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Magic overcome Paolo Banchero injury, hand Knicks their first home loss of the season, 124-107

This early in the NBA season, matchups can often be misleading on paper. Coming into Wednesday night, the New York Knicks were 7-3 on the season and 7-0 at home in Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic were sitting at a disappointing 5-6 after being a playoff team for the last two seasons. Yet, that didn’t stop the Magic from coming into the Garden and controlling the game from start to finish, leading 62-42 at the half and withstanding a Knicks run to begin the fourth quarter that invigorated the crowd before ultimately pulling out a 124-107 victory.

“Obviously, them being undefeated at home is great for them,” said Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley before the game. “Our ability just to focus on what we need to do, to come out and just get the win. Not necessarily where it is, but just how we can come together and get that done.”

The Magic certainly got it done on Wednesday. At the center of their success was Franz Wagner. The 24-year-old, who was sporting a mask as he played through a broken nose, was all over the court from the tip, leading the Magic with 28 points on 10-22 from the field, while adding nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block. Five additional Magic players scored in double figures, including 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals off the bench for Anthony Black, who was thrust into a larger role on offense after Paolo Banchero had to leave the game after just 12 minutes with a groin injury.

On the other side, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points on 10-23 from the field, while chipping in six assists and three rebounds before fouling out and limping off the court and into the locker room with just two minutes left in the game. Karl Anthony Towns also posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not a strong offensive night for the Knicks, who failed to get into any kind of rhythm against an aggressive Magic defense.

While some may be surprised by the emphatic nature of the Magic victory, their performance wouldn’t have caught Knicks’ head coach Mike Brown totally off guard. Perhaps the nature of it would have, but Brown knew before the game even started that the Magic’s early-season record was not indicative of their true talent.

“They're a lot better than what their record says,” he stated almost two hours before tip-off. “They're a big team. They're athletic, they're long, well-coached. Jahmal Mosley has done a fantastic job down there. I think their starting five might be top five in net rating in the NBA, so they can hurt you in a lot of different ways.”

That certainly proved to be true on Wednesday night.

"It's not a statement," said Coach Mosley after the game. "It's our process...We've got to continue to focus on our process, and it starts with the defensive end of the floor."

The Passing That Had Fueled the Knicks’ Offensive Success Vanished vs the Magic

The Knicks had been experiencing a bit of an offensive renaissance under Mike Brown. The new head coach had stressed pace and ball movement on offense, which had led to the Knicks being third in the NBA in offensive rating and sixth in points per game.

A big part of that was how often and effectively the Knicks were moving the ball. Coming into Wednesday's game, the Knicks were making 310.9 passes per game, good for 5th in the NBA. That had led to 28 assists per game (8th-best in the league) and also 75.8 assist-created points (6th in the league). That's a huge improvement from last year, where they made 281.2 passes per game (18th in the league) for 27.5 assists per game (11th) and 68.2 assists created points (15th).

Those passing opportunities were created by the Knicks aggressively attacking the paint and then looking for kickouts.

They had ranked 3rd in the NBA in pass rate off of paint touches at 34.5% and were 5th in the NBA in assist rate on paint touches at 6.6%. Last year, they were 22nd in the NBA in pass rate on paint touches at 26%, but were 4th in the league in assist rate on paint touches (6.3%) so it was a skill they always possessed but weren't using as much as they were capable.

Mike Brown stressed the need to unlock that.

“Are we touching the paint?" he said when asked about the keys to the Knicks' success. "That doesn't just mean on a dribble drive. Are we touching the paint the right way? Are the cuts timely? Not only are we cutting or driving the ball and touching the paint, but are we re-spacing after those cuts in the right timeframe? If we're doing that offensively while sharing the basketball, I'm feeling pretty good.”

However, few of those positive steps in development seemed to show up on Wednesday, and it was evident right from the start. The Knicks had two assists versus eight turnovers at the 9:37 mark of the second quarter. They would finish the half with nine turnovers to just five assists and finish the game with 14 turnovers and 20 assists, a far cry from their 28 a game.

