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The Celtics' biggest holiday gift? Being ahead of schedule

The Celtics' biggest holiday gift? Being ahead of schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Merry Christmas, Celtics fans. Boston doesn’t have a game on the NBA’s marquee day for the first time in a decade, but we suspect it will only be a one-year holiday hiatus. Heck, if the league could flex the Celtics into the Cavaliers’ spot on Thursday, they probably would.

Instead, you can spend the 25th savoring the strides these Celtics have made since a jarring summer overhaul. Think about how hazy the future appeared after all the summer changes, and contrast that with the optimism that flows about where this team is headed.

It’s easy to get caught up in the wins and losses — the fact that Boston sits seven games over .500 and in third place in the Eastern Conference with a third of the season in the rearview is encouraging on its own — but the real victory here is just how bright the future appears.

Jaylen Brown has muscled himself into the MVP conversation while making 30-point nights seem routine. Jayson Tatum has attacked his rehab from Achilles surgery and has a chance to at least ponder a return in a season most thought he’d miss entirely. Boston’s entire cluster of young wings, including recent draftees Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez, have all impacted winning far more than anyone could have expected to this point.

Joe Mazzulla is pushing all the right buttons, and while he’d be the first to suggest that nobody cares, he deserves to be in the way-too-early conversation for Coach of the Year. And if they keep their foot on the accelerator heading into calendar year 2026, the Celtics could give president of basketball operations Brad Stevens even more motivation to seek big man help that would bolster the roster for a stretch run.

The Celtics are 18-11 with the sixth-best point differential in the NBA (+5.9). They’d be on pace to hit Phil Jackson’s 40/20 rule (40 wins before 20 losses) if not for a couple stumbles against inferior opponents. They still might get there given a favorable strength of schedule through the early portion of 2026.

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But again, taking a step back: Even if Boston does throw itself into contention more than most expected this season, the longer-term future is even more tantalizing. It’s fair to daydream about what a Tatum/Brown combo is capable of when, 1) Tatum has fully shaken rust from his Achilles rehab and 2) Teams can’t load up on Brown again with Tatum back on the floor.

Big man Neemias Queta has thrived in increased minutes. Walsh has been a revelation, looking like an All-Defense stalwart whom opposing coaches and players can’t stop gushing about. And then there’s 19-year-old Gonzalez, with his limitless motor, who makes the kinds of winning plays that endeared Marcus Smart to fans throughout his Boston tenure.

There were so many questions surrounding this team entering the season. Could Brown thrive in the 1A role? Could Mazzulla get the most out of an overhauled roster that lost a ton of talent? Could Queta fill the big-man role after the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet? Would any of Boston’s young wings emerge as viable rotation options in the long term?

The answer to each questions has basically been an emphatic, “Yes.” Beyond some long-distance shooting slumps for Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, there hasn’t been much to fret for these Celtics through the first two months of the new season.

A lot has to continue to go right this season for the team to be truly competitive this season. But it feels OK to daydream, given both the wide-open nature of the East and Tatum’s potential return. Nothing about what the Celtics are doing feels fleeting. In fact, it feels like the team can be even a bit more consistent in all facets of the game.

The Celtics have already posted wins over all their top East rivals. They’ve beaten Orlando, Detroit, Cleveland, New York, Toronto and Miami while going 13-4 since November 12. Boston owns both the No. 2 offensive rating and the No. 2 net rating (+9.8) in the NBA in that span.

If Santa Stevens can leave another big man under Boston’s tree — even if it doesn’t happen until January or early February — the team could further shore up the rebounding woes that have conspired against its middling defensive rating.

It’s often said that the NBA season doesn’t start until Christmas. But that would diminish what the Celtics have accomplished lately. There could still be some bumps in the road this season and it’s fair to tread cautiously with expectations. But it doesn’t seem far-fetched to think that Boston could re-emerge as a legit title contender no later than the 2026-27 campaign.

