR season on the back of excellent defense at shortstop and Benge having put together a 4 WAR season of his own on the back of a 20 homer, 20 steal season.

Despite advanced metrics clearly giving the all-around advantage to the non-Red in the equation, Sal actually ran away with the voting with Benge finishing 2nd and Wetherholt a close 3rd.

Stewart’s win earned the Reds a Prospect Promotion Initiative (PPI) pick in next summer’s draft with his win, as well as the overall bonus pool bump that will come with an additional pick at the end of the 1st round. Sal also became the first Red to take home Rookie of the Year honors since Jonathan India back in 2021.

Congrats to Sal on a wonderful RoY campaign.

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Bobby Sheehan, Rangers playoff hero and Canadiens Stanley Cup champion, dead at 77

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Bobby Sheehan of the Chicago Blackhawks on the ice with a hockey stick during a game against the Boston Bruins, Image 2 shows Bobby Sheehan of the Detroit Red Wings skates behind the net against the Boston Bruins, Image 3 shows Doug Jarvis of the Montreal Canadiens faces off against Bobby Sheehan of the New York Rangers as a referee watches

Bobby Sheehan, the speedy 5-foot-7 forward who went from not playing in a regular-season game for the Rangers to becoming a playoff hero during their run to the 1979 Stanley Cup Final, died Saturday at his Massachusetts home, the Canadiens announced.

He was 77 years old. A cause of death wasn’t revealed.

“We join the hockey community in mourning the loss of Bobby Sheehan, who played an integral role in helping the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 1979,” the Rangers said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with Bobby’s family, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time.”

Bobby Sheehan (17) of the Detroit Red Wings skates behind the net against the Boston Bruins in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 1970s. NHLI via Getty Images

Sheehan spent the entire 1978-79 season with AHL New Haven, finishing with 33 goals and 48 assists, and after the Rangers lost to the Flyers in Game 1 of their quarterfinal series, then-head coach Fred Shero summoned Sheehan from their affiliate to skate between Pat Hickey and Ron Duguay, according to a New York Times article at the time.

The move instantly paid off, as the Rangers won four consecutive games to take the series against Philadelphia, and Sheehan scored in his third match with the team.

Then, Sheehan added tallies in Games 1, 2 and 3 of their next series against the Islanders, helping the Rangers take a 2-1 lead that eventually propelled them to the Final against the Canadiens — where they fell in five games.

Doug Jaruis (21) of the Montreal Canadiens faces off against Bobby Sheehan (6) of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York, circa 1979. Getty Images

“[Sheehan] was just that shot in the arm, that energy, that speed he brought,” Don Maloney, a former Rangers forward and the brother of ex-Blueshirts defenseman Dave Maloney, told The Athletic in 2018. “All of a sudden, you throw him in the lineup and it just kind of opened up time and space for all of us. It was a great move, a great addition at that time. That speed was second to none back then. He had a really good run.”

Sheehan skated in 310 NHL games across a career that began during the 1969-70 campaign and lasted until 1981-82, with a 241-game stint in the World Hockey Association in between.

Bobby Sheehan (27) of the Chicago Blackhawks plays against the Boston Bruins in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 1970s. NHLI via Getty Images

He started his career with Montreal and helped the Canadiens win the 1971 Stanley Cup, and Sheehan also skated in NHL games with the Golden Seals, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Rockies and Kings.

In the WHA, Sheehan spent time with the New York/New Jersey franchise, the Oilers and the Indianapolis Racers.

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No. 4 UConn rolls past Wagner 83-41 as Nik Khamenia leaves with a lower-body injury

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Silas Demary Jr. had 18 points and a career-high six steals to lead fourth-ranked UConn to a 83-41 win over Wagner on Monday night.

Forward Nik Khamenia scored 11 points in just 7 minutes for the Huskies before leaving the game midway through the first half with a lower-body injury.

Jayden Ross had 12 points, Na’jai Hines had 10 points and eight rebounds and Braylon Mullins added 10 points for UConn (3-0).

AJ Rodriguez had 10 points for seven rebounds for Wagner (0-3).

Khamenia, UConn’s fourth-leading scorer coming into the game, was on the floor and appeared to be in pain when he slowly returned to his feet with 10:04 remaining in the first half. When a trainer came onto the floor, he pointed to one of his feet.

Khamenia initially stayed in the game. Kareem Watson quickly hit a 3-pointer for Wagner, which called timeout. Khamenia checked out and headed to the locker room with members of the UConn medical staff; he did not return.

Khamenia scored eight points to help UConn take a 14-0 lead. Wagner turned the ball over five times before Rodriguez hit a jumper for the Seahawks’ first points. Wagner had just three field goals in the first 15 minutes and had 17 turnovers in the first half.

