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Mavericks coach Dusty May breaks down Flagg’s, Irving’s season-opening performances against Rockets

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 21: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks speaks with Cooper Flagg #32 during the second quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks’ 2026-27 season got off to a rocky start on Wednesday night, as they got blown out by Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, 128-110. After only trailing 32-26 when the first quarter ended, the Mavs proceeded to get outscored 38-12 in the second quarter, which ended up being the deciding factor in the game. Dallas outscored Houston 72-58 in the second half, but it was already too late.

It was a little bit of a mixed bag when it came to the performances of the Mavs’ two stars, 19-year-old Cooper Flagg and 34-year-old Kyrie Irving, who was playing his first real NBA game in nearly 600 days following an ACL injury. Flagg finished with a game-high 32 points (10-17 FG, 11-13 FT), five rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block in 33 minutes of action. He poured in 23 of his 32 points in the second half alone. Irving finished with 15 points (6-9 FG), four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Both Flagg and Irving had four turnovers each.

Following the loss, Mavs head coach Dusty May gave his thoughts on how his two stars played in their first real game together.

“I thought he was setting us up,” May said of Flagg’s second-half scoring. “In the first half I thought he was being very intentional with getting his teammates shots, and then, in the second half, we did a better job of getting some off-ball movement. We played a little bit faster, and then obviously if you’re not taking the ball out of the net, you can get it up and attack quickly. I thought that was the biggest difference. We just — our pace got a lot better in the second half.”

Getting to the free-throw line was something Dallas struggled with in the preseason, so Flagg’s ability to get to the stripe 13 times and convert 11 of them was a welcome sight for May.

“That’s been a point of emphasis, and that’s one thing, when we evaluated ourselves after four [preseason] games, getting to the line wasn’t something we did well,” May said. “We thought [Flagg] was the best way to capitalize in the paint. I thought he was strong. I thought he made good decisions. When we start knocking down some open shots, his assist numbers will increase.”

Irving was efficient on Wednesday night, but the problem was that his shots were limited. That obviously wasn’t by May’s design, but it’s what the Rockets’ defense forced the Mavs into.

“He’s obviously the focal point,” May said of Irving being limited to nine field-goal attempts by Houston’s defense. “They put two on the ball. I thought he made the right plays, the right decisions. There [are] going to be puzzles we’re going to have to figure out. Playing four-on-three with our other guys — we’ve got to do a better job and find some solutions.

“But I thought there in the second half, he showed a real — his true character — in being a leader when things weren’t going well, I thought he set a great example. Our bench was phenomenal. They were cheering for each other. We’re worried about getting better, especially starting with a couple games on the road like we are. We’re focused on getting better, and I was proud of the way the guys stayed connected and stayed fighting until the end. That showed some character.”

The Mavs now shift their attention to another road test against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night before opening up at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. The Pacers started their season off 1-0 with a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans after star point guard Tyrese Haliburton made his return from an achilles injury he suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals.

“[We have to] learn from what we did well,” May said. “I thought we made some strides in areas we’ve struggled in. But just look at the film. The lowest-hanging fruit — what can we fix in a 48-hour period, so we’re not out here chasing every rabbit, but focus on a couple of things so we can just trust it a little bit more. From everybody, we’ll fix that area. … These extra possessions, they steamroll on you, so if we just clean up a few things, I think we’ll make a significant jump.”

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Donovan Mitchell wants to be in Cleveland ‘forever’

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the second quarter of a preseason game against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on October 11, 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

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a risk when they traded for Donovan Mitchell in 2022. They made a gamble that the assets they unloaded, which included multiple first-round picks that spanned seven years, would ultimately never be missed.

It looks like they’re winning that bet.

“I don’t ever want to wear another uniform,” Mitchell said in a Cleveland.com exclusive with Chris Fedor. “I dream of myself being here forever and hopefully having 45 in the rafters one day.”

Mitchell has not only led the franchise to some of their most successful seasons, but he’s signed an extension that keeps him in Cleveland through the 2029-30 NBA season — past the date of the final draft pick that is owed to the Utah Jazz.

There was a time when it was unclear if the Cavs would retain Mitchell for more than a single season. Or if they’d reach an agreement on even one contract extension. But now we are two extensions deep with a franchise star who has fully committed to the city he’s in.

Mitchell has averaged 26.7 points and 5.3 assists in four seasons with the Cavaliers. He’s been an All-Star in each season and was named to an All-NBA team in three of the four.

Entering his fifth year in Cleveland, Mitchell has made it clear that this is where he wants to be. The franchise has doubled and tripled down on their own commitment to him. Trading for James Harden last season and shuffling the starting lineup to add a 3-and-D wing in Peyton Watson. It’s all built around competing now while Mitchell’s window is open.

The Cavs haven’t had many players of Mitchell’s caliber represent the city, let alone retire in Cleveland. There’s something to be said for a star embracing his new home — even if this is all easier said than done. A lot can change between now and the end of Mitchell’s career, but a verbal commitment like this shouldn’t be taken for granted.

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Yaxel Lendeborg continues beef with Luka Doncic postgame: 'I lost all respect' for him

LOS ANGELES — It says something about how Steve Kerr and the Warriors feel about Yaxel Lendeborg that, in the season opener, they started him and gave him the Luka Doncic defensive assignment.

Lesson No. 1 for the rookie: Don't trash-talk Doncic. As the Slovenian himself said in his ESPN walk-off interview, "Everybody knows when somebody starts talking, you got a different me." Not only did Lendeborg pick up a technical, but also when he really got in Doncic's face, the Lakers went on a 13-4 run sparked by Doncic. And this happened.

That didn't stop Lendeborg from continuing his beef with Doncic after the game.

"I had a lot of respect for him, you know, just watching," Lendeborg said postgame. "I didn't really watch the NBA much, I just watched highlights, seeing him kill people all the time. But then, being in there firsthand, just watching all the whining and complaining, I lost all respect, man. Like, that was awful. Me getting frustrated, it's not about the foul call being called, it's about him complaining the entire game. And then you get the foul call, congratulations, bro, and then you talk to me like you did something great, bro. Come on. That's just weak.

