As Marco Jansen was delivering a spirited spray to Beau Webster after snaring the “Slug from Snug” in Gqeberha last week, the visual presented was that of an aggressor on the hunt for its prey.
The Ex-Files – How Are Ex-Sabres Doing? – Central Division
Here is an update on former Sabres players with Central Division clubs:
Bowen Byram - Chicago
The Stanley Cup winner had a career-high 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) last season with the Sabres, but after he informed Buffalo he would not be signing an extension, GM Jarmo Kekalainen dealt him to the Hawks for the #4 overall pick (Daxon Rudolph), Louis Crevier, and a 2nd round pick (which was converted into Olen Zellweger).
Byram signed a six-year, $75 million extension with Chicago, and assumed a heavy workload of nearly 25 minutes a night. In six games, he has one assist, is a -7, and has been out since October 13th with an upper-body injury.
Tyler Myers - Dallas
The 36-year-old former Calder Trophy winner is playing a shutdown depth role with his fourth NHL club after being dealt from Vancouver to the Stars last March. In 10 games, Myers has no points and is averaging just under 15 minutes per night.
Marcus Foligno - Minnesota
The 35-year-old, along with older brother Nick, played against the Sabres on October 6, but suffered a mid-body injury in the Wild’s next game against Tampa Bay on October 8 and was placed on injured reserve.
Other Sabres Stories
Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL
Ryan O’Reilly - Nashville
The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is in the final year of a four-year contract with the Predators, where he has scored 20 or more goals every season in Music City. In 10 games, he has eight points (4 goals, 4 assists). GM Chris McFarland has been active since taking over from Barry Trotz this summer, and if his club drops out of playoff competition, O’Reilly will likely be one of the hottest commodities on the trade market before the deadline.
Isak Rosen - Winnipeg
The 2021 first-rounder was sent to the Jets last March in a deal for Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, after three solid seasons in AHL Rochester, but never really getting a serious opportunity with the Sabres. In 31 games at the end of last season and this year, the 23-year-old winger has four points (3 goals, 1 assist).
Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo
Islanders see how far they have to go with key deficiency exposed in eye-opening loss to Stars
DALLAS — That will put a damper on the Islanders’ fledgling momentum.
It’s not merely that the Stars snapped their five-game points streak here at American Airlines Center on Sunday night, beating the Islanders 6-3. It’s that the how of it included so many reminders of the Islanders’ limitations.
Namely, their speed, or lack thereof. The Islanders have shown they can play around it — indeed, they did at points Sunday — but doing so requires impeccable detail and decision-making up and down the lineup. When pieces are off, when they are playing one of the league’s faster teams or both, as was the case here, it is so much harder to get away with.
“The lesson in that,” coach Pete DeBoer said after his Dallas homecoming was spoiled, “is we can’t play that game against good teams.”
The Stars could get pucks behind Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock and then beat them to it. They could handle dump-ins from the Islanders’ workmanlike third and fourth lines with ease, moving the puck out before the Islanders could start their forecheck. Jason Robertson can capitalize on a split second of indecision from Brayden Schenn behind his own net and turn it into a goal.
Put all that together and you have a steep uphill climb for the Islanders to stay in a game.
“[The Stars] have great gaps, great reloads,” Schenn told The Post. “They take away the middle of the ice. … And then when we put it in, forwards weren’t getting first touches and forechecks, allowing them to break out a little cleaner than obviously we wanted to. We have lots to clean up and focus on.”
To their credit, the Islanders stayed in the game, at least for a time. They fought back down 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 to go into the last 20 minutes tied 3-3 after Schenn deposited Anthony Duclair’s feed from behind the net past Jake Oettinger at 17:45 of the second.
What they couldn’t do, though, was change the tide of the game. And when the current picked up, the Islanders were carried right along with it.
So 4:10 into the third, Wyatt Johnston gave Dallas its fourth lead of the night, getting open in the slot after the Islanders overcommitted to the strong side of the ice and burying one.
This time, the Islanders didn’t have the immediate answer. Robertson floated behind Pelech and was sprung by Tyler Seguin’s pass before scoring to make it 5-3.
Adding insult to injury, Mikko Rantanen — the arch-villain last time the Islanders played here — made it 6-3 mere minutes later.
Ilya Sorokin, who gave up six or more goals just twice last season, finished with stops on just 32 of the 38 shots he saw, albeit without impressive defense in front of him. DeBoer said he never considered giving Sorokin the hook, saying it was more on the defense in front of him.
Nevertheless, by the end of the night, pockets of the crowd chanted “Otter’s better.”
“Tough game,” Sorokin told The Post. “We should be better in D zone, and [I] should be better in net, my [positioning]. Tough game. Should make a good review and get ready for next game.”
At so many different points before the Islanders fell apart, they were on their heels.
They didn’t record a shot for more than seven minutes to start the game. When they did notch a dangerous chance, the Stars came down the other end, and Seguin scored on the rush. There wasn’t much forecheck to speak of; rather, it was the Stars who were consistently able to get pucks in deep and get to work.
Still, the Islanders found ways to stay in it. Matthew Schaefer turned on the jets and blew past Johnston to tie the game at one, and Palmieri made an excellent play on his backhand to tie it 2-2. Schenn atoned for his earlier error to make it a 3-3 game, but in the third, the duct-tape-and-glue approach with which they’d kept it together all night caught up with them.
