NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 8: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards defeated the New York Knicks, 111-109 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. The win gives Washington a 1-0 record in the preseason.
As you might have expected, the Wizards started their Big Three of AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Washington even finished with a 30-29 lead. Dybantsa didn’t start out too hot, but he did make this nice drive to the hoop in the second quarter.
Ultimately, the Knicks had the stronger second quarter and headed into halftime with a 63-57 lead.
Washington was able to cut the lead down in the third quarter despite being behind by as many as 10 points. But a strong fourth quarter, which started with this go-ahead bucket by Will Riley helped give Washington the momentum needed to take down the NBA Champions.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Carter Yakemchuk broke a tie on a power play with 6:59 left and the Ottawa Senators held on to beat the winless Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on Thursday night.
Nick Cousins opened the scoring for Ottawa at midway through the first period. Matvei Michkov tied it in a power play at 7:46 of the second.
Linus Ullmark made 29 saves to help the Senators improve to 3-1-0.
Joseph Woll stopped 24 shots for Philadelphia. The Flyers are 0-3-2.
Michael Bunting made his Flyers debut after signing with the team Tuesday and Ottawa defenseman Hoyt Stanley made his NHL debut.
BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 8: Jaylen Brown #7 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers high five during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 8, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s understandable if it’s still hard to believe, but the Sixers’ starting lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid made its debut Thursday night in Brooklyn.
It was just a preseason game, but it gave us a fun glimpse of what can be in the Sixers’ 114-108 loss to the Nets.
Brown led the way with 18 points while Maxey had 14 points and James finished with 10 points, five assists and four rebounds. Maxey and James did not play in the second half. Edgecombe chipped in with 11 points. Embiid had six points, three rebounds and three assists, but looked rusty, committing eight turnovers.
Anfernee Simons (hamstring), Dominick Barlow (back) and Adem Bona (foot) were all out.
Next up for the Sixers is their penultimate preseason game in Boston against the Celtics Saturday night.
First quarter
Embiid comfortably switching onto Keon Ellis on the first possession of his first preseason game feels like a massive positive. He had another possession on Nolan Traore which led to a miss. He was moving extremely well. The only blemish for Embiid was his three turnovers. He looked a little rusty dealing with ball pressure.
The Sixers’ first basket of the game was on a LeBron hit-ahead pass to Edgecombe. This team should be a nightmare to handle in transition. The ball movement was breath-taking at times.
Maxey’s first bucket was a dunk on a baseline drive. He then buried a couple threes off movement. This lineup is going to allow Maxey to flourish as an off-ball scorer. He led the Sixers with 10 points in the first.
A brief scare as Mo Wagner pushed Embiid in the back on a box out and the big man rolled into Brown. Brown was down for minute grabbing his right knee, but got up and appeared no worse for wear.
Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were the first subs. Wade did exactly what you’d hope he’d do, snagging two offensive rebounds, burying a corner three and playing stout defense.
The defense looked leaky to say the least, but the offense was ridiculous. They had 10 assists on 12 made field goals. LeBron had half of the those dimes and finished the quarter with four points, five assists and two rebounds. The game was tied at 33-33 after one.
Lebron James with 5 assists tonight already after this laser pass to Jabari Walker for the jam pic.twitter.com/uwlnZr73yk
Nearly a highlight-reel alley-oop to start the second. After great hustle from Wade and Jabari Walker, KCP was on the break with Edgecombe. Unfortunately, Ellis broke up what would’ve been a nasty slam.
Labaron Philon, Jr. getting some minutes with the regulars and buries a three off a Maxey drive. Love Nurse experimenting with a smaller backcourt, though those minutes will likely be Simons’ when he’s healthy.
Another turnover for Embiid. Mo Wagner is playing like it’s the NBA Finals, which good for him, but it did look like he might’ve fouled Embiid. Embiid then picked up a frustration foul (it was a bit soft) followed by a technical. It’s been a frustrating night for Embiid offensively.
If there was one aspect of Embiid’s game that looked good it was his passing. He delivered a frozen rope pass to Wade on the baseline, who was then fouled.