So, enjoy a quiet Christmas. It’s probably the last one without the green team for a while. The Celtics feel ahead of schedule. And that’s the best gift they could have given their fans this holiday season.

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Venus Williams marries actor and model Andrea Preti in Palm Beach ceremony

  • Wedding follows five-day celebration in Florida

  • Preti is a Danish-born Italian actor and model

  • Williams plans to return for 33rd WTA season

Venus Williams married actor and model Andrea Preti over the weekend, the tennis great announced Tuesday on social media.

Williams, 45, and Preti were married in Palm Beach, Florida, following a five-day celebration that included family and close friends. The couple also held a non-official ceremony in Italy earlier this year.

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Three takeaways: Maurice shouting impact on Comeback Cats, Sergei Bobrovsky reaches new milestone

For the second time in less than a week, the Florida Panthers entered the nightmares of the Carolina Hurricanes.

On Friday, Florida was down 3-0 to Carolina with less than 10 minutes to go before clawing their way back and earning an exhilarating 4-3 shootout victory.

Four nights later, this time up in Raleigh, the Panthers were down 2-0 entering the third period when they reeled off five unanswered goals to shock the Hurricanes again, skating to a resounding 5-2 win and entering the holiday break on a hell of a run.

Florida has now picked up victories in eight of their past 10 games and will enter the NHL’s holiday freeze sitting in a playoff spot with games in hand of many of the teams still ahead of them.

Let’s get to Tuesday’s takeaways.

MAURICE LETS ‘EM HAVE IT

With the Panthers down 2-0 late in the second period and not looking particularly good, Paul Maurice decided that was a good time to go a little nuclear on his team.

During his four seasons behind Florida’s bench, Maurice has gone this route less than a handful of times.

When he does, though, the team has always responded.

It’s usually something he saves for the playoffs, or when the postseason is a bit closer, but on this night, Mo gave it to his guys.

After the game, when Florida had just turned in a 5-0 third period, Maurice was quick to deflect any credit toward his players, despite the obvious connection to his tongue lashing on the bench.

“It changed nothing,” Maurice said of his tirade. “That third period, the players, they handled all that. I was responsible for the first two, I didn't have my team ready to play tonight. Credit to them for understanding the importance that even if you're going to lose the game, you have to lose it a certain way, and we hadn't played the way we needed to play. I wasn't very good today, but fortunately, my players were…in the third.”

COMEBACK CATS DO IT AGAIN

There is just something about these Panthers and never giving up.

Maybe it’s Maurice.

Maybe it’s the leadership in the locker room.

Maybe it’s just a stockpiling of lucky breaks that will eventually even out (or perhaps this is the evening out after decades of despondence).

However you want to frame these things, no matter how many times the Panthers pull off one of these come-from-behind wins, they don’t get any less astounding.

Florida’s coach tried to make it make sense after Tuesday’s win.

“When you get on a roll in this league, emotion is such a huge part of it,” Maurice began. “A goal from the fourth line, right? Those guys work so hard, and they haven't had a lot to show for their hard work, so that had a lot to do with it. We played a third period in Colorado, we were down 5-1, and we were in one to say the least, but we played hard in that third period, and that started a four game winning streak for us. So it was really, really important, whether we won or lost the game, that we could find a way to right the ship and play a hard, smart third period. That was their task, and they accomplished it.”

CLIMBING BOB

Another game, another milestone for Sergei Bobrovsky.

Florida’s starting netminder won his sixth consecutive start on Tuesday. He’s allowed only 10 combined goals over his past five outings and enters the holiday break tied for the league lead in wins.

His latest victory was also the 445th of his career, moving Bob into a tie for eighth place on the all-time wins list with Terry Sawchuck.

Bobrovsky now trails seventh place Curtis Joseph by nine wins, and Henrik Lundqvist is only five ahead of that, so it’s conceivable that Bob moves into sixth place sometime this season.

