Posts

Posted on

The Hockey Show: Panthers rolling, top local broadcasters and Brad Williams talks high-flying Ducks

Happy holidays from The Hockey Show.

This week was the last episode of the season, so co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork were extra motivated to squeeze as much hockey goodness as they could into this week’s show.

Joining Roy and Dave was THS’ official Anaheim Ducks correspondent, comedian Brad Williams.

In addition to gushing over the solid season his Ducks are having, Brad also chatted about the challenging Western Conference, chirping his fellow comedians while on the road and the importance that Waffle House plays on any road trip.

Wins and fails of the week included Leon Draisaitl scoring his 1,000th point on former Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, a pair of defensive fails by the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins, an interesting jersey choice by Tate McRae in Calgary and a goaltending matchup in South Florida featuring the sons of Hall of Fame netminders Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo.

The full episode and interview can be seen in the videos below:

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

'He's As Good A Player As We Have' Eetu Luostarinen Praised By The Panthers Organization As He Skates In Game 400

Resurgent Panthers to put latest winning streak on line against Metro-leading Carolina

Ice rink construction begins at loanDepot park ahead of 2026 Winter Classic

Three takeaways: Deeper, healthier Panthers building momentum, earn tough home win after long road trip

Panthers clamp down against Los Angeles to earn third straight victory

Posted on

Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, Candace Parker headline list of Hall of Fame nominees

The list is stacked: Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson, Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Mike D'Antoni and Kelvin Sampson.

Those are just the first-time headliners on the list of eligible candidates for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

The list released on Friday includes a number of returning candidates eligible for the Hall, including Doc Rivers, Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. The complete list released Friday will be narrowed down to Finalists selected on Feb. 9, with the 2026 class unveiled on April 4.

Jamal Crawford, a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, is now an analyst for NBC Sports and its broadcasts of NBA games on the network and Peacock.

At first glance, Griffin, Parker and Delle Donne seem locks to be voted into the Hall of Fame.

Griffin, the No. 1 overall pick of the Clippers in 2009, went on to help change the franchise's reputation. He was the 2011 Rookie of the Year and went on to be a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA player, most famously one of the engines of the Lob City Clippers era. He is currently an analyst with Amazon Prime on their NBA broadcasts.

Posted on

Flyers Call Up Exciting Prospect & Assign Defender To AHL

The Philadelphia Flyers are giving one of their exciting prospects a chance on the NHL roster.

The Flyers have announced that they have recalled forward Denver Barkey from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. 

The Flyers also shared that defenseman Egor Zamula has been assigned to the Phantoms after clearing waivers.

With Barkey being one of the Flyers' most promising prospects, it is undoubtedly notable that he has been called up. The young forward will now be looking to make a big impact after getting his first NHL call-up from here. 

Barkey has appeared in 26 games so far this season with the Phantoms, where he has posted seven goals, nine assists, and 16 points. This is after he had 25 goals and 82 points in 50 games with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season. He also recorded nine goals and 20 points in 10 playoff games for London this past spring. 

As for Zamula, he will now be getting into his first AHL action since the 2022-23 season. In 13 games this season with the Flyers, he has recorded one assist and a plus-4 rating. 

Posted on

Los Angeles Dodgers to pay record $169 million luxury tax after winning second straight World Series

NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers will pay a record $169.4 million luxury tax after winning their second straight World Series title, raising their two-year total to $272.4 million.

The New York Mets have the second-highest tax bill among the nine teams that pay at $91.6 million despite missing the 12-team playoffs, raising their tax owed to $320.3 million in the last four years under high-spending owner Steve Cohen.

The Dodgers will pay tax for the fifth straight season. The Dodgers’ total broke the previous high of $103 million they had set last year.

Los Angeles’ $417.3 million tax payroll included $949,244 in noncash compensation for Shohei Ohtani, whose contract calls for use of a suite for games at Dodger Stadium and an interpreter.

The Mets’ total payroll of $346.7 million included $369,886 in noncash compensation for Juan Soto, whose contract specified the team will pay for his use of a luxury suite, up to four premium tickets and personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family.

