Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. The Brewers are back in the National League Championship Series for the second consecutive season and the third time in the last nine years, and they’ll face the Dodgers once again — the third time facing L.A. in the NLCS, and their fourth time facing them in the postseason. Milwaukee was swept a season ago, but they’ve improved from last season, while the Dodgers mostly maintained their status quo. Does the Crew have what it takes to get past them this time?
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.
1919 – Chicago White Sox starter Lefty Williams gets just one man out in the first inning and the Cincinnati Reds go on to a 10-5 victory. Cincinnati wins the best-of-nine World Series in eight games. A year after the Series ends, the White Sox will become the “Black Sox“, and eight players will be barred from baseball for taking part in throwing the Series, including Williams who was allegedly threatened before the game to make sure the outcome is no longer in doubt after the first inning.
1920 – Several hours before the start of Game 4 of the World Series, Brooklyn’sRube Marquard, a Cleveland native, is arrested when he tries to sell a ticket to an undercover cop for $350. He will be found guilty and fined a dollar and court costs ($3.80). For their first World Series game on the lakefront, 25,734 Indians fans watch their home team score two in the first and two in the third off Leon Cadore and Al Mamaux. Cleveland wins the game, 5-1.
1958 – The New York Yankees’Bob Turley pitches 6.2 shutout innings in relief to beat the Milwaukee Braves, 6-2, for the World Series title. New York becomes the first team since 1925 to win the World Series after being down three games to one.
1966 – In the World Series, Dave McNally of the Baltimore Orioles wraps up a brilliant pitching display, and a World Championship, with a four-hit 1-0 victory. Frank Robinson‘s home run off Don Drysdale gives Baltimore a surprising sweep of the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The 33 consecutive scoreless innings pitched by Baltimore sets a World Series record.
2017 – In the ALDS, Houston eliminates Boston with a 5-4 win in Game 4. Boston takes a 3-2 lead in the 5th on a two-run homer by Andrew Benintendi off Justin Verlander, making the first relief appearance of his career. In the eighth, Alex Bregman ties it with a solo homer off Chris Sale, also making an unexpected relief outing, before Carlos Beltran drives in the go-ahead run with a single off closer Craig Kimbrel.
Today in Cubs history:
1938 – In the World Series, the New York Yankees become the first team to win three successive World Championships, defeating the Cubs, 8-3. Red Ruffing posts his second victory of the Series as the Yankees sweep the Cubs for the second time in six years.
2015 – John Lackey is the star, pitching 7.1 innings during which he gives up no runs on two hits, making a 1-0 Cardinals lead dating back to the 1st inning hold. The Cards score three more runs in the bottom of the eighth, on a pinch-hit homer by Tommy Pham and a two-run shot by Stephen Piscotty, and end up 4-0 winners over the Cubs and Jon Lester.
2017 – Max Scherzer pitches no-hit ball until one out in the seventh, when Ben Zobrist hits a double for the Cubs then scores the tying run on a single by pinch-hitter Albert Almora. In the eighth, Anthony Rizzo drops a hit between a trio of players in the outfield to allow Leonys Martin to score from second, and Chicago wins Game 3 of the NLDS, 2-1, over Washington.
2025 – In the other NLDS, Ian Happ hits a three-run homer off Freddy Peralta in the bottom of the 1st, and it’s all the runs the Cubs need as they go on to defeat the Brewers, 6-0. The win forces a decisive Game 5 to be played.
1000 – Leif Erikson reaches “Vinland” (possibly L’Anse aux Meadows, Canada), reputedly becoming the first European to reach North America.
1781 – Americans under George Washington and the French under Comte de Rochambeau begin bombardment of Yorktown, the last battle of American Revolutionary War.
1924 – Municipal Grant Park Stadium in Chicago, Illinois (later known as Soldier Field) is officially dedicated.
1936 – Hoover Dam begins transmitting electricity to Los Angeles.
1965 – The Beatles’ single “Yesterday” goes No. 1 and stays there for four weeks.
