O’Neill has been in interim charge since Rodgers’ exit
Celtic move level on points with Hearts after Dundee win
Celtic have appointed Wilfried Nancy, coach of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, as their new permanent manager to replace Brendan Rodgers, who was dismissed in October. He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract.
Martin O’Neill signed off his spell as interim manager with a 1-0 home win against Dundee on Wednesday night. The result moved Celtic level on points with Hearts, who remain top of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home against Kilmarnock. Celtic also have a game in hand on their title rivals.
The Detroit Red Wings made sure they enjoyed a better result in their second consecutive meeting against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday evening.
Detroit managed to build a 5-2 lead by the midway point of the third period, and despite a late comeback attempt by the Bruins, they held on for a victory to snap what was a four-game winless skid.
For Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, it was his first victory since Nov. 13 and he did so while making a season-high 34 saves.
The scoreboard will show that Gibson did allow four goals for the fifth time in his last six outings, but he was completely dialed in for most of the game with several critical saves.
Head coach Todd McLellan would say afterward that while it was more of a "roller coaster" style victory for the entire club, a win is still a win for Gibson and that he earned it.
"There were some really tough saves and there were periods of nothing, and the game was under control, and then it wasn’t,” McLellan said. “So, it was a very much a roller coaster-type game for a goaltender to play in. At the end of the night, he got the win, so it can’t do anything but help his confidence, the team’s confidence. I'm happy for him."
"It's been a while since he got one (a win), and I'm happy for him."
Gibson's numbers since being acquired by the Red Wings during the offseason from the Anaheim Ducks aren't what he'd like them to be, as he currently sports a goals-against average of 3.62 along with an .868 save percentage.
But with a critical six-game road swing ahead of them, during which Gibson will get playing time, the victory on Tuesday evening should go a good way toward building his confidence.
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The LA Clippers knew exactly what they were getting when they signed Chris Paul last offseason: A very vocal leader in the locker room who will hold everyone accountable and call anyone out. It's why San Antonio wanted him around Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle a season ago, to teach them, but get in their face at points. The Clippers also knew Paul's leadership style could annoy coaches and teammates. The Clippers organization had been down this road before, during the Lob City era, when Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan grew weary of CP3's constant criticism, and it created some friction.
This time, on a struggling 5-16 team with a lot of issues, Paul's vocal criticism of everyone — including coach Tyronn Lue and management — just wore too thin, which is why the Clippers have parted ways with the future Hall of Fame point guard in an awkward late-night breakup on the road. Paul and Lue were not speaking to one another, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Sources: Weeks ago Chris Paul requested to have a meeting with Tyronn Lue to discuss allegations of being a negative presence on team. Lue refused to meet with him. Lawrence Frank traveled to Atlanta to deliver news of parting ways. Paul desired final season to be with Clippers.
Chris Paul and his leadership style clashed with the Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Paul has been vocal in holding management, coaches and players accountable, which the team felt became disruptive. Specifically: Ty Lue was not on speaking terms with Paul for several weeks.
There are a lot of things to criticize with the Clippers. This was a team fueled to 50 wins a season ago based on a top-three defense in the league, but this season it's 26th, with the second-worst transition defense in the league (which pairs very poorly with the third-highest turnover percentage in the league). The Clippers run the highest percentage of isolation plays in the NBA, and with that and the picks for Harden, their offense is very predictable. Injuries have been an issue, but the bet by the front office on the combo of Bradley Beal and John Collins to replace Norman Powell was a huge miss (to be fair, keeping Powell on a new contract would have messed with their plans to keep their books clean in the summer of 2027). Put simply, the Clippers are old and slow, and that's a bad combo in an increasingly up-tempo NBA.
Paul was likely talking about all of it, but this is a veteran roster that was not going to be receptive. In a locker room with concerning vibes and guys openly discussing the team's lack of energy, CP3's leadership style likely didn't play well.
That said, the Clippers can't just waive him — they have 14 guys on the roster, to waive him would mean replacing him, and they are so close to their first apron hard cap they can't sign even a veteran minimum player until January. The Clippers are going to keep Paul on the roster and look for a trade (something Paul's agents will be involved with) to a place where he can have the farewell tour the future Hall of Famer deserves. For now, he's home with the family and waiting on next steps.