The Yankees owe $61.8 million, according to figures finalized Friday by Major League Baseball and the players’ association and obtained by The Associated Press. They were followed by Philadelphia ($56.1 million), AL champion Toronto ($13.6 million), San Diego (just under $7 million), Boston and Houston (both $1.5 million), and Texas (about $190,000).

The nine teams paying match the record nine set year. The $402.6 million tax total topped the previous high of $311.3 million last year. Tax money is due to MLB by Jan. 21.

Posted on

Los Angeles Angels settles lawsuit with family of pitcher Tyler Skaggs over fatal overdose

SANTA ANA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels reached a confidential settlement Friday in a lawsuit over the drug overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

The decision to settle was reached after a two-month civil trial in Southern California over whether the Angels should be held responsible for Skaggs’ 2019 death after he snorted a fentanyl-laced pill provided by the team’s communications director, Eric Kay.

Skaggs’ widow, Carli, and his parents filed the lawsuit alleging the MLB team knew or should have known Kay was a drug addict and dealing painkillers to players. The settlement closes a painful six-year process, the Skaggs family said in a statement.

“We are deeply grateful to the members of this jury, and to our legal team,” the family said in the statement. “Their engagement and focus gave us faith, and now we have finality. This trial exposed the truth and we hope Major League Baseball will now do its part in holding the Angels accountable. While nothing can bring Tyler back, we will continue to honor his memory.”

The team has contended officials didn’t know Skaggs was taking drugs and would have sought him help if they did.

“The death of Tyler Skaggs remains a tragedy, and this trial sheds light on the dangers of opioid use and the devastating effects it can have,” the team said in a statement Friday.

Jurors began deliberating earlier this week.

Orange County Superior Court Judge H. Shaina Colover thanked jurors for their diligence. “That is why this matter was able to be resolved today,” she said, before releasing them.

Six years ago, the 27-year-old left-handed pitcher was found dead in the suburban Dallas hotel room where he was staying as the Angels were supposed to open a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. A coroner’s report said the player choked to death on his vomit, and a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was found in his system.

Kay, a longtime Angels employee, was convicted in 2022 of providing Skaggs with a counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl and sentenced to 22 years in prison. His criminal trial in Texas included testimony from five MLB players who said they received oxycodone from Kay at various times from 2017 to 2019.

In California, MLB players including outfielder Mike Trout, Angels president John Carpino, and Skaggs’ and Kay’s relatives testified during the trial in a Santa Ana courtroom. Witnesses for the plaintiffs described how Kay was acting erratic at the stadium and found with multiple plastic bags filled with pills at his home and later hospitalized for a drug overdose. They also recounted how Kay got players massage appointments, tee times and even prescription medication, and was paid by players for stunts like taking a fastball to the leg.

Angels attorneys pointed out that Skaggs was hooked on painkillers before he signed with the Angels in 2013. They said Skaggs got his teammates into taking pills and got Kay to provide them, but kept it secret out of concern it could jeopardize their MLB careers. Had team officials known Kay was dealing drugs, or Skaggs was taking them, they would have done something, the lawyers said.

Witnesses also sparred during the case over how much money Skaggs would have made as a pitcher had he lived. Experts for the plaintiffs said he could have reeled in between $91 million and $101 million, while the Angels put the figure at no more than $32 million.

Skaggs had been a regular in the Angels’ starting rotation since late 2016 and struggled with injuries repeatedly during that time. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After Skaggs’ death, the MLB reached a deal with the players association to start testing for opioids and to refer those who test positive to the treatment board.

Rusty Hardin, an attorney for the plaintiffs, welcomed the settlement and said the amount remains confidential. Hardin said there were rules in place and the Angels ignored them.

“The changes need to be by teams like the Angels who let this happen,” Hardin said.

Before the judge announced the settlement Friday, jurors had remained behind closed doors after lawyers for both sides had gone to speak with Colover.

Late Wednesday, jurors had sent out a note asking whether they “get to decide the punitive damage amount,” saying there is no field for it on the verdict form. The judge said she would send a note replying that if they decide there should be punitive damages, they would decide how much at a later time.