Speaking of Wade, he’s proving to be an outstanding cutter so far. He had a few impressive defensive possessions on the strong-bodied Julius Randle as well. He looks like an oustanding fit.
Again, the defense has been rough at times, but the Nets only shot 39.2% from the field. The turnover battle was the issue, with the Sixers only forcing four in the first half while committing 14. That — and a serious Sixers’ free throw advantage — led to Brooklyn taking 20 more field goal attempts. Embiid had seven. Many of the giveaways were a clear result of guys simply not playing together.
With all that said, the offensive talent is just so overwhelming. There are mismatches and advantages on every single possession. The Sixers were up 58-56 at half. Maxey led the way with 14 points while James had 10 points, five assists and four rebounds.
Lebron James with his first (preseason) field goal as a Philadelphia 76er, with a little English on it pic.twitter.com/T3xDJMTPEI
Another turnover for Embiid. He’s really got to tighten it up. Sure, a couple have been caused by timing issues, but a few have just been plain sloppy.
The Nets’ strategy seemed to be to make the officials call fouls. On one hand, it did seem to slow the Philly offense down. On the other, Wagner had five fouls and Randle four not even midway through the third quarter.
Without James and Maxey, the offense seemed to get stagnant. The ball stopped moving and there was a bit too much iso ball.
Brown really started cooking with a bench-heavy unit. He made a gorgeous teardrop, buried a three and then delivered a beautiful behind-the-back pass to Jabari Walker, which led to a foul. He scored 18 points in just under 24 minutes.
Walker is having an excellent preseason. He put back a Justin Edwards missed three and then took a charge on the ensuing possession. Walker proving to be a legitimate stretch big option would be a welcomed development.
Great sequence here from Jabari Walker — a put-back bucket down one end and immediately takes a charge down the other 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/OpxhsAu9rD
The Nets went on an 11-0 run as the Sixers subbed out most of their regulars. Brooklyn took a 93-81 lead into the fourth.
Fourth quarter
Philon hasn’t shot well in the first two preseason games, but when you watch him, you see the potential. The handle and the creation ability are real. He’ll start to make more of these as the game reps increase.
It’s been a struggle for Justin Edwards so far. I thought he’d have a chance to compete with KCP for minutes this season. Thus far he looks like the team’s 14th man. He did make a few shots late, which will hopefully give him a confidence boost going forward.
Take it for what it’s worth, but Kate Scott mentioned on the broadcast that Tacko Fall might be available for Saturday’s game in Boston. It would be fun to watch the 7-foot-6 center play, but he also has a legitimate chance to earn the Sixers’ final two-way deal. With the season-ending injury to Ariel Hukporti, it’s not crazy to think Fall would get regular season minutes if he earns that spot.
Jameer Nelson Jr. has been really good! He plays his butt off on both ends. Should be a solid addition to the Blue Coats this season. Honestly, the team down in Delaware should be entertaining.
José Ramírez hit a go-ahead two-run home run to put the Guardians up 3-2. With the count 0-1, the third baseman was tossed a fastball by White Sox pitcher Jordan Hicks just above the strike zone. He smacked it hard and watched it sail into the bullpen in right field. Steven Kwan also scored after hitting a single.
Ramírez was the first batter Hicks faced after coming in for Erick Fedde.
Earlier that inning, Patrick Bailey hit a solo home run to put the Guardians on the board.
Cleveland had not hit a home run in the first three games of the series.
BOSTON (AP) — David Pastrnak scored his first two goals of the season and added two assists as the Boston Bruins routed the Utah Mammoth 6-1 in Thursday night.
Matthew Poitras, Casey Mittelstadt, Mason Lohrei and Morgan Geekie also scored for the Bruins, who led 3-0 after one period and 6-0 after two. Jeremy Swayman made 36 saves.
Pastrnak scored his first goal with 5:38 left in the first period on a power-play wrist shot, assisted by Frederic Brunet and Geekie. He tacked on a power-play slap shot 4:40 into the second period, assisted by Geekie and Hampus Lindholm.
Jack McBain scored for the Mammoth midway through the third period to spoil Swayman's shutout bid.
Karel Vejmelka stopped 11 of 14 shots he faced before he was replaced by Sebastian Cossa, who made five saves for the Mammoth.