Between the names he’s chasing and the legends he’s just passed, like tenth place Jacques Plante and eleventh place Tony Esposito, it’s beyond impressive what Bobrovsky is accomplishing in his career, while showing no signs of slowing up.

“The names that he's surrounded by are the names that I grew up as a kid, listening to my dad telling me about the greatest goalies that ever played, and Sergei Bobrovsky is now among those names,” Maurice said. “To get a chance to be a part of his career – I’ve got nothing to do with him stopping the puck, I'll be clear about that – but I get to be a part of it and get to know him a little bit, so it's a real honor for me to have worked, not worked with him, worked beside him, worked alongside Sergei, and watched his professionalism. It’s an honor.”

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Photo caption: Dec 23, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) celebrate their victory against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

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'He's Ready for the NHL': Exciting Flyers Rookie Backed for Success from Afar

Without having played a significant role so far this season, Philadelphia Flyers rookie Nikita Grebenkin has endeared himself to local fans with his personality and style of play. That reach, of course, extends far beyond his nascent NHL career.

Grebenkin, 22, has been playing pro hockey since the 2021-22 season having played 120 games across three seasons with KHL outfit Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

Ex-Metallurg sports director Sergei Gomolyako, who knows the exciting Flyers rookie well, has expressed his support from across the pond, reflecting on his experiences with Grebenkin and backing him for further success in Philadelphia.

"I think Nikita will soon start scoring more goals and, accordingly, get more playing time. He's ready for the NHL and is proving he can play at a high level," Gomolyako was quoted as saying by Metaratings via Championat.

"I remember calling him to Metallurg last season, when he'd left for Toronto and was playing in the AHL. But Nikita made it clear right away that he intended to use his tremendous tenacity and desire to break through and play in the NHL. And I supported him in that endeavor. Now he's in Philadelphia, teamed with Michkov. Nikita has his role, even if he's currently playing on the fourth line, but that's for now. The guy's goal is not only to play consistently in the NHL but also to become the best hockey player in the league. And he'll work toward that, just like he did with us in Magnitogorsk."

Flyers Embrace Philosophy Change with Denver Barkey's NHL Debut, BreakoutFlyers Embrace Philosophy Change with Denver Barkey's NHL Debut, BreakoutLess than halfway through the 2025-26 season, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> are already icing a much different team than the one they started the year with.

Rick Tocchet's recent decisions to bench veterans Nick Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway has thrust Grebenkin back into the Flyers' lineup on a regular basis, and the Russian immediately took advantage of the extended opportunity with a decisive two-point (one goal, one assist) performance in a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

Grebenkin's goal, a deflection of Emil Andrae's initial attempt, stood as the only goal between the two sides through the first two periods, and he would later earn a primary assist on Carl Grundstrom's third-period goal to put the Flyers up 2-0.

"Nikita is a great hockey player and a great person. He's a fun guy, a comedian, and the life of the team. I think he'll be just as effective there, despite the language barrier," Gomolyako continued. "He's a bright guy not only on the ice but also in interviews. So I'm keeping an eye on Nikita and I'm happy for his success. I hope he succeeds." 

After suffering four consecutive losses - one in overtime and three in the shootout - the Flyers, driven by Grebenkin and the new-look fourth line, head into the holiday break as winners of two straight, knocking off Vancouver and Chicago by a combined score of 8-3.

Ex-Flyers Coach John Tortorella Shuts Down Talk of NHL Return... For NowEx-Flyers Coach John Tortorella Shuts Down Talk of NHL Return... For NowFormer <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> head coach John Tortorella isn't close to throwing in the towel on his coaching career, but the veteran bench boss was well prepared to say any talk of an NHL return right now is premature.

Earning Tocchet's trust has been a non-linear process for the affable winger, but the NHL is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league.

What Grebenkin has done lately for the Flyers is help transform the fourth line into a playable unit, and that goes a long way for a Flyers team hoping to see the postseason for the first time since 2020.