It's most likely just an off night for a tired team, but it also serves as a reminder that this Knicks team is still only 11 games into Mike Brown's tenure, and learning a scheme is not a linear process. There will be setbacks and games where the new habits fail them. Tonight was one of those nights. The key is not to let it bleed into the next game on Friday against the Heat.

The Magic’s Defense is Beginning to Find Its Footing

Some of the Knicks’ struggles on offense could be attributed to them playing the second game of a back-to-back, but the Orlando Magic also need to be credited for playing the type of defense that was a big part of their success in 2024-25.

On Wednesday, the Magic had 10 steals and forced the Knicks into 14 turnovers. That type of performance hasn’t been the norm for Orlando this season. Coming into tonight, the Magic were 15th in the NBA in defensive rating, but they had been 2nd at the end of last season.

Part of that is due to Orlando being less active and effective in the passing lanes. This year, they’re 23rd in the NBA in steals with 7.8 per game, but they were 6th in the league last year with 8.9 steals per game. Last year, the Magic were also 6th in the league in deflections with 17.7 per game. This year, they’re 24th at 15.9 per game.

According to Coach Mosley, some of that was just due to preparation and execution: “We gotta do a better job of knowing personnel and then being able to keep them out of the lane, but also being able to get out to shooters at the same time.”

They certainly did that against the Knicks, holding New York to 11-36 from beyond the arc, good for 30.6%. The Knicks came into tonight tied with the Cavaliers for first in the NBA with 17 made three-pointers per night, and also ranked 6th in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage at 38.5%.

"This is a team that is averaging close to 130 a game," said Coach Mosley after the game. "The way our guys defended. We took that as the first priority. That's who we are, a defensive team that can get out and run and create opportunities because of our defense and just being physical without fouling."

The Magic executed last year’s defensive strategy of bringing a physical mentality to the defensive side of the ball. A few early fouls set the tone for a tough game with plenty of contact, and the referees wound up swallowing their whistles on some calls they may have otherwise made.

“I think we've got to be smart about [fouling],” said Coach Mosley before the game. “The difference in being physical before that ball breaks the three-point line. If we can be as physical there, out on the perimeter, versus when that ball gets in the lane - the swipe downs, the and-ones, the cheap fouls, if you want to say - we’ve got to be smarter there. I think that's a big portion of how we can continue to improve.”

Shooting Continues to be a Weakness for the Magic

The Knicks had been trending in the right direction defensively, but one area where opponents seemingly always have an advantage is from behind the three-point line. Coming into tonight's game, the Knicks are allowing opponents to shoot 37% shooting from three, which was the 2nd-worst mark in the league. That's exacerbated by the fact that they also allow the 2nd-highest three-point frequency in the league. To put it plainly, opponents shoot and make tons of three against the Knicks.

The Magic were obviously well aware of that since they launched 33 shots from beyond the arc on Wednesday. They came into the night 28th in the NBA with just 31.4 three-point attempts per game.

Of course, their infrequent shooting from three is partially by design.

The Magic have a physical team that loves to attack the basket. They came into the night 5th in the NBA in field goals made on drives with 11.5 per game. They were also 8th in the NBA in drives per game at 52.3 and 10th in the NBA in the percentage of points that come on drives at 61.7%. In fact, 72.7% of all Orlando's points come in the paint, which is 7th in the NBA.

A lot of that is a consequence of maximizing the skillset of the players on their roster, but another component of it is that the Magic are simply not a good shooting team.

Heading into their game against the Knicks, the Magic were 20th in the league in effective field goal rate. They were hitting just 33.3% of their three-point shots, which was 25th in the NBA. They take just 22.1 catch-and-shoot threes per game, which puts them 28th in the league, and they make 34.2% of those shots, which is 23rd in the league. In fact, if you include shots from inside the arc, the Magic shoot just 36.2% on all catch-and-shoot opportunities, which is 21st in the NBA.

