BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum buried a 17-foot jumper at the overtime buzzer to cap a 40-point night, and the Boston Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets 125-124 on Tuesday night for their third straight victory.
Tatum finished 10 of 20 from the field and 18 of 22 from the free-throw line. Paul George added 20 points and Derrick White scored 16 for the Celtics, who have not lost since they blew a 22-point lead in their season opener at Detroit.
Michael Porter Jr. had 27 points and 12 rebounds for Brooklyn (0-4), and Julius Randle scored 24 points.
Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr. made a tying 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds remaining in regulation. But in OT, he missed a layup with 2.3 seconds left to set up Tatum for the winning basket. Brown, the sixth pick in the NBA draft out of Louisville, finished with 17 points.
Boston's Mitchell Robinson missed two free throws with 3 seconds left in regulation, giving Brooklyn a chance at the tying 3. Robinson, a career 50.7% free-throw shooter, went 1 of 4 from the line and is 2 of 8 this season.
With 33.7 seconds remaining in regulation, White slipped behind the defense and Tatum found him for a tiebreaking dunk. White was fouled on the play and converted the free throw for a 114-111 lead.
Neither team led by more than eight points. The Nets went ahead 109-104 on a basket by Randle with 2:57 left before the Celtics rallied.
The Celtics made 2 of 16 3-point attempts in the first half but trailed just 61-56. They fared a bit better from long range in the second half, going 9 of 22.
Mikel Brown Jr. opted to go for the layup with the Nets up 1 with 6.1 remaining in OT and missed. Jayson Tatum hit a buzzer beater on the next possession for a Boston victory. The Nets are 0-4 to start the season. https://t.co/xPLAJajQYp
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball over Jaylin Williams #6 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center on December 5, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Oklahoma City Thunder (4-0) are the established Western Conference power with 132 combined regular-season wins to their credit over the last two seasons, functional depth all over their roster and a championship banner hung up in the Paycom Center to show for it. The Dallas Mavericks (2-2) and their fans are just happy to be taking the first few baby steps in a positive direction after two seasons in decline.
But Wednesday’s meeting between the erstwhile rivals at American Airlines Center takes on new layers of intrigue after news of two long-term injuries to key pieces in the Oklahoma City rotation and the Mavericks’ newfound penchant for punching above their weight to start the 2026-27 campaign. Tipoff between the Mavs and the Thunder is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
The Thunder own a decided advantage over the home team in both recent results and proven talent throughout the roster, even after the injury prognoses recently announced for both Cason Wallace (torn labrum) and Jalen Williams (broken ankle). OKC beat the Mavericks in all three of the teams’ meetings a year ago, after Dallas played the role of thorn in big brother’s side in 2024-25. The Mavs won three of four against the Thunder that year, but it didn’t stop Oklahoma City from marching to a title, while the Mavs labored in the morass of the Great NBA Middle.
Here are three points of interest in preparation for what could be a closer game than you think to start the I-35 series this season.
No apologies for injury luck
The Mavericks are absolutely catching the Thunder at the right time on Wednesday. Not only are Wallace and Williams on the shelf indefinitely, potentially the entire season in both cases, but big thin man Chet Holmgren and versatile guard Alex Caruso are also listed as out on the Thunder’s latest injury report. Holmgren is day-to-day with patellar tendonitis, and Caruso is dealing with a right ankle sprain. Hey, at least it’s not broken.
Their absence means Oklahoma City will have to lean more on Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams and rookie Aday Mara, who was a college teammate of Mavs rookie forward Morez Johnson Jr. at Michigan a year ago. Oh, and all-everything man and former league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, of course.
How much of an opening do the four injury absences create for these Little Mavericks That Could? If Dallas can frustrate Gilgeous-Alexander for more than a quarter, they have enough ammo for another uphill battle. You can squint and see the Mavericks at very least hanging around and making this a game.
For Dallas’ part, Naji Marshall, who missed Monday’s game at Miami with an illness, has been upgraded to questionable, but backup guard Sergio de Larrea is listed as out for the Thunder matchup with a right knee sprain. Kyrie Irving is back on the injury report as well, listed as questionable under the “injury management” heading.
SGA free-throw rate
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – OCTOBER 25: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball while being defended by Baba Miller #18 of the LA Clippers during the first half at Paycom Center on October 25, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s dive a little deeper into one stat typified by Gilgeous-Alexander in particular. Last year, he got to the line nine times per game. Much has been made of the fact that through just four games this year, his free-throw rate has so far been cut in half. He’s shot just 18 free throws through the first four games of the year.
Many have inferred that one of the NBA officials’ infamous points of emphasis this year is the culprit. Yea, that pesky “off-arm push-offs” one. Gilgeous-Alexander has, through much of his rise to power in the Association, enjoyed a reputation for being something of a “foul-baiter.” Whether it’s the new and improved stance on off-arm push-offs or mere happenstance, he’s not getting the whistle he has grown accustomed to, albeit in a very short sample size so far this year.