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Fowler Weathers The Storm And The Canadiens Fight Back

For one last time before the Christmas break, the Montreal Canadiens were lacing up their skates to take on the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. While some games are played with less intensity when everyone is looking forward to their time off, that wasn’t the case with this tilt. For a second time in a row between the two rivals, there was a fight right from puck drop and another one before the first frame was over.

The game also marked Phillip Danault’s debut with the Habs since he was (re)acquired from the Los Angeles Kings right before the Christmas roster freeze. Wearing his familiar number 24, the centerman looked right at home wearing the bleu, blanc, rouge.

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Fowler Spectacular

While the game started with a lot of intensity, the host still largely dominated the first frame, not only in shots but in the quality of shots and opportunities. Within 15 minutes, Boston had 14 shots, several of which were not easy to deal with.

Odd-man rushes, power play chances from in close, one-timers, Jacob Fowler faced it all. Even though the Bruins finished the first period with a 2-1 lead, Fowler’s heroics would have made the situation much more dire.

Ideally, the goals conceded wouldn’t have come when they did, just over a minute after the Habs had taken the lead and with 18 seconds left in the frame, but given that Fowler almost stood on his head all period long, he cannot be blamed.

A Momentum Killer

After the Canadiens had tied up the game on a fantastic Ivan Demidov goal on a breakaway, Montreal thought it was about to get back in front when Boston was assessed a four-minute penalty for high-sticking.

Unfortunately for the Canadiens, it was not to be, as they failed to find the back of the net and created only one really menacing opportunity when Cole Caufield went in alone on Jeremy Swayman. Still, the masked man easily pushed aside his shot.

I cannot for the life of me understand why Demidov wasn’t on the first wave of the power play anymore, having given his spot to Zachary Bolduc. I imagine it’s to try and get the latter going while improving his chemistry with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, but that can be done at even strength. In such a tight Eastern Conference race, it's imperative to capitalize on opportunities.

Demidov’s creativity is a tool which the Canadiens cannot afford to do without. Even though he was still on the second unit, his chemistry with Noah Dobson is nowhere near as good as what he has with Lane Hutson, and the sophomore blueliner looked like he missed him dearly at times.

Not scoring on that four-minute man advantage was an absolute momentum killer and something the Canadiens just couldn’t afford, had the Bruins continued playing well, of course.

The Elephant In The Room

Over the course of the last few games, the team’s dynamic duo, Caufield and Suzuki, have looked a bit off. Almost as if they had both lost a great deal of confidence. It was never as apparent as when the two escaped on an odd-man rush. The captain passed the puck to the sniper, who elected to send it back to him, something he wasn’t expecting, and the scoring chance died right there—neither actually looked like they wanted to shoot on that play.

Thankfully for Martin St-Louis, Boston decided to give Montreal another go on the power play, and things unravelled for them. An unsuccessful coach challenge brought about the first trip to the sin bin, but before it was even over, Tanner Jeannot took another minor for cross-checking. Minutes later, the hosts were also assessed a tripping call.

The result? Two power play goals, both of which came with Demidov on the ice with Caufield, Suzuki, and Slafkovsky. One was scored by Caufield, who put on quite a stickhandling display to fool Jeremy Swayman, and the other by Suzuki, who hit a home run, batting the puck mid-air. Hopefully, that might have been just what the doctor ordered for the two forwards.

In just over five minutes, the Habs scored four goals, two on the power play and two at even strength. It might have been a 6-2 win, but the score is misleading. As mentioned above, Fowler didn’t have it easy in the first frame, and he had a big hand in the win, but so did Hutson and Dobson with three assists each, while the captain got a goal and an assist.

The young netminder’s performance, which follows on from his first career shutout, won’t make life easy for the Canadiens’ organization; how could they send him down to the Laval Rocket after this?