The jury did not work on Thursday and resumed deliberations Friday morning.

Posted on

NHL Rumors: 4 Potential Suitors Named For Sabres' Alex Tuch

Buffalo Sabres star forward Alex Tuch is a player to keep a very close eye on this season. The star winger is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), so questions have naturally come up about his future in Buffalo.

The Sabres' hope is to sign Tuch to a contract extension, and it is easy to understand why when noting that he is one of their most impactful players. It would not be easy for the Sabres to replace him if they lose him, as he is a top-six power forward who is a major scoring threat. 

Yet, if the Sabres do not have Tuch signed to a contract extension by the deadline and they are still out of a playoff spot then, they may end up having no choice but to shop Tuch.

According to The Fourth Period, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, and Los Angeles Kings are four teams that are expected to express interest in Tuch this season if the Sabres make him available. 

With all four of these teams having high expectations, it would make all the sense in the world for them to pursue a star like Tuch near the deadline. Any of them would be lucky to land Tuch, but the same could be said for every other playoff club in the NHL, as he is a proven top-six winger. 

In 32 games so far this season with the Sabres, Tuch has recorded 11 goals, 18 assists, 29 points, and a plus-3 rating. 

Posted on

NHL Rumors: Penguins Urged To Address Specific Trade Need

The Pittsburgh Penguins currently have a 14-10-9 record this season and are seventh in the Metropolitan Division. However, they are also only four points behind the third-place New York Islanders in the Metro, so they are still certainly in the playoff race.

The Penguins have been going through a very rough patch as of late, though, as they have lost seven straight games. Yet, even with this being the case, all hope is not lost for their season. 

Due to this, in a recent article for Bleacher Report, Lyle Richardson argued that the Penguins should look to add an inexpensive two-way forward to their roster by the 2026 NHL trade deadline. 

"Despite the club's improved performance and the goalie swap, GM Kyle Dubas is sticking with his roster retooling timeline. If the Penguins remain a playoff contender by the deadline, he could seek an affordable defensive forward to help his club in the faceoff circle," Richardson wrote.

With the Penguins still focused on the future, it would make sense for them to be a bit more conservative at the deadline rather than making a big splash for a rental player. When looking at their group, it is fair to argue that they could use another solid bottom-six center, so that could be an avenue worth exploring. This is especially so if they can find a player who is under contract beyond this season and is on the right side of 30. 

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what kind of moves the Penguins make this season.

Posted on

NHL News: Flyers Big Defender Clears Waivers

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula has cleared waivers. 

Zamula was placed on waivers by the Flyers on Dec. 18. With Zamula being 25 years old and 6-foot-3, it certainly seemed possible that an NHL club out there could have claimed him to add to their defensive depth. Yet, he has instead passed through waivers unclaimed and will remain a part of the Flyers organization because of it. 

With Zamula clearing waivers, the Flyers have assigned him to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. 

Zamula has appeared in 13 games so far this season with the Flyers, where he has recorded one assist, 15 blocks, and a plus-4 rating. This is after he had three goals, 12 assists, and 15 points in 63 games with the Flyers during the 2024-25 season. 

In 168 games over six seasons with the Flyers, Zamula has posted eight goals, 33 assists, 41 points, and 218 blocks. 

Posted on

This Canadiens Move Is Looking Very Good Right Now

Back in November, the Montreal Canadiens signed forward Alexandre Texier to a one-year, $1 million contract. This was after Texier mutually terminated his contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Following the Canadiens signing Texier, the hope was that he would bounce back from a much-needed change of scenery. So far, it is fair to say that he is doing just that, as he is proving to be a very good addition to the Canadiens' roster.

Texier has been off to a nice start with the Canadiens. In 12 games so far with the Original Six club, the 26-year-old forward has recorded three goals, three assists, and six points. He has also been improving as he continues to get used to the Canadiens' system, as he has posted three goals and four points over his last five games alone.