Demary scored six consecutive points as the Huskies ended the first half on a 12-2 run for a 44-18 lead.

UConn coach Dan Hurley’s first coaching job came at Wagner. He led the Seahawks for two seasons from 2010-12 and went 38-23 before spending six seasons at Rhode Island. This is his ninth season at UConn.

NO. 7 TEXAS 93, GRAMBLING 62

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Matas Vokietaitis had 26 points and nine rebounds to help Texas beat Grambling State.

Vokietaitis, a 7-foot junior, shot 8 for 12 from the field and made 10 of 12 free throws in 23 minutes. He leads the Longhorns (3-0) in scoring at 21.3 points per game.

Joe Sterling added 13 points and Marcus Spears Jr. had 12, both off the bench. Elyjah Freeman provided 11 points and six rebounds, and David Punch finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

Vokietaitis was the only Longhorns player with more than seven field-goal attempts.

Texas, driving and posting up inside, outscored Grambling State 46-18 in the paint. The Longhorns had a 14-0 edge in fast-break points.

Mekhi Fitts led Grambling State (1-1) with 13 points, and Antoine Shannon had 12.

NO. 11 TENNESSEE 70, RADFORD 47

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Terrence Hill Jr. scored 18 points to lead Tennessee to a victory over Radford.

Dai Dai Ames had 13 points and DeWayne Brown II had 12 rebounds for the Volunteers (2-0), who are having trouble piecing together a cohesive unit with a roster of eight additions built around offense.

Jalen Haralson added 11 points including five in a 16-0 second-half run that pushed Tennessee’s lead to 26. Radford went 8 minutes, 32 seconds without scoring during that burst.

Jordan Kee scored 16 and Warren Keel Jr. added 13 to lead the Highlanders (0-3).

Hill had 10 points at halftime to lead Tennessee to a 33-24 lead. Radford held the rebounding edge, 18-17. The Highlanders were limited to 29% (8 of 28) shooting from the field.

NO. 17 MIAMI 89, NORTH FLORIDA 51

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Malik Reneau scored 16 points, Shelton Henderson added 14 and Miami beat North Florida.

Caleb Gaskins finished with 12 points while Robert Miller III and Somto Cyril each had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Hurricanes, who have won two straight after a season-opening loss against top ranked Florida. Miller also blocked four shots.

Reneau shot 7 of 10 from the field in 18 minutes. It was Reneau’s second consecutive double-digit scoring game following his five-point performance against the Gators.

Although they shot 5 of 27 from 3-point range, the Hurricanes outscored the Ospreys (1-2), 64-26 in the paint.

The Hurricanes forced 17 turnovers, continuing an early0season defensive trend — they’ve forced at least 15 turnovers in each of their first three games.

NO, 18 ALABAMA 109, OAKLAND 68

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — London Jemison made 7 of 7 shots, including six 3-pointers, as Alabama beat Oakland.

Alabama (3-0) guard Aden Holloway started in his season debut after serving a five-game suspension following his March arrest on drug charges that were later dismissed. Holloway hit two 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the first half and finished with 12 points, all on 3s.

Jemison scored 20 points and Amari Allen had 14 points and six assists for the Crimson Tide. Allen hit two 3-pointers off the dribble to score six of Alabama’s first eight points.

Nassim Mashhour led Oakland (0-4) with 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Chris Fields Jr. had 15 points and 13 rebounds, seven on the offensive end for the Golden Grizzlies.

Alabama made 20 of 30 shots in the first half, including 11 of 21 from beyond the arc, to take a 56-29 lead into the break. At one point in the first half, the Crimson Tide were shooting over 70% from the field. Oakland shot 8 of 33 from the field but made 11 of 13 free throws.

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Wizards at Pistons final score: Washington loses 122-111

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 9: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on November 9, 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

The Washington Wizards lost to the Detroit Pistons, 122-111 on Monday night to fall to 4-7 in the 2026-27 season.

While the Wizards led 32-31 after the first quarter, Detroit outscored Washington 37-26 in the second. The oddest part was that Anthony Davis scored 19 of his 44 points in the second quarter. Davis ws Washington’s brightest spot tonight shooting 16-of-21 from the field and grabbing 13 rebounds.

Still, things didn’t get much better in the third quarter when the Pistons shot 63.2 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Wizards 127 in the period. Washington also committed 19 turnovers in the game as a whole which also made things harder for them tonight.

John Collins led the Pistons with 24 points and 10 rebounds while Daniss Jenkins and Duncan Robinson added 22 points each for Detroit.

AJ Dybantsa added 21 points while Trae Young added 20 more for Washington.

The Wizards’ next game is on Wednesday where they will play against the Indiana Pacers. Tip off is at 7 p.m. ET. See you then.