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Observations after Sixers blow 24-point lead but Edgecombe makes game-winning put-back

Observations after Sixers blow 24-point lead but Edgecombe makes game-winning put-back   originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Exactly one month after blowing a 24-point lead to the Bulls, the Sixers did the same Thursday night vs. the Warriors. 

This time around, they still escaped with a win, earning a 99-98 victory at Xfinity Mobile Arena. 

De’Anthony Melton blocked Tyrese Maxey’s jumper on the Sixers’ final possession, but VJ Edgecombe leaped for a game-winning put-back layup with 0.9 seconds to go. 

The Warriors then chucked the ball ahead and Melton appeared like he’d have a clean chance, but Maxey hustled back and snuffed his lay-in attempt to seal the game. 

Maxey led all scorers with 35 points.

The 12-9 Sixers were down Paul George (left knee injury recovery), Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain).

Oubre will be re-evaluated next week, according to a team official. The 29-year-old wing said pregame that he’s been making progress, doing whatever the Sixers’ medical staff instructs and taking a “day-by-day” approach. 

Golden State was without Stephen Curry (left quadriceps contusion) and Jimmy Butler (left knee soreness). Draymond Green exited at halftime because of a right foot injury. 

The Sixers will fly to Milwaukee and play the Bucks on Friday night. Here are observations on their win over the Warriors:

Lid on the Warriors’ rim 

Joel Embiid faced up against Al Horford on the game’s first possession and knocked down a jumper. Horford followed with a three-pointer, which was the last long-range success the Warriors had for a long time.

For much of the first quarter, there was a lid on the Golden State rim. 

The Warriors started 2 for 21 from the field and 1 for 13 from three-point range. They managed a mere 10 points in the first quarter. The Sixers played sound defense, but many of those misses came on open and wide-open shots. 

Meanwhile, Maxey had a swell time on the other end against his friend Melton, who returned from a torn ACL to make his season debut. Maxey hit a baseline floater, and-one layup and mid-range jumper on his former backcourt mate. He also nailed a step-back three against another former Sixer, sinking a deep jumper over Buddy Hield to put the Sixers up 21-5. 

Nothing free for Golden State in first half

The Warriors made a 10-0 run early in the second quarter with Maxey on the bench. Edgecombe snapped it with a tightly guarded, off-balance three late in the shot clock. 

The Sixers’ lack of fouls helped them maintain a comfortable lead. Golden State took no free throws in the first half.

The team has made significant improvement in that area this season. Entering Thursday, the Sixers ranked 11th in the NBA in defensive free throw rate, per Cleaning the Glass. They were 20th last season. The Sixers haven’t forced turnovers as often, but the decrease in free points conceded has helped the team at least be a middle-of-the-pack defense so far.

Two Maxey mid-range buckets built the Sixers’ lead back to 20 points. Jared McCain’s corner three with 3.1 seconds to go in the second quarter got a generous bounce through the hole and gave the Sixers a 56-34 advantage. 

Sixers collapse but still pull it out  

After the Warriors scored the first six points of the third quarter, Maxey canned a trio of triples in quick succession.

That sure didn’t spell the end of the contest.

The Sixers had many sloppy possessions against the Warriors’ zone defense in the third quarter. Maxey committed three turnovers in the period and Edgecombe had two. Melton scored a driving layup on Golden State’s final play of the third to cut the Sixers’ lead to 80-66.

By the middle of the fourth quarter, the Sixers were in serious danger of losing their lead.

Edgecombe missed a three and Hield then leaked out for a fast-break layup on his Bahamian teammate. McCain turned the ball over twice in a row against Golden State’s ball pressure. In general, the Sixers’ offense looked rushed and uncertain. Jumpers by Quinten Post and Melton sliced the Warriors’ deficit to 84-81.

Adem Bona checked in for his first action of the night and converted a put-back layup on his first play. Embiid logged 25 minutes and didn’t appear in the fourth quarter.

The Warriors began to drain all the jump shots they’d bricked in the early going. Post drilled another three and Gui Santos cut free for a layup that lifted Golden State to a 93-92 edge.

Pat Spencer made it 98-94 with a long-range jumper. Quentin Grimes then scored an and-one layup and the Sixers finally managed an important stop. Melton drove into the lane, got stopped in his tracks by Bona, and traveled. On the ensuing possession, Bona drew a foul … and missed both his free throws.

Melton missed a layup in traffic, but the Warriors retained possession thanks to a successful challenge that showed the rebound last touched Edgecombe on its way out of bounds.

The final seconds were full of more chaos. Edgecombe wound up stealing a Spencer inbounds pass and calling timeout with 8.2 seconds on the clock. The rookie had one more clutch play in store.