He finished that game with 14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals in 34 minutes.
Sacramento signed the former NBA MVP to a one-year deal before the start of the 2025-26 season.
In 21 games (15 starts) with the Kings entering Wednesday, Westbrook is averaging 13.6 points on 42.7-percent shooting from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point range, with 7.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 28.2 minutes per game.
Next above Westbrook on the all-time scoring list is Dominique Wilkins’ 26,668 points, which as of Wednesday’s game, Westbrook would need 170 points to pass.
The Vancouver Canucks have made two roster moves. Vancouver has assigned goaltender Nikita Tolopilo and defenceman Elias Pettersson to the Abbotsford Canucks. As per NHL rules, both will need to play at least one AHL game before being called back up.
Tolopilo has played five games for Abbotsford this season. The 25-year-old has a 1-3-1 record while recording a save percentage of .901. Tolopilo started two games for the Canucks on their recent road trip, but flew back to Vancouver early after his wife went into labour.
As for Pettersson, he has spent the entire season up to this point in the NHL. The 21-year-old has two points in 24 games, but was a healthy scratch in each of the Canucks last two outings. In 46 career AHL games, Pettersson has 15 points and 44 penalty minutes.
Abbotsford's next game is scheduled for Wednesday when they take on the Calgary Wranglers. The season has not gone as the AHL Canucks planned, as they sit 31st in the league with a 4-14-1-2 record. Game time for Wednesday is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT from the newly named Rogers Forum.
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Curry, 35, re-signed with the Warriors on Monday and made his season debut in Tuesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was his first NBA action since April when he was with the Charlotte Hornets.
“I’ve been waiting to get on this floor for a while now,” Curry told reporters postgame. “The fans showed me a lot of love when I stepped on the floor and it felt good to go out there and make my first shot, kind of eased the pressure a bit. And then just from there, I’m playing basketball.”
It was a seemingly seamless fit for Curry, as he scored 14 points in just 18 minutes played. He was extremely efficient as well, shooting 6 of 7 from the field and 2 of 3 from 3-point range.
“The energy in the building was good. It’s tough coming into your first game playing against the defending champs…” Curry said, “…we’re figuring stuff out, it’s my first game with this team, but like I said, in that second half we played good basketball.”
Curry will have to wait another three games until his next chance to play in front of the San Francisco crowd, when the Warriors host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 12, which also is the target date for his brother Steph to return from a quad injury.
England ‘welcome whatever comes’ says bullish captain
Wales’ Tandy ‘unbelievably excited’ by England clash
Maro Itoje has set his sights on Rugby World Cup glory in Australia in 2027 after England were handed a favourable potential path through the tournament when the draw was made in Sydney on Wednesday.
Steve Borthwick’s side, who have risen to third in the world rankings after an 11-match winning streak, emerged on the other side of the draw from the reigning world champions South Africa, three-times winners New Zealand and France.
This is really a conversation for the summer, but "patience" and "Knicks" are rarely words used together, especially by their media and fans.
Off to another All-Star level start to the season this year, Karl-Anthony Towns was asked if he hopes to sign an extension with the team this summer. His answer was clear, via Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
"Hell yeah. Hell yeah, I want to stay here," Towns said... "Obviously get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money, you know. So just to be able to be here with the fans, be with the family. It means a lot. I would like it to continue." Towns also said his relationship with Leon Rose and the front office remains strong.
Towns and the Knicks front office could not reach terms on an extension last summer, but the conversation will come up again next offseason. Towns is making $53.1 million this season and will make $57.1 million next season, followed by a player option at $61 million for the 2027-28 season. The max extension the Knicks could offer next summer is four years at around $260 million, although the expectation would be a shorter extension at closer to the $55 million a year average he's near now.
Towns has found a comfort zone in Mike Brown's offense, where he alternates between playing the four and five, and is averaging 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds a game. While not an elite defender, he is a solid one in the paint (albeit one prone to lapses). He's a fantastic fit next to Mitchell Robinson, but the Knicks are working to protect Robinson's health for the playoffs when they will need him most.
Whatever the price ends up being, expect Towns and the Knicks to reach some kind of extension next offseason.
Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Wild Wednesday Rewind heads back to Dec. 3 on three different years in Boston Bruins history.