With that win, the Canadiens climb up to second place in the Atlantic Division, but the win came at a cost, with Alexandre Texier leaving the game because of an upper-body injury. The Habs now have a much-deserved Christmas break, and they’ll get back on the ice on Saturday at 5:00 PM when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the traditional Florida trip over the holidays.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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Koepka’s departure is a blow for LIV but also raises questions for PGA Tour | Ewan Murray

Five-time major champion looks poised to become a fascinating test case for golf’s future after exiting Saudi-funded breakaway tour

It was portrayed as amicable when it felt so inevitable. News that Brooks Koepka will step away from LIV Golf in 2026 comes as no shock. This never felt a particularly sensible alliance; an individual who craves glory at the top level and a disruption regime that has grasped for relevance with only varying degrees of success.

Koepka has looked unhappy in his professional domain for some time. He has all but admitted he would never have joined LIV but for fears over a potentially career-threatening injury. Golf’s ultimate alpha male was the captain of LIV’s Smash GC team. The whole thing always seemed preposterous.

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NBA Christmas Day 2025: Six Matchups Packed with Star Power & Playoff Stakes

Christmas Day delivers an NBA feast, with five marquee matchups featuring playoff implications, star power and plenty of fantasy intrigue. From a bruising Eastern Conference showdown at Madison Square Garden to a heavyweight clash between San Antonio and Oklahoma City, this slate offers no shortage of storylines. Injuries loom large across several games, creating potential value swings and unexpected rotation changes. Superstars like Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and Donovan Mitchell headline the action, while emerging contributors could swing outcomes. Here's a game-by-game breakdown of what to watch as the NBA takes center stage on Christmas.

Christmas Day NBA Matchups

Cleveland Cavaliers (17-14) at New York Knicks (20-9)

New York leads this season series 1-0. They're 7-3 over their past 10 games and are 14-2 at home. Cleveland is 5-5 over their past 10 and are 6-6 on the road.

Like many of the games on this Christmas Day slate, there's a notable injury report. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby are both questionable, while Evan Mobley remains sidelined. Potential absences to Brunson and Anunoby could lead to more minutes for Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson, plus Mitchell Robinson and wing players like Ariel Hukporti. For the Cavs, Dean Wade has been starting in place of Evan Mobley, and Sam Merrill is coming off a great performance and will help with the team's offensive punch. Jaylon Tyson and Jarrett Allen should also continue seeing expanded roles. Donovan Mitchell has been Cleveland's best performer, averaging 31.9 points, 5.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals this month. Brunson has been New York's best player, but know for sure that Karl-Anthony Towns will be available. In December, he's producing 23.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals.

San Antonio Spurs (22-7) at Oklahoma City Thunder (26-4)

The Spurs lead this season series 2-0. They're 9-1 over their past 10, winning seven straight, and are 10-5 on the road. OKC is 7-3 over their past 10 and are undefeated at home.

This game has a much cleaner injury report than Cavs/Knicks, though Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell are notably questionable. Absences to them could create more opportunities for Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and others. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to produce at an MVP level, averaging 32.4 points, 6.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks in December. For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama has come off the bench for five straight games and produced 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 blocks in 20.6 minutes. It's unclear if he'll rejoin the starting five and see a minutes increase for Christmas Day.

Dallas Mavericks (12-19) at Golden State Warriors (15-15)

This is the first time these teams have faced off this season. The Mavericks are 3-9 on the road but are 6-4 overall across the past 10 games. Golden State is 9-4 at home and 5-5 across the past 10 games.

Dallas has a handful of role players questionable for this game, and one starter in PJ Washington. Cooper Flagg is coming off an excellent performance, with 33 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, one steal and one block against the Nuggets. Anthony Davis has rounded back into form as well, averaging 26.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks across his past six games. For the Warriors, Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler continue to be the team's go-to options offensively. Curry is averaging 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals over his past five. During that same stretch, Butler is averaging 21.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals.