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Former Mets manager Buck Showalter on Francisco Lindor-Jeff McNeil dynamic: 'We didn't have a problem'

Buck Showalter knows the dynamics of the Mets’ clubhouse as well as anyone, and the club’s former manager gave his point of view on the relationship between Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil in a recent appearance on Foul Territory.

According to Showalter, who took over as Mets manager after the 2021 season and held the position until the end of the 2023 campaign, there were never any issues between the two while he was there, but he did note that Lindor and McNeil have their own, distinct personalities.

“Jeff and Francisco are different,” Showalter said. “Jeff’s a Long Beach State Dirtbag, loves everything about the game, thinks the world is against him sometimes with line drives at people. Lindor is a very stylish, worldly guy, but it works. I called them together the first day that I got there, and I had heard a lot of stuff, and we didn’t have a problem. Jeff, I think, led the whole globe in hitting. Nobody on the globe hit for a higher batting average than Jeff McNeil. 

“I think If you actually knew everything that went on behind the scenes with relationships when you're thrown together for eight months, seven months. I mean, heck, I’ve been married for 43 years and there’s not a day goes by that I don’t have to just shut up. But that’s okay. That’s not why they had a tough year. Their pitching wasn’t very good.”

Mike Puma of the New York Post recently reported that Lindor and McNeil had a “heated confrontation” this past season after a defensive lap during a June 20 game in Philadelphia. 

During the 2021 season, Lindor’s first year in Queens, he and McNeil reportedly also got into a scuffle in the tunnel to the clubhouse, with the New York Post reporting that Lindor grabbed McNeil by the throat during the altercation. 

"It was funny. I told him I was like ‘I’ve never seen a New York rat’ so we went down sprinting,” Lindor said that night. “I wanted to go see a New York rat, and [McNeil] got mad at me, and was like, ‘It’s not a rat, it’s a raccoon.’ And I’m like, 'Hell no, man! It’s a damn rat. It’s a New York rat, man.’ It was crazy. We were going back and forth debating if it was a rat or a raccoon. Crazy man, it was insane."

With McNeil entering the final year of his contract, coupled with the recent acquisition of second baseman Marcus Semien, the Mets have reportedly been fielding trade offers on the veteran.

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Why Steve Kerr trusting his eyes is key to maximizing Warriors' lineup shuffling

Why Steve Kerr trusting his eyes is key to maximizing Warriors' lineup shuffling originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

When the Warriors were running the NBA, staging annual races to the NBA Finals, whatever Kerr would see on the court in real time greatly influenced his substitution decisions. He strayed from that guidance pattern Tuesday night, and it backfired.

Kerr went back to those instincts Thursday night in Philadelphia and almost was rewarded with an unlikely victory.

The Warriors wiped out a 24-point third-quarter deficit, with the surge giving them a 98-94 lead on Pat Spencer’s 3-pointer with 1:12 remaining before the 76ers closed it out for a 99-98 victory that dropped Golden State to 11-12.

Spencer was in the game because Kerr trusted the eyes he didn’t trust Tuesday, when Spencer ignited a late comeback that threatened Oklahoma City but was subbed out for Brandin Podziemski with 3:56 left. The next two possessions went nowhere, with Podziemski missing from deep and committing a turnover.

This time, there was no questionable late-game substitution. Podziemski stayed on the bench, as Spencer played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter and was no less effective than he was two nights earlier.

“Yeah, tonight was a no brainer,” Kerr told reporters at Xfinity Mobile Center. “The other night was a tricky decision but tonight was obvious pat was just incredible out there and controlled the game and he’s just about the right stuff.”

Spencer scored 12 points in the quarter and was plus-13 for his efforts. He led lineups that were without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III or Draymond Green, who left in the second quarter after aggravating a sprained right foot.

To put a finer point on it, Spencer – with generous assistance from De’Anthony Melton in his season debut – pushed the Warriors in position to prevail mostly behind the bench. Gui Santos played more than 11 minutes in the fourth quarter, Buddy Hield played 10 minutes, Quinten Post played eight and Melton played five.

“The effort was phenomenal,” Kerr said. “It felt like we really deserved to win, and I feel terrible for the guys that we couldn’t hang on because the effort, the energy, the commitment. Gui hasn’t played in a couple weeks and he’s playing the whole fourth quarter and is (plus-15), showing what he did last year. And the way Pat got us into our offense and got downhill and into pick-and-roll and distributed the ball . . . I like the way the guys fought.”

Kerr indicated that he hopes for a way that Spencer, operating on a two-way contract that limits him to 50 games, can be elevated to a standard contract. The coach also made it clear that he sees Spencer as “the perfect guy for a backup” at point guard behind Curry.

With Spencer playing exceedingly well in consecutive games, and Melton impressing in his return nearly a year after undergoing surgery to repair a slight ACL tear, the Warriors will be exceptionally deep at guard when Curry returns, which is expected next Friday.

