Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters Friday that Brown is considered “day-to-day” with his left hamstring injury, adding that All-Star wing was able to participate in everything but the live portion of Friday’s practice.
“I expect him to be at his best every single day, and then we’ll take it from there,” Mazzulla said of Brown. “But just one day at a time.”
Whether Brown will suit up for Boston’s regular-season opener next Wednesday remains to be seen — Mazzulla said they haven’t discussed his availability for that game yet — but it’s a good sign that Brown at least was on the court Friday going through basketball activities.
Brown is expected to shoulder the Celtics’ scoring load this season in the absence of Jayson Tatum, who had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles in May. And while Brown is fully embracing that opportunity, the Celtics likely will be cautious with their All-Star wing to ensure he doesn’t re-aggravate this injury.
Even if the C’s take a conservative approach, however, Mazzulla’s update Friday suggests this hopefully won’t be a long-term issue for Brown going forward.
The Celtics’ opening night clash with the Philadelphia 76ers is set for Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.
To point out the obvious, the Sixers clearly have work to do after going 24-58 in one of the most painful, dreadful seasons ever. But things are looking up.
Smiles and laughs are back behind the scenes as Sixers’ Andre Drummond posted a chaotic and entertaining TikTok Thursday about some friendly team banter.
Drummond decided to document one final round of rookie hazing as the 2025-26 season nears. The target was center Adem Bona, who filled in for Joel Embiid and Drummond in last year’s injury-riddled season. He was a highlight in the paint with his statement dunks and extensive blocks.
Drummond made sure to note in his caption that Bona is still considered a rookie until his sophomore season begins on October 22. Therefore, it was time to fill his SUV entirely with popcorn and remove a wheel from the car to leave at his locker.
Now, you’re probably thinking exactly what some of the comments are saying.
“Spend less time joking around and more time in practice.”
“This is why we only had 24 wins.”
And you know what? Fair.
But camaraderie is more important than ever amidst adversity. And last year just didn’t feel like there was any of it after a certain point. When’s the last time you saw Joel Embiid belly laugh? Just take a step back. Aren’t fun and games exactly what you need sometimes?
With all the negativity surrounding a disappointing season, there comes a point where you have to turn the page. Drummond shouldn’t be ashamed or hesitant to post fun moments like these. Especially not at the risk of getting resentful comments echoing the failures of seasons past.
With Embiid and George out with knee injuries most of last season, Tyrese Maxey was sprung into a leadership role (perhaps a little earlier in his career than expected). He mentioned on Sixers Media Day in September why bonding is so important to him and what he’s done this offseason to bring the squad together.
“Just building the camaraderie and the brotherhood off the court, I think that’s one of the biggest things that I’ve tried to do this summer,” he said. “Justin [Edwards] was in Dallas a little bit, came to my house. VJ [Edgecombe], a couple guys would come to my house out here too. That’s the kind of thing I’m trying to build. If you have that friendship and relationship off the court … I think that’s gonna help us a lot.”
No one is saying we should forget about last year. But if there’s a chance — a minuscule chance — that they learned from the things they could control, shouldn’t we humor them?
We’ll have our first taste of it tonight during the Sixers’ preseason finale when Joel Embiid takes the court for the first time in 237 days.
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani showed a bit of pulse at the plate when he led off Game 3 of the National League Championship Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers by lining a triple into the right field corner. He scored moments later on a Mookie Betts double.
Ohtani—the Dodgers’ 10-year, $700 million man—came into the game with one hit in the best-of-seven series against the listless Milwaukee Brewers, who now trail 3-0 after losing, 3-1, at Dodger Stadium Thursday night. Manager Dave Roberts was so concerned about Ohtani’s hitting that he moved him to the back of the NLCS pitching rotation.
Now he has Ohtani in place to close out the series with a mound start in Game 4 on Friday. After a 1-for-4 late afternoon ballgame with two strikeouts at the plate, he’s 2-for-11 in the series with no homers, five whiffs and a .641 OPS. But according to Roberts, he’s working his butt off trying to snap out of the slump.
At the same time, Ohtani’s preparing for a chance to clinch the team’s second consecutive NL pennant, the precursor of repeating as World Series champions.