Houston Rockets (17-10) at Los Angeles Lakers (19-9)

This is the first matchup of the season for these squads. Houston is 9-8 on the road and 4-6 across the past 10. The Lakers are 7-4 at home and 5-5 over the past 10.

Luka Doncic and Rui Hachimura are questionable for this one, as is Jaxson Hayes. That means we could see expanded roles from Austin Reaves and LeBron James as the Lakers' primary creators, while Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart could see extra run. Reaves played 22 minutes in his return from a calf strain Tuesday but should be at full strength for Christmas. In his prior 10 games, he averaged 27.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Over LeBron's past six games, he's putting up 26.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.0 steals. The Rockets are being led by Alperen Sengun, who is having a career year with 23.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.

Minnesota Timberwolves (20-10) at Denver Nuggets (21-8)

Denver leads this season series 2-0. They're 9-5 at home and 7-3 across the past 10. Minnesota is 8-5 on the road and are 8-2 over the past 10 with a three-game win streak.

For Minnesota, Jaden McDaniels is questionable. His potential absence could lead to more minutes for Jaylen Clark and Terrence Shannon. Anthony Edwards continues to lead the way with averages of 28.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals. Denver could be even more shorthanded than usual as Cam Johnson suffered a knee sprain Tuesday against the Mavericks. Assuming he is sidelined, more minutes should be in store for Tim Hardaway and Spencer Jones. Nikola Jokic is putting up MVP numbers with 28.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 1.4 steals in December. 

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&quot;He's A Special Guy&quot;: Red Wings Love What Rookie Emmitt Finnie Is Bringing

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To put it plainly, the Detroit Red Wings are getting far more than they would have ever expected out of rookie forward Emmitt Finnie so far in his rookie campaign.

Finnie, Detroit's seventh-round pick (201st overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, tallied his ninth goal on Tuesday evening as part of his club's 4-3 overtime win over the Dallas Stars at Little Caesars Arena, their ninth win in December. 

Finnie scored a power-play goal in the third period, knotting the score at 2-2.

The Red Wings would eventually need to rally back from a 3-2 deficit, which they did on consecutive goals from Dylan Larkin late in regulation and then in overtime. 

Larkin, who has skated alongside Finnie on the club's top line for much of the season, couldn't say enough of the impact that the rookie has had. 

“It's unbelievable, I’ve talked about him a lot, and I could talk about him all day if you guys allowed me,” Larkin said of his rookie linemate with a grin. “He's such a great kid, and playing with him the majority of the (year) up until Christmas, he's such a good linemate."

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This February will mark the first time that NHL players have participated in Olympic competition, and Larkin is a major contender to be included on the Team USA roster as he was last February in the Four Nations Face-Off tournament. 

Larkin delivered a consequential endorsement of Finnie's style of play, saying that he would try and emulate that if he's ultimately chosen to represent the United States on the international stage. 

"If I was able to go to the Olympics and play on the wing, I would probably try to play like Emmitt Finnie," Larkin said. "I’d be a good supporting player who digs out pucks and gets them to guys, and goes to the hard areas. He's a special player, and a special guy.”

"It's a great story." 

Head coach Todd McLellan, who has been on the job in Detroit for exactly 363 days now, confirmed that Finnie has exceeded all expectations that the club could have had for him coming into the season. 

"I'd be flat out lying to you if I said, 'Hey, we put his name on the board, and we popped him into the lineup right there and never thought twice about playing him against the League's best,'" McLellan explained. "But as Dylan said, he's earned a seat at the table with his teammates and the coaching staff....just the way he carries himself. He's done a real good job." 

Finnie's nine goals are ranked third-most in the NHL among rookie players, trailing only Montreal Canadiens forward  Oliver Kapanen and Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke, who both have 11 goals each. 