It hasn’t affected Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring average much, if at all. He’s averaging better than 27 points per game through the first four, and his 3-point percentage (28.6%) may have as much or more to do with that as his free-throw rate. Nevertheless, it’s something to keep an eye on. It’s one of those things that will probably even out as the season progresses, but while his whistle may not hold as much influence over the proceedings in this particular game, the Mavericks will endeavor to make themselves the beneficiaries of such things on Wednesday.
“We brought bodies”
Zaccharie Risacher with the clutch block on Davion Mitchell quick layup attempt, P.J. Washington strips the rebound away from Giannis and the Mavericks win in Miami. The Heat go 0-4 to start the season.
“We brought bodies to him,” Mavericks head coach Dusty May said of Dallas’ efforts to frustrate another similarly gravitational superstar in the fourth quarter of Monday’s win at the Miami Heat.
It’s almost all you can do against someone as gifted as Gilgeous-Alexander or Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 29 points and recorded a triple-double for Miami in Monday’s 113-109 Mavericks’ win. Double-teams. Different defenders showing different looks. Hands in passing lanes. Bring the bodies. Anything to interrupt the superstar from gathering all the momentum.
If the Mavericks look up at the end of the night and Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 30 points, it’s not the end of the world. What will matter is that he had a hard time getting there — maybe he had to force the issue a little bit to get there. That’s what bringing the bodies does.
One body we’d definitely like to see thrown in Gilgeous-Alexander’s direction is Zaccharie Risacher’s. He had a tough shooting night at Miami on Monday, but that didn’t matter, because he was busy throughout his 30 minutes on the floor creating chaos on the defensive end. He got in passing lanes, bothered Miami up and down the roster and ended the night with three blocked shots and two steals.
On the night where Connor Hellebuyck picked up his first victory in the New Jersey Devils' red and black (a 5-1 win), the Winnipeg Jets gave up five goals in a lopsided 5-1 game of their own against to the visiting Florida Panthers.
The Jets played some extremely uninspiring hockey, took sloppy penalties and gave up three goals in the first period - all key pieces to their loss to old friend Paul Maurice and his new-look Tkachuk-filled Panthers on Tuesday.
Photo by Danny Truong/Game On Magazine
And despite there being multiple very willing heavyweight opponents in the Florida lineup, Tyrel Bauer didn't even drop the mitts.
Winnipeg has now lost six-straight games and seven of its last eight outings.
Things do not get any better for the Jets either, who now head out on the road for tests against Eastern Conference juggernauts in Tampa Bay, Florida (again), Montreal (again) and Carolina over the next week.
“Well, go and get the next one," Dylan DeMelo said post-game.
"We’ve got to move on and be ready for a very strong Tampa team, and be ready right from the get-go. That's all we can do, we’ve got to try to learn from our mistakes here and see where we can be better at. But our focus now has to be on the game in Tampa.”
What is currently a six-game losing streak very well could turn into a run of 10-straight, should the favourites come out on top.
Head coach Scott Arniel also very well could hear his name called by GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, signalling the conclusion of his time atop the bench.
Yes, it has been that bad.
Winnipeg's power play went 0/2 on the night, dropping its lowly total to 2/26 in its current dry spell. While Forida managed three goals on the man advantage on Tuesday.
Matthew Tkachuk collected four points, brother Brady had three, while defenceman Seth Jones had three assists in the first period alone for Florida.
Winnipeg got its lone goal off the stick of Adam Lowry, who nearly didn't score. In fact, his pick-pocket play off the stick of goaltender Akira Scmid wasn't originally ruled a goal on the ice, but an NHL-initiated review halted play, to which the Jets' captain was able to celebrate his second goal of the season late in the middle stanza.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t use it as a good reset," Lowry said of the last two games at home. "The first period, just mental errors. Reads, assignments, penalty kill. We give up three goals in three minutes and obviously, you have to give them credit. They did some right things, but we kind of fed all of that offence for them and kind of continue that in the second and the third. A lot of shooting ourselves in the foot right now.
Florida scored three times in the first period and added singles in the second and third frames.
Clay Stevenson was lit up five times on 24 Panthers shots, while Schmid turned aside 24 of the 25 pucks sent his way by Winnipeg.
"Whenever you're not getting goals, and not generating the offence that we want, there's some things that we can do better, exactly what those things are, I'm not fully sure, but I think it's just, it's an array of things," DeMelo reflected.
"Full five man units out there trying to do the right things, and I’m sure we'll turn it around. But, we’ve got to stay with it and stay together and not go off script, or iso-ball it. We’ve got to continue to do it together, and do the right things, and that's the only way to turn it around.”
The Jets will now look to turn things around on a gruelling road trip, as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Panthers again, the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes, before returning home to face Vancouver next week.
The Florida Panthers put an exclamation point on their four-game road trip thanks to a big win on Tuesday night.
Florida jumped out to a 3-0 lead midway through the first period and never looked back, wrapping up their roadie with a resounding 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre.
A pair of early penalties by the Jets helped propel Florida to a quick multi-goal lead.
First, it was Carter Verhaeghe on the power play, jumping on a loose puck after two quick attempts at the net by Brady Tkachuk and Seth Jones, both of whom ended up with assists on the game’s opening goal.