“We’re deep,” Spencer said. “We got a lot of guys that could play and guys that have proven it time after time. So, I think that’s the tough part. I don’t envy Steve’s job at all.”

Make no mistake, a 10-point first quarter laid the foundation for this loss, which exposed – or re-exposed – some of the weaknesses that have rendered Golden State unable to escape mediocrity so far this season.

Ineffective defense at the point of attack. Poor shot selection, mostly in the first half, particularly in the first quarter when they jacked up 15 3s, making two. Too many live-ball turnovers, which Philly exploited for 25 points. Insufficient interior moxie and muscle, resulting in another rebounding deficit, with the 76ers scoring the game-winning bucket on an offensive rebound.

Spencer can help with a few of those ailments, and Melton surely will address some of them. When Curry returns, Spencer and Melton will be among seven Warriors vying for guard minutes in the rotation.

All of which gives Kerr the right to shorten his proverbial leash on a night-to-night basis. 

The coach likely realized that on this night, when he went back to an old habit that served him well. He trusted his in-game eyes.

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Manchester United 1-1 West Ham: Premier League – as it happened

Diogo Dalot’s well-taken goal looked to have earned Manchester United all three points, until Soungoutou Magassa’s late equaliser denied them

West Ham, resplendent in a blend of grey, beige and cream with a dash of yellow, get the ball rolling. They’re kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.

The teams are out! Manchester United in their red, white and black, West Ham United in second-choice ecru. According to House & Garden magazine, ecru is “a notoriously finicky colour to define” but they give it a go anyway: it’s “a blend of grey, beige, cream, and a dash of yellow, less creamy than cream, and not eggshell.” So there you have it. We’ll be off in a minute.

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The Wraparound: Should The Canadiens Find An Upgrade In Net?

The Wraparound is here to discuss a new batch of NHL and hockey topics in bite-sized segments.

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Stephen Kerr discussed in this episode:

0:00: Which team in the Central Division is under the most pressure to translate their hot start into playoff success?

4:45: Can Steven Stamkos get his offense back on track in Nashville or elsewhere?

10:05: How concerning is the lack of depth scoring for the Detroit Red Wings?

13:28: How will Adam Fox's injury impact the Rangers' playoff chances?

17:41: Should the Montreal Canadiens look to make an upgrade in net?

22:40: Will Tyler Bertuzzi be a long-term fit for the Chicago Blackhawks?

25:39: Exploring potential trade partners for Quinn Hughes and the Vancouver Canucks

Should The Canadiens Find An Upgrade In Net? by The WraparoundShould The Canadiens Find An Upgrade In Net? by The Wraparound

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Bucks players, coach Doc Rivers downplay buzz around Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors

Giannis Antetokounmpo was frustrated. Doc Rivers was frustrated. Bucks GM Jon Horst was frustrated. All the Bucks players were frustrated. Milwaukee went into training camp believing internally they could be a force in a down Eastern Conference this season, but there they were on Wednesday morning at 9-13, having not only lost four in a row while Antetokounmpo was out with a groin strain, but they had lost on Monday night with him to a struggling Wizards team.

That's when the report dropped that Antetokounmpo and his agent would meet with Bucks management to discuss his future with the franchise. That report sparked countless conversations — from front offices around the league to media broadcasts to barstools in New York City — about what an Antetokounmpo trade might look like.

Wednesday night, the Bucks players, as well as Rivers, pushed back on all that talk on a number of fronts:

• The most impressive was a win without Antetokounmpo — who left the game with a calf strain two minutes in and now reportedly will be out 2-4 weeks — beating the top team in the East, the Detroit Pistons. That's the Bucks' best win of the season and met with Antetokounmpo's approval, according to Bobby Portis.

"What's so crazy is Giannis is the first person texting in the team group message, 'Good job, fellas, way to get one,'" Portis said, via the Associated Press.

• Kevin Porter Jr. had maybe the best summation of where the Bucks locker room stands, seeing everything as outside noise until Antetokounmpo himself talks to the team, with the quote via Eric Nehm at The Athletic.

"I'll just say this: There's a lot of outside noise, that's just what comes with it," Porter said. "And Giannis does a great job of assuring (us) that he's wanting to be here with this group specifically.

"So, we ain't even worried about all the outside noise. That's my brother and I'm sure if it was something he would come to us, but he's with us and we're gonna hold it down until he's ready."

• Before the reports of Antetokounmpo meeting with management even dropped, the Bucks players held a team meeting to talk about why they had not been playing up to their own standards and what needed to be done. Here is how Portis described it, via The Athletic.

"Just trying to keep guys' minds right, keep guys together, that's a big thing in the league," Portis explained of the motive behind the meeting. "Obviously, everybody wants to get paid, everybody has different motives, whatever it is. Just making sure that we're together, right? And then, most importantly, understanding that we have to get a win. No matter how we get it. If it's ugly, if it's good, if we're knocking down shots, whatever it is, the most important thing was to win."