“We weren’t great,” DeBoer said. “It was Game 11, it’s the first night I felt we didn’t have great legs, great juice.”
Islanders Five-Game Point Streak Snapped In 6-3 Loss To Stars
DALLAS, TX -- The New York Islanders (5-4-2) were caught playing Dallas Stars hockey, losing 6-3 on Sunday night to Pete DeBoer's old squad.
The Islanders's five-game point streak (3-0-2) turns into a two-game slide with two games left on this road trip.
Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves on 38 shots in the loss.
Here's how it happened:
After the Islanders couldn't score on Oettinger despite a flurry of chances, Tyler Seguin beat Sorokin with a sharp-angle shot on a 2-on-1 at 11:31 of the first, giving Dallas a 1-0 lead.
Benn to Seguin never gets old 🚨 pic.twitter.com/WDxRXzmdxJ
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 25, 2026
The Islanders answered courtesy of Matthew Schaefer at 4-on-4 as he beat Oettinger blocker side off the rush at 13:43 to sit with the second most goals all time by a teenager with 26:
What a goal by Matthew Schaefer. pic.twitter.com/8Y3nveBUrs
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 25, 2026
But, less than a minute later, Brayden Schenn turned the puck over, leading to Jason Robertson having time and space to take the puck from behind the net to the low slot and roof one glove side on Sorokin:
Defense ➡️ offense pic.twitter.com/xfA45xg3rg
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 25, 2026
Lively boards got the game evened up at 2-2 after Kyle Palmieri banked home a Ryan Pulock missed shot at 4:01 of the second period:
Palms ties this game up! pic.twitter.com/kyj5Xn0pA9
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 25, 2026
Those lively boards giveth and taketh, as after Thomas Harley's power-play slapper missed the net, the puck came flying back toward the low slot where Justin Hryckowian, out of the air, beat Sorokin at 10:52 to give the Stars a 3-2 lead:
Good bounce, good finish pic.twitter.com/f3xIB5Wjfd
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 25, 2026
But, the Islanders evened things up at 17:45 of the second when Anthony Duclair won a board battle on the forecheck before finding a cutting Schenn in the low slot for a finish blocker side on Oettinger to tie the game at 3-3:
Duclair ➡️ Schenn ➡️ 🚨 pic.twitter.com/nf1Y2ybf7l
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 25, 2026
The back-and-forth continued as the Stars got back on top 4-3 at 4:10 of the third period after Nils Lundqvist found Johnston wide open in the slot before he roofed one glove side on Sorokin:
ZING 🎯🎯🎯 pic.twitter.com/N7CJra6ceP
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 26, 2026
The Stars added another two, with Robertson adding his second of the game at 9:45 and Mikko Rantanen potting one at 13:02 of the third for the 6-3 final.
UP NEXT: The Islanders face the Nashville Predators at 8 PM ET on Tuesday
“Hold My Beer”: Avalanche Get Run Out of Nashville in Embarrassing 6-2 Loss
When the Colorado Avalanche dropped two straight games on their previous road trip, head coach Jared Bednar called them “two of the worst games I've seen our team play in years.”You might as well have billed Sunday's game in Nashville as “Hold My Beer.”
The Avalanche turned in a putrid effort from start to finish, getting hammered 6-2 by the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Colorado was sloppy with the puck, undisciplined, and completely ineffective on special teams, allowing four power-play goals while failing to record a single shot on net during three of its four power plays.
Former Av Ryan O'Reilly scored twice, Filip Forsberg added his 21st career goal against Colorado, and Steven Stamkos found the net twice as Nashville took full advantage of the Avs' mistakes.
Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews scored for Colorado, but their goals did little to change the story of the night. Justus Annunen, who was traded to Nashville for Scott Wedgewood, stopped 17 of 19 shots to earn the win, while Wedgewood made 28 saves on 34 shots for the Avalanche. It was a rough night all around for Colorado, which never really looked in control.
First Period
The Predators came out flying, putting Colorado on its heels early and taking a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Filip Forsberg opened the scoring on the power play after Parker Kelly was called for hooking. It was Forsberg's 21st career goal against the Avalanche, and he made it count by giving Nashville an early lead.
Steven Stamkos doubled the advantage on a close play that needed a video review to confirm the puck had crossed the goal line. Just like that, Colorado was down two before it could find much of a rhythm.
The Avalanche's top line of Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Necas generated some pressure late in the period, but couldn't get the bounces they needed. Colorado managed just eight shots in the opening frame, four of them from Lehkonen.
The bigger problem was how the Avs were getting in their own way. Misfired passes, careless turnovers, and sloppy puck management made it tough to build any sustained offense. It was the kind of road period that leaves a team chasing the game before it's even had a chance to settle in.
Second Period
If Colorado was hoping to reset in the second, that plan didn't last long.
Bad clears, miscommunication, and turnovers continued to give Nashville chances, including a few odd-man rushes that forced Scott Wedgewood to bail out his teammates. He came up with several saves, including one against Brent Burns, who was playing in his 1,019th consecutive NHL game at age 41.