Just 75 seconds later, Niko Mikkola’s long wrist shot deflected off Jets’ defenseman Mario Ferraro’s stick and into the net, quickly doubling Florida’s lead.
They weren’t done there.
A second power play came for the Panthers just over a minute later when Winnipeg was called for too many men, and once again it would be Verhaeghe who capitalized.
Coming down with the puck from the point, Verhaeghe sent the puck down to Brady for a quick back-and-forth, clearing up room to walk into a wrist shot that beat Clay Stevenson to give Florida a commanding 3-0 lead.
Jones and Matthew Tkachuk continued their respective hot starts to the season as Jones assisted on all three goals and Tkachuk helped on two.
The game’s next two goals both came with Florida on the power play about midway through the second period.
First, Adam Lowry scored after catching Akira Schmid out of the net, a goal that was not called initially on the ice, but later deemed true after a video review showed the puck completely crossing the line despite a valiant effort by Schmid to get back in the net.
Fortunately for the Panthers, they remained on the power play and quickly regained their three goal advantage.
A pretty passing play saw the puck go from Matthew Tkachuk to younger brother Brady to Sam Reinhart in the slot in the blink of an eye, and Reinhart knew what to do from there.
His sixth goal of the season put Florida ahead 4-1, a lead they took into the final frame.
The Tkachuk brothers teamed up for an even strength goal with just under eight minutes to go, as Brady reached out and with one hand on his stick, deflected a pass from Matthew over Stevenson’s glove to give the Cats a commanding 5-1 lead.
For Matthew, his four-assist evening gave him 20 points in 13 games so far this year, while Brady is now up to 15 points over his past eight games after logging a goal and two helpers on Tuesday.
Next up for Florida will be three straight games at home, starting on Friday night with a rematch against Winnipeg.
Photo caption: Oct 27, 2026; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN;FloridaPantherscenter Carter Verhaeghe (23) celebrates a goal against the Winnipeg Jets withFloridaPantherscenter Sam Reinhart (13) in the first period at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)
DALLAS (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck stopped 16 of the 17 shots he faced to win his New Jersey debut, Nico Hischier scored two goals, and the Devils beat the Dallas Stars 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Hellebuyck, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, started four days after being traded by the Winnipeg Jets following his suspension for failing to report to training camp. It was his first win since April 9 at St. Louis, 3-2.
The Hughes brothers, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes, as well as Jesper Boqvist, also scored for the Devils, who have won four consecutive games.
Justin Hryckowian scored for the Stars, who had a five-game winning streak snapped. Casey DeSmith, making his third start of the season, made 22 saves after allowing only two goals in each of his previous outings.
The five goals are the season high against Dallas, which went into play leading the NHL with a 1.68 goals-against average.
Hischier, the team captain in his 10th season with New Jersey, provided a 2-0 lead at 2:41 of the first period and 38 seconds into the second. Dallas’ challenge for goaltender interference against Timo Meier on the first goal was denied. Hischier has a team-high seven goals and two two-goal games.
Boqvist made it 3-0 midway through the second. After Hryckowian’s deflection pulled Dallas back within two goals at 16:08 of the second, Luke Hughes answered 28 seconds later.
The Stars’ second-ranked penalty kill went 3 for 3 for 22 consecutive successful kills over six games.
The game was Dallas’ fourth in a season-long six-game homestand and began a road back-to-back for New Jersey.
Stars defenseman Kyle Capobianco was helped off the ice five minutes into the third period with an apparent leg injury and didn’t return.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -OCTOBER 27: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs grabs a rebound over a host of Sacramento Kings players in the first half at Frost Bank Center on October 27, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Spurs blew out the Kings in the first game of a back-to-back to get their second win of the season and get back to .500. Victor Wembanyama had 29 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks, while Julian Champagnie contributed 26 points off the bench.
An ideal start, with Wembanyama getting a couple of early dunks and Vassell an open three, foreshadowed how easy the game was going to be for the Spurs. The only thing that could keep the Silver and Black from scoring was themselves, in the stretches in which they played too much one-on-one basketball in the half court. The Kings’ defense had no answers, as helping inside resulted in open threes and not helping meant allowing good shots at the rim, but credit should go to San Antonio for taking the game seriously and executing well while also guarding with intensity.
As the minutes went by, and despite Domantas Sabonis’ efforts to stop it (at least on offense), the eight-point lead the Spurs had at the end of the first quarter started to grow steadily. Wembanyama was getting whatever he wanted inside, and the outside looks were falling. The shorthanded Kings couldn’t put together enough good lineups when their main guys rested to score enough to offset their glaring deficiencies on the other end. At the break, San Antonio was up 26 points after dropping 80 in total, and the game was effectively over.
The only thing left to be decided was whether the Spurs would be able to avoid a slump that forced Mitch Johnson to play his starters more than he wanted in the first game of a back-to-back. The answer was a resounding “yes,” as San Antonio kept playing hard and scoring at will. The Kings looked defeated, and while Zach LaVine poured in some tough buckets to make up for Sabonis slowing down on the offensive end, at no point did they look like a real threat. After three, the lead was 27.