2012 – Women’s rights and education activist Malala Yousafzai is shot by a Taliban gunman as she tries to board her school bus in the Swat district of northwest Pakistan.
2022 – Brightest cosmic explosion ever seen: a gamma-ray burst 2.4 billion light-years away, believed to be a massive star collapsing to form a black hole in a 1-in-10,000-year event.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter in Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Per a Spurs pres release:
The San Antonio Spurs invite fans to take part in the 2026-27 Spurs Tipoff Week, presented by Ticketmaster, taking place from Tuesday, Oct. 13 through Tuesday, Oct. 20. This weeklong celebration across the city of San Antonio, consisting of in-person activations, giveaways, discounts and more, will build momentum and excitement for the team’s upcoming season, presented by H-E-B, and the Oct. 20 home opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 p.m.
Said Jordan Mandelkorn, vice president of marketing, creative and retail at Spurs Sports & Entertainment,
“It’s a thrilling time to be part of the Spurs community, as we carry the momentum of last season’s Finals run into a new chapter. That energy and unwavering support set the tone for what’s ahead, and Tipoff Week will bring the Silver & Black spirit to life across San Antonio and beyond as we celebrate our fans and welcome a new season together.”
For more details on all the activations, text TIPOFF to 210-444-5940.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 12: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 12, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers climbed their way back to relevance five years ago through their work on the defensive end. They ascended 20 spots in defensive rating from 2021 to 2022 thanks to the additions of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. That upward trajectory continued the next season as they finished 2023 with the best defense in the league.
Then, the slow decline started.
The Cavs’ defense dropped from first to sixth, and then to eighth. Last season was their biggest decline, with Cleveland finishing the year 15th in defensive rating.
They intend to turn this trend around.
“We definitely want to get back to being a top-five defense,” Sam Merrill said. “It had been that way, and then last year that wasn’t the case. That’s been most of our discussion throughout this camp.”
Talking about wanting to improve the defense is a pretty common refrain in the preseason. Actually doing it is much more difficult.
“I don’t like saying much,” Donovan Mitchell said when asked about the defense. “I want to go out there and just do it.”
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can find the awesome Cavs’ Starter jacket HERE. Homage’s entire Cavs collection can be found HERE.
The NBA game has changed drastically over the last 15 years; the need to protect the rim hasn’t. Attempts at the basket are still the most efficient place to score from and where every elite offense tries to get. Cleveland has the personnel to defend the rim well with Mobley and Allen, but the point of attack needs to be better to utilize that advantage.
“It’s understanding the strengths we have with Evan and J.A., but not putting too much on their plates,” Merrill said. “I think there were times last year where we put too much on their plates by getting beat off the dribble, getting into rotations and whatnot. If we can do a better job of keeping the ball out of the paint and force the right shots, that should help us ascend.”
To Merrill’s point, Cleveland’s defense has been predicated on funneling their opponents inside, making them finish at the rim, or more preferably, take a midrange jumper. This requires running your opponents off the line and then rotating back out to the perimeter to prevent three-point looks.
Last season, the defense’s rim protection numbers were in line with what we’ve come to expect. They were 16th in defensive rim frequency and forced the fourth-best rim percentage for their opponent. The difference was how many threes they gave up.
Mitchell didn’t specifically mention that they needed to tighten up the three-point defense, opting not to get into the specifics of how the defense will look different. Although he did say they needed to go “back to what we were.”
Another question facing the Cavs is whether they can have a truly elite defense with James Harden. Harden is a good rebounder and does compete better than he often gets credit for, but he doesn’t have the lateral quickness to keep guards in front of him or navigate screens as you’d like. That said, it isn’t impossible.
In 2024-25, the Los Angeles Clippers posted a 111 defensive rating with Harden on the floor (83rd percentile) and finished that season with the third-best defense in the league. It’s possible to have an elite defense with Harden on the court. It does, however, require a buy-in from everyone on the court.