"So, it kind of threw me off for a little while because, like I said, I had so much respect for him. Gone, man. Gone."

Those comments came after Doncic spoke, and this is all Doncic said about it and the technical foul on Lendeborg.

"I mean, he was talking crazy," Doncic said. "But you know I wasn't trying to talk back. This season, not trying to get techs. So it's the first time that that was not a double tech because I didn't say nothing. So I'm working on it."

Some quick thoughts on all this:

• Never change, Lendeborg. Don't go through Raymond Ritter's media training. Speak your mind.

• There are a lot of fans around the league who agree with Lendeborg about Doncic.

• It's tough to talk trash when your team is getting trashed. The Lakers pulled away in the second quarter when Doncic got hot — and Curry got cold, the Warriors are banged up and have no offensive creators to speak of outside of him — and that came when Lendeborg fired up Doncic.

• Lendeborg did a respectable job on Doncic, who shot just 1-of-5 when the rookie was the closest defender challenging the shot. The problem was that when the Warriors' defense focused and collapsed on Doncic, he found Walker Kessler rolling to the rim for one of his 10 dunks on the night.

• Lendeborg, 24, speaks for a generation of fans when he said, "I didn't really watch the NBA much, I just watched highlights." There are many, many who consume all their NBA info through social media clips and people on social media talking about the game. Nothing wrong with that, except the NBA's entire financial model is based on you tuning in to watch games. It's about television revenue (and ratings were up last season). It's a problem for Adam Silver and the league (and other sports leagues as well).

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Maple Leafs Morning Skate: Jake McCabe Avoids Eye Injury Scare Ahead of Rangers Clash, Marshall Rifai's Status In Doubt And More

Jake McCabe was a full participant at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ morning skate on Thursday and is expected to play against the New York Rangers despite absorbing a high stick that forced him from Tuesday’s game in Columbus.

The 33-year-old defenceman was struck near the eye by Kent Johnson’s stick in the first period of the Leafs’ 6-2 win over the Blue Jackets. He went to the locker room and did not return, held out as a precaution once the lead grew comfortable. McCabe skated with regular defensive partner Darren Raddysh on the top pairing. 

“He really got himself a break,” Hiller said of McCabe’s injury. “Anytime the stick gets up underneath the eye, you never know what it’s going to look like. So he was fortunate. He’s doing well.”

McCabe described a brief moment of panic before he opened his eye and confirmed he could still see. Swelling set in quickly, but he said it felt better by Thursday. He credited the training staff, including Paul Ayotte, for handling the situation. Asked about any frustration with the play, McCabe was direct.

“A little bit, yeah. I’ll be honest,” McCabe said. “I think guys can take better care of their sticks for sure. But obviously, it’s an accident. I’m not going to fault him for that. But just a general consensus. I’ve gotten a couple high sticks the last three, four games, and they seem to be from younger players. So keep your stick down.”

McCabe said he does not need a different visor for Thursday’s game. His availability is significant with Chris Tanev still sidelined by an upper-body injury. McCabe and Troy Stecher have been hopping over the boards first on the penalty kill, and the Leafs have continued to generate pressure and chances late in kills even without Tanev.

Marshall Rifai’s status is less clear. The defenceman left the morning skate early after starting the session paired with Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Hiller said Rifai is dealing with something and that the Leafs would have to wait and see. 

Rifai scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday in Columbus, finishing a play in the Leafs’ six-goal outburst. McCabe noted that the call-up received regular shifts and close to 20 minutes that night, which he viewed as positive for Rifai’s confidence. The 28-year-old had been recalled to provide depth on a blue line already missing Tanev.

Matthews of Old?

Auston Matthews has been scoring on a torrid pace, with six in his last six games. Through 11 games, Matthews leads the Leafs in scoring. Hiller said the production is a matter of time given the talent level once the skating and habits stay in place.

“He’s just been so consistent,” Hiller said of Matthews. “He’s skated from the first day of camp. That’s what I’ve noticed. Now to start the season, he played really well. Didn’t score a lot of goals, and it didn’t change. He just kept skating and skating. So now, you know, he’s going to score. We know that he’s a world-class goal scorer.”

McCabe described Matthews as leading the way on and off the ice. Darren Raddysh called the current version “vintage Auston,” referencing the games from Matthews’ 70-goal chase. Nylander, who has seen the full arc of Matthews’ career in Toronto, said the present level may even exceed that earlier peak.

“Probably maybe even better than that at that point,” Nylander said. “I mean, we’ll see. I think 70 goals is crazy, but I mean just the way he’s playing is about the same probably.”

Nylander’s own game has drawn positive reviews from the coaching staff for reasons beyond the scoresheet. Hiller said conversations about play without the puck that once required regular attention are largely finished. Nylander now shows a clearer grasp of both sides of the puck and how he fits into the structure when the Leafs are playing well. He has found chemistry with Marchenko and Paul. Nylander likes Marchenko’s size, right-handedness and similar approach to the game, and he noted that the line has been clicking. 

Special Teams Fuel Leafs

The Leafs’ special teams have been a quiet strength through the early schedule. On the penalty kill, McCabe pointed to increased up-ice pressure from Sissons and others that disrupts opposing breakouts, plus late-kill contributions from Nylander and Cowan. Nylander mentioned a strong pass from Rielly that set up Cowan’s first NHL shorthanded goal in Columbus. On the power play, Nylander said the unit is moving the puck well and getting pucks to the net, producing goals in different ways. Raddysh attributed the success to options, reading pressure and players buying into the system the coaches want.