How does Ohtani manage it? Well, he has 700 million reasons.
“He’s a unicorn,” Roberts said about the two-way Japanese player. “I don’t know how he manages it. Every minute of the day is accounted for.”
Before the series began, Roberts even went as far as saying the Dodgers can’t repeat as World Series champs unless Ohtani snaps out of his offensive funk. But here they are, one win away from putting themselves in position to compete against either Toronto or Seattle.
“He’s a big part of what we’re doing,” Roberts said. “We’re pitching very well. We’re playing great defense. Obviously Shohei is not in the form that we expect. But we have a long way to go.”
The supposition is that the workload for the 31-year-old Ohtani has caught up with him, even though he has made only one pitching start in the playoffs. In Game 1 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, Ohtani threw six innings of three-run, three-hit ball with nine strikeouts in a 5-3 win.
Ohtani’s offensive numbers began to slip after he returned to pitching on June 16 after undergoing Sept. 2023 elbow surgery. His batting average dipped 18 points and his OPS slightly declined as the regular season ended. Still, he finished with 55 home runs, third among all players in the regular season.
The playoff drop off his been more severe. He opened just fine with two homers in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds. In the two-game sweep, he hit .333 (3-for-9) with the two homers and four RBIs.
But between a four-game victory over the Phillies in the NLDS and this NLCS, he’s fallen off the map. He’s gone 3-for-29(.103) with no homers, a pair of RBIs, 14 strikeouts and five walks, three of them intentional.
Ohtani, though, doesn’t believe pitching has anything to do with his extended slump at the plate.
“I don’t necessarily think that the pitching has affected my hitting performance,” he said through his interpreter. ”Just on the pitching side, as long as I control what I can control, I feel pretty good about putting up results. On the hitting side, just the stance, the mechanics, that’s something that I do—it’s a constant work in progress.”
A left-handed hitter and a right-handed pitcher, Ohtani has seen a steady diet of left-handed pitching thrown at him. When the Brewers started left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby Thursday, Ohtani surprisingly fell behind in the count before launching the triple, which had an exit velocity of 82 mph off Ohtani’s bat.
“He’s one of the best hitters in the game,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He [has not been] hitting the way he can. We’re not doing anything very special except we’re pitching him very carefully. Any time we can bring in a lefty to face him, that’s what we’ll do. He’s not barreling the ball like he does, but to us he’s still a dangerous, dangerous hitter.”
To Murphy’s point, Ohtani is a .264 lifetime hitter against left-handed pitching, .282 overall. But while his strategy is working well negating Ohtani, the Brewers have their own problems. They’ve scored three runs and amassed just nine hits in three games against Dodgers pitching.
If Ohtani continues that trend on the mound Friday, it won’t matter how he hits. The Brewers will be finished, and the Dodgers will be on to the World Series.
The Swedish
junior league is loaded with intriguing prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft. In
this piece, Jacob Smeds highlights five players who have stood out in the early
weeks of the U20 Nationell season. Enjoy!
Oscar Holmertz (C), 2026 NHL Draft
Holmertz is a
center with strong playmaking ability. His game relies more on hockey sense
than on speed or physicality. He is confident with the puck and often finds
solutions others don’t see. His vision stands out, allowing him to dictate the
pace of play and bring both tempo and control to his team’s game.
Holmertz has
opened the season with promising play in the U20 Nationell, earning him a spot
on Linköping’s SHL roster for Thursday’s game against Örebro. He didn’t get any
ice time, but just being on the bench is a sign that his SHL debut is getting
closer. With his high hockey IQ and ability to process the game, it’s easy to
project his skills to the professional level.
Bosse Meijer (C),
2027 NHL Draft
Bosse Meijer
opened the season with a promising performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup for
Sweden. Though one of the youngest players on the roster, he played a key role
on a line with 2026 top prospects Oscar Holmertz and Elton Hermansson. Meijer
stood out with his relentless work ethic and constant motor, and he showed
confidence in taking shots whenever the opportunity arose.