“You have to play team defense,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Getting everybody on the same page and then being able to be adaptable, pliable, flexible. The NBA is not one [on] one defense.”
The Cavs have the tools offensively to be elite. We’ve seen that consistently under Atkinson. That said, championship teams can dominate both sides of the floor. A look at previous champions shows that pretty clearly. If the Cavs want to get to that level, they need to get back to their defensive roots.
“We can score with the best,” Mitchell said, “but for us, not having that be our calling card.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics shoots over Evan Mobley #4 and Tyrese Proctor #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the preseason game at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
1. Glass Cleaners
Boston Celtics basketball is finally back! Not only in the literal sense but in the way the Celtics dismantled the Cleveland Cavaliers, taking them down 124-113 in the first preseason game of the season. This felt like a big upset in a way given the Cavs played their starters in the first half vs a Celtics team who rested most of their roster. One thing that didn’t change from all the roster turnover however was the way that Boston dominated the rebounding battle.
The Celtics out rebounded the Cavs 56-39! The craziest part for the Celtics is that 21 of those rebounds came as offensive rebounds. Boston was so good on the offensive glass that after the first quarter the Celtics had as many offensive rebounds (10) than the Cavaliers had total rebounds. Just a dominant performance on the glass that makes me excited to see what will happen when all the starters return.
2. Luka Garza Board Monster
With a lot of key rotations guys out for the Celtics in their first preseason game, Luka Garza was given the starting spot for Boston and he showed out. Garza finished with a team high 22 points along with 10 rebounds and 3 blocks on 6-17 shooting. The biggest takeaway from Garza’s performance tonight was his dominance on the offensive glass. Out of the 10 rebounds he finished with, 4 of them came as offensive rebounds and that is where we saw him shine the most.
This was a common theme of the night for the entire team but Garza was the one to really set the tone. It is going to be interesting to see what kind of role Garza plays for Boston moving forward. Obviously Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson is ahead of him on the depth chart but I hope the Celtics can still find him some playing time throughout the season.
When the Celtics signed Devin Carter to an Exhibit 10 deal back in September there was a good amount of excitement around the move. It looked like he was going to be a shoo-in for Boston’s final two-way spot but there looked to be a lot of competition with other players like Milos Uzan and Hayden Gray on the Celtics training camp roster. I would like to say there is a good chance the battle is in Carter’s favor as of now. The former Providence Friar finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals on 5-9 shooting and a team high +22.
Carter made his presence known on his first offensive play of the game when he went coast-to-coast throw down a monster slam over Peyton Watson. This was the beginning of a first quarter where we saw Carter lead the way with 7 points including a three point shot that looked pretty solid. With 15 points in the first half we saw an array of moves driving to the basket and finishing through contact while also playing some nice defense on Donovan Mitchell.
Devin Carter coast to coast and 1, that's 15 points in 10 minutes. Really liking this pickup for the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/LXvJUbbkPp
With the way he looked tonight I could see why the Celtics were so optimistic about taking a chance on Carter. When Joe Mazzulla was asked about the former lottery pick last week, he praised Carter’s work ethic saying, “I’ve appreciated just his mindset, his mentality, the chip on the shoulder that he brings to the game. So I’m looking forward to watching him throughout the preseason.” I am also looking forward to seeing what else Carter can do but it makes me wonder, why did the Kings trade him? Not only that, why did the Hawks waive him? Either way the Celtics have another chance to be turn the Kings leftovers into a legit piece once again.
4. Jordan Walsh Aggressive Offensively
One player who I think had an underrated game was Jordan Walsh. Walsh finished with 16 points on 6-14 shooting from the field and 2-5 shooting from three. Walsh talked in the offseason about trying to improve his offensive bag and with an increased role in this game we saw him aggressively hunt his shot. This is something that caught my eye because it looked like something he was genuinely working on.
