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Avalanche Hold Off Late Flyers Push to Secure 3–2 Win

Brock Nelson buried the go-ahead goal with 52 seconds remaining in the first period, and the Colorado Avalanche capped a flawless back-to-back set with a 3–2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. 

Brent Burns opened the scoring for Colorado, while Valeri Nichushkin extended the lead with an insurance marker early in the second period. Mackenzie Blackwood delivered another outstanding performance between the pipes, turning aside 24 shots. 

Philadelphia’s offense came from captain Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny, the latter firing a game-high nine shots on goal. Samuel Ersson—usually slotted as the backup—stood tall in defeat, recording 25 saves to keep the Flyers within striking distance. 

First Period 

The Flyers struck just 2:08 into the game when Noah Juulsen unloaded a slap shot from the point that was redirected by captain Couturier past Blackwood, giving Philadelphia an early 1–0 lead. 

A little more than six minutes later, Burns responded with his fourth goal of the season, wiring a wrist shot through traffic—thanks in part to Nichushkin’s heavy screen in front—that prevented Ersson from seeing the shot. Martin Nečas remained poised on the left circle and threaded a pinpoint pass to Burns, whose ability to get shots through, even at age 40, continues to defy logic. 

After Juulsen was whistled for tripping Parker Kelly, Colorado capitalized on the ensuing power play. Nelson and Nathan MacKinnon both took hacks at a loose rebound, but it was Nelson who delivered the decisive tap to put the Avalanche ahead 2–1. Nečas nearly added another goal moments before, but his one-timer rang off the post. Nelson now has 10 points in his last 10 games. 

Second Period 

Just 1:47 into the frame, Nichushkin extended the lead. He corralled a cross-ice feed from Devon Toews that glanced off the skate of Victor Olofsson, then snapped a wrister from the right circle past Ersson to make it 3–1 Colorado. 

Konecny trimmed the deficit with a clever move, selling a pump-fake toward the far post and slipping the puck five-hole as Blackwood bit on the fake, cutting the score to 3–2. 

Burns nearly restored the two-goal cushion midway through the period, springing Victor Olofsson on a breakaway, but Ersson stood tall with a blocker save. Minutes later, Burns hammered another shot from the point, only to hear it ring off the post. On the same sequence, Trevor Zegras was called for slashing Nichushkin, sending Colorado back to the power play. The Avalanche couldn’t convert, and late in the period, Nečas took a slashing penalty of his own. 

Colorado carried a 3–2 lead into intermission, while the Flyers entered the third with 1:53 remaining on the man advantage. 

Third Period 

After the Avalanche killed off the penalty, MacKinnon was assessed a hooking infraction on Zegras, who was sprung on a breakaway 4:54 into the period. The officials awarded a penalty shot, a dangerous situation considering Zegras’ 68% shootout success rate (17-for-25). 

But Blackwood shut the door, reading the move perfectly and turning aside the attempt to preserve Colorado’s one-goal lead. 

The remainder of the game evolved into a tactical showcase, but the Avalanche remained composed and resolute. Philadelphia pulled Ersson twice in the final minutes, pressing desperately for the equalizer, yet their efforts came up short as Blackwood stood tall and refused to yield. 

Next Game 

The Avalanche (21-2-6) end their Tour De USA on Tuesday when they take on the Nashville Predators (10-14-4) at Bridgestone Arena. Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. local time.  

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Say What? 'Who Cares,' Players React To Olympic Rink News And More Quotes From This Week

Every week in the NHL delivers goals, chaos, and occasionally, absolute gems on the microphone. Our “Say What?” series features some of the strangest, funniest, and most telling quotes from players, coaches, and executives around the league. 

Here are the lines that made us stop scrolling and say… what?,

"I think he was disappointed with your guys' coverage on his offensive ability, or not shooting the puck. Maybe that stirred it up. I know if I've got a problem with any other players, I'll just address it with you guys." - Kris Knoblauch. 

The Edmonton Oilers head coach was responding to coverage by the media, many asking why Connor McDavid wasn’t shooting more. That was Knoblauch’s reply after McDavid scored a hat trick in the following game.

“How would they know that?” - Rasmus Andersson

The Calgary Flames defenseman talked about reports that said he’s already decided on his future and whether he’s staying or leaving the Flames as his trade value increases with strong production. 

“I saw some reports the other day (saying) ‘Oh, he doesn’t know what to do with his future,' and I’m like, ‘How would you know that?'” Andersson said.