The Bruins scored three power-play goals, while the Mammoth went scoreless on the power play. The Bruins blocked 23 shots in the win.
Up next
Utah: Visits the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.
Boston: Hosts the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
In their return to the Garden for the first time since Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, the Knicks struggled to keep up with a young Washington Wizards core, losing by just two points, 111-109, for their second loss of the preseason.
Here are some takeaways...
-- Just as in Monday's 120-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks' starting lineup comprised the five stars that powered the team to its NBA Finals win in June: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. For the Wizards, the game marked their first of the preseason, as well as their first chance to see how newly-acquired vets Trae Young and Anthony Davis — as well as 2026 first-overall pick AJ Dybantsa — fit into Washington's rebuild.
-- The Knicks' offense got off to a slow start, turning the ball over thrice in the first three minutes of the game. After the Wizards went up 1-0 on a free throw from Dybantsa, Brunson landed a three to kickstart a back-and-forth offensive effort that would extend through the end of the first half.
Miles McBride and Andre Drummond were the first two Knicks to come off the bench, shortly followed by Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado. McBride, who enters the season as the longest-tenured Knick, made a convincing argument for the contract extension he's pursuing, quickly dumping in a three before drawing a foul and adding a fourth point on the free throw.
They finished the first quarter down one point, 29-30.
-- New York's bench saw more action in the early portion of the second, with Mohamed Diawara and Jordan Clarkson taking the court for the first time. Just as in Philadelphia on Monday, New York's offense continued to ebb and flow but found a groove at the end, taking a six-point lead (63-57) into the half. Hart led the team in both minutes (16) and points (13) through the first 24 minutes of play.
-- The game's pace quickened in the third, but the Knicks' offense remained steady, increasing its lead thanks to Shamet. The shooting guard landed three straight three-point attempts for nine of the team's 21points scored in the frame. New York was up by as many as 10 points, but Washington narrowed the gap to just three by the end of the quarter.
-- The Wizards began to run away with the game in the middle of the final frame, gaining a seven-point lead until Pacome Dadiet sank a 26-foot three-pointer to put the Knicks back in the fight. The Knicks closed the deficit to just two in a chaotic final minute of play, but their effort was to no avail.
-- Overall, the Knicks shot just 42 percent from the field and 29 percent from three (11-for-38). New York's starters played much more than in the preseason opener in Philly, each crossing the 19-minute mark. Hart led the star five with 21 minutes, tying with Brunson for 13 points. Leading the bench, Shamet also had 13 points.
-- Dybantsa, 19, scored 11 points in his debut and led the Wizards in minutes (23) and steals (4). He went zero-for-three from three.
Game MVP: Anthony Davis
The 33-year-old power forward scored almost as many points (16) as he played minutes (17), landed two of his three three-point attempts, and went two-for-two from the free-throw line in his first game with Washington.
Highlights
Welcome back to The Garden, Jalen Brunson https://t.co/c51x7IM5Wc
The Colorado Avalanche stumbled out of the gate, but once they found their footing, the Calgary Flames had no answer.
After a sloppy opening period filled with defensive-zone turnovers and timely saves from Scott Wedgewood, the Avalanche erupted for three unanswered goals in the second period to turn a 1-1 deadlock into a commanding 4-1 lead. Devon Toews led the charge with his second goal of the night, while Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon joined the scoring frenzy as Colorado seized control heading into the final 20 minutes.
First Period
Colorado got off to a shaky start after a defensive-zone turnover led to a dangerous rush chance for Calgary, but Scott Wedgewood was up to the task, denying Mikael Backlund on back-to-back opportunities.
The Flames handed the Avalanche their first power play at 6:23 after being caught with too many men on the ice. Aydar Suniev, appearing in just his eighth career NHL game, served the bench minor.
However, Colorado's power play got off to a rocky start when another costly turnover sent Joel Farabee in alone on a shorthanded breakaway. Wedgewood came up big once again, flashing the glove to rob Farabee and keep Calgary off the board.
At the midway point of the period, the Avalanche looked flat. Calgary held a 5-2 edge in shots, and Colorado struggled to establish any sustained offensive pressure. It's hard to build momentum when you're constantly coughing up the puck in your own zone.