Dec. 3, 1924, was the Bruins' first humbling on-ice moment in their first-ever road game. Dec. 3, 1929, was the beginning of something historic. And Dec. 3, 1987, featured a moment that left a Bruins legend speechless.
Watch the NHL Nugget video for all the information.
Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media. And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.
The Boston Red Sox ended their three-year postseason drought in 2025, but they must continue bolstering their roster if they hope to be taken seriously as a World Series contender. To do so, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow should explore more major trades this winter.
Boston already made a significant splash by acquiring veteran right-hander Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. It also added organizational depth by trading for infielder Tristan Gray and catcher Ronny Hernandez.
There are still moves to be made as we gear up for this weekend’s Winter Meetings. Regardless of your thoughts on a 36-year-old Sonny Gray at this stage of his career, the Red Sox could use another frontline starting pitcher. They also need a slugger or two, plus a second baseman to stabilize what continues to be a revolving door of a position for the club.
Fortunately for Boston, there are a handful of intriguing names who reportedly could be had for the right price. Here are five trade targets the Red Sox should inquire about this winter:
Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins
We’ll start with the obvious. Joe Ryan is the name constantly connected to the Red Sox in trade rumors, and it’s easy to understand why.
The Red Sox reportedly pursued Ryan at the 2025 trade deadline but couldn’t get the Minnesota Twins to bite on an offer. Now would be a good time to revisit those trade talks with Minnesota potentially undergoing a rebuild.
Ryan, 29, has been rock-solid since his 2021 rookie campaign and reached a new level in 2025. The right-hander posted a career-best 3.42 ERA with a 1.035 WHIP, 194 strikeouts, and 39 walks through 171 innings (31 games) in his first All-Star season.
Under team control through 2027, adding Ryan would require a hefty trade package. That shouldn’t dissuade Breslow from aggressively pursuing an arm that would immediately earn the No. 2 spot in the rotation.
Ragans was an All-Star in 2024, when he finished fourth in the American League Cy Young voting. The soon-to-be 28-year-old amassed a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP that season with 223 strikeouts and 67 walks in 32 starts.
Injuries plagued Ragans in 2025, limiting him to only 13 starts. Don’t let the 4.67 ERA fool you, however. He posted a 2.50 FIP with 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings, so the Cy Young-caliber stuff was still there.
Like Ryan, Ragans fits the mold as a true No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet. He’s under team control through 2028.
Freddy Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Looking for a more affordable starting pitcher on the trade market? Perhaps Peralta is more your style.
Peralta, 29, has been the subject of trade rumors as he enters his contract year with Milwaukee. A trusted arm in the Brewers’ rotation since 2018, the right-hander is coming off his best season. He finished 2025 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.075 WHIP with 204 strikeouts and 66 walks in 33 starts (176.2 innings). He earned his second All-Star nod and was fifth in the National League Cy Young race.
The Red Sox need a reliable everyday second baseman. Six players spent time at the position in 2025, which is actually an improvement from the 11 who played second in 2024.
The Diamondbacks appear open to trading Marte for young pitching, and that should pique Boston’s interest. The 32-year-old has been among the game’s best hitters for the last three years, including two of his three All-Star seasons in 2024 and 2025. Last year, he slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 homers and 72 RBI.
The D’backs signed Marte to a team-friendly six-year, $116.5 million contract last April, so it’d take a haul to acquire him. He’s worth a look if Arizona actively pursues a deal, though someone like free agent Jorge Polanco would be a more realistic option to fill the second base void.
Brendan Donovan, IF/OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Although Donovan wouldn’t be as sexy an addition as Marte, the super utility man would be a major upgrade at second base. He’d also be capable of filling in at any other infield position and both corner outfield spots.
Donovan, who turns 29 next month, has been a model of consistency for St. Louis since entering the league in 2022. You can expect 10 to 15 home runs with an OPS in the high 700s to go along with his rock-solid defense at the aforementioned positions.
Donovan is under team control through 2027. There’s a strong chance the Cardinals deal him as ex-Red Sox CBO Chaim Bloom continues to retool the roster, so Breslow should inquire about making his second big trade with St. Louis this offseason.
One of the NBA’s biggest superstars soon might hit the trade market. Again?