With the way Texier is playing, there is no question that he is giving the Canadiens some solid secondary offensive production right now. With the Canadiens needing more offense, Texier has certainly been a pleasant surprise for them early on.

It will now be very interesting to see how Texier builds on his nice start with the Canadiens. If he keeps this kind of play up, it would be great news for the Habs. 

Posted on

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Ryan O'Reilly, Zeev Buium among top pickup candidates going into the weekend

Fantasy impostor syndrome is real. After 10 weeks in the 14-team RotoWire Staff Hockey League, I'm in first at 9-1. I've also accumulated the most fantasy points from the head-to-head matchups. At the same time, my opponents have scored the second-fewest points. And while I've got a couple stars at forward and defense, none of my four goalies (Karel Vejmelka, Juuse Saros and the Detroit tandem) would be called elite.

Regression is coming. I can feel it. Some players are performing well above expectations. And Connor Bedard just went down, though he should be back sometime next month. I've been pretty fortunate with injuries overall, so I'm just waiting for a flood that may never end up happening. The key is to stay active and (relatively) positive to ensure fantasy decisions aren't made too quickly and/or without proper consideration.

So be sure to take your time and check out the latest suggestions.

(Rostered rates as of Dec. 19)

Ryan O'Reilly, NSH (Yahoo: 32%): O'Reilly has been a fairly reliable scorer throughout his career with only a handful of injuries over 17 seasons. Even on a subpar Nashville offense, he's recorded 27 points — with 14 coming in the last 11 games. O'Reilly also centers the top line during all attacking situations, having recently rejoined the lead power play while reuniting with Filip Forsberg. Throw in a handful of shots and his continued mastery on faceoffs (averaging almost 10 wins on a 57.7% success rate) to further enhance his fantasy appeal.

Vasily Podkolzin, EDM (Yahoo: 30%): It's taken a while for Podkolzin to get settled in the NHL since he was drafted 10th overall by Vancouver in 2019. He showed some flashes of brilliance last year and even racked up 10 points during the playoffs. Podkolzin has potted five goals over eight outings to go with an assist, 13 shots and 26 hits. And while there's no man-advantage minutes, the even-strength spot next to Leon Draisaitl will do just fine.

Mikael Granlund, ANA (Yahoo: 24%): A lower-body injury kept Granlund out for more than a month, and then he returned to post six straight scoreless efforts before a goal and assist on Tuesday. He may have been shut out on the scoresheet during that stretch, but he managed to contribute 11 shots, seven blocks and six hits on 18:27 of ice time per game — 3:46 of that on Anaheim's lead PP. As long as Granlund stays healthy and is surrounded by skilled teammates, he needs to be on more lineups.

Boone Jenner, CBJ (Yahoo: 22%): On the topic of multi-category veterans missing significant action, Jenner recently came back and has delivered two goals, two assists, 11 shots, 14 hits and six blocks from four matchups. It's been a while since he's been able to go even close to a full campaign without getting hurt, though he's a fantasy player's dream when available. Jenner should also get more clicks holding down a top-six slot and skating on the Blue Jackets' second power play.

Anders Lee, NYI (Yahoo: 20%): Lee can claim three performances of at least three points this season while being blanked 21 times. That kind of inconsistency and a middle-six role will put a dent in your coverage, but maybe not for a forward with a somewhat successful pedigree who continues to direct plenty of pucks on net. Lee's latest mini-run has him tallying three goals, five assists and 16 shots from seven games with three of those eight points of the PP variety. Expect him to keep producing, as three of the Isles' next five opponents are bottom-10 defenses (Canucks, Sabres, Blue Jackets).

Vladimir Tarasenko, MIN (Yahoo: 13%): Quinn Hughes' arrival in Minnesota should benefit some of his new teammates, especially those who regularly share the ice with him. Tarasenko lines up with the blueline star on the first PP, a group that also boasts Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek. That's a pretty big opportunity, provided he can stay there for more than a couple of outings. Mats Zuccarello could eventually replace Tarasenko within that elite unit after he comes back, though the latter is there right now and grabbed three points on Tuesday with a goal and three shots Thursday.