He looked comfortable when it came to handling the ball and driving to the paint. The finishing could have been a little better but this was more of an offensive bag that we’ve seen from Walsh since he’s been in the NBA. Even in games before when starters were out before, we have never seen Walsh look to be aggressive for his shot. We know he has a great relationship with Jaylen Brown last season and he talked about how the offseason workouts with Paul George and Jayson Tatum were legitimate workouts to help build on his game. Having two of the best wing scorers in NBA history on his team could mean we see more of this offensive creation from Walsh this season and I am very excited to see how it turns out.
5. Baylor Scheierman Confidence
It felt like the Celtics had to have watched a bunch of AND-1 mixtapes before the game today because of the amount of flashy plays we saw in this game but one player I am convinced did was Baylor Scheierman. He was making some prime Rajon Rondo passes out there, including one in the first quarter where he had a shot blocked, got his own offensive rebound running towards the basket, and then made a behind the back dime to Chris Cenac Jr. for a dunk.
In total Scheierman finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists on 5-12 shooting from the field and 4-7 from three. He definitely looked the most comfortable out there when it came to playing in the flow of the offense. This makes me feel like I don’t have to worry about the production we will get out of him moving forward. Very excited for more Baylor hoops moving forward.
6. Hugo Gonzalez Solid Contributor
Finishing off the trio of young wings for the Celtics we have the performance from Hugo Gonzalez. Similar to Scheierman he played a solid game, finishing with 15 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds on 5-9 shooting from the field and 3-6 from three. A big thing I noticed in this game from Gonzalez was that everything he did looked to be faster.
From his jump shot to his Eurostep, it looked like he was dictating the pace on all his attempts. Not only did shot attempts look good, but he made some nice passes setting his teammates up for easy baskets. He also played his brand of chaotic defense that gave the Celtics life in the first half.
WHAT a sequence by Hugo Gonzalez
Phenomenal pass with his off hand to Garza after the Flare – poked the ball loose and finishes on other end pic.twitter.com/DexuYlSdNI
This game was the first time we saw 2026 Draft Picks Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell take an NBA court and I think its safe to say that they are going to be just fine. Cenac Jr. finished with 7 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks on 3-13 shooting. I was glued to my TV screen anytime he had the ball in his because he looked incredibly comfortable creating his own shot off the dribble but just missing out on the finishing. I feel like that will come in due time but his shot looks really promising. His defense was also remarkable, protecting the paint better than I would have expected. We saw flashes of this during Summer League this year but Cenac Jr. really makes me excited to see what he can develop into under the Celtics Big Fella University.
Dillon Mitchell was also impressive tonight, finishing with 10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals on 4-7 shooting. One thing we knew about Mitchell was that he was going to be able to jump out of the gym with his athleticism and it was on display. He finished with multiple alley-oop slams and did a great job positioning himself underneath the basket for offensive rebounds and put-backs. His defense was fun to watch as well with both of his steals leading to the Celtics running out in transition.
I felt like Mitchell also took charge in the 4th quarter as well. When the main starters were sitting out, Mitchell looked at as the go to guy on both sides of the court and he did a pretty a solid job, finishing with a +8 in the quarter. It’s going to be fun watching both of these guys continue to develop and it might be one game, but I am willing to say the future is looking for the newest Celtics draft picks.
I need to see Dillon Mitchell jumping over a car in the dunk contest this year pic.twitter.com/79uPPbvT6c
With most of the Celtics rotation players sitting out for this preseason game, it was interesting to see that Mike Conley was in the starting lineup. Conley signed with Boston back in July and throughout camp so far we have seen him be a great veteran presence to all of the young guys on the roster. This is the big reason why he was brought to Boston but how did his play look on the court? It was fine.
Conley finished with 3 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 steal in his Celtics debut on 1-3 shooting. He wasn’t the main scoring option for Boston by any means but he was still a great primary ball handler and even made some highlight reel passes. The one that stands out most was when he found a wide open Hugo Gonzalez for a corner three after faking like he was going to pass it to Baylor Scheierman on the wing. I don’t know how much of Conley we are going to see in the Celtics rotation this season but I do think he will be a solid depth piece for Boston moving forward.