The Avalanche couldn't get much going on their own power play, either. They failed to register a shot on one man advantage, and Sam Malinski was later called for too many men on the ice, adding another mistake to an already frustrating night.
Things got chippy when Necas tangled with Jordan Struble after the Predators defenseman jabbed at him following a whistle. Necas responded with a slash, and the two started mixing it up along the boards before captain Gabriel Landeskog joined the scrum. Necas and Struble were sent off for roughing, while Malinski's penalty left Colorado shorthanded.
Nashville made the most of it. O'Reilly was left alone in the low slot and buried the puck to make it 3-0, giving the Predators their second power-play goal of the night.
The Avs had a chance to respond when Roman Josi was called for slashing MacKinnon, but Colorado couldn't get anything going and remained scoreless on its first three power plays. Parker Kelly later dropped the gloves with Struble and quickly took him down, providing one of the few moments of fight from Colorado on a night when the scoreboard was getting ugly.
After an exhausting shift that left the Avalanche scrambling, former Av Jack Drury — dealt away in the offseason — beat Wedgewood with a backhand to push Nashville's lead to 4-0.
Colorado was already struggling to keep up, and the penalties kept coming. Brock Nelson was called for interference, and another breakdown in the defensive zone gave O'Reilly room to strike again on the power play. His second goal of the night made it 5-1 and marked Nashville's third power-play goal.
At this point, the Avalanche looked like Survivor contestants caught in a hurricane, scrambling to stay afloat while the Predators kept piling on.
Lehkonen finally got Colorado on the board, continuing his hot stretch with his 10th goal in 12 games. It gave the Avs a little life, but Nashville still had control of the game heading into the third.
Third Period
Colorado finally managed to record a shot on the power play after O'Reilly was called for hhooking. Moments later, Nazem Kadri was penalized for tripping Adam Wilsby, but the Avalanche found the net anyway.
Malinski threaded a pass to Devon Toews, whose shot hit the post and bounced past Annunen. The goal cut Nashville's lead to 5-2 and briefly gave Colorado something to build on.
Any momentum didn't last long.
Brent Burns and Logan O'Connor took consecutive penalties, putting the Avalanche in a difficult spot once again. Colorado's parade to the penalty box had reached eight minor penalties, and Nashville was handed a five-on-three power play.
Wedgewood took a shot off his mask and struggled to get back into position. Stamkos was waiting with an open net and made no mistake, scoring his second goal of the night to restore Nashville's four-goal cushion at 6-2.
That was effectively the end of it. The Avalanche had no answer for Nashville's power play, couldn't clean up the mistakes that kept putting them in trouble, and never found a way to make the game competitive.
The Avalanche gave up four power-play goals, took eight minor penalties, and spent most of the night chasing the game. If Bednar thought the last two road games were among the worst he'd seen in years, Sunday's showing in Nashville gave him another one to consider.
Nets can’t keep up with Pacers, lose 136-109
The Brooklyn Nets are still looking for a defensive identity, offensive consistency, and of course, their first win of the season. The Indiana Pacers had no interest in aiding the search Sunday evening.
Brooklyn started with the same five again tonight. Held out for back injury maintenance, Mikel Brown Jr. wasn’t even an option.
The Net defense was a mixed bag in the first. The team did well getting into the Pacer passing lanes, coming away with seven steals in the period. While Keon Ellis was the lead bandit out there today, coming away with four, Josh Minott had a pair as well. He got first half minutes for a second straight game after riding bench for the entirety of the season opener.
However, Brooklyn’s tendency to throw two at the ball paired with Indiana’s collective ability to move the rock also brought trouble.
“Obviously we have to guard better one on one, but also we have to be focused on the details,” Nolan Traoré said. “Like, I mean, they were not doing anything crazy that we didn’t see, so we just have to be better. We can be way better than that.”
While Brooklyn’s defense, particularly around the rim, hasn’t been anything to rave about so far this year, this wasn’t the afternoon to be critical of Mo Wagner and Day’Ron Sharpe. The bigs essentially carried the Nets in the game’s first 15 minutes, combing for 16 points while shooting 6-8 from the field. Wagner was a +9 in his first stint off the bench.
Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle had a combined two points on 1-6 shooting during that stretch. So, yeah, they needed that.
Brooklyn still led by a few at the start of and early into the second, but Indiana never let them separate and eventually caught them midway through the frame. They had little success distancing themselves on the scoreboard until the half’s final two and a half minutes, where Indiana hit a flurry of threes to carve out a nine point advantage.
At that point, Randle and Porter Jr. had mustered a combined 12 points, but were still shooting 2-14 from the field. Mo Wagner led Brooklyn with 13 points, going 5-7 inside and 2-2 outside the arc. Ellis and Sharpe each had nine.
But those triples for Indiana turned out to be the first few drips of a flood soon to break through. The Pacers opened up the second half shooting 4-6 from deep to give themselves a 16-point lead. Getting down the floor in a hurry after Brooklyn’s misses, they had an easy time finding space for their shooters with the Nets often looking a step or two behind. They finished with 25 fast break points to Brooklyn’s 18.