That was a big reason why the Magic went out and traded for Desmond Bane this offseason. The 27-year-old is a career 40.7% shooter from beyond the arc and a 47.1% shooter overall. He was meant to provide the floor spacing and knockdown shooting that the Magic so desperately needed. Yet, so far this season, he is shooting just 27.7% from three and putting up just 4.3 three-point shots per game, well below his career mark of 6.3

Some of those struggles could simply be that Bane is adjusting to his new teammates, but it also seems like Orlando's offensive scheme is not one that leads to many three-point opportunities. On the season, the Magic are 26th in the NBA in percentage of threes that are deemed open (when the defender is within 4-6 feet). They attempt only 11.1 open threes a game, which is also 26th in raw amount too.

So the Magic aren't getting many open threes, and they're not knocking down many of the threes that they are getting. That sounds an awful lot like the offense we had seen from them in recent years, but this year was meant to be different. Perhaps it still can be.

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Sluggish Knicks can't survive ugly start, fall to Magic 124-107 to end home win streak

The Knicks, playing on the second night of a home back-to-back, looked like a team playing on a quick turnaround as they struggled out of the gate and had a horrendous second quarter that put them in a hole they couldn’t climb out of in a 124-107 loss to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points on 10-for-23 shooting, but left the game hobbling after turning his ankle while being fouled with two minutes to play. He was a minus-20 in 37 minutes, adding three rebounds, six assists, three turnovers, and six fouls. Karl-Anthony Towns really struggled for offense, as did the rest of the team. He had just 15 points on 6-for-15 shooting with 12 rebounds, four assists, and was a minus-2 in 35 minutes. The three other starters for he home team – OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and MitchellRobinson – combined for 16 points on 6-for-15 shooting. 

The loss snapped New York's five-game winning streak and seven-game home win streak to start the campaign.

The Magic, who lost All-Star Paolo Banchero after the first quarter, got 28 points from Franz Wagner (10-for-22 from the floor) with nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals for a plus-21 in 37 minutes. And 22 points from Desmond Bane (7-for-15) with eight assists and six rebounds and was a plus-13 in 34 minutes. Anthony Black, coming off the bench, helped withstand a little fourth-quarter surge by the Knicks, scoring 17 on 7-for-11 shooting in 24 minutes.

Here are the takeaways...

- Brunson was the Knicks’ offense in the game’s early goings with all four points, but he also had a turnover and a shot blocked that led to Orlando runouts for a Magic lead and an early Mike Brown timeout at the 9:44 mark in the first.

And transition defense was something Brown didn’t like from the Knicks’ second-half performance the night before against the Grizzlies: “We watched [the film], we talked about it, we didn’t do a good job of following our rules. And then we got a little lazy on the things we do in the half-court, too, defensively,” the head coach said pregame. The poor second half the night before had clearly carried over.

A Brunson three gave him 11 in the first, but New York sputtered thanks to six turnovers, including three from Josh Hart off the bench and two from Anunoby. However, Orlando, despite getting plenty of open looks from behind the arc early, but entered as just about the least proficient outside shooting team in the league, and missed seven of 10 in the opening quarter, and New York was down 30-23 after 12 minutes. The Magic were 10-for-24 (41.7 percent) from the floor, besting the Knicks' 7-for-19 (36.8 percent).

Brunson led the Knicks with 16 points, but was 4-for-10 shooting and was a minus-17 in 19 first-half minutes.

- Towns, who entered the night shooting 43.2 percent from the floor (a career low) and 33.3 percent from three (also a career low), got very frustrated with the referees early in the second after he thought he was fouled on a shot attempt and didn't get the call. In a rough first half he had six points on 3-for-7 from the floor (missing two three-point attempts) with seven rebounds, an assist, a steal, a turnover, and two fouls, one of which came out of his frustration over the no-call, and was a minus-16.

In the fourth, Towns finally hit double-digits and put in five quick ones to force a Magic timeout, cutting the lead to 12 with just under 10 to play. And he made it 11 straight games to start the season with 10+ rebounds, but the lead was still 11 with 6:28 to play when he picked up his fifth personal with two fouls in under 15 seconds, the first on a silly reach-in 30 feet from the basket and a loose ball foul fighting for a defensive rebound.