Good mid-air redirect on the pass from the veteran Mike Conley
Saw Watson bite on the first read and gets it to the corner – Hugo knocks it down pic.twitter.com/nz0TNzADfl
It wasn’t only players that got a chance to show their talents tonight but it was also two Celtics assistant coaches that got a chance to shine as well. Celtics assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay were given the reigns from head coach Joe Mazzulla and coached their first NBA game. Dobbins coached the first half and MacLeay coached the second half while Mazzlla just watched the game from the locker room. Mazzulla said that his reasoning for this was, “I want to give them the opportunity to be able to just build themselves as coaches…Both those guys had head coaching interviews this past summer, and I want them to be able to build on that.”
Joe Mazzulla said that Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay will coach tonight’s preseason game against the Cavaliers
Both were finalists for head coach positions this past summer
“They'll be running the show, and excited for them, and want them to continue to grow.” pic.twitter.com/JIpyTxDWx4
So how did it go for the Celtics new coaching duo against the Cavs? Pretty well I would say. Dobbins in the first half showed his philosophy by coaching the Celtics to a 71-62 lead at halftime. Boston did a great job of controlling the paint on both sides of the ball which led to the lead. MacLeay on the other hand had some adversity out of halftime after the Cavs went on a 12-3 run to tie the game in the beginning of the 3rd quarter. But he did a great job of calling a timeout and letting the team regroup, leading to Boston winning the 4th quarter 25-17 and winning the game.
This was such a cool thing to see coming from Joe Mazzulla. Continuing to develop Dobbins and MacLeay to get them ready for future opportunities is something I feel like you don’t see often. It’s only a matter of time before we see the Mazzulla coaching tree spread across the entirety of the NBA.
10. It’s Good To Be Back
I wanted to reserve my final takeaway just to say how great it feels to watch Boston Celtics basketball today. I didn’t care if 7 players were out, I would have watched any version of this team if it meant we got to see Celtics basketball played again. This has been the longest offseason we have had as Celtics fans in a while. Obviously with the first round exit, to the roster turnover this season, to the Draft, Summer League, and Media Day, it felt like this offseason was moving at a snails pace.
But the wait is finally over. The next step of waiting is hopefully seeing all the starters play in a game at some point this preseason. I want to see the dynamic between Jayson Tatum and Paul George, the big man rotation of Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, and the leap of Payton Pritchard. Even if we don’t see them much in preseason, we are less than two weeks away from Boston’s first regular season game in Detroit at 3:30pm on October 20th.
The Celtics next preseason game will be on Saturday October 10th when the new look Philadelphia 76ers come to TD Garden. This will also be the first time we see Jaylen Brown in a 76ers uniform since being traded away from Boston this offseason.
The 27-year-old flanker confounded expectations leaping from Durham university’s fourth XV to Prem rugby captain – don’t bet against his big England ambitions
At the start of every season for the past few years Fitz Harding has written down his goals for the next 12 months on the first page of a crisp new notebook. “You can probably guess what they are,” says Bristol’s impressive captain ahead of his team’s trip to Saracens this weekend. “I want to win the Prem, I want to play for England, I want to go to the World Cup.” He makes it sound almost matter of fact, like a list of basic groceries to be picked up on the way home.
The longer you spend with him, though, the more you wonder if those lofty ambitions may be realised. Not only is the 27-year-old Harding intelligent and personable but he is not the type to give up easily. Nor does he lack for motivation. “I don’t just want to be in England’s squad. I want to play for England. It sounds silly but just getting a phone call [ahead of the November Tests] wouldn’t mean very much to me. They’re not going to write in my obituary: ‘He made the England squad once.’”
Australia has made a dominant start to its three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, cruising to a seven-wicket victory with 146 balls remaining in Brisbane.
It was the most highly anticipated return in cricket, one that had an admittedly meagre crowd in Durban on the edge of their seats as they warmed up their vocal chords.