And, this time, Mo Wagner couldn’t save them. After Brooklyn’s bench unit checked in, the Pacers inflated their lead to 26 points with 3:19 to go in the third. The Nets also stopped turning Indiana over, only to start giving away possessions themselves, committing five turnovers in the third. They shot 8-23 from the field and 1-8 from deep during the period too.
Those are a lot of negative figures, and they translated onto the scoreboard all too smoothly, with the Nets quickly going down 26 with with 3:19 to play. That’s also when Danny Wolf checked in for his first minutes of the season. Drake Powell got his shortly after as well, followed by Ben Saraf.
Before you knew it, we were once again left with little more than a joint team practice for the young guys to develop, as a legitimate game felt out of reach.
“The performance that we put on after the first quarter was just unacceptable,” Fernández said. “112 points in three quarters — you’re not winning basketball games.”
In the consolation contest, Traoré led the way, tallying with 17 points and five assists while shooting 6-11 from the field and 2-3 from three. He finished as Brooklyn’s leading scorer. Powell and Wolf both played the entire fourth quarter but offered little to write about. Wolf made two threes. Powell did not score but assisted on two baskets.
Joshua Jefferson did get his first NBA minutes, but not points. He came in for the affair’s final three minutes, missing his lone shot attempt, a three from the corner.
With none of the starters playing in the fourth, Porter Jr. finished with 10 points while shooting 4-13 from the field and 0-5 from deep. Randle also had 10 points along with seven rebound and seven assists. Egor Dëmin struggled as well. The pendulum appeared to swing back the other way today after his redemptive game against Cleveland. Dëmin added just three points while shooting 1-6 from the field and committing three turnovers.
Back-to-backs are always going to be tough, as will getting wins against expected playoff teams for this young Nets squad. However, in a season where it finally felt like winning could be on the table, you can’t help but feel disappointed with an 0-3 start.
The search continues.
Final: Indiana Pacers 136, Brooklyn Nets 109
Milestone Watch
- Keon Ellis recorded four steals in the first half tonight against Indiana, which tied his career high for steals in a half (fourth time). It is the seventh time that a Net has had 4+ STL in the first half of a game since Shaun Livingston had five on 2/3/14 vs. PHI.
Injury Update
Jordi Fernández confirmed pregame that nothing new has changed or come up with Mikel Brown Jr.’s back. He was held out today purely for precautionary reasons. Fernández said that he’d be “ready to go” next time out. Speaking of…
Next Up
The Nets will play their first inter-divisional game on Tuesday night in Boston. It’ll be the latter half of a back-to-back sequence for the Celtics, so Brooklyn might have a better shot to pull off an upset than the matchup alone indicates. The Nets have lost 11 of their last 12 to the boys from bean town.
- Boxscore: Indiana Pacers 136, Brooklyn Nets 109 – NBA
- Game Highlights: Indiana Pacers 136, Brooklyn Nets 109 (Video) – NBA
- Jordi Fernández on loss to the Indiana Pacers (Video) – YES Network
- Nolan Traore on scoring 17 points in loss to Indiana (Video) – YES Network
- Haliburton has 24 points and 10 assists as the Pacers beat the winless Nets 136-109 – Adry Torres – AP
- Nets routed by Pacers in ugly home loss – Brian Lewis – New York Post
- Nets defensive breakdowns turn close game into an ugly 136-109 ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
- Jordi Fernandez want to stop one Nets mistake turn into two ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
- Nets’ Jordi Fernandez reveals reason for Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Demin’s split in rotation – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
- Nets player grades after 136-109 loss to Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers – Shareef Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY
Former Sharks Defenseman Placed on Waivers by Vancouver
The Vancouver Canucks have placed former San Jose Sharks defenseman Jack Thompson on waivers with the intent of reassigning him to their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.
Thompson, a former Tampa Bay Lightning third-round selection in 2020, was originally acquired by the Sharks as a part of the trade that sent Anthony Duclair to Tampa back in 2024. During his time in teal, the now 24-year-old defenseman played 33 games at the NHL level while spending the rest of his stint in the Bay Area with the San Jose Barracuda.
During his time with the Sharks, Thompson had 10 points (four goals and six assists). Meanwhile, he played 85 games with the Barracuda and registered a total of 35 points in 85 games.
Eventually, the Sharks opted to trade Thompson in a one-for-one deal that saw Jett Woo coming to the Bay Area in an attempt to bolster the Barracuda's blue line with a veteran presence.
Thompson, who has spent the entirety of his time in the Canucks organization in the NHL, missed training camp and the start of the 2026-27 season due to an injury. Now that he's ready to go, the Canucks are sending him back to Abbotsford, assuming he's able to clear waivers.
Jason Robertson scores twice to help the Stars beat the Islanders 6-3
DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson scored twice and the Dallas Stars had a three-goal third period in a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday night.
Robertson’s breakaway at 9:45 of the third period came five minutes after Wyatt Johnston’s tiebreaker. Mikko Rantanen added a goal four minutes after Robertson with his team-high sixth goal of the season.
Tyler Seguin and Justin Hryckowian also scored for the Stars, who have won five consecutive games. Jake Oettinger made 16 saves.
Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Kyle Palmieri and Brayden Schenn scored for the Islanders, who erased three one-goal deficits only to lose two straight (0-1-1) for the first time this season. Ilya Sorokin stopped 32 shots allowing a season high in goals.