Younger players continue to receive opportunities and show comfort with the pace. Hiller said a pre-season conversation with Easton Cowan stood out because Cowan laid out higher expectations for himself than the staff had outlined. Consistency night after night remains the challenge for any young player, but Hiller said Cowan has largely met that standard. Nylander, asked about the confidence level of the next wave, recalled his own early desire to have the puck and score. He said the current group is doing a good job of wanting to be difference-makers.

Toronto’s penalty kill is the best in the NHL through games played on Oct. 21 at 97.4 percent. They also have the fifth-best power play at 27.5 percent.

Brother vs Brother

Darren Raddysh will face his brother Taylor of the Rangers on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena. Raddysh led the stretching group at the morning skate and called the matchup special. Taylor was supportive of the decision to join the Leafs, and the brothers have talked for years about the possibility of playing together. They shared three seasons in junior and appeared in two games as teammates in Tampa. Raddysh said the family has long discussed the idea, though he expects a competitive night.

“It’ll be special,” Raddysh said. “He’s been supportive of my decision to come here and what it means to our family. We’ve talked about it for a long time, and both being on the ice here will be special.”

He noted that Taylor may hold the overall bragging rights in their NHL meetings, but pointed to a previous game in which he recorded three points and the Leafs won. Childhood game trips usually involved their father taking one of the brothers, often the one who was a Devils fan. On the ice, Raddysh said there are no friends, though he joked he might not deliver his hardest check if they meet in a corner.

The Rangers enter the game with a 7-3-1 record and have looked more solid on the blue line after summer additions. McCabe described Alexis Lafrenière as a player who brings pace, a quick release and offensive vision, and he expects a difficult test against a Rangers group that has been playing with confidence.

Tavares and Tanev status for upcoming road trip unclear

John Tavares remains out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Hiller said he did not yet have a definitive update on either Tavares or Tanev regarding the road trip that follows Thursday’s game. The Leafs are looking for a third consecutive win after taking both ends of a back-to-back against the Sharks and Blue Jackets. With McCabe available, the blue line has its most experienced option back in the mix, even as Rifai’s availability stays unresolved after his early departure from the skate and his first career goal two nights earlier.

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Dodgers say Shohei Ohtani’s knee and biceps injuries require offseason rest, not surgery

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani needs offseason rest, not surgery, for knee and biceps injuries that led to his worst offensive numbers since he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2024 season.

“It was just an unfortunate game of whack-a-mole,” Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, said. “The knee got to a better spot, and then just kind of the biceps area was bothering him. Some of that would calm down for some period, some of that would get re-irritated. It was just a lot of different things he was trying to contend with at once.”

Ohtani and the Dodgers equally are enthused about him returning to two-way duties next season. What both sides need to figure out is how to keep him healthy while hitting and pitching into October.

“I’m not only expecting him to pitch,” Friedman said, “we’re excited about him pitching.”

Ohtani didn’t pitch after July 3 this year due to injuries that also affected his hitting. He had his worst offensive numbers since joining the Dodgers in December 2023, and his 30 home runs were his fewest since 2019 with the Los Angeles Angels. His three-run drive in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against Milwaukee snapped a 25-game homerless streak.

Ohtani turns 33 next July and has undergone two Tommy John surgeries on his right elbow during his MLB career. Friedman said how to better manage Ohtani’s two-way workload for a potential full season next year had yet to be discussed since the season ended with a four-game sweep at the hands of the Brewers in the NLCS.

“I expect us to throw our heads together and figure out both in the batter’s box, on the mound, just how we marry all that together to have him impact us as much as he can during the regular season and then also be in a really good spot going into October,” Friedman said.

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Mitchell Robinson had a strong reaction to his Celtics debut

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: Mitchell Robinson #4 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

BOSTON — Mitchell Robinson didn’t mince words at Celtics practice Thursday morning, less than 48 hours after his lackluster Celtics debut.

In the Celtics’ 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons, Robinson tallied 4 points, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 turnovers in 18 minutes. The normally prolific rebounder couldn’t make his impact on the glass, grabbing just 3 boards, only 1 of which came on the offensive end.

“It’s obviously just my fault,” Robinson said. “I got to accept that, and obviously be better from here on out. It’s straightforward — my fault.”

Robinson pointed to his lack of defensive impact as one of the main issues with his performance.

“We didn’t keep our foot on the gas, and it starts with me,” he said. “I’m one of the best defensive bigs in this league, and I didn’t show it that night. I got to take ownership of that; I gotta be better.”

The 28-year-old did go down with a twisted ankle in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game, but returned shortly after. On Thursday, he said the ankle injury didn’t factor into his performance.

“You tweak an ankle, you’re going to feel it a little bit here and there, but shit happens,” Robinson said. “I just felt like I was playing like trash the whole time anyways. I mean, shit.”

Robinson isn’t worried about putting points on the board. But his interior presence and rebounding got him a 3-year, $47 million contract, and he prioritizes those on any given night.

“Once I feel good about that after the game, for me, that’s when I know I did pretty good,” he said. “I really don’t care about stat lines, scoring; we got that over here already. It’s like — what can I do to help my team?”

Joe Mazzulla spoke with Robinson after the game

Mitchell Robinson said last week that Joe Mazzulla has been hard on him since he arrived in Boston.

“He’s getting on my ass a lot,” he said. “Which, you know, I need that. But he gets on my ass.”

But after Robinson’s frustrating game, Mazzula reached out in an encouraging fashion.

“Joe’s a great guy,” Robinson said. “He talked me through a lot of things, especially that night. He sent me text messages and stuff like that, and I appreciate it, but I didn’t even respond to the last text. But I was still stuck in my head about it. Like, I played like ass.”

Mazzulla said he recognizes Robinson’s importance and expects him to keep acclimating over time.

“It’s game one, obviously, and again, for us, he’s a very important piece to what we do, and so the standard is a little bit higher, and the expectation is a little bit higher,” Mazzulla said. “So I think it just comes with time, understanding that every play, you’re at the nucleus of what we’re trying to accomplish on both ends of the floor, and it’s a great compliment that all three of those bigs share. And some of that just comes with time — just the offensive reads, the offensive chemistry, the offensive execution, but also the defensive reads and the defensive reactions that we have to have. I appreciate that he’s in that space, and I think he’s taking on the responsibility and knowing how important that position is.”