“I talked to my agent before the season started, and then we haven’t talked. How could you possibly know if I’m undecided about my future or not? I’ve come to the point in my life where I just laugh at the things people say online, and honestly, it feels great to come to that point," he added.

“It sucks.” - Matthew Knies, “Beast came in and was unbelievable for us.” - Auston Matthews

The Toronto Maple Leafs captain and power forward talked about Dennis Hildeby taking over for Joseph Woll, who went down with an injury against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Leafs are now without Woll and Anthony Stolarz, making Hildeby the team's starting goaltender. 

It's a huge loss for the Maple Leafs as Woll has been putting up great numbers, but Hildeby has stepped up in relief and with the new role.

Hildeby Is The Leafs' Starter With Woll's Injury, Here's How We Got HereHildeby Is The Leafs' Starter With Woll's Injury, Here's How We Got HereWith Joseph Woll on injured reserve, rookie netminder Dennis Hildeby is now the starting goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Here is how we got here.

"There's zero truth'' - Ken Holland 

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun said he reached out to the Los Angeles Kings’ GM Ken Holland regarding speculation of a potential coaching change. Peter DeBoer has been linked to the story, but Holland isn’t giving the rumor any more life than it's already taken on. 

The Kings will continue forward with Jim Hiller as the bench boss, with no plans to make changes in the near future.

"If there’s no rink completed, there’s no NHL players going to the Olympics." - Bill Daly

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was asked what the percentage chance was that some NHL players might drop out of the Olympics because of the rink issues in Italy.

"Depends on % you want to place on the possibility the rink doesn’t get completed," Daly said. "If there’s no rink completed, there’s no NHL players going to the Olympics."

Nathan MacKinnon (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

“It’ll change things, but who cares?” -Nathan MacKinnon

When asked about the smaller ice surface at the Olympics, Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon wasn’t overly concerned.  

Maple Leafs' Matthews also chimed in and said, “It can be a 100-by-100-foot sheet. You just want to go out there and play and have that opportunity.”

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Darryn Peterson scores 17 in return from injury, No. 21 Kansas beats rival Missouri 80-60

Darryn Peterson scored 17 points in his return after a month lost to a hamstring injury, and No. 21 Kansas used a 23-3 run spanning halftime to seize control against Missouri, before the Jayhawks rolled to an 80-60 victory over their bitter rival Sunday. The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Peterson had missed the past seven games with the nagging injury. Tre White led the Jayhawks (7-3) with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

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Jeff Kent avoids joining Barry Bonds Hall of Fame debate after earning own nod

Jeff Kent avoids joining Barry Bonds Hall of Fame debate after earning own nod originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Former Giants star second baseman Jeff Kent finally earned a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday after being elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.

However, his longtime teammate in San Francisco, Barry Bonds, again failed to garner enough support to make it to Cooperstown.

Now that Kent is set to be enshrined in the Hall, what does he think of Bonds’ controversial case to have the same honor? The 2000 NL MVP was asked that very question shortly after Sunday’s announcement.

“Barry was a good teammate of mine,” Kent told reporters. “He was a guy that I motivated and pushed — we knocked heads a little bit. He was a guy that motivated me, at times in frustration, in love at times. …

“I don’t think I ever saw a better player play the game overall. Everything that he did, every phase of the game, maybe other than throwing, I don’t know if Barry had such a great arm. But every phase of the game, Barry was one of the best players I ever saw play the game. Amazing. So for me, I’ve always said that.

“I’ve always avoided the specific answer you’re looking for because I don’t have one. I don’t. I’m not a voter, but I can say that he was a teammate that helped me. I believe I helped him. I believe he was one of the best baseball players I ever saw. You know, if you’re talking about moral code and all that, I’m not a voter, and I’m trying to stay away from all of that the best I can because I really don’t have an opinion.

“I’ve left it. It doesn’t matter to me anymore. And I know he’s been argued amongst a lot of baseball elites about if he ought to be in or not, and, you know, keep having that argument. And, you know, you argue through it, and if he’s not, he’s not, and if he is, he is. And it’s not going to matter to me one way or the other.”

Bonds’ Hall of Fame debate long has been a topic among baseball media and fans, and Sunday’s setback certainly reignited that discussion online. But Kent still opted not to take a side even after his own election.

Nevertheless, it’s understandable that Kent doesn’t feel the need to add much to the conversation; after all, he likely is asked about Bonds all the time, and the two have a rather complicated history between them.