The Bucks got the kind of win they needed on Wednesday night.

• Doc Rivers is maybe the best salesman among the current crop of NBA coaches, and he was selling the company line on Wednesday — but there is a truth in what he is saying. Here's his full quote from pregame:

"I want to make it clear for the — I want to say one more time — for the 50th time, and clearly it's not getting to one network, for sure, Giannis has never asked to be traded. Ever. I can't make that more clear."

Rivers also went on to say that if the Bucks turn things around and start winning games again, playing to their potential, all these questions will go away.

Rivers is not lying here. The Bucks are not going to trade Antetokounmpo until he formally asks to be traded, and he has yet to do that forcefully and directly. He did pressure the Bucks to talk to the Knicks late in this summer (August), but after the Knicks re-signed Mikal Bridges to an extension, taking him off the trade table until Feb. 1, 2026. Those talks went nowhere.

This is the first big question being asked around the league, according to sources NBC Sports has spoken with: Is Antetokounmpo going to formally, officially ask for a trade? He's danced up to that line before, but never stepped over it and officially asked. He comes off as maybe wanting out but also not wanting to be the bad guy. When asked about his status, his response is always some version of what he said at this year's training camp: "I want to be in a situation that I can win, and now I'm here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I'm here to lead this team to wherever we can go."

Until Antetokounmpo stops just rattling his sabers and actually makes a trade request (or, until he doesn't sign an extension with the team next October when they can offer him a new max deal), the Bucks are going to try to find ways — including making moves at the February trade deadline — to improve the roster and win with him. The Bucks are all-in on Antetokounmpo until he tells them not to be.

• The other question being asked around the league is, if Antetokounmpo does request a trade, will the Bucks be willing to work with him and take less in return to get him where he wants to go (New York, presumably, but other teams like Miami or Golden State could be on a short list) or, are they going to take the best package regardless of where it sends the two-time MVP? Teams like Atlanta and San Antonio can put together offers far better than New York or the other reported preferred Antetokounmpo landing spots, should those teams decide to jump in and go after him. How would Antetokounmpo react if the Bucks worked out a trade with the Hawks or Spurs? Would this be like Antetokounmpo's former teammate, Damian Lillard, who didn't have Milwaukee on his trade list but was open to the idea once presented with the deal? Antetokounmpo has some leverage because he is under contract for one more season after this one and could tell a team he would not re-sign with them if they trade for him. Of course, that's what Kawhi Leonard told Toronto, they traded for him anyway, won a ring, and then he left. There are teams that would sign up for that outcome.

• The Bucks' current roster is going to ignore all that and focus instead on what matters most right now — winning games, so this becomes moot.

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Sabres Inconsistency Comes Back To Bite In Loss To Flyers

The crossroads of the Buffalo Sabres 2024-25 season was exactly one year to the day of the club beginning their six-game road swing, that may determine whether they remain competitive for an Eastern Conference playoff spot or not. On December 3, 2024, the Sabres led Colorado 4-0 after 20 minutes and 4-1 entering the third period before the Avalanche rallied with four third-period goals to win 5-4.  That loss failed to end a three-game losing skid and excelerated a 13-game crashdive that caused the club to miss the playoffs for a 14th straight season. 

The 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers was much less dramatic, but began the Sabres critical road swing on a discouraging note. Early momentum from a Jason Zucker power play goal was squandered by a Buffalo penalty killing unit that was second in  the NHL entering the game and by a questionable review request for goalie interference by head coach Lindy Ruff on Travis Konecny’s tying goal. 

 "We felt that (Owen Tippett's) stick got into our goalie's blocker, whether that was going to be enough or not, you couldn't really tell." Ruff said after the game. "It looked like his body was inside the paint, but skates weren't."

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The failed review led to another Flyers power goal from Trevor Zegras and a reeling Sabres squad allowed a third Philadelphia goal by Bobby Brink within a span of 59 seconds. Buffalo had several opportunities in the contest to close the gap, but were unable to beat Samuel Ersson, who made 27 saves. According to Ruff, the club’s top players did not come through, including team captain Rasmus Dahlin, who was ejected for a major boarding penalty and game misconduct for a hit on Zegras in the second period.

"The top guys failed the test. (Tage Thompson) took a bad penalty. We had a bad clear (from Alex Tuch), we had plenty of opportunities to get back in the game,” Ruff said. “If you look at a couple of chances, even Tage had one on the goal line that Samuelsson set him up. We weren't sharp. We've talked about consistent play, we failed the test on consistent play."

The loss ended the Sabres two-game winning streak and has them just one point ahead of last-place Florida in the Eastern Conference. 