Johnston scored from the slot 4:10 into the final period on a feed from Nils Lundqvist. After scoring a career-most 45 goals last season, Johnston has goals in consecutive games after going goalless in his first seven outings.
Sunday marked the Dallas return of Pete DeBoer, who took over the Islanders with four games to play last season. DeBoer was fired by the Stars in June 2025 after losing in the conference finals in each of his three Dallas seasons.
The Stars have 20 straight penalty kills through its last five games, three on Sunday.
The game was Dallas’ third in a six-game homestand and began a three-game Central Division trip for New York.
Hryckowian’s younger brother, Dylan, and fellow forward Matthew Seminoff made their NHL debuts on Dallas' fourth line. The brothers were in the starting lineup.
Up next
Islanders: At Nashville on Tuesday night.
Stars: Host New Jersey on Tuesday night
___
Utah Jazz fall short against Los Angeles Lakers
The Jazz went into this game coming off their first win a few days before against the New Orleans Pelicans, marking a 1-1 record, and this Sunday evening they welcomed the 2-0 Lakers to Salt Lake City. The 2-0 Lakers were headlined by former Jazzman Walker Kessler, who’s impressed through his first two games, getting high praise from some of the game’s all-time greats like Shaquille O’Neal, who called Kessler the best big in the game on ESPN’s “Inside the NBA.” All that being said, it’s safe to say the stage was set for a standout event.
Going into the game, the Jazz started out flaming hot, winning the first quarter 47-29, capped off by a buzzer-beating bank three from Lauri Markkanen that extended the lead to 18. Ace Bailey was the standout. In just 8 minutes of first-quarter play, Bailey put up 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, with 7 rebounds and a block. Five of those rebounds were offensive, and several of them led to easy bunnies for Bailey.
Keyonte George must’ve thought it was Thanksgiving time, not Halloween, with the way he was distributing the ball with glee in the first quarter. He finished the game with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists, falling just short of a triple-double, with 7 of those 10 assists coming in the first fourth of the game.
The Jazz were just dominant in the first quarter, showing flashes of what this team can eventually be capable of once they grow older. Unfortunately, the team is young, and the first quarter was an anomaly in this game.
Instantly, from the second quarter, the Lakers were able to relax and pick on the Jazz. Austin Reaves gave the Jazz some problems. Wings like Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams were often found wide open, and they capitalized.
Kessler, in his return to Utah, struggled. He found himself in foul trouble, only playing 28 minutes and posting just 2 points with 7 rebounds. He wasn’t why the Jazz lost this game. That being said, for both sides, I personally don’t think the Jazz win this game if they have Kessler. They lost this game because they instantly allowed the Lakers back into the game after a dominant first quarter.
Still, going into halftime, the Jazz found themselves down 3 against a supposed “contender” in the NBA.
Considering I’m almost 400 words in here, it’s pretty crazy I haven’t mentioned this guy you might’ve heard of. Luka Dončić, standing 6’8” out of Ljubljana, Slovenia, was quite successful tonight throughout the game. And while you might think making dorky faces after drilling tough shots is what he’s best at… it’s actually his flopping that takes the cake!
All jokes aside, Dončić did whatever he wanted to tonight. He ended the game with 52 points on 52.6% shooting, with 10 assists and 8 rebounds. Not a bad night for one of the 2026-27 MVP favorites.
And while the Jazz were only down 3 going into the fourth, and even held a lead late in the 4th quarter, when it was money time, Dončić hit shot after shot, putting the young Jazz to sleep with a final score of 132-123.
It wasn’t a lost-cause game; it was a learning experience. A recurring theme I expect this season, especially for players like rookie Darryn Peterson, who probably won’t look to reminisce on this game anytime soon. He still showed flashes of being an All-NBA scorer, hitting shots most 19-year-olds can only fathom hitting on professional grown men.
And I want to make it clear, it’ll be very difficult for you to find a bigger Peterson enthusiast than me, but he needs work on the defensive end. The Lakers were targeting him, and they found some success. The efficiency I’m not worried about; that’ll happen in time. What I am slightly irked by is the way Peterson is being utilized through 3 games. I don’t know if it’s Will Hardy babying him a little or if Peterson simply isn’t taking the initiative to go get the buckets we all know he can get. At the end of the day, it’s probably not that serious, as Bailey faced the same issues as a rookie last year at the beginning of the season.
The Jazz fell short of a win, but they showed flashes of something we’ve wanted for a long time. They’ll have a quick turnaround as they have a rematch with the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow at the Delta Center.
Dalton Knecht’s chance at redemption will begin in G League
Dalton Knecht will have to resuscitate his career in the G League.
Head coach Mike Brown said he wants the Knicks’ new acquisition to get game reps rather than just “sit.” That means, barring injuries or unexpected events, the former first-round pick will be hooping with Westchester when the G League season starts next month.
“We want him to play as much as he can,” Brown said. “So he’s gonna play some games with Westchester. If we need him to play games with us, we’ll do that. I’d rather him play than be around us too much and sit.”
A tall two-guard, Knecht signed a two-way contract with the Knicks on Friday night and joined the team for Sunday night’s game against the Magic at the Garden. He was available because the Lakers cut Knecht after just two seasons, despite picking him 17th overall and watching him get named to the 2025 Rising Stars Challenge.