Brunson cut the lead to nine, but after Jalen Suggs drained a deep three and the Knicks guard grabbed his fifth foul on Wagner, who knocked down a pair at the line, with 5:21 to go. But he stayed in the game and hit two shots, but both were answered by Black, scoring five of his nine fourth-quarterpoints to force a timeout with the lead back at 15 at the 4:23 mark.

Brunson drew a pair of offensive fouls, sticking his nose in there, but after Bane knocked down a spot-up three to make it 16 with two to play, Brown emptied the bench as Brunson appeared to roll his ankle in his final act of the night.

- The second quarter was ugly at the start with the home side connecting on just 3 of their first nine (1-for-5 from deep), and an 11-2 Magic run pushed it to a 13-point deficit. A Hart old-fashioned three-point play put a stop to the bleeding, but his next attempt missed, and that sandwiched two more Orlando buckets, and it was 46-31 to the visitors. The Magic lead topped out at 21 before the game hit the half with Orlando ahead 62-42.

The Knicks scored just 19 points in the second, shooting 6-for-20 (30 percent) from the floor in the quarter (1-for-10 from three). And the 42 points and six assists in the first 24 minutes were both season lows for a first half.

- Robinson opened the third quarter by flushing an alley-oop from Brunson (his first bucket), and that began a 9-2 run, but the Knicks’ big man picked up two quick ones to give him four in the game. And he would hit the bench, a tough one to see sit as he had eight boards (five offensive) to that point.

Anunoby knocked down his first field goal of the game (a three at the 7:26 mark of the third), and the Knicks had clearly picked up the intensity on both ends, knocking down 10 of their first 15 and forcing a few turnovers, but five quick points by the Magic pushed their lead back to 16 with four minutes left in the period. And after all that good workgetting the lead down to 11, the Knicks missed their next seven field goal attempts, and the deficit was 18 at the end of the third.

Robinson finished with two points, eight rebounds, and four fouls and was a minus-11 in 17 minutes. Anunoby finished with eight points (2-for-4 shooting) with four rebounds, two blocks, an assist, a steal, and was a plus-1 in 34 minutes. Bridges had a very quiet six points (3-for-9 shooting) with two rebounds, two assists, two steals, and was a minus-19 in 28 minutes.

- Off the bench, Landry Shamet was the first man in for Robinson, who didn’t play Tuesday, just four minutes into the game and knocked down his first attempt (a corner three) a few moments later. He finished with 11 points and was a minus-3 in 27 minutes. 

Guerschon Yabusele knocked down a much-needed three in his first moments on the court to start the second as the Knicks' bench was looking to provide some kind of spark amid a rather listless first half. But didn’t spark anything as the bench had just 14 points in the first half (4-for-15 from the floor and 3-for-12 from deep) with five turnovers and four fouls. He finished with six points and was a minus-4 in just 5 minutes, seeing action again only in garbage time.

Miles McBride had nine points (3-for-8) and was a minus-9 in 21 minutes. Hart finished with 10 points (4-for-10), three rebounds, two assists, and was a minus-16 in 18 minutes.

Game MVP: Franz Wagner

The fifth-year player was the clear bright spot for an Orlando team that appears to have some pieces, but not a complete squad. He stood in stark contrast to a Knicks team that has shown they are a complete squad, but had no pieces on Wednesday night.

What's next

The Knicks conclude the seven-game homestand on Friday night when the Miami Heat come to town. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m.

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Mets announce LHP Nate Lavender's return to Triple-A roster after being outrighted by Rays

The Mets are getting a pitcher back without making a deal this offseason.

The Tampa Bay Rays DFA'd Nate Lavender earlier this month and since he was outrighted off the team's 40-man roster, he will return to the Mets' Triple-A roster.

Lavender was acquired via the Rule 5 Draft last winter, but he suffered an elbow injury that required an internal brace procedure.

The 25-year-old made five Triple-A appearances (one start) with Syracuse in 2024 before he suffered an injury. In that time, he pitched to a 3.86 ERA. Before that, however, Lavender had some buzz heading into the 2024 season after pitching to a 1.74 ERA in seven Double-A appearances and a 3.27 ERA in 35 Triple-A appearances in 2023. 