Colorado goal!
Scored by Devon Toews with 04:06 left in the 1st. Assisted by Cale Makar and Brock Nelson.
Despite those early struggles, the Avalanche broke through with 5:06 remaining in the period. Cale Makar found Devon Toews all alone in the soft ice of the low slot, where he redirected the puck past Flames netminder Devin Cooley, who had left the left side of the net wide open.
It was Toews' first goal of the season, coming just four games into the campaign. By comparison, he didn't find the back of the net until Colorado's 25th game last season.
Calgary didn't take long to respond.
With 2:30 remaining, Adam Klapka pulled off a slick toe drag around Josh Manson before unleashing a blistering wrist shot that rang off the left post and into the net, tying the game at 1-1.
Toews was sent to the penalty box with less than a minute remaining after tripping Yegor Sharangovich, giving Calgary a power play that carried into the second period.
Both teams headed to the dressing room deadlocked at one after an opening period in which Wedgewood's timely saves helped the Avalanche overcome an otherwise sloppy start.
Second Period
After a sluggish opening 20 minutes, the Avalanche flipped the script in the second period, finding their offensive rhythm and wasting little time taking control of the game.
After needing 25 games to score his first goal last season, Devon Toews already has two in just four games this time around. He netted his second of the night after taking a pass from Noah Juulsen and firing a shot from just inside the blue line that sailed through a screen set by Zach L'Heureux and past Cooley, giving Colorado a 2-1 lead.
Colorado goal!
Scored by Devon Toews with 13:15 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Noah Juulsen and Parker Kelly.
Less than three minutes later, Nathan MacKinnon sprung a streaking Cale Makar, who blew past the Calgary defense with a burst of speed as he crossed the blue line. Closing in on Cooley, Makar unleashed a blistering wrist shot that beat the Flames netminder to double Colorado's lead.
Colorado goal!
Scored by Cale Makar with 10:44 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Nathan MacKinnon and Brett Kulak.
The onslaught continued just over two minutes later when MacKinnon hammered home a one-timer off a slick feed from L'Heureux, extending Colorado's lead to 4-1. It was MacKinnon's third goal in four games, while L'Heureux picked up his second point of the night.
Colorado goal!
Scored by Nathan MacKinnon with 08:21 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Zachary L'Heureux.
What had been a frustrating opening period quickly turned into a showcase of Colorado's offensive firepower, with the Avalanche capitalizing on their opportunities and putting Calgary firmly on its heels.
Parker Kelly was penalized for interference with 22 seconds left in the frame.
Colorado entered the third period with a commanding 4-1 lead, just 20 minutes away from bouncing back from Wednesday's tough 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
Third Period
Cale Makar has made a habit of unleashing highlight-reel slap shots this season, and 5:35 into the third period was no exception. After Nazem Kadri's pass deflected off Nathan MacKinnon's stick, Makar pounced on the loose puck and hammered it home to extend Colorado's lead to 5-1.
Less than a minute later, Jaden Schwartz scored for the second straight game to make it 6-1. After attempting to redirect a point shot from Brett Kulak, T.J. Hughes reacted quickly to the loose puck and slipped a pass to Schwartz in the slot, where he blasted it past Cooley.
Calgary answered shortly afterward when Mikael Backlund redirected a shot past Wedgewood off the rush, cutting Colorado's lead to 6-2.
The Flames continued to chip away at Colorado's lead just 1:11 later when Yegor Sharangovich threaded a cross-ice pass to Kevin Bahl, who ripped a shot past Wedgewood and into the top corner to cut the deficit to 6-3.
Colorado apparently took exception to Calgary's quick scoring burst and wasted little time responding. Just 1:13 later, offseason acquisition Jaden Schwartz struck again, netting his second goal of the night and third in the last 24 hours after also finding the back of the net in Wednesday's loss to Winnipeg.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer suited up for the team's preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, Oct. 8 at Barclays Center and was in the starting lineup.
The crowd cheered enthusiastically as James did his pregame ritual, tossing chalk in the air, for the first time in the blue No. 23 jersey.