Knecht’s career plummeted after the Lakers acquired Luka Dončić via trade. His playing time and production diminished, and the Lakers quickly tried to deal Knecht to the Hornets for Mark Williams. When Williams failed his physical, Knecht had to return to the Lakers for sparse playing time.
“I don’t think nothing changed. I think the team just got changed and that was it,” Knecht said Sunday when asked why his career took a downturn after the hot rookie start. “Still loved my time that I was there. No hard feelings; on to better things.”
The Knicks are taking a low-risk chance that Knecht can rediscover the game that made him the 17th overall pick in 2024 — and the rookie who once scored 27 points and 37 points in consecutive wins with the Lakers.
“We’ll take it day by day to see how quickly he picks up on the offense and the defense,” Brown said. “And, and then, if there’s a need to throw him out there [with the senior Knicks], I won’t hesitate to throw him out there.”
The Knicks thought enough of Knecht to waive Kevin McCullar Jr., who was their second-round draft pick from 2024. McCullar had some moments with the Knicks in his two seasons but mostly was injured and inactive.
“[McCullar has] been here three seasons as a two-way player, so we have a pretty good feel for him,” Brown said. “He has a good feel for us, and this is about getting to know a guy like Dalton Knecht at this point of the year. It’s something that we need to take a look at. So it wasn’t anything that Kevin didn’t do. He was great, and he is an NBA player, and I think he’s gonna get a shot down the road.”
The Knicks already have reserves Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson in the backcourt. Like Knecht, they’re all 3-point shooters.
McBride was coming off his best regular-season game in months, when he dropped 20 points in Friday’s loss to the Celtics while hitting 6 of 8 from beyond the arc. He also finished the game because starter Mikal Bridges was benched amid a hesitant offense and shooting struggles.
“[McBride] played great. He’s one of the reasons we were still in the game,” Jalen Brunson said. “Without him doing what he was doing, it might’ve been a worse outcome. He came in ready to go and helped us.”
Wizards at Hornets Preview: Washington heads south to Charlotte
Game Info
When: Monday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m. ET
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Injury Report
Wizards: AJ Dybansta – Out (Ankle), Jamir Watkins – Out (Knee), Tristan Vukcevic – Out (Hip)
Hornets: Kon Knueppel – Out (Hamstring), Coby White – Out (Calf), Grant Williams – Out (Hamstring), Kylan Boswell – Out (Knee)
Pregame notes
After picking up a win in the Windy City, the Wizards hit the road again for a matchup against their Southeast Division foe, the Charlotte Hornets.
Like the Wizards, the Hornets are off to a 2-1 start. They have done that without the services of their talented 2nd year star Kon Knueppel and guard Coby White, who were big contributors down the stretch last season for the Hornets. Despite missing both of those players, Hornets has managed to get off to a good start, led by one of their new acquisitions, Naz Reid.
This edition of the Hornets will be vastly different without LaMelo Ball, who was part of the trade for the team to acquire Reid. Charlotte plays at a much slower pace than the Wizards’ last two opponents. Wizards seemed to struggle a bit defensively with teams that have pushed the pace against them. Let’s see if Charlotte tries to exploit that weakness more.
On the Wizards’ side, the team will look to sharpen defensively as they have not put a consistent defensive showing in any of the three games so far. The team will once again be without #1 draft pick, AJ Dybansta, so they will have to continue to try to figure out their identity on both ends without what is expected to be one of the key pieces to their team this season.
This game is, once again, another opportunity for the Wizards to test how far along they are in the Eastern Conference pecking order.
The Padres’ Failed Starter
Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).
The Padres’ Failed Starter
As the Padres’ general manager A.J. Preller tends to do each offseason, he went bargain hunting. in 2026, this came in the form of several lower-tier free agents being signed to ridiculously low contracts with the hopes that one or two of them would pan out. One of these was Griffin Canning. Canning was coming off of a career year with the New York Mets, posting a 3.77 ERA across 76 1/3 innings pitched. Unfortunately, a ruptured tendon in his left Achilles ended his season prematurely. That allowed San Diego to pick him up on a measly one-year, $2.5 million deal.
Overall Grade: C
He performed roughly to those expectations. In 30 appearances (11 starts), Canning posted a 5.68 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and .276 opponent batting average. Putting it kindly, he struggled to limit runs. Putting it less kindly, he pitched like a guy who didn’t want to play baseball any longer. Canning simply couldn’t record outs.
His first start was quite good, surrendering just one run across five innings against the Chicago White Sox. Then the illusion came crashing down. Canning would surrender three or more runs in seven of his ten starts. He surrendered more runs than innings pitched seven times. He also surrendered more runs than strikeouts recorded five different times. It was tough going for quite some time.
However, those early struggles make it hard to discern his later success. After failing to pitch in the starting rotation, Canning transitioned into a bulk relief role, where he flourished. The righty pitched his final start for the Padres on July 18 against the Kansas City Royals. After that, Canning only surrendered more than two runs twice with a 2.70 ERA after July 23.
Luka Doncic’s 52-point masterpiece fuels Lakers’ wild comeback against Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY — Luka Doncic entered Sunday looking to find his offensive rhythm.