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Phillies notes: Bullpen evolves, latest on Realmuto, Harper's WBC

Phillies notes: Bullpen evolves, latest on Realmuto, Harper's WBC originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies’ bullpen focus continued Monday with the signing of right-hander Zach Pop, pushing the club’s 40-man roster to 39 and reinforcing where much of its winter attention has been directed.

Bullpen additions shape outlook for 2026

At the Trade Deadline in July, the Phillies’ priority was finding a lockdown closer. They acquired Jhoan Duran, but inconsistent middle relief exposed weakness down the stretch and in the NLDS. Those struggles have informed much of the club’s offseason work.

Last week, the Phillies signed right-hander Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million deal, adding a steady late-inning option.

“We love Keller,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said at Friday’s media availability. “We really think he’s one of the best in the business. We really like the way the bullpen now shapes up.”

Keller emerged as one of the league’s more reliable relievers in 2025, posting a 2.07 ERA over 69 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old was particularly effective in a setup role, facing 135 batters in the eighth inning, limiting opponents to a .135/.179/.189 slash line.

“All of our scouting work, our analytical work, our pitching people — between Caleb [Cotham] and the rest of the group — everybody thinks he’s a legit back-end type guy,” Dombrowski said.

The metrics support that confidence. Keller’s average fastball velocity jumped 3.4 mph from 2024 (93.7) to 2025 (97.1). That coincides with his shift from the rotation to the bullpen in a full-time capacity.

“I wouldn’t say I expected a four-mile-per-hour jump,” Keller said during his introductory press conference Monday. “But I did feel like I worked really hard, cleaned up mechanical things and started focusing on using my lower half.”

The bullpen has continued to evolve. The Phillies traded left-hander Matt Strahm to Kansas City for right-hander Jonathan Bowlan, then acquired left-hander Kyle Backhus from Arizona later that same day. The result is a deeper, more diverse group built around matchups and versatility at Rob Thomson’s disposal.

Update on Realmuto

The Phillies remain without a definitive everyday option behind the plate.

According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, the club has had an offer out to J.T. Realmuto for more than two weeks. ESPN’s Jeff Passan previously reported Realmuto is not seeking a three-year deal, though the market remains fluid.

Entering his age-35 season, a three-year contract would be rare. Per MLB Trade Rumors, only two catchers have signed deals of that length entering that age season: Carlos Ruiz (three years, $26 million in 2013) and Yadier Molina (three years, $60 million in 2017).

Ruiz posted a .670 OPS and averaged 1.4 WAR over that span. Molina produced a .738 OPS with an average 1.5 WAR. Since joining the Phillies in 2019, Realmuto has averaged 3.6 WAR per season.

Whether Philadelphia ultimately meets Realmuto’s price or looks to an alternative, his value — both offensively and in managing a pitching staff — remains significant. Any contingency plan would more likely come via trade than from a thin free-agent catching class.

Where the payroll stands

The Associated Press tracks payroll figures for all 30 clubs each season.

The Phillies’ luxury tax payroll currently sits at $314,329,912. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber, that figure would result in $56.1 million in tax penalties — the fourth-highest total in baseball.

Last season, the Phillies’ payroll was reported at $264,314,134, representing an increase of more than $50 million year over year. Whether the club reallocates money via trade or adds Realmuto as the final 40-man spot remains to be seen.

Harper commits to World Baseball Classic

Bryce Harper’s 2026 campaign will begin early.

The Phillies’ first baseman announced on Instagram that he intends to represent Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

“Put the colors on my chest for the first time when I was 15,” Harper wrote. “No other feeling like it. I’m excited to announce I will be representing Team USA this year in the WBC.”

Harper, 33, joins Kyle Schwarber, who announced his commitment moments before he re-signed with the Phillies. The tournament runs from March 5–17 during Spring Training.

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa had a need at first base. He found his answer.

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Sharks don't look like a playoff-caliber team after loss to Golden Knights

Sharks don't look like a playoff-caliber team after loss to Golden Knights originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS — Last Tuesday, the Sharks looked poised to make a playoff run.