The fourth quarter was garbage time. Only Dylan Harper played more than 30 minutes for San Antonio, which got to empty its bench early while securing an easy home win.
Observations:
The Kings, missing several frontcourt players, simply have too many bad defenders to make any coverage work. The zone was a mess. Their switching was sloppy. The rotations were slow. They don’t have the rim protection to make the drop in the pick-and-roll work. Even some lineups that shouldn’t have worked on offense for the Spurs were able to put points on the board. The talent gap was just gigantic.
Julian Champagnie made eight threes in the first half. His only misses were airballs. The “Champagnie has the hot hand” experience is amazing in part because it tends to feature some hilarious moments in which he gets so confident that he lets it fly, you think it’s going in, and it’s not even close. Then the next time around you prepare for a miss, and he swishes a tough look. He’s been such a fantastic find for the Spurs.
Are the Spurs winning more challenges than in past years? It feels that way, and the broadcast made it a point to highlight the two successful ones from this game, so there’s probably some numbers to back it up. Every little thing helps, so if they have become better at challenging calls, that’s great.
At the end of the third, when the rotation guys were on the floor, the Spurs’ bench was outscoring the Kings’ 30 to five. Even taking away Champagnie’s 24 points, they would have been up in that category. Sacramento is bad, but missing some important guys makes them awful.
Devin Vassell finished with eight assists, the highest total in a game for him since the 2023/24 season. In the previous game, he had six helpers. Vassell has been adding to his game since he was drafted. Maybe this is the year he becomes a great passer for someone whose main role is to shoot.
Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. is an exciting player taking full advantage of the bright green light he has in Sacramento. It took him 20 shots, but he finished with 19 points and five assists.
It’s hard to take much away from games that are so lopsided, but it was good to see the Spurs play with effort and purpose even when up big. Hopefully that mindset will become a staple of the team this season.
The Spurs will fly to Utah to face the Jazz on Wednesday in the second game of a back-to-back. Utah will be without Jaren Jackson Jr., who is expected to miss up to eight weeks with an injury. It’s a good opportunity for San Antonio to secure a winning record for the first time this season.
CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks had one final home game at the United Center to close out a seven-game homestand. This time, they welcomed the Los Angeles Kings, who played one night prior - a win at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.
The Blackhawks lost two straight games heading into this one against the Kings, but they came in with fresher legs, hoping to finally break out of the slump. The Kings are close to the Blackhawks in the standings, which is a change from the recent run of Stanley Cup contenders on the opposite bench, but every team in the NHL presents a challenge.
The game started extremely poorly for the Chicago Blackhawks. Not only did they give up the first goal of the game, but there was also a long sequence to open the game where they were simply buried in their own end. Breaking pucks out of their own end has been a serious problem for them all season, and it was on full display in the first half of the opening frame.
About halfway through, something changed for them. They started forechecking strongly, creating turnovers in their own end when the Kings tried to break out, and actually looked like a hockey team with the ability to generate chances.
Chicago did not score a goal and was down 1-0 going into the first intermission, but the way the period ended made you believe that they were going to have a much better effort for the rest of the game.
In the second period, the Blackhawks looked much better overall. The play was much more even from start to finish, but the important part for them was the fact that they tied the game. After a power play that had some good looks ended, they drew another one quickly, and got it done this time.
Roman Kantserov took a nice centering feed from Connor Bedard and tied the game. This was Chicago's first power-play goal in a while, a marker they definitely needed. In this league, you have to score power-play goals to be successful, and it allowed them to tie it here. The 1-1 tie held through the second intermission.
To begin the 3rd, the Blackhawks had to kill off a carry-over penalty from the end of the second period, and they did so with style. The PK as a whole is starting to round into form.
At 7:17 of the final frame, Patrick Kane made a pass to Frank Nazar, who made a nifty move to slide one to Wyatt Kaiser, who scored his first goal of the season. This goal that gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead fired up Kaiser, as they team entered the final stages of the game with a chance to win.
The 2-1 score held as the final for the Blackhawks, who improve their record to 4-8-0. Their 7-game homestand ends on a high note as they are going to hit the road for the first time in a long time.
Spencer Knight made the start for Chicago, his 7th in a row, and 10th out of 12 games. To say he was excellent in this one would be an understatement. He made 25 saves on 26 shots, including some high-danger chances in the first period while the Blackhawks were trapped in their own zone. If he doesn't hold it down during that time, there is no way they win this game.
The Blackhawks preach a lot about the process. Well, if their process from this game continues, they will start to win a lot more. The first five minutes were ugly, and they rebounded to find their legs, and skate out of town with two points.
The Chicago Blackhawks will now hit the road. They will make their way to Michigan for their one visit to Little Caesars Arena, where they will take on the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. On Saturday, it will be a matinee game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.