Almost one year since the Dallas Mavericks stunned the basketball world by trading superstar guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, a player of a similar magnitude, if you can believe it, soon could be on the move.
Nine-time All-Star and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis, will discuss with the Bucks the superstar forward’s future with the team — and whether his best fit is with Milwaukee or elsewhere — with a resolution expected in the coming weeks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday, citing sources.
Just in: Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent Alex Saratsis have started conversations with the Milwaukee Bucks about the two-time NBA MVP's future – and discussing whether his best fit is staying or elsewhere, sources tell ESPN. A resolution is expected in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/NfrpL2Ffvr
Antetokounmpo has been at the center of trade speculation for years, and each time that he appears disgruntled with the current state of the Bucks, he and the team always seem to work it out.
However, the Bucks (9-13), on the heels of another tumultuous summer filled with Giannis trade speculation, have struggled to begin the 2025-26 NBA season. That could lead to Antetokounmpo requesting a trade out of Milwaukee, something ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported already happened in the offseason.
“The Bucks called the Knicks and asked for an offer for Giannis,” Windhorst said in a recent appearance on 850 ESPN Cleveland. “Because Giannis said, ‘I want to be a Knick.’ People are like, ‘Oh my god, he deleted a photo from May that had a Bucks logo in it. Guys, he asked to be traded already!'”
Charania reported back in October that New York was the only team Antetokounmpo would consider outside of Milwaukee, and if he were to become available on the trade market, the Knicks certainly would be viewed as the favorites to land him.
However, the Warriors, for years, reportedly have dreamed of pairing Antetokounmpo with superstar Steph Curry. As Charania reported this summer, Golden State was one of multiple teams that checked in with the Bucks on Antetokounmpo’s availability.
Golden State has been aggressive in its attempt to maximize Curry’s remaining years, as evidenced by the blockbuster deal for Jimmy Butler last February and the multiple reported inquiries about a LeBron James trade. While trading for Antetokounmpo could be difficult for multiple reasons, it would not be surprising if general manager Mike Dunleavy attempted to pull off a deal of this magnitude.
One of the NBA’s biggest superstars soon might hit the trade market. Again?
Almost one year since the Dallas Mavericks stunned the basketball world by trading superstar guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, a player of a similar magnitude, if you can believe it, soon could be on the move.
Nine-time All-Star and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis, will discuss with the Bucks the superstar forward’s future with the team — and whether his best fit is with Milwaukee or elsewhere — with a resolution expected in the coming weeks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday, citing sources.
Just in: Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent Alex Saratsis have started conversations with the Milwaukee Bucks about the two-time NBA MVP's future – and discussing whether his best fit is staying or elsewhere, sources tell ESPN. A resolution is expected in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/NfrpL2Ffvr
Antetokounmpo has been at the center of trade speculation for years, and each time that he appears disgruntled with the current state of the Bucks, he and the team always seem to work it out.
However, the Bucks (9-13), on the heels of another tumultuous summer filled with Giannis trade speculation, have struggled to begin the 2025-26 NBA season. That could lead to Antetokounmpo requesting a trade out of Milwaukee, something ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported already happened in the offseason.
“The Bucks called the Knicks and asked for an offer for Giannis,” Windhorst said in a recent appearance on 850 ESPN Cleveland. “Because Giannis said, ‘I want to be a Knick.’ People are like, ‘Oh my god, he deleted a photo from May that had a Bucks logo in it. Guys, he asked to be traded already!'”
Charania reported back in October that New York was the only team Antetokounmpo would consider outside of Milwaukee, and if he were to become available on the trade market, the Knicks certainly would be viewed as the favorites to land him.
However, the Warriors, for years, reportedly have dreamed of pairing Antetokounmpo with superstar Steph Curry. As Charania reported this summer, Golden State was one of multiple teams that checked in with the Bucks on Antetokounmpo’s availability.
Golden State has been aggressive in its attempt to maximize Curry’s remaining years, as evidenced by the blockbuster deal for Jimmy Butler last February and the multiple reported inquiries about a LeBron James trade. While trading for Antetokounmpo could be difficult for multiple reasons, it would not be surprising if general manager Mike Dunleavy attempted to pull off a deal of this magnitude.