Robinson said last week he’s enjoying his more involved role, even though there’s been an acclimation period.

“I’m in a lot of actions on the offensive side,” Robinson said. “Over there, I was just like, set one screen, roll, and they’ll be going on the other side, and then maybe come back. But like, this one, I’m in like every action. I’m setting the flare, pin down, ball screen, whatever. Like I’m just always actively moving.”

Mitchell Robinson will face his old Knicks teammates on Friday

On Friday, Robinson will face the New York Knicks, the team he spent his first 8 years with. The Knicks also come off an opening-day loss, a 106-100 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers.

But though Robinson is excited to put Tuesday behind him, he said he doesn’t have extra emotion or motivation specifically because of the Knicks match-up.

“It doesn’t really matter that I’m playing my former team,” he said. “It’s more so just trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago. At the end of the day, it’s basketball; it’s a business. And, you got to play the team just like you play any other team.”


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Thursday Rockpile: Do the Rockies need an MVP candidate to compete?

BOSTON - OCTOBER 25: Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies in the on deck circle during Game Two of the 2007 World Series against the Boston Red Sox on October 25, 2007 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox defeated the Rockies 2-1. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB via Getty Images) | MLB via Getty Images

Does the Colorado Rockies lineup currently hold the foundation for a playoff-contending team if the pitching were much better, or would it need a major makeover before they would be able to contend?

All previous Rockies playoff teams have been anchored by an MVP candidate or two:

  • Larry Walker in 1995
  • Matt Holliday in 2007
  • Troy Tulowitzki in 2009
  • Nolan Arenado in 2017 & 2018

It’s possible that one of the Rockies current crop of core young players hits their 90th-percentile outcome and turns into a superstar, but looking at the data right now, there isn’t anyone the low minors that has that sort of ceiling.

But do they need an MVP candidate in order to field a competitive team?

First, we need to define what competitive means in the context of MLB.

Since the third Wild Card spot was introduced for the 2022 season, the bar for making the playoffs has ranged from 81 wins (2026 Houston Astros) to 89 (2024 Atlanta Braves). Based on that, let’s say that a team with a real shot at fighting for a playoff spot in late September needs to be aiming for around 85 wins.

A team of entirely major league “replacement level” true talent players is estimated as one that would win 48 games.

So, to be a true playoff contending team, the sum of all of your players’ value would need to add up to roughly 37 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).

The actual exercise of building a contending team would need to be much more nuanced and in-depth than this oversimplification, but for some quick back-of-napkin math, this will suffice.

With that goal in mind, let’s break down where on the Rockies roster those wins would need to come from

We need to take into account the fact that the pitching talent level in the organization is currently far behind that of the offense. We should not assume they will be able to go from one of the worst pitching teams in the league to that of an average playoff team anytime soon.

Instead, let’s be a bit more realistic and look at the lowest pitching fWAR totals of playoff bound teams in each season since the third Wild Card spot was implemented:

  • 2022: 12.9 Seattle Mariners
  • 2023: 12.9 Arizona Diamondbacks
  • 2024: 12.3 Milwaukee Brewers
  • 2025: 11.3 Toronto Blue Jays
  • 2026: 7.5 Houston Astros

Other than being further proof that the American League West was truly dreadful this season, the list above gives a decent indication about where the minimum bar is for the pitching staff of a potential playoff team.

Until the Rockies can field a pitching staff around the 12-13 fWAR mark, it likely won’t matter how good the offense is. If they are able to achieve that mark, though, the lineup would need to reach 24-25 fWAR for the team as a whole to have a legitimate chance at the playoffs.

Continuing the oversimplifications: The line for what qualifies an MVP candidate most years starts at around six fWAR. All-Stars generally sit around four. Quality starters somewhere around two.

If the Rockies were able to fill all nine of their lineup spots with quality starters they would be sitting at 18 fWAR from the lineup… well short of the 24-25 we’ve established as the goal. Without finding an MVP-candidate type of player, they’d need to both fill the lineup with quality starters and get three of them up into that clear All-Star tier.

How far away from that were they this past season?

The 2026 Rockies only had five players reach anywhere near the quality starter benchmark:

  • Jake McCarthy at 2.7
  • TJ Rumfield at 2.5
  • Hunter Goodman at 2.5
  • Kyle Karros at 2.0
  • Cole Carrigg at 1.7

There were, however, many reasons to believe better days could be ahead for this lineup core.

Without needing to wait for the core of the farm system (which currently resides in the low minors) to be Major-League ready, the Rockies could soon field a full lineup of two-ish win starters with a small handful of four-ish win All-Stars.

That is within the realm of possibility with the current core. However, it would require a lot of things to go right.

The best feature of the Rockies lineup is how many potentially decent options it now contains. The team doesn’t have all of its value concentrated in just one or two superstars. They have nearly a full starting nine of solid starter options.

That depth, however, means that there are fewer spots available to upgrade cheaply. It’s much harder to find an improvement on a two-win player than it is to find one for a “replacement level” one.

Tallying all of that up, if the Rockies upgraded their pitching sufficiently, and everything broke right on the offensive side, they could have a playoff caliber roster without finding or developing a superstar.

The margin for error on that path, however, is incredibly slim. They would need essentially every starter on the roster to perform up to expectations.

The more plausible route back to contention is to develop or acquire a star (or two) that can put up MVP worthy numbers and reduce pressure on every other portion of the roster.

That’s easier said then done.

Sadly, the players in the organization that most realistically have that sort of upside are all down in the lower levels of the minor leagues. The team will need wait to see if any of their high-ceiling prospects at Single-A hit the higher end of their projections in order to start planning a stable contention window around them.