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BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after making the game-winning shot against the Brooklyn Nets on October 27, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 0-3 Brooklyn Nets came to Boston Tuesday night to face the Celtics on the second night of a back-to-back. The scrappy Nets came to play in this game as they forced overtime on the final play of regulation. They outplayed the Celtics for large stretches of rregulation and overtime but Jayson Tatum was the hero in the final second of the game.
Boston survived a big scare at home, to hang on in a tight overtime win that went down to wire, 125-124. Boston was paced by Jayson Tatum who had 40 points and 8 assists, Paul George had 20 points and Derrick White had 16 points.
Boston started the game with its regular lineup of Jordan Walsh, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Paul George, and Mitchell Robinson, who currently have the 2nd-best net rating in the NBA. For the Nets, they started with Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, and Day’ron Sharpe.
Both teams traded buckets to start the game as the scores were tied 4-4 before Michael Porter Jr. splashed a triple with Jordan Walsh draped all over him. Mitchell Robinson snagged a steal on an attempted lob pass and went down the other end, grabbing an offensive rebound for the putback deuce.
Boston started the slower of the two teams, shooting just 4-11 from the field after a scoring barrage last night.
Payton Pritchard scored his first points of the game midway through the first quarter as he checked in for a scoreless Derrick White at the point. A few plays later, Pritchard took on Michael Porter Jr. in a switch driving into the lane for the layup, scores tied at 20.
Jayson Tatum got downhill and skied a lob to Neemias Queta, who got the easy score at the two-minute mark, with Tatum with 3 early assists in the game.
Former Celtic Mo Wagner was beasting the C’s interior; his energetic play propelled the visitors into the lead with six quick points in six minutes. The feisty Nets up by 5 points after 12 minutes of play, scoring 26-31.
Derrick White finally got on the scoreboard to start the second quarter with a cutting layup, with Payton Pritchard with the dime. The Nets were the more aggressive team to start the second quarter and took an eight-point advantage at the nine-minute mark. Noah Clowney and Mitchell Robinson needed to be separated as things were getting chippy in the second.
Paul George was struggling to get into the game as he had two turnovers and two fouls in his first nine minutes of game action. He finally hit a fade away for his 4th point of the game, as Mazzulla was encouraging his squad to play with more effort from the sideline.
Jayson Tatum returned to the game and immediately drove into the lane to score on an aggressive drive. On the next play, JT got the ball and attacked the mismatch, getting fouled on the play; he made both free throws as scores were once again tied at 45.
Boston was struggling from the three-point line in the first half; they were just 2-16 from downtown after they poured in the points last night. Tatum was the best player on the floor for Boston as he poured in 15 points and 4 assists in the half.
Queta was whistled for his fourth foul before the half and took a seat, as it was a heavy first half. Despite all the fouls, the reach-ins, the flopping, and the chippy nature of the game, things were competitive after two quarters. Brooklyn took a 5-point lead at the half.
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 27, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Paul George finally hit Boston’s third three-pointer of the game to start the second half, his ninth point of the game. Walsh and Tatum also connected from downtown as Boston came out of the half time break looking to get more shot attempts from three.
Jordan Walsh drilled his second straight triple from the corner in front of the Nets bench, Boston down by one point. Julius Randle was excellent for Brooklyn on both ends, he had 7 points in the third quarter after just six minutes of play before heading to the visitors bench.
Boston’s continued to struggle shooting the three late into the third, they would go 6-26 before Sam Hauser hit his first triple of the night to get the crowd up and back into the game. Baylor Scheireman had the high catch and release three-pointer from the corner to cut the scores back to just one point, 78-79.
Jayson Tatum and Sam Hauser both hit deep three-pointers as the crowd erupted to finish off the third quarter, the Boston faithful back into the game, 86-82. The Celtics outscored the Nets in the third, highlighted by a 16-5 run to finish off the quarter with eight three-pointers in total.
Scheierman, White, Queta, George and Hauser opened things for Boston in the fourth. Derrick White dribbled into the key and stuck the two pointer to start, Boston up by 8 points. The Nets came racing back into itcutting it back to 2 points.
Baylor Scheierman grabbed an offensive rebound and pushed the pace, he twisted in mid air and made a terrific pass to Paul George who skipped it over to Sam Hauser for the open three-pointer.
Michael Porter Jr. hit a pair of threes for Brooklyn, as the Nets were staying close. That forced Joe Mazzulla to go back to Jayson Tatum for the close out.
Mikel Brown Jr. hit the visiting teams thirteenth triple as they retook the lead. Jayson Tatum was fouled by Chaney Johnson and hit a pair of free throes to tie the game once more, 99-99.
Tatum went to the line for his 18th free throw of the game, Hauser banked home a jumper, the scores were tied at 104. Brooklyn were 50% from the field and 40% from three, with 3 minutes to go in the game as they had a slim lead. The Celtics were in the bonus to finish off the game, Derrick White hit a pair to give Boston a two point lead, 111-109.
Mitchell Robinson had a chance to ice the game but missed two free throws with 3 seconds to go. Brooklyn had a final chance to force OT and Mikel Brown Jr. made a corner fade away.