Bonds now will have to wait until 2031 to be reconsidered for the Hall of Fame, so the debate will have to continue for a few more years before there’s any resolution.

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Without Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks down Magic, 106-100, for third straight win

The Knicks (16-7) defeated the Orlando Magic (14-10) by a final score of 106-100 on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

Here are the key takeaways...

-- The Knicks were without Karl-Anthony Towns, as the big man was ruled out before tipoff due to calf tightness. Towns, who went for 35 points and 18 rebounds against Charlotte on Wednesday night, is the team’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, so the Knicks were obviously missing a very important piece.

With Towns out, Mitchell Robinson started alongside the usual starting group.

-- Franz Wagner, Orlando’s leading scorer on the season averaging 23.4 points per game, went down hard in the first quarter. On an alley-oop attempt, Wagner was fouled by Ariel Hukporti and landed awkwardly, appearing to injure his left knee or ankle. Wagner had to be helped to the locker room, putting no weight on his left leg. 

The Knicks then suffered an injury scare of their own in the third quarter, when Miles McBride went down and ended up limping off the floor. Shortly after the game, the Knicks announced he hurt his left ankle and they would share more information on his status Monday. McBride, who has been an absolute spark for the Knicks this season, had four points and two assists in 21 minutes.

-- Coming off a 33-point night against Utah,Jalen Brunson led the charge for the Knicks once again. Playing at an MVP-level this season, Brunson had 16 points and five assists in the first quarter alone, attacking the rim and playing well in the mid range. The Knicks led by four points at the end of the first quarter. After getting a rest to start the quarter, Brunson ended up going scoreless in the second frame, as both teams dialed up their defense.

After a back-and-forth first half, the Knicks started the second half on a 9-0 run and went on to outscore the Magic 28-18 in the quarter, with Brunson scoring 10 points. 

The All-Star guard finished with 30 points and nine assists.

-- OG Anunoby, playing in his second game back from injury, once again had his minutes limited. But when he was on the floor, he was in All-Star form, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in just under 28 minutes. His fourth three of the game came early in the fourth quarter, pushing the Knicks' lead to 16 points. Anunoby was a difference-maker on both sides of the floor. 

--The story of the game for Orlando, even before Wagner left the game, was attacking the Knicks in transition. Orlando players beat the Knicks down the floor after made baskets multiple times early on, but the Knicks' defense adjusted and stifled the Magic, holding them to 38.3 percent shooting on the game. Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, and Paolo Banchero all finished in double digits, but it wasn't enough.

-- With Towns out and Robinson dealing with some foul trouble, Josh Hart stepped up and was all over the glass. The veteran finished the game with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Hukporti also gave the Knicks some strong minutes off the bench, finishing with six points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.

-- The Knicks have now won eight of their last nine games, and are now 2.5 games behind Detroit for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Game MVP

Anunoby, whose two-way play, even in limited minutes, played a huge role in the New York victory.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Knicks will take on the Raptors in Toronto on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m.

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Jonathan Kuminga's DNP vs. Bulls is latest bump in up-and-down Warriors tenure

Jonathan Kuminga's DNP vs. Bulls is latest bump in up-and-down Warriors tenure originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The writing might have been on the wall, but it’s still wild to see. 

Warriors coach Steve Kerr used 10 players in the first quarter Sunday against the Chicago Bulls. Jonathan Kuminga wasn’t one of them. Gary Payton II started the second quarter and made it 11 Warriors to see the floor, the same number that saw time in the first half. Kuminga still wasn’t one of them. 

Kuminga rode the bench the entire second half, too. The 23-year-old who signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract in restricted free agency to return to the Warriors a day into training camp received his first healthy DNP-CD (Did Not Play — Coach’s Decision) of the 2025-26 NBA season in a 123-91 wire-to-wire road win against the Chicago Bulls.

“Just got to keep going, just like everybody else who’s in this position,” Kerr said after the game. “And it happens to everybody, pretty much, other than the stars. Guys come in and out of the rotation depending on who’s available, how the team’s playing.”

There were several factors that Kerr went into about why Kuminga was leapfrogged in the rotation Sunday. From a positional standpoint, he mentioned wanting to give more minutes to Gui Santos after the impact he made the previous two games. Santos was a plus-15 in 11 1/2 minutes on Thursday, and scored 14 points, including five clutch points in the fourth quarter, on Saturday. 