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Draymond Green sounds off on the Clippers stunningly sending Chris Paul home

Draymond Green sounds off on the Clippers stunningly sending Chris Paul home originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Former teammate and current Warriors forward Draymond Green didn’t hold back when he weighed in on the scorched earth the Los Angeles Clippers unleashed in sending home franchise legend Chris Paul.

“There will always be finger pointing, that’s just the way s–t goes,” Green explained Thursday on “The Draymond Green Show.”

The news of the Clippers’ decision to part ways with Paul broke late on Tuesday night after a late-night three-hour conversation within the front office.

Sources alluded that Paul’s criticism regarding lack of accountability clashed with the team, specifically, coach Ty Lue.

“Holding management, coaches, and players accountable seems like something that needs to be done in order to win at a high level,” Green shared. “… I think those things must be done in an organization to be competitive and compete at the highest level.”

Personality clashes between teammates is something Draymond is familiar with as a leader and team captain. His behavior was something he was mandated by the NBA to receive counseling for two seasons ago during Paul’s lone season with Golden State.

“CP has always been that guy to hold everyone accountable,” he praised, “… The facts are the facts. CP is as great as we all know he is.”

Paul ultimately signed with the San Antonio Spurs on a one-year contract after being waived by the Warriors in 2024. He signed with the Clippers in July 2025 in what was expected to be his farewell tour before retiring from the NBA.

“It’s unfortunate. If that can be done to Chris Paul, imagine what can be done to the rest of us, so I think if you’re an NBA player, this should bother you.”

As of now, Paul’s contract is at a standstill, he is not waived by the Clippers and cannot be traded until as early as Dec. 15. Nonetheless, CP3’s legendary Clippers career will not end on his own terms.

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Revisiting The Jake Guentzel Trade Tree

On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in Florida, as Pittsburgh looks to hold onto its playoff positioning and Tampa looks to extend its Atlantic Division lead. 

But there is another storyline as well.

For the fifth time, the Penguins will face their former teammate Jake Guentzel, who was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2024 trade deadline and was subsequently traded to then signed by the Lightning the following summer. In four games against Pittsburgh, Guentzel has notched no goals and three assists. 

At the time, the Guentzel trade definitely seemed to be one focused on quantity rather than quality, although the jury is still out on that with a few promising prospects dealt as part of that trade. 

In fact, let's revisit where the Guentzel trade tree has extended so far:

- Mar. 8, 2024: Penguins acquire forwards Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, and conditional first-round and fifth-round draft picks from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Jake Guentzel and defenseman Ty Smith

- Jun. 29, 2024: Penguins use conditional first-round pick acquired from Hurricanes (condition not met) to draft defenseman Harrison Brunicke 44th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. 

- Jun. 30, 2024: Hurricanes acquire 2025 third-round pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Guentzel

- Jul. 1, 2024: Guentzel signs seven-year, $63 million contract with Lightning

- Mar. 6, 2025: Penguins acquire forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Luke Schenn from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick

- Mar. 7, 2025: Penguins acquire a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Schenn

- Jun. 28, 2025: Hurricanes use third-round pick acquired from Lightning to draft defenseman Roman Bausov 87th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft

Penguins' Prospect Earns Two Honors In Same WeekPenguins' Prospect Earns Two Honors In Same WeekThere are a lot of <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' prospects making noise in the pipeline this season, and the organization's prospect pool is looking deeper than it has in quite a long time.

Winner: Tampa Bay Lightning

There's no doubt that Tampa Bay is the clear winner in this trade tree scenario, as they ended up acquiring a perennial 30-40 goal-scorer for only a third-round pick due to his unrestricted free agent status. No matter how you slice it, Tampa has - so far - come out on top of this trade tree

Biggest loser: Carolina Hurricanes

It's certainly not ideal to lose Guentzel to a trade for unrestricted free agency rights and net only a third-round pick in return. Carolina not only lost a perennial 30-40 goal-scorer, but they also lost a potential top-six winger in Koivunen and the second-round selection that led to the Penguins getting Brunicke, who has a ceiling as a top-pairing defenseman. Carolina lost this one, and they lost big.

New 'Kid Line' Might Be Just What Penguins NeedNew 'Kid Line' Might Be Just What Penguins NeedThe Pittsburgh Penguins debuted their new "kid line" of Rutger McGroarty, Ben Kindel, and Ville Koivunen against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday - and it paid off.

Jury's still out: Pittsburgh Penguins

It's very hard to replace a point-per-game, perennial 30-40 goal-scorer. Even with unrestricted free agency, trading a player of that caliber typically requires at least a first-round pick, which Penguins' GM/POHO Kyle Dubas failed to secure.

However, the Penguins probably got first-round value out of Brunicke, Koivunen's stock has risen since joining the organization, Lucius is playing well at the NCAA level, Novak has been a serviceable player for Pittsburgh, and they still have some picks at their disposal - which is good news, considering how Dubas and Wes Clark have fared in drafting up to this point.  