It's unclear how far along Lavender is in his rehab, but he could pitch for a spot in the bullpen as a depth piece this spring.

 

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David Stearns speaks, GM Meetings in full swing, and the free agent party begins | The Mets Pod

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo react to all the offseason noise coming out of the GM Meetings in Las Vegas.

Connor and Joe react to quotes from Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns about Carson Benge having a chance to make the team, the possible returns of Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, the future for Kodai Senga, and the search for a “Number One” starting pitcher. 

The guys go Down on the Farm to decode what Stearns said about Jett Williams, and also answer Mailbag questions about free agents Shota Imanaga, DustinMay, Alek Manoah, and Trent Grisham. 

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Tigers ace Tarik Skubal becomes the 12th pitcher to win consecutive Cy Young Awards

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal won his second straight American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, joining elite company after another spectacular season in which the left-hander helped propel Detroit to a playoff berth.

The 28-year-old Skubal became the 12th player to win baseball’s top pitching honor in consecutive years, joining a group that includes Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez.

Jacob deGrom was the previous pitcher to win consecutive Cy Youngs, pulling off the feat with the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019. Martinez was the last American League pitcher to do it, in 1999 and 2000.

Skubal posted a 13-6 record with an American League-leading 2.21 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings for the Tigers during the regular season, then went 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in three playoff starts for Detroit, which was eliminated by Seattle in the Division Series.

Skubal received 26 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The other four went to runner-up Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox. Crochet led the American League in innings (205 1/3) and strikeouts (255). Hunter Brown of the Houston Astros came in third.

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A year after taking a massive step forward by winning the pitching Triple Crown in the American League on his way to being a unanimous Cy Young Award winner, Skubal backed it up by serving as the anchor for the Tigers during a volatile season in which Detroit squandered a 15 1/2-game lead in the AL Central and was caught by Cleveland down the stretch.

The Tigers got a bit of revenge in the wild-card round, beating the division-champion Guardians in three games thanks in large part to a 14-strikeout gem by Skubal in the series opener.

Skubal’s historic run comes with him set to enter free agency after the 2026 season. Considering the massive contract Skubal could command on the open market, it’s uncertain whether he’ll stay with the Tigers beyond next season.

The NL Cy Young Award winner will be announced later Wednesday, with Pittsburgh star Paul Skenes — whose 1.97 ERA was tops in baseball — heavily expected to become the first pitcher to win the Rookie of the Year one season and a Cy Young Award the next since Dwight Gooden did it with the New York Mets 40 years ago.

Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers are the other two finalists in the National League.

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Which Canucks Have Played In 500+ Career NHL Games?

Last night, during the Vancouver Canucks’ 5–3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, forward Conor Garland played in his 500th career NHL game. Garland is the seventh current Canuck to play 500+ games in the NHL, with only one other reaching the 1000-game mark throughout their career. 

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The seven players who have played in 500+ NHL games throughout their career are Conor Garland (500), Marcus Pettersson (540), Derek Forbort (552), Jake DeBrusk (565), Brock Boeser (570), Evander Kane (948), and Tyler Myers (1084). The only player of these three who have spent every NHL game with the Canucks is Boeser, who has done so throughout a decade within the organization. 

With Myers having hit the 1000-game mark on October 19, 2024, the next Canuck to hit this milestone will be Kane. The forward has 52 games left until he gets to 1000, which is definitely achievable during the 2025–26 season if he stays healthy. If he were to play every game from now, Kane’s 1000th game would be March 26 against the Los Angeles Kings in Vancouver. 

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The Canuck who is most likely to hit the 500-game mark next is center Elias Pettersson, who is currently sitting on 489 NHL games played. If he remains healthy, he’ll complete this milestone during Vancouver’s home game against the Minnesota Wild on December 6. After Pettersson is Filip Hronek with 469 NHL games played, with Hronek’s projected 500th NHL game taking place on January 19 against the New York Islanders. Quinn Hughes (447) and Teddy Blueger (420) round out the rest of the Canucks who have played 400+ games in the NHL. 