Riding high off a historic 6-5 overtime comeback victory at the Pittsburgh Penguins, they stomped the Calgary Flames out in their first game back at home, 6-3.

Since then, the Sharks have gone on a streak, but not the one that they wanted. Instead, the 17-17-3 squad has lost three in a row.

“The two games before this, I thought we deserved to win, did some really good things and bad bounces went in our net, and that’s just how it goes sometimes,” alternate captain Tyler Toffoli said. “Tonight was not the case, and we just didn’t play good enough.”

That’s a fair assessment: San Jose was good enough to win against the Dallas Stars and Seattle Kraken to close the homestand. And it was the opposite of that against the Las Vegas Golden Knights in a 7-2 loss on Tuesday night.

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Kawhi Leonard scores 41, leads Clippers past Rockets, to consecutive wins for first time since October

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Forget what Bill Parcells used to say, the LA Clippers are convinced they are better than their record says they are.

Tuesday night, for the second game in a row, they looked like it. Having Kawhi Leonard back healthy helps.

"Just buying into it, what we're trying to do…" Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said when asked what was different in those wins. "Kawhi getting into a healthy state, James (Harden) being healthy... Just stay in the course. We hit a rough patch, and it's been a rough season, with all the injuries, the ups and downs, losing close games. But just stay the course. And so I give our guys credit."

Behind 41 from Leonard and 29 from Harden, the Clippers pulled away for a comfortable win over the Rockets, 128-108. This was the first time the Clippers have won back-to-back games since their second and third games of the season, back in October.

That comes at the expense of a Rockets team that is scuffling, having lost five of their last seven games, with the 27th-ranked defense in the NBA over that stretch. The Rockets struggled from 3-point range in this game (9-of-30), but what was more concerning was that they just kept making the kind of sloppy mistakes one expects from a young team — the kind of mistakes the Rockets thought they had outgrown.

The Rockets need to find themselves in the next 48 hours, before a big Christmas Day game across town against the Lakers.

While the Rockets struggled on defense, the Clippers' defense looked as good as it has all season.

"Outside that first quarter, I thought defensively, we really locked in…" Lue said. "I thought we took care of the basketball, and we did a good job of moving the basketball, making quick decisions."

"Probably the biggest things that we've done is the consistency in our communication — and obviously just the want, the need to play hard," said John Collins, who shot 3-of-3 on his way to 13 points. "I feel like we're all at that feeling we have our backs against the wall, and we just want to continue to improve and obviously change the course of the season."

The start of this game was a fun trip down memory lane, showing the old guys still have it. Kevin Durant scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while Leonard scored 18 on 8-of-12 shooting. In what had been a back-and-forth game, the Clippers led 63-58 at the half thanks to better shooting from 3-point range (45.5% to 31.3%) and more bench scoring behind Nicolas Batum (six points) and Kobe Sanders (seven).

The Clippers took charge of the game in the third quarter with a 13-2 run in the third to take a 92-75 lead, doing it with their best stretch of defense this season. Los Angeles won the third quarter by a dozen and led by 16 entering the fourth. In the final frame, the Rockets had no answers.

The Rockets have a lot of questions to answer before a big showcase game on Christmas.

"I feel like we just weren't locked in defensively today, I mean me," Amen Thompson said. "I feel like I could have been a lot better. Um, just set down my matchup."

Durant led Houston with 22 points, while Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson both added 19 points.

The LA Clippers feel like they may be finally finding a few answers. Tyronn Lue challenged his team a couple of days ago to go 35-20 the rest of the way, which would get them to .500 by the end of the season. It's a goal they looked like they could reach on Tuesday night, if they can just stay healthy.

"If we get out of this situation we're in, it's gonna take all of us, and so it starts with (Leonard and Harden). They're our best players," Lue said. "And they responded the last couple of games. We got to continue to keep building days, like I said, just keep stacking days and getting better and better."