Julius Randle scored the first four points in overtime, with Paul George and Derrick White on the bench. They returned to action with 3 minutes to go. Mikel Brown Jr. drilled another three-pointer in overtime as the Celtics were up against it. Jayson Tatum drilled a foul line two-pointer for the big win in the final second of overtime that wasn’t pretty.
Boston next host the Chicago Bulls for the second time in a week for the NBA Cup, game 1 of East group C, on Friday night at 7:30 pm EST.
With the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series, the beloved late broadcaster Bob Uecker is in everybody's thoughts around baseball as his beloved team fights for its first-ever championship.
The team's announcer for more than 50 years, Uecker died on Jan. 16, 2025.
Uecker became the Brewers' primary radio broadcaster in 1971 and gained fame outside the baseball world as an actor, notably in the "Major League" films.
Before broadcasting, Uecker played six seasons (1962-1967) in the majors with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies. He won a World Series title with the Brewers in 1964.
Uecker's family wrote a letter to players, fans and Brewers front office staff shared by the team on social media before the World Series
"Generations of Brewers fans have held hope in their hearts, season after season, that someday this city would have its chance at another championship," the letter reads. "That day has come.
"While we could never speak for him, this is certain: Milwaukee, the Brewers, and the fans meant everything to Bob. Wherever we gather – in a packed stadium, a neighborhood bar, or a living room with the radio turned all the way up – we know he's right here cheering alongside us."
The Brewers paid tribute to Uecker during the Game 4 "Stand Up To Cancer" interlude.
In 2025, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, published a commemorative book about Bob Uecker, the popular broadcaster and cultural icon who died that January. “BOB UECKER: The Life and Career of the Milwaukee Brewers’ Legendary Broadcaster” proved to be so popular with fans that it went through several printings.
Just this fall, instead of another reprint, the Journal Sentinel added 32 new pages that tell the story of what happened in the 18 months after Uecker’s passing, from the tributes that poured in across baseball to the ways Brewer Nation keeps finding to say thank you.
“BOB UECKER” retails for $39.95 (plus shipping and handling). Order at jsonline.com/merch.
New York Mets broadcaster Ron Darling prepares to work a game between the Mets and the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, in New York. The Giants defeated the Mets 9-3 in ten innings.
For fans of SNY’s beloved Mets announcing trio, have no fear.
The band is coming back together in full.
After Ron Darling fueled some speculation that he could potentially leave the booth during an interview with The Post’s Mike Puma last week, the former Amazin’s All-Star confirmed Tuesday on SNY’s Mets podcast that he’s staying in the booth for 2027.
Ron Darling prepares to work a game between the Mets and the Giants at Citi Field on June 4, 2019 at Citi Field. Getty Images
“Hey, listen, I am so lucky to be working at SNY. It’s provided me an outlet to try to be really good at this. And as long as Gary [Cohen], Keith [Hernandez] and SNY still wants me, I’ll be here for as long as they do.”
When asked by The Post whether if he had plans to return to the broadcasting booth in 2027, Darling provided a bit of a cagey answer.
“That’s a good question that I can’t answer,” Darling said. “I have two more years [contractually] at TBS, and I think I have two more years at SNY. I’m at a point now where I’m kind of deciding from year to year. Even though they present me with these long-term contracts, if I reevaluate, they’re fine with that, so we’ll see.”
Nevertheless, Darling clarified on the SNY podcast that he will be back and he’s hoping to see one thing — a third Mets World Series championship.
“I’m in it for the same reason everyone else is in it: I want to see a championship season,” Darling said. “I’m jealous, in fact. [Brewers play-by-play announcer] Brian Anderson, who I work with at TNT, he took a picture of himself in the stands the other night yelling and screaming and going crazy just like a fan because his Brewers, of course, are doing so well.
“I would like one of those videos someday.”
Darling, a 1986 World Series champ, joined SNY during its inaugural season in 2006 and has been in the booth with Cohen and Hernandez ever since. He also works games nationally for TNT/TBS and is an analyst on MLB Network.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 25: Jonathan Kuminga #24 reacts as Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Klay Thompson was still with the Golden State Warriors, he had a tradition for every time a teammate went up against their former teams. As the team met to prepare for the opponent, Thompson would single them out and shout, “They didn’t want you!”
It didn’t matter how long it had been since the player left the team, the circumstances of their departures, or whether there was any actual animosity. Zaza Pachulia facing the Milwaukee Bucks three years after they traded him to the Dallas Mavericks? “They didn’t want you!” Andre Iguodala playing the Philadelphia 76ers, nine years after they traded him, having played on three teams in the interim? “They didn’t want to!”
Reportedly, Thompson tried to get assistant coach Mike Brown fired up to face the Denver Nuggets, over two decades after Brown left his job as video coordinator for the team.
“They didn’t want you!” may be what’s echoing through the head of Jonathan Kuminga as he prepares to face the Warriors for the first time as a Minnesota Timberwolf. Thompson may have used hyperbole in his motivating efforts, but Kuminga can quite confidently believe that the Warriors certainly did not want him, after five up-and-down seasons since he was the 7th pick in the 2021 NBA draft culminated in a trade for center/future medical case study Kristaps Porzingis.