Chandler Stephenson, SEA (Yahoo: 12%): Stephenson set a career high last year with 18 PPPs and is already at eight, with four during his current seven-game scoring streak that also covers 20 shots and 68 faceoff wins. And he's been doing all that on a 19:57 average ice time. It's hard to rely on any Kraken forward for offense, as the club ranks 31st in average goals, yet Stephenson seems too hard to pass up based on recent form and ice time.

Jackson Blake, CAR (Yahoo: 12%): After a successful second half last season and a hot start to this campaign, Blake registered a string of zeroes surrounding a night where he delivered two goals, an assist and five shots. He's gotten back on track, picking up points in each of his last two contests — two of the three on Carolina's top power play — while joining forces with Logan Stankoven and Nikolaj Ehlers at five-on-five. Blake is talented and part of a top-10 offense, so he deserves more fantasy attention. Give him a chance.

Zeev Buium, VAN (Yahoo: 58%): To no one's surprise, Buium immediately operated as Vancouver's top power-play quarterback and posted two PPPs during his debut on Sunday. He doesn't do much in other areas but still offers offensive upside outside of that prime man-advantage placement. Even with the Canucks rebuilding, Buium represents their future centerpiece who's also going to log decent ice time right now. Get him while he's still available.

Josh Manson, COL (Yahoo: 25%): December has so far been productive for Manson, as he's notched six assists, 13 shots, a plus-8 and 26 hits. The 17-minute average may be a bit low and his points probably can't be sustained based on previous output, though he'll keep getting chances being paired at even-strength with Brent Burns. And even if the scoring dries up, Manson's secondary stats should keep him on enough fantasy lineups.

Sean Durzi, UTA (Yahoo: 9%): Durzi has been impacted by injuries the last couple of seasons, with the latest setback sidelining him for six weeks. While his stats weren't great right after he returned, he's found the scoresheet from five of the last six games in which he's totaled six points, 13 shots, 16 PIM and 10 blocks. Durzi is also on Utah's backup man-advantage, where he registered a PPA on Tuesday. And if you're concerned about him maintaining this type of offense, don't forget he recently established back-to-back campaigns with at least 38 points.

Tony DeAngelo, NYI (Yahoo: 4%): A significant share of DeAngelo's scoring used to be dependent on the power play, yet that's changed the last couple years. In fact, his first 10 points this season came at five-on-five, as the Isles had been horrendous while up a man. And DeAngelo's last three have all been PPPs as part of a solid second unit. He's not going to supply much else besides offense, though that should be enough to warrant additional coverage.

Pyotr Kochetkov, CAR (Yahoo: 57%): Brandon Bussi was featured last week and is now up to nine straight wins. Kochetkov returned two weeks ago and is essentially splitting the starts, as Frederik Andersen hasn't played since Dec. 4. Kochetkov has performed well in his last two outings, only allowing a combined four goals while coming out on top in both. Bussi may be the one grabbing the headlines, though Kochetkov is Carolina's long-term No. 1 and will be given enough opportunities to prove that. Playing behind a strong attack and league-leading defense for shots allowed also won't hurt his fantasy production.

Joel Hofer, STL (Yahoo: 11%): We're not sayingJordan Binnington is in danger of losing his starting role in St. Louis, but he's been pulled twice this month with a 3.89 GAA and .870 save percentage from his last 11 appearances going into Thursday. Over that same stretch, Hofer has posted a 2.22/.920 line alongside three shutouts, including one on Wednesday against the Jets. If Binnington continues to struggle, Hofer should keep getting enough work.

Posted on

Observations after Sixers snap Knicks' 7-game winning streak at the Garden

Observations after Sixers snap Knicks' 7-game winning streak at the Garden originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK — The Sixers snapped the Knicks’ seven-game winning streak and earned a high-quality victory Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

They notched a 116-107 win to improve to 15-11 this season. New York fell to 19-8. 

Tyrese Maxey tallied 30 points and nine assists. VJ Edgecombe recorded 23 points and four assists.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns each posted 22 points. Mitchell Robinson added 21 points and 16 rebounds.