In the meantime, a realistic goal at the Major League level is probably just to prove that they can continue to raise the floor and to ensure that when/if they are able to find their next MVP candidate, they have sufficient depth surrounding them on the roster to capitalize on the opportunity.

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Has Atlanta’s offense been left behind by a new wave in baseball?

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves hits a double during the ninth inning of Game Three of the Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In 2023, just three years ago, the Atlanta Braves had just completed what is statistically recognized as the greatest single-season of team performance at the plate in a 162-game season. The Braves as a team hit .276/.344/.501 with a wOBA of .359, an astonishing xwOBA of .364, a mind-boggling 307 home runs and a team wRC+ of 126. There is no other offense in the history of baseball that was that consistent over the course of 162 games. If the Braves had gone deep into that year’s Postseason instead of falling flat on their face against the Phillies (for the second season in a row, mind you), that team would be a lot more fondly remembered by not just Braves fans and media but the baseball universe as a whole.

Instead, it feels like one of those things that’ll be left as a footnote to history — especially considering how Atlanta’s offense has looked since then. Despite the fact that six of the core players from that 2023 lineup (Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, Sean Murphy, Matt Olson and Austin Riley) are still around and only two of them are currently over 30, the Braves have largely been average in the three seasons since that historic 2023 performance.

Across the three seasons, he Braves have been a completely average ballclub at the plate — they’ve hit .245/.313/.408 with a .315 wOBA, a .321 xwOBA and a wRC+ of exactly 100, placing them in 15th place (exactly middle of the road) among big league ballclubs from the 2024 season through the 2026 season. 2024 saw the Braves go down to a 101 wRC+ (13th overall) before they somehow managed to repeat the trick in 2025 with the same number in that regard and then 2026 actually saw Atlanta’s offense fall down to a 20th-ranked offense in wRC+ with 97.

One thing that’s remained somewhat constant is the home run rate. In 2024, the Braves hit 213 homers (4th overall), hit for .172 in Isolated Power (5th overall) and slugged for .415 (9th overall). In 2025, their homers went down to 190 (14th overall), .155 in Isolated Power (15th overall) and slugged for .399 (14th overall). In 2026, the homers went back up to 204 (7th overall), their Isolated Power went up as well to .162 (9th overall) and they tied with the Yankees for sixth place overall in slugging at .409.

Since the NL Champion Milwaukee Brewers and the AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays are both the talk of the town right, let’s compare Atlanta’s offense in 2026 to theirs. The Braves hit more homers than either the Rays (169) or the Brewers (154, fewest in the NL), Atlanta slugged at a higher rate than either Milwaukee (.403) or Tampa Bay (.402), and the Braves had a higher number in Isolated Power than either the Brewers (.144) or the Rays (.143). So when it came for hitting for power and hitting the long ball, the Braves were clearly better at doing that than any of the two teams who will be playing for that nice gold trophy this Fall.

Despite that, the Brewers (.328) and Rays (.320) both easily cleared the Braves in terms of wOBA and the Brewers did the same in xWOBA (.321) as well. Milwaukee ended up finishing third in wRC+ (107) and Tampa Bay finished in sixth with 104 wRC+.

So what gives, here? I’d imagine that all of y’all who are over here at this particular website are smart enough to realize that there’s more ways to take bases than simply hitting for power and putting ‘em over the fence. Where the Brewers and Rays did a ton of damage this season was from wreaking havoc on the basepaths. According to Statcast, the Brewers finished with a Baserunning Runs Value of 9, which was tied for third in all of baseball. The Rays weren’t all that far behind, as they finished with a BRV of 4. The Braves wound up tied for 21st with a BRV of negative-4. The Brewers led baseball in Extra Bases Taken Run Value and the Rays placed in the Top-10 in that regard — the Braves finished in 23rd in that category.

This wasn’t just a case of Milwaukee and Tampa Bay picking their spots, either — the Brewers attempted to advance baserunners at a less-than-one-percent above average rate while the Rays were only one percent above average in their attempts. The Braves were one-percent above average in that regard and still put up worse numbers on the basepaths.

If you like to think that the Rays and Brewers are on the cutting edge of where the on-field aspect of baseball is heading in the future, then it could be safe to assume that figuring out a way to extract value on the basepaths is going to be the way forward. I’m not saying that the Braves should just forget to hit homers and start bunting everywhere — I am saying that it’s clear the the Brewers and Rays figured out by owner-caused necessity that home runs are expensive and you’ve got to figure out different ways to put runs on the board rather than simply swinging for the fences and putting runs on the board via the long ball.

It doesn’t just mean bunting or eschewing “analytics” or giving up on power hitting altogether, since both the Rays and Brewers have still been able to do that well during the Postseason — it means smart, efficient baserunning and putting pressure on not just the opposing pitcher to make their pitches but also on the defense to stay locked in and make plays in the field against your baserunners. Contact and speed may be the next frontier that we see teams try to maximize on going forward into the future, as both of these teams have proven that if you can put the ball in play and bust it around the basepaths, good things can happen. That appears to be the way forward for the more analytic-minded teams and it’s not going to take a long while for other teams to catch up.

The good news for the Braves is that they appear to be set up pretty well when it comes to the defense and pitching. The Braves have continued to figure out a way to keep their pitching staff afloat despite not having a full-strength starting rotation for a long time now, their bullpen is usually reliable and according to Fielding Run Value, the Braves were top-10 in that category and were better than the Brewers and the Rays. They’ve got the tools to do some good work at run prevention and I’d imagine that that could be the new way for the Braves to consistently win games going forward.

That’s because due to the fact that they’re currently locked in with their core set of batters, the Braves appear to be stuck in a 2023 philosophy due to their personnel limitations. While Walt Weiss, Antoan Richardson, Tommy Watkins and the rest of this staff have been trying their best to make baserunning a strength of this team, they may be limited by the fact that this squad just isn’t exactly adept when it comes to running the bases effectively.