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how this trade tree continues to play out and if there are any more surprises in store with it. 

Pittsburgh Penguins At Tampa Bay Lightning Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To WatchPittsburgh Penguins At Tampa Bay Lightning Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins will face one of the toughest teams in the NHL on Thursday night.

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Pittsburgh Penguins At Tampa Bay Lightning Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won three of their last four games since head coach Dan Muse called them out following a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Nov. 22.

They recently beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 in dominant fashion on Monday, thanks to another outstanding performance from captain Sidney Crosby. Crosby, who loves torturing the Flyers and their fans, notched two goals and was a menace in all three zones. 

Goaltender Tristan Jarry was also great, saving 28 of 29 shots. He's set to get the start against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday after he was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate.

Speaking of the Lightning, they are one of the best teams in the NHL right now. After losing six of their first seven games to open the season, they've won 15 of their last 19 games and have a 16-8-2 record, good for first place in the Atlantic Division. They had their seven-game winning streak snapped by the New York Islanders on Tuesday. 

The Penguins will avoid seeing Andrei Vasilevskiy on Thursday after Lightning head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that Jonas Johansson will start in goal. They'll still have to face the Lightning's vaunted top six, led by supertstar Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov is off to another fantastic start, compiling 11 goals and 32 points in 24 games. 

Brandon Hagel and old friend Jake Guentzel are also off to great starts, each compiling 27 points to start the year. 

The Penguins didn't do line rushes at the morning skate, so there's a good chance the lines will remain the same from Monday.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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NHL Calder Trophy Tracker: Schaefer Overtakes Demidov, Sennecke And Wallstedt Join The Race

The NHL's had an excellent Calder Trophy race to start the year.

The top rookies are incredibly effective for their teams, helping them to much-improved results. Even beyond the top rookies, some strong performers would usually be at the top of the rookie race in most other years. 

The favorites coming into the year – Ivan Demidov and Matthew Schaefer – are still right up there at the top of the race. Beckett Sennecke joined them, but some netminders also entered the conversation with outstanding performances.

Let's check in on the NHL's top rookies as we approach the holiday season, because we are starting to get a clearer picture of how effective each of them has been for their respective squads.

1. Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

The Islanders' first overall pick has been nothing short of exceptional to start his NHL career. His eight goals are tied for the most among rookies, and combined with his 11 assists, he's one point behind Demidov and Sennecke for the rookie points lead.

The way that 18-year-old Schaefer dictates the play, pushes the pace and consistently brings life to the Islanders' attack is truly game-changing. 

Defensively, Schaefer has been better than just about any rookie D-man in recent memory.

His skating allows him to get into position defensively or recover when he decides to pinch and join the attack. His underlying numbers are stellar for any defender, let alone a first-year player.

There is legitimate conversation about him getting into the Norris Trophy conversation, so he's sure to stay atop the Calder race if he keeps this up.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 1.42/-238

2. Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens

It's quite impressive that Demidov isn't the top rookie at the moment. His season has been nothing short of outstanding.

He's tied for the rookie lead in points in one fewer game played, and he's doing so as the offensive catalyst on the second line for the Montreal Canadiens, primarily playing away from top players Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Demidov has been making magic with fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen, Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook throughout the season. 

Demidov might be the most purely skilled rookie in the class. His puckhandling and playmaking have come as advertised, and he shows a much more consistent effort in all three zones than most rookies.

The 19-year-old has been the kind of offensive catalyst Montreal has needed for years. His continued growth throughout the season will keep him right near the top of this list all year.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 4.60/+360

Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke skates with the puck in the game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Honda Center on Nov. 22. (Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images)

3. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Ducks

The NHL's other rookie scoring leader, with 20 points, has been better than advertised for the Anaheim Ducks. He's a big reason they're not just in a playoff spot but leading the Pacific Division.

Sennecke has added additional offensive depth, with high-end skill and an excellent dual-threat offensive game.

The 19-year-old has been a breath of fresh air, bringing some high-end puckhandling and dangles to a team built on playing hard, heavy hockey. If he continues to lead all rookies in scoring, it's going to be hard not to have him near the top of the Calder list.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 17.00/+1600

4. Jesper Wallstedt, G, Minnesota Wild

With the opportunity to play in the NHL full-time this season, the 'Wall of St. Paul' has had some incredible performances as the Wild's backup to Filip Gustavsson.

In 10 games, he has eight wins and four shutouts. His two losses came in overtime.

Wallstedt, 23, has a .944 save percentage, which leads NHL goalies who played at least 10 games. If he gets a bit more of the start split with Gustavsson, he could find his way up the list because he's been unbeatable over the last month.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 8.00/+700

5. Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina Hurricanes

The unfortunate thing about the Calder Trophy is that so much of the award is based on counting stats. Nikishin's impact goes far beyond that, with incredible defensive acumen and a physical edge that most rookies don't come close to bringing.