Kuminga faced the Warriors in March as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, shooting 1-for-9 and logging two points, four rebounds, and two assists in a 126-110 Hawks win. It wasn’t the strongest Warriors squad, considering that Jeenathan Williams played over 28 minutes in the game. (Williams is now employed in the Japanese B League, as is Forever Warriors Eric Paschall.)
There’s no reason to re-litigate Kuminga’s time with the Warriors. Interested readers can look at probably 100 articles and 10,000 comments if they want to go through it again. But it’s clear that Kuminga, who signed a prove-it contract with Minnesota late in the summer, believes he had more to offer than the Warriors let him show.
He’s on a one-year deal for $6.1M, with a player option for next season. Kuminga is averaging 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 29.8 minutes per game as the Wolves’ starting power forward. He’s gone 7-for-15 on three-pointers, nabbed two steals per game, and turned the ball over only once in four games as Minnesota began the season with three blowout wins and a two-point overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night.
They also lost Anthony Edwards in that contest. Edwards out up 47 points in 41 minutes, then he and the team decided his balky right knee needed arthroscopic surgery.
Just in: Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his ailing right knee and miss up to two months, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/HenrAY2APs
The All-Star guard and his 33.3 points per game will be out until December, meaning that someone needs to pick up the scoring slack. The most likely candidates are Ayo Dosunmu, who’s likely to join the starting lineup in place of Edwards, and one Jonathan Malangu Kuminga.
Edwards is averaging 26 field goal attempts this season, launching a staggering 11.3 threes per game. Kuminga isn’t going to match that outside shooting, but what he can do is provide at least a facsimile of Edwards’ unrelenting rim pressure. And he’ll never be more motivated to step into that kind of scoring role than he will when facing his former team and Steve Kerr, the coach he could never quite win over.
The drama only becomes more intense when you consider Kuminga’s primary defender might well be Yaxel Lendeborg, another Warriors lottery pick who almost instantly joined the rotation. Lendeborg is already rebounding, passing, and doing the little things Kuminga never quite mastered in five seasons with the Dubs — while also putting up points.
As for Lendeborg, he’ll have to wait until Nov. 18 when the Warriors visit the Dallas Mavericks for his own “They didn’t want you!” moment. Even though he’s a rookie, Yaxel can still get motivated after his old college coach, Dusty May, drafted Michigan teammate over him with the No. 9 pick.
And look out for a fired-up LaMelo Ball as well. Joe Lacob didn’t want you! And he deeply regrets it!
While Matisse Thybulle was playing for the Trail Blazers — the same team the Lakers hosted Tuesday night — he knew he needed to make a change to his shot.
The results have not only led to a strong shooting stretch to kick off his tenure as a Laker but also a unique pregame shooting routine that’s paying off.
Lakers wing Matisse Thybulle has modified his shooting form over the last couple of years. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The eighth-year wing out of Washington has a unique twist to his pregame shooting routine: Thybulle cycles in “no-dip” 3s (when a player catches the pass and immediately shoots it from their chest or above their head without dropping the ball down around their waist) and one-handed 3s.
The origins of the No. 20 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft incorporating unorthodox shooting into his routine stems from working with Trail Blazers shooting coach John Townsend during 2024-25 as he was rehabbing from a preseason right knee surgery and sprained right ankle that sidelined him for the first 67 games that season.
“My shot has never been something I was confident in,” Thybulle told the California Post on Tuesday. “It was always an insecurity of mine.”
The most significant changes that were made to his shot: moving Thybulle’s right (shooting) arm more to the side and keeping his elbow more tucked in.
Townsend had Thybulle go through “platform shooting” to accommodate him not being able to always jump as he rehabbed from the lower-body ailments.
“And then I started to notice some differences,” Thybulle told The Post. “I was probably like a month out of being able to play again. And he’s like, ‘Well, you kind of have to decide now: Do you want to change your shot and stick to it and you can’t go back? Or keep shooting the way you’ve been shooting?’
“I was like, ‘But I want to change it.’ So then we just decided to just stick with the changes that we were doing, trust the work and not really worry too much about the results for a little bit.”
Lakers wing Matisse Thybulle made his first no-dip 3 of the regular season against the Jazz on Sunday. NBAE via Getty Images
The changes yielded positive results.
After shooting 34.6% on 3s in 2023-24, Thybulle shot 43.8% from deep across 15 regular-season games in 2024-25 (albeit on small volume — 21 of 48) and 39.8% in 30 games in 2025-26 (37 of 93).
He entered Tuesday shooting 46.7% on 3s (7 of 15).
“So far,” Thybulle told The Post, “it’s worked out.”
The reason he incorporates the no-dip and one-handed 3s into his pregame routine is because it helps him maintain his shooting form.
“It was a huge foundational piece of just having my hand under the ball next to my head and then shooting through it,” Thybulle said. “And it became something that we would go back to a lot if my shot started to float around or I wasn’t shooting the way I wanted to. And then it just became a thing of like, well, ‘Am I confident enough to shoot that in a game? Do I trust myself to shoot it?’”