Sprint Speed isn’t everything but it’s pretty tough to be very effective on the basepaths when you’re currently stuck with the 29th-fastest team in baseball according to Sprint Speed. The Braves averaged a Sprint Speed of 27.0 ft/sec in 2026 — the Rays came in 11th at 27.5 ft/sec and the Brewers led baseball at 28.1 ft/sec. In terms of competitive runs (according to Statcast), the Rays and Brewers were both in the Top 3 — the Braves came in at 18th.

This team just may not have the horses to run the track meet in this new era that baseball may be entering into. If that’s the case, then Alex Anthopoulos’s job of getting this offense up to speed (for lack of a better term) may be even trickier than we thought. A lineup that seemed locked in for greatness not even five years ago might find itself left in the dust if Milwaukee and Tampa Bay’s version of baseball turns out to be the way forward for baseball going into the near future.

I’m not going to turn into that guy who says “JUST BUNT IT” whenever there’s even a decent amount of space on the infield but at the same time, it’s fair to ask whether or not the Braves may have found themselves getting left behind at a very inopportune moment in time as far as the future of the sport goes. We’ll see what happens, though.

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When Does the Nico Daws Experiment End for the New Jersey Devils?

ELMONT, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 03: Casey Cizikas #53 of the New York Islanders scores against Nico Daws #50 of the New Jersey Devils at the UBS Arena on October 03, 2026 in Elmont, New York. The Islanders shut out the Devils 6-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Goaltending was once the position that defined the New Jersey Devils as a franchise. For roughly the past decade now, the position has been a revolving door of inconsistency for a team that was spoiled by having the great Martin Brodeur between the pipes. General Manager Sunny Mehta hasn’t made any rash decisions to try and fix the issues since taking over in his role this past summer, but that doesn’t mean he’s been idle either. He moved on from an underachieving Jacob Markstrom in favor of giving Jake Allen more starts and allowing Nico Daws to have a true path to be an NHL net minder. He also brought in veteran David Rittich to provide depth and claimed Remi Poirier off of waivers from Dallas when he became available.

All of this of course is leading us to having a tough conversation about Nico Daws.

Now 25 years old (and turning 26 before the end of the calendar year), Daws isn’t really a prospect any longer. At the same time, as alluded to above, he’s not really an established NHLer either. Across five NHL seasons, Daws has only appeared in 58 games, and 46 of those came in his first two seasons in the league. He has only started 10 games over the past three seasons; some of the blame there, however, may lie with the last regime, as they wanted to run with two veteran goalies. At the same time though Daws did not do much of anything to push either of the two incumbents out or for a different team to pick him up off of waivers. One would have to think that if Daws had at least shown enough potential to be an NHL asset, some team would have taken a chance on him at least one of the times that he was on waivers.

Daws hasn’t inspired much confidence to start off his 2026-27. While Mehta has implied that Daws could seize the starting role, he’s been too inconsistent to do so and Jake Allen has started six of the Devils’ first nine games as a result. Now, I’m not saying Allen has been great with his .883 save percentage, but Daws has somehow been worse with only an .857. One good game doesn’t offset the two poorer outings, especially when you look at the number of shots on goal versus the number of them that went in. While the team left Daws out to dry in terms of goals in his first game, he still let in some softies that can’t get past a good tender. His next outing saw him face just 19 shots, but only 16 of them would get stopped. Yes, the offense was not good again in that game, but NHL teams don’t win games when three goals go in on 19 shots either.

For Daws, this isn’t anything new; he’s been inconsistent his entire time in the NHL, and even at the AHL level to the point where the Devils claimed another goalie who has had consistent stats at least at the AHL level. Yet with Remi Poirier seemingly waiting in the wings, the Devils have continued to roll Allen/Daws. At what point does the team pull the plug on the Daws experiment? When do they decide that enough inconsistency is enough and give a shot to Poirier or even Rittich?

The Devils are a team that are supposed to be at the very least competing, and while you can win with an average goalie in today’s NHL, you cannot win with a below average one. I think we’re at, or at least very, very quickly approaching the point where we can label Daws as “below average” at the NHL level. He hasn’t shown consistency, he hasn’t shown anything to make himself stand out, and aside from a few glimmers of hope in his first couple of seasons, he hasn’t strung together any amount of success that would indicate an NHL future. Maybe you argue 58 games isn’t a large enough sample size for a goalie to see if they can amount to anything. I would counter that by saying that if he had shown himself to be skilled enough, he would have pushed Allen or Jacob Markstrom out; and no, Markstrom being traded this past summer was not because they had Daws.

If the Devils had no other options in the system at this time, I wouldn’t be pushing for the Devils to end the Daws experiment. But with Poirier waiting for an opportunity and Rittich putting up strong AHL numbers, why keep rolling out Daws? He’s not going to magically transform into a consistent NHL starter, and he seemingly isn’t any better than he was in his prior stints, even with a new goaltending coach. Jake Allen isn’t a long-term answer, but at least when he starts, there’s a feeling he can keep the Devils above water. I don’t get that same feeling with Daws and again, with how inconsistent he’s been, why not try someone else who maybe can be an answer for a team that is craving playoff success? Those answers lie somewhere beyond this article, but hopefully something is solved soon that leads to sustained success for our New Jersey Devils.

What are your thoughts on the Devils/Nico Daws situation; do you think it’s time to pull the plug on the experiment? Are you willing to give him a few more games after his most recent performance? Would you rather see the Devils team Remi Poirier or David Rittich with Jake Allen? Does your concern lie more with the personnel around the goalies rather than the goalies themselves? Leave any and all comments down below and thanks as always for reading!

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Luka Dončić’s interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews goes viral after Lakers win

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows An ESPN reporter holding a microphone interviews a basketball player on the court, Image 2 shows A female reporter interviews a Los Angeles Lakers player on the basketball court, Image 3 shows Luka Doncic in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform during a game against the Golden State Warriors

Luka Dončić produced multiple highlights in the Los Angeles Lakers’ dominant opening-night win against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

But the clip that’s getting the most attention is Dončić’s postgame exchange with ESPN’s Malika Andrews.