James' first field goal came in the second quarter via a reverse layup with an assist from Tyrese Maxey. The future Hall of Famer credited the rising star as a major factor in choosing to join the 76ers this offseason. The bucket put Philadelphia up 40-39.
He got his first points in the first quarter when he was fouled by Keon Ellis and made both free throws.
LeBron's first bucket in his @sixers preseason debut comes in style!
James got his first assist as a member of Philadelphia in the first quarter when he dished the ball to VJ Edgecombe for a layup.
The four-time NBA champion was substituted out of the game at halftime with the score 58-56 in favor of Philadelphia. He had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers and a steal in 18 minutes of play.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 7: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball before an NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on February 7, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After sitting out the first two exhibition contests, Austin Reaves will make his preseason debut against the Kings on Thursday.
Head coach JJ Redick announced pregame that Reaves would return to the court, his first appearance since signing his big deal to return to the Lakers this summer.
However, Reaves is not going to be joined by his teammates who also missed the first two games. Walker Kessler remains out after jamming a finger during practice while Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma are also sidelined.
Joining them for Thursday’s game are Ziaire Williams, Cameron Carr and Dalton Knecht. Williams had some soreness, as Redick described, while Carr and Knecht took hits leading to contusions.
Ziaire Williams, Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma remain out; Cameron Carr and Dalton Knecht are also out, both of whom have contusions.
Reddick has remained steadfast that these injuries are not long-term concerns. After a flurry of games this week, the Lakers will be off until Tuesday before wrapping up the preseason with a game next Friday.
With over another week of games remaining — and additional practice coming after that — there isn’t any real reason to worry about any of the players who have yet to make an appearance. In fact, Redick said pregame that Kessler would play in preseason games.
Notably not mentioned during any of those injury updates is Luka Dončić, which means not only is Reaves playing on Thursday, but fans will get to see the superstar pair on the court together for the first time this season.
While this happened plenty of times last season, something about this being a new era of Lakers basketball makes it feel like a bigger deal to see them on the floor together, ushering the Lakers forward.
As Temba Bavuma was assessing South African cricket’s finest triumph at Lord’s a year ago, he paused before noting that to walk a mile in his shoes would not be the smoothest of treks for any cricketer.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Jake Oettinger made 26 saves for his second straight shutout, Mikko Rantanen had a goal and three assists and the Dallas Stars beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-0 on Thursday night.
Oettinger has 18 career shutouts. He stopped 13 shots Monday night in a 5-0 home victory over San Jose.
Jason Robertson, Sam Steel and Roope Hintz also scored to help Dallas win its second in a row after two opening losses. Wyatt Johnston had three assists.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 14 shots for Buffalo. The Sabres had won the first two games of a five-game homestand.
Robertson scored at 9:03 of the first period and the Stars added three more in the second. Sam Steel connected on a snap shot at 9:36, Rantanen scored on a backhander with 6:03 left and Roope put in a snapper on a power play with 4:26 remaining.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics shoots over Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter of the preseason game at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a packed week of NBA preseason games, Boston finally took to the court against the Cavaliers in Cleveland. For coaches and fans of both franchises it was the first opportunity to see their new look teams in a game setting. Boston showcased it’s newest additions and rookies as they took the game 124-113 on the road, Luka Garza led the way with 22 points and 10 boards. Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman both had 16 points and Devin Carter scored 17 points in a fine debut.
Joe Mazulla handed the coaching keys over to his assistants with Tony Dobbins at the helm for the first half and DJ MacCleay took the reins for the second half of game 1 of the 2026-27 preseason. Boston started with a complete curveball lineup of veteran debutant Mike Conley, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Luka Garza. Cleveland countered with a potential regular season starting lineup with Evan Mobley, Jarret Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, and Peyton Watson.
Paul George started in street clothes, so C’s fans will need to wait to see his first game as a member of the Boston Celtics. Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Mitchell Robinson, Sam Hauser, and Ron Harper Jr. joined George on the bench.
Baylor Scheierman scored the first points of the game for Boston, a play after Jaylon Tyson knocked down the first score with a three-pointer. Luka Garza hit on his first triple of the game from the top of the key as both teams settled into the action. Garza snagged a big offensive board and scored with three white Cavs jerseys surrounding him, scores tied 7-7.