Meijer entered
the season with just a single U20 game to his name, but he’s made the
transition from U18 look seamless. Along with his trademark work ethic, he has
displayed strong hockey sense and a knack for threading passes behind opposing
defenders. With his late-2008 birth date, Meijer emerges as one of the more
intriguing Swedish prospects to keep an eye on for the 2027 NHL Draft.
Marcus Nordmark (RW), 2026 NHL Draft
Marcus Nordmark
is another player who started the season with an impressive showing at the
Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He showed the different sides of his game there, mixing
playmaking with scoring and proving he can rise to the occasion in big moments.
After a slow
start in U20 Nationell, both Marcus Nordmark and Djurgården’s junior team are
starting to find their stride. Nordmark has impressed with his improved vision,
producing 13 points in 8 games without often needing to play at full speed. To
his credit, the U20 league doesn’t ask for much more from a player projected to
go in the first round. The real test will be how his game carries over if he
gets a chance at the professional level.
Marcus Nordmark has completed the hat-trick to win the game 6-5 for Sweden.
Theodor Knights
is a big, team-first defenseman who takes pride in his play in the defensive
zone. He leans on his physical style to shut down opponents and is often tasked
with handling the other team’s top line. Over the past year, he’s also taken
steps forward with the puck, showing more confidence in moving play out of his
own end.
Knights earned a
chance with MoDo’s senior team during the preseason but has yet to make his
league debut. Even against tougher competition, he showed his defensive upside
with aggressive play in his own zone. His mix of skating ability and size could
push him high in the draft.
Alexander Command
(C), 2026 NHL Draft
Alexander Command
took major steps forward last season and was rewarded with a debut for the
Swedish national team in the final tournament of the year. In the tough
competition for spots, he was left off the roster for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
I’d bet on him getting another chance with Sweden at the Five Nations in
November. With his reliable two-way game, he could be an asset as a third-line
center or even higher up the lineup.
Command currently
sits fourth in league scoring with an impressive seven goals and 15 points in
nine games. He’s a joy to watch in transition, using his smooth stride and
ability to glide through the neutral zone. Command also isn’t afraid to drive
to the dirty areas or throw a hit in the corners when the game calls for it. He
remains one of the most intriguing players still flying under the radar for the
wider audience.
On Thursday morning, when Montreal Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis told reporters that Jayden Struble would be suiting up for the game against the Nashville Predators, he added that he was looking forward to giving Joe Veleno a game.
In the midst of a four-game winning streak, it’s not easy to change your lineup, and you’ve got to be careful about who you pull out. On Thursday morning, Oliver Kapanen seemed to be the likeliest candidate. But against the Nashville Predators, not only did he score a goal, but he was much more involved and visible. Early in the first frame, his timely stick lift prevented Steven Stamkos from taking a shot from in close.
He might have only played 11:59, but those were quality minutes, and he’s also part of the penalty kill, which is an important role. He won his role on the team out of training camp before St-Louis thought he had an NHL-level computer. He plays a sound game, and he’s also predictable for his linemates on the ice. The way he performed on Thursday night, it’s almost as if he was telling the coach that while he was looking forward to playing Veleno, it shouldn’t be at his expense.
Meanwhile, Patrik Laine is trying his best on the fourth line, but playing a two-way game does not necessarily come naturally to him. It’s a work in process, and last night, he was on the ice when Nick Perbix scored the Predators’ second goal. He did backcheck, but he let his man go too early, when Noah Dobson wasn’t close enough to cover him adequately, as Laine skated towards the other side to cover Ozzy Wiesblatt.
Yes, he’s part of the power play, but things haven’t yet clicked for him on the man-advantage, and his presence on the fourth line is posing a challenge for Jake Evans and Josh Anderson. They are used to playing with Brendan Gallagher, who plays a simple, efficient, and predictable game, and Laine doesn’t do that, even though he’s working on it.
When the Canadiens needed an equalizer against Nashville and they deployed six skaters, Laine wasn’t on the ice; he was on the bench. I liked what I’ve seen from Laine since the start of the season. The effort is there, but right now, for me, he’s the one who should come out if St-Louis wants to give Veleno a game.
Most of the quarterbacks who are writing the story of the 2025 season are not the ones who entered the season with the most hype. Here's a midseason evaluation of the sport's most notable signal-callers.