The Sharks improved to 3-1 to start the 2026 NHL season after a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. And for the third time this season, the win came in overtime. The Sharks have dominated in overtime in recent seasons. They have been so dominant that they now lead the entire NHL with 13 overtime wins dating back to the start of last season.
Kings of overtime 👑
With tonight's win, the San Jose Sharks have an NHL-leading 13 OT wins since the start of last season.
The Sharks got the season started off with a bang, beating the Florida Panthers 4-3 thanks to a game-winning goal from Luca Cagnoni. The next game, a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings, Igor Chernyshov found the net in overtime to help the Sharks improve to 2-0.
The Sharks lost their first game of the season to the Dallas Stars but bounced back in their most recent contest, getting the overtime win over the Blues thanks to a Darnell Nurse game-winning goal. Even without star Macklin Celebrini, who has missed the last two games with an unspecified lower-body injury, the Sharks have found ways to win.
San Jose faces a tough slate of games for the rest of the month, facing the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins at home before going on the road for six straight games from Oct. 15-Oct. 24. But for a Sharks team hungry to make the playoffs after coming up just short last season, these next few games are the perfect test to see what kind of team they are.
The Sharks revamped their roster this offseason, acquiring players like Nurse via trade and signing free agents such as forward Mason Marchment and defenseman Jacob Trouba, and entered the season with high expectations.
The last time the team made the playoffs was in 2018-19, where they made it to the Western Conference Finals. Now, with a roster full of young stars, the team hopes that this season can be the start of perennial hockey success in San Jose.
The Sixers’ still-surreal starting five was fully intact Thursday night.
The team’s newly assembled, star-heavy unit played the first half together at Barclays Center. The final result was a 114-108 preseason loss to the Nets, but the Sixers led by two points at halftime and the evening certainly was not short on positive moments.
“I think there were some really good things happening right off the bat, a bunch of back cuts and good passing,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “We obviously turned the ball over a lot, which you can never do. Just a little clunky in segments, too.
“But it’s preseason, first time that they’re together. You look at what’s good and what are the learning experiences, things that we can improve on. And just try to get ‘em together as much as we can.”
The usual horde of bodies and cameras and phones surrounded LeBron James postgame in the visiting locker room following his Sixers preseason debut.
“It obviously feels a little different playing in a new uniform,” James said, “but the game is the game.”
At 41 years old, James remains a game-changing presence.
He’s a unique physical force when rumbling downhill. The four-time Finals MVP scored 10 points in 18 minutes on a single field goal attempt, finishing 1 for 1 from the floor and 8 for 8 on his free throws. He also posted five assists, four rebounds and a steal. James enhanced the Sixers’ offense in both the half court and transition, throwing inch-perfect hit-ahead passes, feeding cutters and spotting open shooters.
The 22-time All-Star continues to be extremely impactful in obvious and subtle ways.
“It’s both offensively and defensively,” VJ Edgecombe said. “Defensively, he’s loud, he’s talking, so you’ve got confidence in guarding. And then offensively, he just creates plays. He requires so much gravity, everybody else gets open. He doesn’t care about scoring. He’s already got the (NBA) record; he doesn’t care about scoring.”
The Sixers have plenty they’d like to sharpen before they’re back in New York for opening night against the Knicks on Oct. 20.
They didn’t play a poor game on defense, but the Sixers will have higher standards for themselves in the regular season. The young Nets scored 33 points in the first quarter.
“We’ve got to do better,” Joel Embiid said. “I think we over-helped a little bit too much. We’ve got to do a better job of stopping penetration. They drove all night. … A lot to watch and learn and get better.”
Embiid committed eight of the team’s 21 turnovers and looked exactly like a player in his first game since May. Brooklyn’s defensive aggression disrupted the Sixers at times.
“A team like that is very active,” James said. “Their job is to try to pressure you, make you play against the shot clock. Besides the pick-sixes and the turnovers we had, I thought we played some good ball and it’s good to go against a team like that.”