Kerr did not elaborate about his conversation with Kuminga on his decision to keep him out of the rotation against the Bulls.

“All that stuff is private,” Kerr said.

Kuminga spoke with reporters in Chicago for a little more than five minutes after the Warriors’ win. There wasn’t any animosity towards Kerr. Kuminga chose a mature approach, saying “we don’t have any problems,” and noted that he’ll work every day to be ready for his next opportunity. 

“As long as things are working out and we’re winning, I don’t see a point of switching anything or changing,” Kuminga said. “Whenever my number gets called, I’ll be ready. But I don’t see the point [of changing]. We’re doing good. We’ve been doing good, things are working really well. 

“I don’t see a point of taking certain people out of the rotation when they’re playing well and things are going good right now. I don’t see a point.”

A numbers crunch was sure to come Sunday in Chicago. Along with the absence of Steph Curry, who didn’t join the team on the three-game road trip as he continues to rehab a quad contusion, the Warriors on Saturday also were without Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Seth Curry. Only 10 Warriors were healthy, and all 10 played. 

Kuminga was one of them, and he was in the starting lineup after coming off the bench his previous four games. But he scored just four points on 1-of-10 shooting in 21 1/2 minutes. Kuminga missed his first seven shot attempts and was held scoreless in the first half. 

“Some of the guys that played tonight aren’t going to play tomorrow,” Kerr said Saturday night after the Warriors’ short-handed win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. “That’s got to be OK. For them, for everybody. It’s what it takes to be a great team. You have to be able to sacrifice for the good of the group. Some nights are yours, some nights aren’t.

“Fortunately, we’ve got really good guys one our team and they’re committed to each other, and I feel confident going forward we’ll have a lot of guys who are going to contribute and every night will be a little different.” 

Despite being extremely depleted, Warriors had their best feel-good win of the season Saturday by beating the Cavaliers on the road. 

Then came the Warriors’ reinforcements. Butler and Melton returned Sunday against the Bulls. A healthy Seth Curry was back but also received a DNP-CD. His older brother is expected to return Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chase Center, as are Green and Horford.

Kuminga played nine minutes and 18 seconds in the second half Saturday, and a lowly two and a half minutes in the fourth quarter. His role being reduced in the more important parts of the game has been a recent trend. He sat the entire fourth quarter of their 12-point loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, and again Thursday in their one-point last-second loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. 

As Kuminga watched the entire fourth quarter from the bench against the Thunder, his agent, Aaron Turner, posted his disapproval of Kerr’s decision on X. He also reposted somebody else who was against the decision as well. 

Restricted free agency between Kuminga and the Warriors dragged to the very last minute. And it didn’t just affect him. The Warriors were stuck in limbo and weren’t signing other players until knowing what the final number on Kuminga’s contract was going to be. In the end, Kuminga came back, but not on the contract he expected going into the summer, and the final deal didn’t include his preferred player option. 

Turner took a public approach to Kuminga’s restricted free agency and joined multiple outlets to speak on the situation, including NBC Sports Bay Area. 

“Can he be the player he wants to be here, right now, with this roster composition? No. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to win and he’s not willing to sacrifice for the group,” Turner said to myself and Monte Poole on the “Dubs Talk” podcast in September. 

Earlier that same day, Turner was on 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru” and hit on where things stood between Kuminga and his coach. 

“The last point where we ended with Steve was, I can’t play this guy big minutes with what I have now. I don’t think that can’t evolve or can’t change but that’s where we are right now, until we see differently. That’s got to be the worst sales pitch to a 20-plus million dollar free agent in the history of basketball,” Turner said. 

Kuminga began the 2025-26 NBA season doing all the things the Warriors asked from him and was a big reason why they started the campaign 4-1. The Warriors then went 2-5 over their next seven games, all with Kuminga in the starting lineup. He was dropped to a reserve role in San Antonio on Nov. 12 and left the game at halftime with knee soreness before missing the next seven to bilateral patellar tendonitis. 

Before Sunday night’s DNP, Kuminga has played four games since returning from his knee issues and has averaged 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 30 percent from the field and 30.8 percent on 13 3-point attempts. Kuminga in those four games has as many turnovers (eight) as assists.

The Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline now is less than two months away. The first day Kuminga can be traded is Jan. 15, and Sunday’s healthy and loud DNP is the latest development in a rocky relationship.