ELMONT, NY --Matt Martin may have called it a career this summer, but his impact on the future of the New York Islanders' organization is immeasurable.
Since No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer arrived on Long Island, Martin, who was named Special Assistant to first-time general manager Mathieu Darche, has taken the recently turned 18-year-old under his wing.
Martin, along with countless other teammates, had offered their homes to Schaefer for his rookie season, but every time we asked the young defenseman during training camp who he'd be living with, he said that he was focused on making the team first -- the right answer.
But, during Thursday night's ESPN+ broadcast, Emily Kaplan asked Schaefer who he'd be living with. Schaefer told her that over 10 teammates offered to house him, but that he'd be living with Martin.
#Isles Matthew Schaefer tells ESPN's @emilymkaplan that he'll be living at the Matt Martin house this year.
Schaefer has made an incredible bond with Martin's family, which includes their daughters Winnie and Alice. Martin and his wife Sydney also welcomed two twin boys back in June, so credit to them for bringing in another kid -- jokes.
Following the game, The Hockey News asked Schaefer about what Martin has meant to him:
It's very common for rookies to live with vets during their rookie season. Mathew Barzal lived with Dennis Seidenberg and his family. John Tavares lived with Doug Weight and his family.
While Schaefer's focus is developing his game on the ice, the 18-year-old is still learning a ton about life and there aren't two better people, in Martin and his wife Sydney, to learn from.
We await the social media posts of Schaefer donning an Elsa outfit.
Ahead of the 2025 season, it was fair to wonder whetherBrett Baty was about to get his last, best chance to show he could be a big part of the Mets' future.
In parts of three seasons with New York after making his debut late during the 2022 season, Baty's performance at the plate wasn't just underwhelming -- there also seemed to be a confidence issue.
Over 602 plate appearances spanning 169 games between 2022 and 2024, Baty slashed just .215/.282/.325 with 15 homers. He hit the ball on the ground way too much, had too many poor at-bats, and watched as the Mets' long-term third base job seemingly slipped away.
But while Mark Vientos staked his third base claim in 2024 as he popped 27 homers in 111 regular season games before having a power surge during New York's run to the NLCS, he relinquished it in 2025 -- leading to an opportunity for Baty, who also got plenty of time at second base.
And even though Baty didn't break the door down once given his chance, he finally started to put it all together.
In 432 plate appearances spanning 130 games this past season, Baty hit .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs and 13 doubles. His .748 OPS dwarfed his previous career-best OPS of .633, his OPS+ of 111 was solidly above league average, and his defense at third base was smooth and reliable.
But with the Mets entering an offseason where the offensive core could be shaken up, could Baty be impacted?
Should Baty be part of the calculus going forward, or is it time to explore a trade?
New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (7) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO LET BATY GO
Baty did a lot of things right in 2025, but he still hits the ball on the ground a ton.
His 51.0 percent groundball rate was improved from 2024 (54.5 percent) but still well above the MLB average of 44.2 percent. Baty also strikes out at a pretty high clip for someone who doesn't hit for a lot of power. And he won't make an impact on the bases.
It can be argued, though, that it's not really Baty's performance/profile that could make his situation tenuous, but the presence of others.
In other words, with Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo locked in, it's hard to envision the Mets making a big offensive addition unless it's at third base or first base.
If that move comes at first base in the form of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, perhaps they'll simply slot Baty back in at third base. But in a world where New York re-signs Pete Alonso, would they be comfortable handing third base to Baty and basically running back the same offense that was so hit-or-miss in 2025?
What if Alonso walks, the Mets miss on Murakami, and sign/trade for a stopgap first baseman for 2026 who doesn't offer a ton offensively?
In that scenario, it's fair to think they'd look to bolster the offense elsewhere, with third base being a sensible spot to upgrade. And if they go that route, free agent Alex Bregman -- who is a plus offensive player and a plus defender -- could make a lot of sense.
New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty (7) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
His bat speed was elite, while his hard hit percentage, barrel percentage, and xSLG were all well above average. Baty was also above average when it came to xwOBA, average exit velocity, and chase percentage.