For James, Embiid, Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey, that’s one game down.
The hope is to have many to go as a first five. Brown called Thursday night “just the first step in the journey.”
“I think the more you get on the floor, the better you become,” Embiid said.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 07: Alex Tuch #89 of the Washington Capitals scores a goal on goalie Arturs Silovs #37 of the Pittsburgh Penguins a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Capital One Arena on October 07, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
After the Penguins traded forward Filip Hallander to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Spencer Stastney on Wednesday, assistant general manager Jason Spezza said Hallander was considered “expendable” based on past performance and future potential, while Stastney, 26, brings versatility and mobility to Pittsburgh’s defense corps. [PensBurgh]
The Penguins have several early-season concerns after four games, including a slow start from Sidney Crosby, inconsistent goaltending from Arturs Silovs and costly defensive mistakes. Is now the time to press the panic button? [PensBurgh]
Prospect Atley Calvert’s versatility and steady development with the team’s AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, have earned him a two-year entry-level NHL contract. The 22-year-old undrafted forward recorded 38 points in 70 regular-season games last season and added six points in 15 playoff games, including filling in at center when needed. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Three Canadian provinces — Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia — are staying on daylight saving time year-round, creating unusual NHL game start times this season. The change means the Calgary Flames have eight games scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. local time and the Edmonton Oilers have seven, while the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks also face schedule adjustments that could affect players’ routines and fans’ watching habits. [Associated Press]
At least 10 teams have expressed interest in acquiring Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. [TSN]
Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand is considered week-to-week with a leg injury, adding to Florida’s injury concerns after captain Aleksander Barkov was ruled out for six to eight weeks with a leg injury. [Associated Press via Sportsnet]
Oct 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics center Luka Garza (52) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) during the first half of a preseason game at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Boston Celtics took a conservative approach to begin the preseason.
Luka Garza didn’t get the memo.
Facing the Cleveland Cavaliers, without stars Jayson Tatum, Paul George, or centers Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, Garza got the starting nod for substitute head coaches Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay.
In the game’s opening 2:21, Garza picked up right where he left off last season. He grabbed an offensive rebound, knocked down a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer off an inbound pass from Hugo González, and blocked Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen.
Garza carried that tenacity throughout Boston’s 124-113 win over Cleveland, and the second-year Celtic explained afterward that it’s the standard he intends to uphold night after night moving forward.
“That’s how we can help this team. That’s how you can make an impact every single night,” Garza told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin postgame. “Crashing the glass, creating second shots for our team. We’re a dangerous offense, so the more shots we can get, the better we’re gonna do.”
With the entire offseason spotlight shined on whether or not Queta or Robinson will be the starting five, Garza issued a reminder of his impact the very first chance he could. Garza’s ongoing battle for second chances plagued the Cavaliers and quickly became contagious among the rest of the Celtics. Every starter contributed to the team’s 21 offensive rebounds while Garza (4) himself nearly matched Cleveland’s total of six.
Last season, Garza made snagging second chances his forte as a first-year Celtic. He finished with 146 offensive rebounds, the fifth-most of any bench player in the league.
“It’s something I just learned when I was young,” Garza told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I’m a guy who wants the ball in my hands, and when I was younger nobody would throw it to me, so I had to go get it off the glass. So that’s what started it, and since then, it’s become who I am as a basketball player.”
Garza finished off the Cavaliers with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. He knocked down three 3-pointers and tallied three blocks in his 26 minutes on the floor.
Competing against veterans Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Allen, alongside reserves, newcomers and unproven players, Garza stood out. He didn’t take a single moment on the court for granted and did everything he possibly could to stay off the bench.
Coming to Boston fresh off a three-year stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he averaged just 6.3 minutes per game, Garza understands the value of making the most of every nod he gets.
“These opportunities don’t come around often,” Garza continued.