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Filip Chytil is the only Canuck looking to reach the 400-game mark in the NHL this year, though whether he hits this milestone this season or not will depend on his injury status throughout the year. After him on the list of NHL games played is Nils Höglander, who has 293. Hitting 300 NHL games is very doable for Höglander this year, though this will also depend on his injury status. As he is expected to be back anywhere from late November to mid-December, it’s very likely that the forward will hit this milestone during the 2025–26 season.

Forwards Kiefer Sherwood (283) and Drew O’Connor (259) are also looking to hit the 300-game mark this season, with both doable depending on how injuries shake out during the remainder of the year. Pierre-Olivier Joseph rounds out the group of players with 200+ NHL games played with 202.  

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Three current members of the Canucks are currently sitting on 100+ games while waiting to play in their 200th. Lukas Reichel (184) is the most likely to hit this milestone first. Nils Åman (132) and MacKenzie MacEachern (126) follow him on the list, though the former is currently with the Abbotsford Canucks and the latter will likely join once more players start returning from injury. 

10 players who have played for the Canucks this season currently have less than 100 NHL games played. Of these 10, Aatu Räty leads the way with 64 games played, followed by defenceman Elias Pettersson (45), Max Sasson (44), Linus Karlsson (42), Arshdeep Bains (39), Victor Mancini (36), Jonathan Lekkerimäki (28), Joseph LaBate (20), Tom Willander (8), and Braeden Cootes (3). With 64 games remaining in the 2025–26 season, only Räty, Pettersson, Sasson, Karlsson, and Bains have a shot at playing in their 100th NHL game this year. Mancini could hypothetically do so as well, but would have to return to play on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes and take part in every game until the end of the season. 

Oct 25, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland (8) and forward Jake DeBrusk (74) and forward Brock Boeser (6) and forward Elias Pettersson (40) celebrate DebRusk’s goal against the Montreal Canadiens in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Yankees Notes: Brian Cashman's thoughts on outfield market, comfortability with David Bednar as 2026 closer

Yankees GM Brian Cashman was not in Las Vegas for the GM Meetings this year, but did speak with the media over Zoom on Wednesday to speak on a number of topics.

The hottest topic was the departures in the Yankees outfield. Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham are exploring free agency and Cashman was asked how that impacts his offseason. 

"We're very interested in bringing him back," Cashman said of Bellinger. "He's going to have a lot of choices because he can do a lot of different things. He was a terrific addition for us last year...certainly would love to have him come back to us. We'd be better served if we could retain him. But if not, we'll have to look at alternative ways to fill it and see where that takes us."

On the subject of Grisham, the team extended the qualifying offer, and whether he accepts it or not may change how Cashman and the Yankees pursue Bellinger or other outfield options. Cashman fielded the question and broke down the scenarios.

"We’re comfortable [extending the qualifying offer to Grisham]. This is a very thin outfield market. If he turns it down, that means the market is flush with teams that have the need," Cashman said. "He had a helluva year for us, was one of the big reasons we had the level of success we did, and we’d be happy if he accepted and came back."

Cashman said that if Grisham rejects the offer, he will still be in contact with both his and Bellinger's camp on potential deals while also keeping an eye on internal options. Jasson Dominguez is set to play in Winter Ball ahead of spring training to give him more reps, while prospect Spencer Jones is working out at Yankee Stadium before heading down to Tampa. 

Both youngsters are potentially in play for an outfield spot if Cashman is unable to land one or both free agents, but he acknowledges how early in the offseason it is to predict what will happen.

"We know what Grisham and Bellinger are capable of," Cashman said. "It’s very early in the process. We can lose both Grish and Bellinger to free agency, so that puts more pressure on internal options. Maybe it creates trade flexibility. I guess stay tuned."

Jazz extension talks?

One position the Yankees don't have questions about is at second base. Jazz Chisholm Jr. will man the position in 2026 but is on the final year of his contract.

Chisholm has expressed his desire to stay with the Yankees beyond 2026 and Cashman was asked if he or Chisholm's camp had broached the idea of discussing an extension.