With a heavy emphasis on offensive rebounding, the Cavs got out and ran for a ton of early fast breaks, they took an early 5-point lead in the first quarter. Mike Conley flashed a nifty pass deep to the corner to find Hugo Gonzalez wide open, the Spaniard lacing a corner three for his first points of the preseason.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 08: Jayson Tatum #0 and Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics sit on the bench during the first quarter of the preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rookie Chris Cenac Jr. and new signing Devin Carter were the first Celtics off the bench for Tony Dobbins. Cenac Jr. scored his first points of the game with a loud two-handed dunk as Scheierman found him with the assist, wrapping the ball behind his back off a loose ball hustle play. Devin Carter scored his first points as a member of the Boston Celtics with a tomahawk dunk on the break over Watson.
Rookies Milos Uzan and Dillon Mitchell saw time late in the quarter for Boston. Uzan showed the stroke with a triple from the 45, and Carter rattled home a straight-on three of his own as Boston took the lead 30-26. Dillon Mitchell went two for four from the line in his first trips to the NBA free throw line. Boston up by 3 points, 32-29 after one quarter.
Cenac Jr. showed his athleticism early in the second quarter with a fast break two-handed dunk in full stride; Mike Conley found the rook on the break with the assist. Mike Conley showed his veteran savvy as he drove on Mario Hezonja to score on a floater along the baseline. Devin Carter kept up the scoring as he drove into the chest of Peyton Watson to score his tenth point of the game. Carter is staking a claim on the 15th roster spot, as he currently sits on an Exhibit 10 contract.
The Celtics enjoyed an extended training camp in Charleston, South Carolina, and that bonding and chemistry was evident as the newcomers and rookies looked pretty well integrated into the flow of the offense in game one of preseason. Boston kept the pressure on the Cleveland glass; they had 12 offensive rebounds with 5 minutes left in the first half.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 08: Devin Carter #99 of the Boston Celtics shoots during the first quarter of the preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hugo Gonzalez looked good in his second quarter stint with a fluid three-pointer and a Euro step up-and-under layup. Jordan Walsh hit a tough, high arcing jumper over Jarrett Allen as the shot clock expired at the two minute mark, Boston up 65-58. Luka Garza was outstanding in the first half, he played 16 minutes and had 16 points, 7 rebounds (4 offensive), and 2 blocks. Boston took a 9 point lead into the change rooms at the half, 71-62.
Scheierman opened the scoring for Boston in the second half with a deep three-pointer that was all nylon. The Cavliers sat their starters to start the second half. Cleveland reeled off 12 straight points after the Scheirman three, Meleek Thomas, Mario Hezonja active for the home team forcing DJ MacLeay to call a quick timeout. Jordan Walsh broke the scoring drought for Boston in the paint, game tied at 76.
Boston kept the pressure on Cleveland, extending the lead to 5 points, 91-86. DJ MacLeay and the Celtics coaches were cycling through bench players to keep the pace high in the third quarter. Boston was giving up a ton of transition buckets as the third quarter ended, the held on to 99-96 lead after three.
Conley, Garza, Scheierman, and Walsh headed to the bench to watch the final quarter after a decent showing against the Cavs starters sans James Harden. DJ MacLeay brought on Amari Williams, Dillon Mitchell and the training camp players to finish things off. Dillon Mitchell skied for an alley Oop dunk and Tucker DeVries showed the shooting touch drilling back-to-back triples.
It wasn’t a pretty end, but the C’s held on to take a comfortable win on the road. Dillon Mitchell was active for Boston in his first game, stuffing the stat sheet for 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. First round pick, Chris Cenac Jr. had 7 points, 4 blocks and 8 rebounds, he showed signs of being a contributor during the regular season. Hayden Gray had 6 points on the night and Milos Uzan chipped in 6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Celtics travel home to Boston for their second preseason game, hosting the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday 10th of October.
A poll conducted by The Post showed — unsurprisingly — that respondents want Aaron Boone gone after the ballclub fell well short of the lofty expectations bestowed upon it, with nearly 85 percent of more than 11,000 voters calling on the Yankees to give him the boot.