He found it in abundance at Delta Center.
The Slovenian superstar guard dropped his first 50-point game of the season, leading the Lakers to a 132-123 win over the Jazz for their third straight victory to kick off the 2026-27 season.
Doncic scored 52 points on 17-of-30 shooting, hitting a trio of 3-pointers late in the game’s precarious moments.
“Anybody that overreacts to him not making shots in the first two games, it’s the first two games,” Austin Reaves said. “That’s the same player who’s capable of doing amazing things on the court. It was a matter of time before he did what he did.”
Doncic’s first stepback 3 of the fourth tied the game at 116 with just over four minutes left.
The second and third 3s put the Lakers up by five and six, respectively, putting the Lakers in full control.
By the time Doncic was at the free throw line with 12.5 seconds left to ice the game, “M-V-P” chants filled the Jazz’ home arena.
He waved goodbye to Jazz fans in the crowd after assisting Reaves on a 3-pointer to put the Lakers up, 130-123, with 34 seconds left, while Reaves shushed the crowd.
“When he’s in the flow state,” coach JJ Redick said, “he gets into like showman mode, he’s on stage performing, and that’s always – it’s always really fun to watch.”
Doncic recorded 13 points of his scoring total in the fourth, with all of his fourth-quarter points coming in the final 4:06 of the game.
He shot 8-of-18 on 3s, and 10 of 11 on free throws, to go with 10 assists and 8 rebounds for a near triple-double.
Reaves added 29 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 4 assists, with 11 points of his scoring total coming in the final quarter.
Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle both scored 11 points, while Collin Sexton scored 13 points off of the bench in 20 minutes.
Walker Kessler struggled in his first game against his former team, finishing with more fouls (4) than points (2 on 1-of-2 shooting) after a hot start to the season.
The Lakers got off to a slow start, with Redick acknowledging during his halftime interview that his team wasn’t ready to play.
The Jazz won the opening quarter by 18 points, taking a 47-29 lead going into the second quarter after dominating multiple areas of the game.
They had six offensive rebounds, with Ace Bailey having five of them, and 16 second-chance points in the first. The Jazz scored 24 points in the paint and went 5-of-10 on 3s in the opening frame, with the Lakers struggling to contain the Jazz.
After being a brilliant third quarter team in the first two games, the Lakers didn’t wait until halftime to flip the game back in their favor.
They outscored the Jazz 45-24 in the second, with Reaves doing the heavy lifting, scoring 15 points to get the Lakers back in the game.
Doncic closed out the quarter by stripping Bailey on his drive to the rim before hitting a pull-up 3, giving the Lakers a 74-71 lead going into halftime after trailing by 18 earlier in the quarter.
The Lakers beat the Jazz despite being being dominated on the board, with the Jazz grabbing 19 offensive rebounds compared to the Lakers’ four, giving them a 32-11 advantage with second-chance points.
But the Lakers’ shooting advantage gave them the edge: They knocked down 20 3s compared to the Jazz’s 10.
Doncic entered Sunday with modest-for-his-standards averages: 25.5 points, 7 assists and 7 rebounds, but shooting 38.5% from the field (35% on 3s).
His slow start to the season came he didn’t play for the Slovenian national team this past offseason, which created the longest stretch of time since he entered the NBA in 2018 that he went without playing an official basketball game.
The lack of offensive rhythm was palpable, and measurable.
“I’m still getting there, honestly,” Doncic said. “This is the first time I didn’t play basketball in six or seven months, which is a long time. So I’m not used to it. I’m still getting there. [Sunday] was a little bit better.”
Luka Doncic scores 52 points, hits several late clutch shots as Lakers rally to beat Jazz
Luka Doncic raised three fingers toward the Utah crowd. Fans were left counting more than just his points.
Doncic hit three clutch three-pointers late in the fourth quarter and took a momentum-swinging charge to lead the Lakers to a nail-biting 132-123 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday at Delta Center. Doncic led the Lakers (3-0) with 52 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds as the team fought back from an 18-point second-quarter deficit.
Guard Austin Reaves hit a dagger three with 34 seconds remaining to give the Lakers a seven-point lead. As Doncic salted the game away, he was serenaded with chants of “MVP!” Reaves finished with 29 points.
Center Walker Kessler was quiet in his return to Salt Lake City. After he joined the Lakers in a massive sign-and-trade deal that cost the Lakers two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps and a four-year, $130-million contract, Kessler was held to just two points on one-of-two shooting with seven rebounds.
Read more:Swanson: Luka Doncic's trash-talking antics sharpen his edge. Lakers fans need to embrace it
Kessler had averaged 24 points and 8.5 rebounds per game during the Lakers’ first two games and shot a blazing 84.6% from the field while feasting off lob passes from Doncic and Reaves.
Kessler got an unremarkable mixed reception from the crowd with a large number of fans wearing Lakers colors. The Jazz didn’t play a highlight reel during the game to welcome the center back, as many teams often do for a player who returns on an opposing team.
When asked whether Kessler’s return would spark extra motivation for the Jazz, Utah coach Will Hardy dispelled any suggestions of revenge.