The answer is yes, with Thybulle saying he took a “couple” of no-dip 3s with the Blazers last season.
“Having done it, I had gotten so many reps of it,” Thybulle told The Post, “I got pretty confident in that being a good shot.”
Thybulle’s taken enough no-dip 3s that he doesn’t consider it a unique shot.
“That’s just a part of my shot archetype and shot package,” he told The Post. “I actually prefer it at times.”
Thybulle added: “There’s less variables. When you catch a no-dip shot, you’re under the ball, you have to fully extend. Whereas when you catch a regular pass, dip the ball down sometimes, you catch it across your body, you bring it over. Gotta make sure your legs are under you. There’s just more pieces to it. Luka [Doncic] and [Austin Reaves] throw such good passes that if I put my hands up, I’m literally catching it in my shooting pocket and I can just finish it through.”
Even though he doesn’t shoot the one-handed 3s in games, it’s also an important part of staying true to his modified shooting form.
“A bad habit I have in mind is my elbow gets out from underneath the ball,” Thybulle told The Post. “If you try to do that with one hand, you’re going to drop the ball. You can’t hold it. So it really forces you to be underneath the basketball. And then, you bring another hand and the carryover is really helpful.”
For Thybulle, the unconventional forms are all about “laying the foundation” for his shot: physically and mentally.
“It takes a level of confidence and not caring to shoot those shots in public,” he told The Post. “Because I’ll shoot one-handed shots to this day and just airball them. It’s the reason people shoot with two hands — it’s a hard shot.
“For me, the willingness to shoot through those embarrassing moments and trust that this is something that helps me and can guide me to the way I want to shoot, that to me, more than anything … one part physical, another part mental. Just like getting that voice in your head that tells you like shoot the regular way so that you can make it. ‘Cause if you do it this way, you might miss and it’s going to be embarrassing. Just like free yourself of that and just like trust the process.”
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on February 11, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 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 Washington Wizards play the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow night. Let’s preview this one.
Game Info
When: Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Rocket Arena
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injury Report
Wizards: Jamir Watkins and Tristan Vukcevic are out. AJ Dybantsa is questionable
Cavaliers: None
What to watch for
Washington is looking to get back above .500 after their loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Cleveland defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 127-125 yesterday in overtime at home. The Cavaliers will be tough for Washington to beat, but I’m looking forward to seeing the Trae Young vs. Donovan Mitchell battle. Go Wiz!
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart was ruled out for Oct. 27's game against the Ottawa Senators, with the goalie exiting during the morning skate on Tuesday.
Vegas coach Ryan Craig confirmed Hart would miss the Golden Knights' home game and Adin Hill would start in his place. Hart has a 2.76 goals against average in this fledgling season and an .889 save percentage.
Craig would not provide further updates.
Carter Hart injury update
Hart exited the morning skate on Oct. 27 with what appeared to be a lower body injury, as he moved with a noticeable limp.
It is unknown what the extent of Hart's injury is.
Adin Hill stats
Hill has played five games this season, posting a 2.96 goals against average and a save percentage of .882.
Miguel Rojas thanks the Dodgers for changing his life.
As the 2026 MLB season is nearing the end, so is Miguel Rojas’ time on the baseball diamond.
Rojas appeared as a guest during the Fox pregame show for Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night and said his time with the Dodgers over the last four years “changed my life.”
Miguel Rojas thanks the Dodgers for giving him the best 4 years of his life:
“They changed my life, they gave me the opportunity to go back home where I made my debut in 2014… it’s not just for me, it’s for my family. My son, he was shagging fly balls in the outfield, he was… pic.twitter.com/evlZkBroa3
Miguel Rojas thanks Dodgers for changing his life. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
“They gave me the opportunity to go back home in LA where I made debut 12 years ago …where I had where I had the opportunity to live the best four years of my life in baseball,” Rojas said.
Rojas said on the broadcast that he will always cherish the moments the Dodgers organization did for his son son Aaron, like when his teammates would take him to the outfield to shag fly balls.
“He was living the dream for me, and for my daughter, just to be around them. That’s what I told the guys,” Rojas said. “Thank you for changing my life. And for being part of the best four years of my life.”
Rojas’ professional baseball career originally began in 2006 when he signed as an amateur free agent from Venezuela with the Cincinnati Reds. In 2012, he became a free agent and signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers.
Miguel Rojas hoisting the Dodgers World Series trophy alongside Freddie Freeman in a low rider.
His MLB Debut came in June 2014. He went on to play in 85 games with the Dodgers.
The next season, he was traded to the Marlins and would spend the next eight years with them.
His second stint with the Dodgers came in 2022 — one of the most important periods in the franchise’s history.
Rojas became a World Series hero in 2025 when he hit a solo home run in the ninth inning in Game 7 that propelled the team to winning their second consecutive World Series.
Rojas contemplated retirement after his heroics but decided to stick around for the 2026 season to help the Dodgers attempt a three-peat.
Miguel Rojas receiving a hug from Brewers manager Pat Murphy before Game 7 of the World Series on Tuesday. Getty Images