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“I’ve been calling for Aaron Boone’s firing for years, and not for any specific baseball reason. Just the simple fact that he hasn’t won with the talent on that team. George [Steinbrenner] would have fired him long ago,” one person commented on The Post’s website.
Boone has not won a championship since taking over as manager in 2018, making just one World Series appearance — a 2024 loss to the Dodgers — in nine seasons at the helm.
Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman are seen during pregame warmups before the Yankees’ win over the Red Sox on Sept. 12, 2025 at Fenway Park. Jason Szenes / New York PostHow readers of The Post voted.
Those same poll participants, though, aren’t generally fans of the general manager, with 73 percent (8,535) calling for Cashman’s job.
Cashman has been general manager for 29 seasons — including four World Series titles (1998, 1999, 2000, 2009) and seven American League pennants.
However, Cashman has faced plenty of criticism over his allegiance to Boone and the personnel moves he’s made over the past few seasons as the championship drought has dragged on.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. walks back to the dugout after the final out of the ninth inning of their season-ending Game 3 loss to the Rays in The Bronx. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Cashman should go or change the organization’s approach to hitting,” another voter commented. “Need to stop relying on the home run. That doesn’t work in the playoffs against better pitching. Concentrate on putting the ball in play and minimize strikeouts. Get players that can hit .270-.280. Play baseball the way it’s supposed to be played. Also, we need a typical leadoff hitter, not have Rice or the likes of Grisham batting leadoff.
A stat shown on the TBS broadcast showed Tampa opponents made 188 errors this year against them. Most in the majors. That’s because they make contact and force you to make a play. If Cashman won’t dictate that change then he must go.”
A majority of poll participants also want to see Jazz Chisholm Jr. (91 percent), Trent Grisham (88 percent) and slugger Giancarlo Stanton (86 percent) get the boot.
Anthony Volpe saw his stock rise among those who took part in the polling, with 79 percent saying he should stay with the team.
“Stanton, Chisholm gotta go. Yanks need [a] catcher big time,” another voter explained in a comment. “Stop playing with Volpe’s head [and] make him [the] everyday second baseman. Rice, Jones, Bellinger, Judge, Lombard, Volpe should be everyday. Add a 3rd baseman and catcher and lineup is set. Pitching, if healthy, is set. Boone time for a change.”
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 8: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers took their first loss of the preseason in a 124-113 defeat to the Boston Celtics.
Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen started the game for Cleveland. James Harden was ruled out with ankle soreness.
Boston was without Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Peyton Pritchard, Mitchell Robinson, and Paul George.
This was Cleveland’s first chance to see what Watson could look like next to their other star players. He opened the game by defending Mike Conley, taking on the challenge of protecting the point-of-attack. Watson’s perimeter defense will be key to his role in the starting five.
The Cavs trailed 32-29 after the first quarter as Boston nailed 6-of-17 three-point attempts.
Tyson led the Cavs in scoring during the first half. He scored 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, making his way to the basket for a handful of easy buckets — including a hail-mary touchdown from Craig Porter Jr. in transition.
Kenny Atkinson said before the game that Cleveland’s starters would rest for the entire second half. He stuck to his word, starting Mario Hezonja, Tyrese Proctor, Meleek Thomas, Craig Porter, and Thomas Bryant in the third quarter.
This game had all the makings of preseason. Weird lineups. Half-hearted effort and a ton of three-point attempts.
But it also had some of that preseason strangeness that leads to fun as well.
Bryant stormed the floor for a deep seal in the paint within his first 10 seconds of being on the court. That’s what we’re all here for, right?
The second half was more enjoyable in terms of watching stuff that might actually matter. The rookie, Meleek Thomas, had a few standout moments that serve as brief flashes of what he could one day become. His on-ball creation is raw but entertaining. His defensive intensity could put him in the rotation ahead of schedule.
We also saw Hezonja thaw himself out in the third quarter after a frigid start to his NBA return. He felt slow in the opening minutes, losing the ball and missing the mark. It wasn’t until a quick stretch that included a three-pointer and a downhill dime that the picture of what Hezonja can be in Cleveland came into focus.
Still, Cleveland was downed by Boston’s sporadic three-point shooting. The Celtics finished with 17 three-pointers and handed the Cavs the loss.