“In no way is tonight about Walker,” Hardy said. “Like it’s not a, ‘Oh wow Walker’s here so we better play harder.’ We’re gonna demand the same standard that we did in our last game. Some of the story lines I don’t quite understand. Like we have a lot of love for Walker. He’s somebody that we have a great relationship with and a lot of shared experience.”
Read more:How the Lakers' Luka Doncic went from 'Wonder Boy' to 'The Man'
The Jazz traded for Kessler after the Memphis Grizzlies picked him 22nd overall in 2022. He emerged as a strong rebounder and rim protector, but the Jazz, still in rebuilding mode, never challenged for a playoff spot. Kessler played in just five games last season after shoulder surgery.
Kessler picked up his fourth foul with 7:38 remaining in the third quarter, stuck on only two points and six rebounds against his former team. The Lakers instead used a starring performance from their backcourt to overcome an 18-point second-quarter deficit.
The Lakers gave up 16 second-chance points on six offensive rebounds during the first quarter, contributing to the early deficit. Reaves was held scoreless during the first quarter, but awoke for 15 points in the second.
Doncic capped the half with a flurry on both ends. He watched a fadeaway jumper circle the entire rim before dropping through for a three-point play, ripped the ball out of Ace Bailey’s arms for a steal then hit a three at the buzzer to put the Lakers up by three at halftime.
The Slovenian superstar was coming off an admittedly “terrible” game in which he had 23 points, seven assists and 11 turnovers in the Lakers’ home win over the Clippers. Lakers coach JJ Redick said Doncic is still finding his rhythm after not playing with the national team over the summer as he typically does.
Doncic made just two of his first eight three-point attempts Sunday. He looked right back in rhythm when he splashed the tying three with 4:06 remaining in the fourth quarter and pushed his palms toward the ground to quiet the crowd.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lakers survive slow start, silence Jazz behind Luka Dončić 52-point game
After trailing by 18 points in the first quarter, the Lakers rallied on Sunday afternoon to beat the Jazz in the first road game of the season, 132-123.
Luka Dončić put the team on his back from the second quarter on, exploding for 52 points in the win. Down the stretch, Luka buried a pair of threes and Austin Reaves hit the dagger to give the Lakers the comeback win.
Luka was the first to get on the board for LA with a jump shot. The Jazz then scored eight straight. Luka answered with another midrange jumper.
Ace Bailey countered for Utah with four points. He was cooking for the Jazz, leading the team with six points. Meanwhile, Luka had all six of the Lakers’ points.
Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams both drained triples, finally putting other Lakers on the board. Utah kept the momentum, though, and opened a 16-point lead with Bailey leading the charge with 13 points.
Los Angeles struggled defensively, which in turn killed any momentum they built on offense. Luka was the only player doing much of anything offensively with 17 points.
At the end of the first, Utah was up by 18.
Collin Sexton started the second period with a layup for the Lakers. Brice Sensabaugh responded on the other end with a floater off the glass. Austin Reaves began to heat up, scoring 10 points in the quarter to bring the deficit to 12 for LA.
Utah called a timeout and, out of the break, former Laker Jaxson Hayes converted on an alley-oop dunk.
Reaves’ ridiculous quarter continued as he drained another triple, pushing his point total to 15. Walker Kessler also finally scored, converting on a layup. Sandro Mamukelashvili had stellar production off the bench for Los Angeles, scoring seven points.
By the 3:02 mark, the Lakers had cut the deficit to three.
LA put on a defensive clinic all quarter. On the other end, Luka went on an insane heater to end the half, scoring eight points to give the Lakers a three-point halftime lead.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored on a layup for the Jazz to start the third period. Thybulle responded with a 3-pointer for Los Angeles. Keyonte George scored four points to halve the deficit.
Thybulle drained his third three of the night for LA and was now in double figures with 11 points. Luka and Reaves combined for a quick eight, but Markkanen scored five to make it a three-point game. The teams exchanged baskets, making it a fun battle.
At the four-minute mark, the Lakers were up three.
Mamu had two great defensive plays, one block and one altered shot. Utah tied the game on three free throws from Jaren, but Luka hit a triple at the end of the third to put LA up by three.
The final frame started with Isaiah Collier converting on a floater. Reaves converted on a jumper on the other end. Utah chipped into the deficit with Darryn Peterson leading the charge with four points.
At the 7:25 mark, Utah jumped ahead by one after George hit a three.
Out of a Lakers timeout, Sexton drained a 3-pointer to put LA back up. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team creating separation. At the 4:17 mark, the Jazz led by three. Luka erased that with a three on the other end.
At the 3:15 mark, LA was up by one, thanks to Luka converting on a pair of free throws.
Reaves was fouled from behind the arc and converted on all three free throws, giving Los Angeles a small cushion. Luka drained two threes, pushing his total to 50 points. The Lakers were up six with 1:12 left.
After a pair of free throws from George, Reaves drained a clutch three with under a minute to go and Luka converted on two free throws to complete the win.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 52 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and two steals. Reaves ended with 29 points on 7-12 shooting. Kessler had a poor offensive game with just two points. He also grabbed seven rebounds.
Thybulle added 11 points. Williams pitched in with 11 points. Sexton had 13 points off the bench. Mamu logged nine points and three rebounds.
The Lakers’ next game will be against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday at 8:00 PM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.