And while the Mets possibly shaking up the offense might make Baty's future a little more uncertain than it would have otherwise been, his ability to play strong defense at third base is a huge plus to consider as David Stearns and the front office look to fortify the team's run prevention.
Even in a world where the Mets aren't sold on Baty as a starting player or simply want to go in a different direction at third base, he could still provide lots of value as a versatile bench player capable of handling third base, second base, and perhaps corner outfield in a pinch. He could also theoretically be part of the answer at designated hitter.
There's also Baty's age (26 for all of next season), cost, and team control to consider.
So the Mets have no reason to be in a rush to make a final determination on Baty.
Aug 19, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets third base Brett Baty (7) hits a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. / Amber Searls-Imagn Images
VERDICT
Unless there's a potential trade partner that locks in on Baty as a key target in a deal that would bring an impact player back to New York, it should be an easy choice to keep him.
Depending on how the offseason goes, Baty could enter the season as the starting third baseman, second baseman, or a key bench player.
And while Williams and Benge should be lineup options at some point in 2026, it will be a big surprise if either player is part of the plan by Opening Day.
“I feel pretty good,” he said on Sept. 26. “I think we made a lot of progress over the last couple of months. We’ve got a plan in place. Try to check off all the boxes, so just taking it day by day. … It’s more about making sure everything is right and doing everything right, and then going from there.”
Embiid has been a regular practice participant and drawn unanimously strong reviews for his work there.
“He’s been looking great. … He’s in tremendous shape with his body,” Quentin Grimes said Tuesday. “With some of the live stuff that he does, he looks like he’s pretty much getting back to his old self.”
Paul George (left knee), Jared McCain (right thumb) and Trendon Watford (right hamstring) will remain out. George has made significant rehab progress recently, practicing Thursday and participating in 5-on-5 scrimmaging.
“You still see this incredible shotmaker and I think he was moving very well,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said of George on Wednesday. “He didn’t seem tentative to me.”
With Warriors coach Steve Kerr entering the final year of his contract with Golden State, some have speculated that the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season could be his final tour with the organization.
In an interview with ESPN’s Anthony Slater published Friday, the Warriors star guard expressed a desire to remain with Kerr through the end of his playing career, hoping to extend a partnership that has produced four NBA championships and countless unforgettable moments along the way.
“I don’t want to,” Curry told Slater when asked if he would play for a coach other than Kerr. “We deserve that, I feel. Things change in this league. We can only control so much. But I think we’re in a very unique situation that we deserve the opportunity [to ride it out].”
Kerr and Curry, of course, have proven themselves to be an outrageously successful leadership duo over the last 11 seasons. It’s a relationship that Kerr likens to other dynastic coach-player pairings in its fostering of success at the highest level.
“There’s a reason [Tom] Brady and [Bill] Belichick worked,” Kerr told Slater. “There’s a reason Phil [Jackson] and Michael [Jordan] worked. It has to click. There has to be a mutual respect and there has to be a fierce, competitive desire. Passion for the job. Passion for winning. When all is said and done, it might be the most proud thing that exists. The most proud dynamic of my career will be a collaboration with Steph.”
The strength of that collaboration is apparent to everyone in the Warriors’ world, especially ownership. As Curry tells it, management has never approached him about a potential coaching change.
“I would just assume there’s an understanding,” Curry told Slater.
Fellow Warriors mainstay Draymond Green held a similar read of the situation.
“Steve is Steph’s guy,” Green told Slater. “So even if there was ever a thought [to let Kerr go], it don’t work. You speak to the Tim [Duncan] and [Gregg Popovich] thing. That’s his guy. You see MJ, like, ‘If Phil ain’t here, I ain’t here.’ It’s along those same lines. There’s no Steph without Steve.”
‘Flickitau’ is first centre to win Australia’s top prize
Tabua Tuinakauvadra crowned top Wallaroos player
Wallabies star Len Ikitau has won the John Eales Medal, becoming the first centre to claim Australian rugby’s highest individual honour.
Ikitau enjoyed a phenomenal year in the gold jersey, opening the voting period in spectacular style by delivering the magical match-winning flick pass to Max Jorgensen in Australia’s epic win over England at Twickenham last November.