The 24-year-old Russian is one of the older rookies in the league, but he's shown exactly why he was one of the KHL's best blueliners before this season. Nikishin is undeniably one of the top rookies in the class thanks to his defensive impact, which should earn him some love in the Calder conversation, albeit likely not enough to get a finalist's nod.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000

San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov controls the puck against the Vancouver Canucks at SAP Center at San Jose on Nov. 28. (Eakin Howard-Imagn Images)

6. Yaroslav Askarov, G, San Jose Sharks

The Sharks traded for Askarov in hopes that he would become their goalie of the future. His performance this season proves just that.

Askarov plays with incredible athleticism. His ability to move around the net and read the play makes him not only effective but highly entertaining.

The 23-year-old is a bit of a throwback goalie. While his game has structure, his ability to play an unorthodox style when desperate means he is never out of the play. His .905 save percentage through 18 games is a great start to his rookie season.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 56.00/+5500

7. Ryan Leonard, RW, Washington Capitals

The drop off from the top six to the next group is steep, but Leonard's impact has been quite impressive. The 20-year-old still has his bull-in-a-china-shop style of play and a very good shot. His blend of a physical edge and nifty skill has been a welcome addition to the Capitals' forward core.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000  

8. Oliver Kapanen, C, Montreal Canadiens

When Kapanen made the Canadiens' roster, he was expected to fill the role of fourth-line center. Because of injuries and strong play from Kapanen, he's played up and down the lineup.

Even before injuries hit the Habs' lineup, the Finnish center was playing as high as the second line alongside Demidov. Kapanen, 22, plays a smart, positional, two-way game, which has made it easy to trust him in just about any situation. His eight goals are tied with Schaefer for the most among rookies.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 126.00/+12500

 

Detroit Red Wings forward Emmitt Finnie celebrates a goal against the Seattle Kraken at Little Caesars Arena on Nov. 18. (Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)

9. Emmitt Finnie, LW, Detroit Red Wings

No one expected Finnie to make the Wings' roster, and now, he's been the team's most consistent linemate for Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond on the top line. His no-nonsense game, focused on going to the hard areas and making life easier for his teammates, has helped him succeed. He may not be putting up the kind of numbers the top rookies are, but he's finding a way to make an impact.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 151.00/+15000      

10. Matthew Wood, W/C, Nashville Predators

Wood's performances have been somewhat inconsistent, but he's been a bright spot on a dim Nashville Predators squad. His size and finishing ability are notable. His production has slowed down considerably since his hat trick in mid-November, but the flashes have been there. Wood is an excellent complementary secondary scorer, but he'll need some help from the veterans around him.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000        

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Senators Recall Belleville Forward For Thursday's Home Date With New York Rangers

With a long seven-game road trip now behind them, the Ottawa Senators settle in for three games at home, starting Thursday night against the New York Rangers. The Sens posted a record of 4-3 on the trip, capping things off with a convincing 5-2 victory in Montreal on Tuesday night.

The Rangers also come in on a high from Tuesday night, defeating the Dallas Stars, one of the very best teams in the league, 3-2 in overtime at MSG. That's the same Stars team than thumped the Sens 6-1 on Sunday. 

Where Do They Stand?

Both teams enter the game tied with 30 points, but the Rangers (14-12-2) are a point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wild card spot. The Senators (13-9-4) are third in the Atlantic, one point behind the Montreal Canadiens (14-9-3), and four points behind the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Rangers come into this one with what we'll call road-ice advantage. They lead the league in road wins (11) and rank second in road points (23).

What's New?

The Senators are set for some more Halliday time. Lars Eller missed practice on Thursday morning and will not play. He's listed as day-to-day, but when asked for details, Travis Green "didn't want to get into it." Centre Stephen Halliday has been recalled from Belleville and will play in his fifth career NHL game. He has 19 points in 17 AHL games this season.

The Senators were also missing defenseman Artem Zub, whose issues is described as a nagging lower-body injury. So, Jordan Spence moved up to play with Jake Sanderson, while Dennis Gilbert skated alongside Nick Jensen. After being part of the Josh Norris deal in March, Gilbert left the Senators in free agency, then was reacquired last month for Max Guenette. This will be the debut of Gilbert 2.0.

Halliday was here in time for practice, so here's how the chess pieces were aligned.

Green also announced after practice that Cousins would play while Sens backup Leevi Merilainen will get the start in goal.

New York State of Mind

Here's how the Rangers lined things up at their Wednesday practice. After taking down Dallas, they changed nothing, and they're not likely to do so in Ottawa on Thursday.