“All those guys tonight, I’ve been in that position. I’ve been an Exhibit 10 (contract), I’ve been a two-way, now I’m a rotation player. You just don’t get those chances all the time. So when they come, no matter who it’s against, you wanna take advantage of it. You wanna go out there, play as hard as you can, play free, and show what you can do.”
Garza was relatively unknown to Celtics fans when he arrived over a year ago. It took a season filled with the relentlessness that’s become his trademark for that to change. On Thursday night, Garza served as an example for those in Boston also fighting to prove themselves this upcoming season.
“That is my guy,” MacLeay told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Just the joy that he creates with the motor that he has. I don’t think you can replicate how hard he plays — it’s truly a skill. It’s a special ability that he has. He puts so much pressure on the defense with how physical he consistently is.”
“He just goes and goes and goes and goes and it’s great.”
With Queta and Robinson headlining the center rotation, Garza will have to earn every minute he gets in 2026-27.
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 8: Reed Sheppard #15 of the Houston Rockets dribbles during practice and media availability as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 8, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks
October 9th, 2026
Location: The Venetian Arena Macao, China
TV:NBA TV and Space City Home Network
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)
Probable Starting Lineups
Rockets: Fred Vanvleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flag, P.J. Washington Jr.Dereck Lively II
Finally, after a long offseason, NBA basketball is back! (Yes, I am aware it is preseason (LET ME HAVE THIS).
It will be exciting to see the new additions to the roster play, and the return of Fred Vanvleet and Steven Adams. It will also be exciting to see the return of Kyrie Irving, and how he fits in with Cooper Flag.
We will have the postgame recap for you after the game, so make sure to check back for the recap in case you don’t wish to watch basketball at 7 am.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 07: A general view between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are heading into an important offseason after another NL East title ended with a disappointing postseason exit. While the team put together a 94 win season, there is still work to be done if Atlanta hopes to make a deeper playoff run in 2027. With plenty to evaluate from the past season, it’s time to look at what went right, what fell short, and what changes could help the Braves get back to the World Series.
MLB News:
Major League Baseball has proposed a shorter regular season and changes to the playoff format. The Players Association is working to review the proposals.
The ALDS is headed to Game 5 after Thursday’s matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 8: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics finished 5th in offensive rebounding rate last year at 31.8%, according to Cleaning the Glass. That number plummeted to 30.4% and 11th in the league in the playoffs, which played a part in why the Celtics lost to the 76ers in Round 1.
In their first preseason game on Thursday night, a 124-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cs once again dominated the offensive glass. They had 21 offensive rebounds, grabbing 46.9% of their own misses in the game. It was another showing that the offensive glass is going to be a big advantage for Boston yet again this season.
They didn’t even have Mitchell Robinson in this game, who is the best offensive rebounder in the league last season. Robinson rebounded 21.2% of Knicks misses when he was on the court.
On Thursday, the charge was led by Luka Garza along with rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell, who each had four offensive rebounds.
A lot of the Celtics offensive rebounds come from crashing on the wings. Guys like Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez made a habit of it last year. I expect that to be a big part of the Celtics offensive rebounding approach this season as well.
The Celtics had a few rebounds like this in this game.
Luka Garza was also an animal on the offensive glass early in the game. He had three of his four offensive rebounds in the first five minutes of the game. Garza is a smart player who does get himself into good positioning on some of these opportunities but on others, like the play shown below, it is just pure effort from Garza to get the rebound.
It is really fun to see Garza make plays like this. He became a very good offensive rebounder in his first year as a Celtic and I am excited to see how he adds to it in Year Two in green. His effort always stands out, as seen by how much he sweats.
Nobody:
Luka Garza at any point in a basketball game: https://t.co/CENziId6RQ
The Celtics should be really good this year and the offensive glass is going to be a reason as why.
They’ll need it to carry over to the postseason this year if they want to make a deep playoff run and I think adding Robinson boosts the chances of that happening. The way they struggled creating second chance opportunities during the first round loss was slightly alarming. On Thursday though, we saw how much of a factor the offensive glass is going to be.