It's not every day you see a Week 5 matchup as impactful as this week's NFC West clash between the San Francisco 49ers (4-0) and Seattle Seahawks (3-1) on Sunday afternoon in Seattle. With NFC playoff implications and a long-standing rivalry at stake, the stage is set for what Yahoo Sports NFL analyst Nate Tice aptly dubbed the "Hoss Fight of the Week." Tice and fellow Yahoo analyst Matt Harmon discussed the matchup on this week's episode of the "Football 301” podcast and how they expect the game to play out Sunday.
Game of adjustments: 49ers offense vs. Seahawks defense
Coming into this game, the 49ers' offense has looked untouchable. Tice said San Francisco "is tipping the scales in every single stat." The Niners haven't allowed a sack all season, a feat that seems almost fictional in today's NFL. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has his offensive machine humming, QB Brock Purdy is leading the way as "the dot at the top right of every chart right now" thanks to scorching-hot efficiency and command.
The chess match between Shanahan and Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald is a heavyweight bout. Seattle's defense, loaded up front, will look to feast if the 49ers stick to what was comfortable. The Niners, meanwhile, might look to stress the boundaries with hard play-action and hope for chunk gains, but Seattle's back end has proven tough.
As Harmon pointed out, San Francisco's lack of elite wide receiver depth could show in this matchup as George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey have carried much of the load this season.
Harmon also highlighted San Francisco's tendency to "get away with it," using its creative playbook to mitigate a lack of star power on the outside. But this, he said, was a week where even the best schemers will be tested by top-level athletes and disciplined execution.
Harmon confidently predicted: "I feel like this is the week that the no sacks taken streak gets broken." Why? The Seahawks' defense is starting to find its groove, especially in the trenches, and this would be the toughest front the Niners have faced this season.
The Seahawks have been one of the league's best against the run, ranking third in running back stuff rate and allowing just 0.5 yards before contact on running back carries. Explosive runs? Nearly non-existent. Pass defense? Even better — only eight explosive passes allowed all season compared to the league average of 18.
The Niners' renowned ground game will be tested, especially with Kyle Juszczyk expected to be out with a knee injury. Tice wonders how Shanahan might adapt, given that Seattle has devoured zone runs this season, allowing just two explosive plays and leading in stuffs against zone concepts. But gap and duo runs offered a glimmer of hope, as Seattle was only average against duo.
A critical subplot involved the Seahawks' near-total embrace of zone coverage: "90% zone rate on all downs, 90% on late downs — the lowest rate of Cover 1 in history," noted Tice. If there's an edge for Shanahan, it might be in leaning on play-action away from those cloud corners, as the Chargers managed a few times.
Can Seattle get its struggling run game off the ground?
Harmon dubbed the Seahawks' run offense vs. the 49ers' run defense "movable object versus a stoppable force" as both units have struggled this year. The Seahawks have cycled through running backs with injuries to Zach Charbonnet and George Holani. Emanuel Wilson had flashed some effectiveness, but the team has largely languished near the bottom of the league in efficiency stats.
Seattle might be able to find some explosive runs on the duo concepts that have troubled San Francisco. But would Seattle call enough of them? Gap concepts, jet sweeps and creative use of speedy playmakers like Rashid Shaheed (lined up as a running back for change-of-pace plays) could be the X-factor.
In the passing game, QB Sam Darnold will need to be aggressive, Tice said. The 49ers are vulnerable to chunk plays if you challenge the middle of the field. But Darnold is a high-variance player — sometimes brash enough to make those throws, sometimes a little trigger-happy and error-prone.
Final predictions
Both Tice and Harmon leaned toward the Seahawks pulling this one out, with Harmon predicting Seattle to cover the 3-point spread. "A little more sound sometimes," Tice said of Seattle, noting their discipline and ability to avoid breakdowns. Both hosts agreed: Seattle's defense was at worst the second-best in the league, and the Niners' offense hadn't yet faced a test like this.
But, just as crucially, the Seahawks' offense, though full of questions at running back and right guard, still "do the things you want to do — explosive passes" and, sometimes, that's what it takes to win.