Andrews interviewed Dončić after the Lakers beat the Warriors and the two were all smiles.

Luka Doncic is interviewed by Malika Andrews after the Lakers game against the Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

This prompted one fan to produce an edited video of the two speaking together with romantic music playing in the background.

The clip has now gone viral, with the original post tallying over four million views reposted across countless other accounts.

While Dončić seems to be single after his very public breakup with ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes earlier this year, Andrews is married to fellow ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin.

Andrews interviewed Dončić after the Lakers’ beat the Warriors, clearly displaying crackling chemistry. NBAE via Getty Images
Lakers fans care more about what Dončić does on the court than what is going on in his personal life. NBAE via Getty Images

Dončić got off to a hot start Wednesday, which he’ll be keen to continue when the Lakers face the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

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Will Klein has right elbow surgery to remove bone chips

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Will Klein #61 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout before the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 23, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Dodgers pitcher Will Klein had surgery on Wednesday to remove bone chips and clean up a bone spur in his right elbow, the team announced. The right-hander is expected to be ready for spring training.

Klein was acquired by the Dodgers from the Seattle Mariners in June 2025 and pitched his way onto the World Series roster. The right-hander pitched five scoreless innings over two games against the Toronto Blue Jays, the highlight a career-best four-inning effort in the marathon Game 3, which needed 18 innings to survive. It was the kind of game that earned Klein recognition in and around Los Angeles, and even occasional free drinks.

Those good feelings continued into 2026, with Klein making the opening day roster, and he was a mainstay in the bullpen for the first four months of the season, fifth on the team with 36 appearances and fourth in the bullpen with 41 2/3 innings through July 31.

Klein on the season had a 3.67 ERA and 3.47 xERA with 49 strikeouts and 21 walks in his 41 2/3 innings, and recorded his first two major league saves. He was placed on the injured list on August 1 with right elbow discomfort and was moved to the 60-day injured list on September 2. The latter ended Klein’s regular season, though he continued to rehab through the last week of the regular season and into October, facing hitters in simulated games.

“With Will it’s more get healthy, show that you’re healthy, throw to some hitters,” manager Dave Roberts said on September 22. “He’ll throw during the week off, then we’ll kind of see if there’s an opportunity later on in the postseason, sort of like last year.”

That opportunity never came this postseason for Klein. He’ll begin next season with one year, 81 days of service time and one option year remaining, having used options in 2024 and 2025.

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South Africa beat Boland and weather to force series decider against Australia

  • Rabada and Mulder lead hosts to victory in second Test

  • Boland bats for more than three hours as nightwatcher

It took time, it gently frayed nerves, but ultimately South Africa sealed the second Test at Gqeberha deep into the final day, clear by an innings and 31 runs, levelling the series with one to play. In truth, although Australia made 295 and got within 28 overs of safety, they did not deserve to save this game, even if Scott Boland and Travis Head did. Letting South Africa escape from 40 for four to pass 400 was the first offence, then came Australia’s capitulation for 99 to be forced to follow on. The salvage operation was in waters too deep.

Australia got an early boost from a washed-out morning session that cut the day’s ration from 98 overs to 82. The next boost came from Boland, once again the headliner: having done it all with the ball while nobody else could match him, he then led with the bat. He had the nightwatch job in the first innings, batting briefly on the fourth morning, then had to do it a second time that evening, taking Australia to stumps at 156 for four.

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Florida Panthers At Pittsburgh Penguins Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins are back home for a three-game home stand after going 0-4 on their recent Western swing. 

They got 0/8 points on that trip and now find themselves in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division with a 3-6-1 record. They'll now face a Florida Panthers team that is likely very upset after getting thumped 5-1 by the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night. 

Panthers forward Brady Tkachuk returned to Ottawa for the first time since being traded and got heckled all game by Senators fans. They were relentless with their chants and saw a dominant win.

This is still a winnable game for the Penguins, especially since the Panthers will be on the second half of a back-to-back with travel. The Panthers are also without star forward Aleksander Barkov and don't have the services of Brad Marchand or goaltender Jacob Markstrom. 

Matthew Tkachuk has started the year strong, posting three goals and 15 points in 10 games. Seth Jones is right behind him with one goal and 11 points in 10 games, followed by Brady Tkachuk with seven goals and 11 points in 10 games. 

Don't forget about Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, or Carter Verhaeghe. They can fill the net at any time. 

The Penguins debuted some new lines and pairs during Thursday's morning skate. Forwards Ben Kindel and Bryan Rust won't play in this game, and neither will defenseman Sam Girard. 

Here's what the lines and pairs looked like:

Forwards

Novak-Crosby-Rakell

Koivunen-Lapierre-Malkin

Kuzmenko-Lizotte-Chinakhov

Soderblom-Dewar-Robertson

Defense

Stastney-Karlsson

Solovyov-Letang

Carlile-Korczak

Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins in this game. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X."

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

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Walker Kessler’s Miss America fiancée gushes over Shaq’s ‘best big man’ praise

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Shaquille O'Neal wearing glasses and a black polo shirt, Image 2 shows Livy Dunne wearing a large red rose hat and a Miss America sash in front of a sponsor backdrop, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Lakers player Cole Swider holding a basketball on the court

Los Angeles Lakers’ Walker Kessler tallied 10 dunks during his team’s 127–105 win over the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night.

Those 10 dunks were the most a Laker has produced in a game since the days of Shaquille O’Neal back in 2003.

Following the win, Kessler’s overall performance against the Warriors — scoring 26 points on perfect 12-for-12 shooting from the field — earned high praise from Shaq himself.

Walker Kessler tallied 10 dunks during the Lakers’ 127–105 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. NBAE via Getty Images

“For so long, the Lakers’ big men have been historical and dominant. Walker Kessler is the best big man in the NBA. You heard it here first,” O’Neal said from the ESPN studio.