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What we learned as Jimmy Butler's return fuels Warriors' road win vs. Bulls

What we learned as Jimmy Butler's return fuels Warriors' road win vs. Bulls originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Maybe it was knowledge that they would have Monday and Tuesday to themselves, but the Warriors on Sunday delivered one of their zestiest performances of the 2025-26 NBA season.

After an inspiring victory Saturday night in Cleveland, they floated into Chicago and cruised to a tip-to-buzzer 123-91 triumph over the Bulls at United Center. It was the first game this season where the Warriors led the entire contest.

The Warriors moved back above .500 (13-12) behind Jimmy Butler’s all-around play, with an efficient 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Six other Warriors scored in double figures, led by Brandin Podziemski coming off the bench to put up a game-high 21 points. Quinten Post finished with 19, De’Anthony Melton had 13, Pat Spencer scored 12, with Moses Moody and Will Richard each totaling 11.

The Warriors poured in 22 3-pointers, the third time this season they’ve drained 20 or more in a game. They dominated the glass, outrebounding Chicago 51-38, more than offsetting the 21 points they gave the Bulls off 17 turnovers.

The Warriors, whose 25 games are tied for the league high, return home with an opportunity to get healthy and reset. Their next game is Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and that will the first of two games over a 10-day span. 

Here are three observations from the finale of a three-game road swing through the Eastern Conference:

Jimmy Grabs His Cape

The Warriors maintained a double-digit lead from the final minutes of the first quarter, hiking the advantage as high as 24, before the Bulls rallied late, going on a 17-1 run to pull within eight (87-79) with 11: 24 remaining.

There was no Stephen Curry to stop the onslaught. There was no Draymond Green to cool Chicago’s offense. There was no Al Horford, either. All three were out with injuries.

To whom would the Warriors turn to restore order? Butler. 

Clearly sensing a threat, he reached for his cape, scoring eight of his points during a 16-2 run that closed the door and pave the way for Golden State to outscore the Bulls 36-12 over the final 11 minutes.

Butler did so much work, so quickly, that he managed to post a plus-16 in five fourth-quarter minutes before taking a richly deserved seat with the Warriors up by 27 with a 6:31 to play.

Hello, Chicago!

After introducing themselves during the opening tip, the Warriors immediately made themselves at home inside the United Center, racing out to leads of 11-2, 23-10 and, by the end of the first quarter, 38-25.

Showing no ill effect from their late-night arrival from Cleveland, the Warriors made six of their first eight shots and nine of their first 12. They shot 68.2 percent in the quarter, including 61.5 from deep.

After losing the tip against Bulls big man Nikola Vučević, Post made three consecutive 3-pointers within the first five minutes to finish the quarter with nine points. Six different Warriors drained triples in the first 12 minutes.

In another show of early energy, Golden State outrebounded the Bulls 12-6 in the quarter and limited them to 44-percent shooting from the field, including 30 percent from beyond the arc.

Latest Chapter In The Book Of Kuminga

Eleven different Warriors participated in one of Golden State’s most decisive wins this season, and none of them was Jonathan Kuminga.

One night after making his first start in 25 days in a win over the Cavaliers in Cleveland, Kuminga never left the bench in Chicago. He was not listed on the injury report, so this DNP-CD makes a curious statement.

Kuminga, inconsistent all season, didn’t exactly help his cause in Cleveland. Making his first start since returning last Tuesday after missing seven games with an ankle sprain, he grabbed seven rebounds but scored only four points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field, including 0 of 3 from distance.

In the three games since his return, Kuminga is averaging 7.0 points per game, shooting 25 percent (8 of 32) from the field, including beyond the arc. 

Though Kuminga won’t be trade eligible until Jan. 15, it will be very interesting to see how the Warriors manage him over the coming weeks.

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Orlando's Franz Wagner leaves game with very concerning apparent knee injury after fall

Just as the Magic get Paolo Banchero back comes this potentially troubling news.

Orlando forward Franz Wagner left Sunday's game against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden after going to the ground when, on a first quarter transition opportunity, New York's Mitchell Robinson came in to block a pass to Wagner, and the German went to the ground and instantly grabbed his left knee. He stayed on the ground for a while before being helped back to the locker room by his brother, Mo Wagner.

The Magic only said that Wagner would not return to the game due to a "lower left leg injury" and "will be re-evaluated upon the team's return to Orlando."

Wagner had been playing at an All-Star level for the Magic, averaging 23.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game, shooting 35.4% from 3-point range. He had been the best player on the team through the Magic's run of elite play in recent weeks.