SAN FRANCISCO – Confusion rang across the Chase Center press conference room at Warriors Media Day when Pat Spencer nonchalantly walked to the podium and sat down in his No. 61 jersey with a black short-sleeve undershirt.
Why? Because he wasn’t even officially on the roster at the moment. Spencer’s odd arrival felt like a comical breath of fresh air from what was a Warriors offseason that felt mostly bizarre. The Warriors announced shortly after that they had re-signed Spencer to a two-way contract.
Spencer proved the previous two seasons that he’s a step above the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz. The Warriors converted his two-way contract to a standard contract at the end of last season for the playoffs, and then he waited all offseason without ever putting pen to paper.
He finally did on Sept. 29, but Spencer again didn’t begin the season on the Warriors’ 15-man roster.
“Pat’s an NBA player,” Steve Kerr said Tuesday night after the Warriors’ 124-112 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. “He belongs on our roster full-time.”
Without a doubt, Spencer agrees, but he won’t allow his situation to be a distraction.
“Yeah, it’s tough,” Spencer said later the same night. “Just compete every night, I’ll let them handle that. That’s something I and the front office will have conversations about. I can only control the day-to-day right now. Ultimately, I feel like I’ve shown I can play at this level at a really high level and impact winning.
“I’ll let them make that decision when the time comes. But yeah, we will have to monitor it and figure that out.”
As the Warriors almost pulled off an incredibly impressive comeback against the now 21-1 defending champion Thunder on Tuesday night, Spencer was the key to their ignition. Spencer tied his career high of 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting, with 15 of them coming in the second half. The point guard pushed the Warriors into hyperdrive in the third quarter, when they went from scoring 44 points in the first half to matching that total over the next 12 minutes.
Spencer scored nine points in that third-quarter barrage, leading all Warriors. He dropped another six in the fourth, too. Like your town’s local pickup hero, Spencer was playing his own personal game of H-O-R-S-E against the best defense in the NBA. Spencer’s 3-pointer in the third quarter brought the Warriors within one point and each of his last three made shots in the fourth took them from down one to up one.
The last of those buckets was a ridiculous turnaround out of the post over 7-footer Chet Holmgren.
“Oh, night and day,” Spencer said of his progression as a shooter this season compared to last.
Kerr admitted he’d love to get Spencer more minutes. But it also won’t be surprising if Spencer is inactive in the near future, maybe even as soon as Thursday in Philadelphia. Spencer can only be active for 50 games, and he’s almost already halfway there, having been active for all 22 Warriors games this season.
There are other factors at hand here. De’Anthony Melton will make his season debut Thursday after recovering from ACL surgery. He last played on Nov. 12, 2024, in a Warriors win against the Dallas Mavericks. Plus, Spencer wasn’t the only role player to make a huge impact on the Warriors’ comeback efforts Tuesday night.
While Steph Curry watched from a Chase Center suite as he remains out with a quad contusion, his younger brother, Seth, made his Warriors debut. And he didn’t miss a beat.
“It felt normal. It felt natural,” Curry said after playing his first NBA game since April.
Curry’s shot-making DNA shined from the get-go, scoring 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 18 minutes off the bench. That’s something the Warriors have been missing the previous six weeks, and something Kerr will have to keep utilizing. His superstar older brother will not join the Warriors on their upcoming three-game road trip, with the hope that he can play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 12 at Chase Center.
Between the additions of Seth Curry and Melton, Spencer continuing to prove he deserves to be on an NBA roster and Steph Curry expected to return in a week’s-plus time, Kerr is about to have a glut of guards to pick from.
Along with those already mentioned, the Warriors’ guard options also include Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II and rookie Will Richard. Spencer, in technical terms, is the odd man out. But even with so many others in his way, the Warriors need everything Spencer brings — now and later in the season. When he wasn’t making shots on OKC, he was keeping the offense churning against a historic defense.
History has shown Kerr will play three and sometimes even four guards together. Payton is a power forward in a point guard’s body. Moody can play both forward positions, while Richard and Hield can both slide up to the three if needed.
Depth or a logjam? A problem or a luxury? The answer might be somewhere in between.
Just two months from the Feb. 5 trade deadline, Golden State already is starting to get more help. With that, though, Kerr has tough decisions to make that will have some Warriors seeing themselves fall down the pecking order depending on performances and matchups.