Panarin-Zibanejad-Lafrenière
Brodzinski-Trocheck-Miller
Cuylle-Laba-Berard
Sheary-Carrick-Raddysh

Gavrikov-Schneider
Soucy-Borgen
Robertson-Morrow

Igor Shesterkin is expected to start in goal with Spencer Martin backing him up. Shesterkin is 5-1-2 against the Sens with a goals against average of 1.86 and a save percentage of .939.

Former Senators first-rounder Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers in goals (9) and power play goals (6), and ranks third in points (20) behind Artem Panarin (28) and Adam Fox (26).

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

Posted on

What we learned in Warriors' heartbreaking last-second road loss to 76ers

What we learned in Warriors' heartbreaking last-second road loss to 76ers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

In every way possible, the Warriors had as bad of a start to a game as possible Thursday night in Philadelphia against the 76ers. That isn’t an exaggeration either. 

But this is why all four quarters count. The Warriors’ reserves for the second straight game led a furious comeback, but fell short in heartbreaking fashion, 99-98 in the final second at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.

VJ Edgecombe put back a Tyrese Maxey miss with 0.9 seconds left, and then Maxey blocked a layup attempt from De’Anthony Melton at the buzzer.

After Will Richard made it a 5-5 game, the 76ers then answered with a 22-0 run. The Warriors went more than seven minutes without scoring a single point, chucking threes and counting their misses. They finished the first quarter with 10 points, which is the lowest amount for any team in any quarter throughout the NBA this season, and the fewest for the Warriors ever under coach Steve Kerr. 

The Warriors could have waved the white flag after the first quarter. At least at halftime. But no, for the second straight game, they scratched, clawed and fought until the very end. The Warriors, with two and a half minutes left, took their first lead since the score was 3-2.

Pat Spencer again was phenomenal off the bench for the Warriors. One game after scoring a career-high 17 points, Spencer played 24 minutes and was a plus-17 with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. 

Making his season debut, Melton was as good as Warriors fans remembered. The veteran guard scored 14 points off the bench to go with three assists and two steals.

The Warriors (11-12) already were without their top two stars, Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, to begin a three-game road trip. Adding injury to insult, Draymond Green limped to the locker room in the second quarter and was ruled out with a right foot injury early in the third quarter. 

Maxey dropped a game-high 35 points, but the Warriors’ bench outscored the 76ers’ reserves 67-24. Four different Warriors bench players finished in double figures.  

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ loss to the 12-9 76ers:

Melton Makes Season Debut 

Exactly one year to the date, Melton underwent ACL surgery. On Thursday night, he made his season debut, playing in his first game since Nov. 12, 2024. Melton joined Jonathan Kuminga as the first two players off the bench against one of his former teams, replacing Al Horford and Will Richard.

He used his length and strength halfway through the second quarter to score his first two points of the season. 

That layup was the lone shot Melton made in the first half. As the Warriors started adjusting the kind of shots they were taking in the third quarter, Melton was money on a midrange jumper for his first attempt of the third quarter. As the Warriors began chopping away the deficit, Melton led the Warriors with eight points in the third quarter. 

Melton added another four points, one rebound and one assist in the fourth quarter. Kerr said that Melton would be capped at 20 minutes, but he brought him for the final two minutes of the game, bringing him to just under 22 in his first game played in more than a year.

Stats were impressive enough for Melton. The way he played with the intentionality of getting two feet in the paint, pushing pace and getting to the free-throw line are lessons the rest of the Warriors can learn from. 

Horford Gets First Start In Return

Returning from missing the Warriors’ last four games due to sciatic nerve irritation and a personal matter, Horford was thrown into the starting lineup for the first time this season. And he was part of the action right away. 

Joel Embiid scored on Horford from 11 feet out to start the game, and then Horford responded by draining a three on the other side for the Warriors. 

Horford took five more shots the rest of the first half, including four threes, and missed each one. The same thing happened in the second half, too.

He played 18 minutes and scored three points on 1-of-8 shooting and was 1 of 7 beyond the arc. However, Horford did add six rebounds, four assists and one big blocked shot. Horford was a plus-5 overall.

Another Stunning Second Half 

For the second straight game, the Warriors were a better and smarter team in the third quarter than the product that was on the court in the first two quarters. Just look at their shot chart from the third quarter compared to the first half, when they scored 32 points, which is two fewer than they went into halftime with. 

The Warriors only took four threes in the third quarter after attempting 15 in the first quarter and 11 in the second, going 6 of 26 (23.1 percent). But as defense turned to offense, the game became easier for the Warriors in the third quarter. The Warriors made two of their four 3-point attempts in the third quarter and went 9 of 15 on 2-pointers (60 percent) while frequenting the paint. 

They also had five steals in the quarter, forced seven turnovers and took 12 free throws – twice as many as the 76ers. That style then followed them into the fourth quarter. The Warriors went on a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter, taking them from down 84-66 to making it an 84-81 game. 

The Warriors outscored the 76ers 32-19 in the fourth quarter and 64-43 in the second half.

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