The Sixers were down Joel Embiid (illness, right knee injury management), Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain). 

Embiid was present at the team’s morning shootaround. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said he does not believe the big man has had a recent setback.

Watford took pregame jumpers. Both he and Oubre have advanced to individual on-court workouts in their rehab processes.

The Sixers will travel home and face the Mavericks on Saturday night. Here are observations on their win over the Knicks:

Maxey’s return 

Maxey drew back into the lineup after missing the Sixers’ past two games with an illness.

He didn’t lose his scoring touch. The Sixers’ star guard made a floater on his first shot and then drained a pair of long-range jumpers to give his team a 16-10 lead. 

Meanwhile, two Sixers who shined in Maxey’s absence had rough shooting starts.

Coming off of a season-high 35-point outing last time out against the Hawks, Paul George opened 0 for 6 from the floor and didn’t score until the 4:59 mark of the second quarter. OG Anunoby defended him well, tightly contesting George’s jumpers and making him toil in search of openings. 

Edgecombe began 2 for 8 from the floor following his 26-point night in Atlanta. He had two first-quarter jumpers swatted by Robinson. 

Shots dropping for Edwards again 

Dominick Barlow wound up being the Sixers’ second-leading scorer in the first quarter. He posted nine points on 4-for-5 shooting in the period and also grabbed four offensive rebounds. 

The Sixers shifted to a bench-heavy lineup late in the first. On New York’s second unit, former Sixer Guerschon Yabusele sunk a three on his first touch.

Backup big man Adem Bona picked up his third foul early in the second quarter on a Towns and-one hoop. Bona subbed out and Barlow subbed in for a brief stint at center. The Sixers’ fouls started to pile up and their offense turned cold. The Knicks went up 40-34 on a Robinson put-back slam. 

Justin Edwards was the final player to check in of the Sixers’ 10-man rotation. The lefty wing made an immediate splash in his first game as a 22-year-old, hitting two straight catch-and-shoot threes from the left wing. 

Those jumpers were Edwards’ first made field goals in an NBA game since Dec. 4. He certainly looked like he’d gained confidence from his G League appearance Tuesday with Bona. Edwards poured in 37 points Tuesday for the Delaware Blue Coats. 

“Listen, I’m going to tell you again that I love Justin,” Nurse said Wednesday. “He’s still a very young player. … Both (him and Bona) went down there and embraced it, and they played great. I told them both, ‘Do your thing. Play hard. … Play to your strengths.’ … It was good to see them both have some fun.

“They’re young, man. I would imagine we’re going to use them this weekend in a back-to-back, right? And it was a good time for them to get some rhythm and go down there.” 

Edwards couldn’t stay hot through the end of the first half. He missed his next two jumpers, then fouled Brunson on a corner three. The Villanova product converted a four-point play and the Knicks entered halftime with a 59-57 edge. 

Sixers’ guards great down the stretch

The Sixers had a strong start to the third quarter.

Edgecombe scored a fast-break layup and played a fantastic period overall. Andre Drummond nailed his third corner three of the game.

Like all of the Sixers’ guards, Edgecombe played aggressively while avoiding costly turnovers. Late in the third quarter, the Sixers had a 12-0 advantage in points off turnovers. Their success in that department helped them mitigate New York’s superior offensive rebounding (21-10).

Robinson sparked the Knicks in the final few minutes of the third quarter, partly through improbable success at the foul line when the Sixers intentionally hacked him. Going into Friday, he was 6 for 27 (22.2 percent) this season on his free throws. He went 7 for 8 against the Sixers. Robinson’s put-back lay-in on the Knicks’ first possession of the fourth quarter lifted his team to an 89-88 lead.

The Sixers bounced back with threes from Jared McCain and Maxey that pushed them to a five-point edge. McCain gave the Sixers 12 useful points in 21 minutes off the bench.

Edgecombe was brilliant down the stretch. He made a mid-range jumper, a clutch three and a big-time dunk.

The rookie also dove on the floor to recover a crucial loose ball. Seconds later, Maxey buried a dagger three.