The NBA on ESPN’s Instagram account posted a clip of Shaq’s comment on Wednesday night, which was then reposted by Kessler’s fiancée, former Miss America winner Abbie Stockard, on Thursday morning.

Kessler’s fiancée, former Miss America winner Abbie Stockard, reposted it to her own Instagram story Thursday.
Kessler’s 10 dunks were the most a Lakers player has produced in a game since Shaquille O’Neal back in 2003. Vonecia Carswell/Shutterstock
Stockard, who was Miss America 2025, recently finished nursing school in Alabama. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

It might be premature for Shaq to call Kessler the league’s “best big man,” given he has only played one game in the purple and gold.

But Shaq knows dominance down low better than anyone else, and his sentiment about Kessler bodes well for the Lakers’ upcoming campaign.

Beauty queen Stockard recently finished nursing school in Alabama, so it’s unclear whether she’s currently with Kessler in Los Angeles as he embarks on his debut season with the Lakers.

Regardless, whatever mutual support Kessler and Stockard have going on at home is translating to success on the basketball court.

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Yaxel Lendeborg poured fuel on fire, awakened the beast in Luka Doncic

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors plays defense on Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers, Image 2 shows Golden State Warriors player Yaxel Lendeborg stands on the court with his hands on his hips during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers

Yaxel Lendeborg, there are a few things you have to learn. 

Never take a charge from LeBron James. Never challenge Victor Wembanyama at the rim. And never trash-talk Luka Dončić.

The last sin is the worst. The consequences are worse than a bruise. Or a swatted shot. Dončić punishes his perpetrators over and over again, leaving them mortified and stammering after games. 

Or at least, that’s how this usually goes. 

Lendeborg committed the last sin in the Lakers’ 127-105 win over the Warriors in their season opener on Wednesday. The Warriors’ rookie ran his mouth. The Slovenian superstar ran him over. No biggie. We’ve seen this play out so many times before. 

But what happened next was rare. The rookie didn’t show remorse. Instead he doubled down.

Here’s how it all happened.

Things heated up after the rookie fouled Dončić on a pump fake with the Lakers up, 53-48, and less than 3 minutes left in the second quarter. Dončić made two free throws. Lendeborg went to the bench. 

Doncic then made a 15-foot jumper and pointed at Lendeborg. Warriors coach Steve Kerr put him back in the game. 

They continued trash-talking each other. Lendeborg was assessed a technical foul with 22.2 seconds left. Dončić then made a 49-foot shot with 1.4 seconds remaining and approached Lendeborg, chirping at him. 

Yaxel Lendeborg (1) of the Golden State Warriors plays defense on Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

Dončić did what he does. He feeds off of perceived disrespect. It fueled a 13-4 run for the Lakers in which Doncic scored 10 points. 

He finished with 28 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 30 minutes and the highest plus-minus (+31) of anyone on the court in the Lakers’ 22-point rout. He had more than twice as many points as Lendeborg (12).

Lendeborg poked the bear, like many have before. (Just ask Matas Buzelis, who unleashed a 51-point performance from Doncic last March after chirping at him. His lesson? “Probably not to talk to him,” Buzelis said after the Bulls’ 142-130 loss to the Lakers.)

But that’s where the script changes.

Lendeborg didn’t drop the bear-poking stick. Instead he picked it up and started beating the mammal over the head with it.

“I had a lot of respect for him…seeing him kill people all the time,” Lendeborg said. “But then being in there firsthand and just watching all the whining and complaining, I lost all respect, man. That was awful. 

“Me getting frustrated it’s not about the foul being called. It’s about him complaining the entire game. And then you get the foul call, congratulations bro. And then you talk to me like you did something great, bro? Come on, dog. That’s just weak. It kind of threw me off for a little while because, like I said, I had so much respect for him. Gone, man. Gone.”

Golden State Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg looks on during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

Cue the eerie music. 

The Lakers play the Warriors again in a little over a week on October 30. This could get ugly for Lendeborg. Don’t be surprised if Doncic, who led the league in scoring last season with 33.5 points per game, erupts for twice that number. 

Lendeborg just fed Dončić his version of basketball mana. He just gave him a performance-enhancing drug. He poured fuel over the fire.

“I think everybody knows when somebody starts talking, you get a different me,” Doncic said in his walk-off interview with ESPN. 

And that was before Lendeborg sounded off in his postgame interview. 

Golden State Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg (1) plays defense during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

He had more to say, too.

“I was telling him he sucks,” Lendeborg continued when asked what he told Doncic. “He can’t score on me. You talk and you can’t score on me. I said it the whole game. I said a couple of cuss words, obviously, that’s why I got the technical and all that. But I was letting him know because he was laughing and talking and all this because of that one call. His only bucket on me was a banker from half court. 

“I know it’s a team sport. What did he have? He had 28 on us as a team. Me, I took my matchup personally. Tried not to get called on the fouls. Tried my best. I was thinking about playing him with my hands behind my back to see if that worked. Probably still would’ve gotten a foul called.” 

You can almost imagine Dončić sitting at home and listening to this while rubbing his hands together. 

Lendeborg’s teammates had his back, defending the team’s No. 11 draft pick whom Draymond Green recently called “the next face of the franchise” on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”

Said Green: “Everybody’s going to be like, oh man, he shouldn’t talk to Luka, you shouldn’t talk to Luka. And I disagree with that s—t 1,000%. If you’re going to go talk to somebody, you talk until you can’t f—king talk no more. And if he busts your ass, guess what? You play him again three more times and you go back at his ass again.”

Added Steph Curry: “He set the table for himself to have to show up — and I like that.”

Well, this is going to be fun. 

In his first game of his NBA career, Lendeborg put a target on his back. And he did it against one of the top-four players in the league. 

The 24-year-old has moxie. He’s not lacking in confidence. He’s not afraid of anyone. 

But come October 30, he should be.