"Haven’t yet. Not sure how that will play out," Cashman said. "[Agent] Brodie Van Wagenen and I spoke as early as today. [Chisholm's] been a great addition. He’s approaching free agency, which puts pressure on whether you make a decision or wait...With his service time, he’s one year away from free agency. He’s one of the best second basemen in the game. An All-Star last year and another one that had a big reason for our success."

Yankees next closer?

Aside from the outfield, Cashman will look to fill vacancies to his bullpen. Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are free agents and Cashman said he will talk to their agents this offseason to try and bring them back, but he is happy with the arms that are already on the roster.

"We have [David] Bednar,[Camilo] Doval,[Fernando] Cruz,[Scott] Effross just off the top of my head. We have a lot of good strong arms that are pushing their way up from the system," Cashman said. "We have quality down there that we have to improve upon. We have a few guys that left us in free agency and we’ll talk to them."

This offseason has a flush closer market, headlined by Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez. Cashman was asked if he will be in the market for a closer, and the veteran GM said that part of the market isn't a need for the Yankees.

"We have a closer in Bednar, which is a good thing for us. It’s not a pressure point for us," Cashman said. "It’s hard to find people to navigate that ninth inning…it’s a very hard job, only a few people can do, that’s why they get paid significantly more...Thankfully, we acquired a guy last year we feel comfortable with... so it lessens that role for us but it doesn’t prevent us from dipping our toe into the water to add to our bullpen. So we will be touching base with everyone on the marketplace to make sure what their costs are."

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Dodgers seek another back-end reliever. But will they be willing to do another long-term deal?

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott (66) pitches in relief against the Phillies in the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott will be entering the second year of his four-year, $72-million contract after posting a 4.74 ERA and converting only 23 of 33 save opportunities. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Last offseason, the Dodgers swung big in their offseason pursuit of impact bullpen additions.

After largely striking out, however, they might now have to decide if they’re comfortable doing it again.

The Dodgers don’t have glaring needs this winter, but the back end of the bullpen is one area they will look to upgrade. Although the team has ample relief depth, it has no clear-cut closer as it enters 2026.

The main reason why: Tanner Scott’s struggles after landing a lucrative four-year, $72-million pact last winter.

Read more:Kyle Tucker? A top closer? Dodgers deciding between wants and ‘needs’ as offseason begins

Scott’s signing represented the second-largest contract, by guaranteed money, the Dodgers had ever given to a relief pitcher (only behind the five-year, $80 million deal closer Kenley Jansen got in 2017). It was a high-risk, high-reward move that, at least in Year 1, quickly felt like a bust.

Scott posted a 4.74 ERA in the regular season, converted only 23 of his 33 save opportunities, and did not pitch in the postseason (in part because of an abscess incision procedure he underwent in the National League Division Series).

The Dodgers’ other big reliever acquisition last winter, Kirby Yates, suffered a similar fate, posting a 5.23 ERA on a one-year, $13-million deal before injuries also knocked him out of postseason contention.

Scott will be back next year, and is one of several veteran relief arms the club is hopeful will make improvements. Still, for a team vying for a third straight World Series title, adding a more established closer remains of interest.

The question now: Will they be willing to do so on another long-term deal? Or will last year’s failed signings make them more hesitant to traverse that same path again?

It might not take long to start finding out.

Already at this week’s general managers' meetings at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the Dodgers have expressed interest in two-time All-Star Devin Williams, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.

The 31-year-old right-hander had a down year with the New York Yankees (4.79 ERA, albeit with 18 saves in 22 opportunities), but his underlying metrics remain strong, and the Dodgers’ interest in him dates to last offseason when he was a trade target of the club before ultimately landing in the Bronx.

Read more:How Dodgers' Will Smith turned into a Game 7 World Series hero

With a mid-90s mph fastball and signature “Airbender” changeup that has made him one of the most prolific strikeout threats in all the majors over his seven-year career (in which he has a 2.45 ERA and averages more than 14 strikeouts per nine innings), he would significantly improve their ninth-inning outlook.

But the Dodgers’ pursuit of him, which was first reported by The Athletic, could come with a tricky decision.

Williams is expected to have several serious suitors this offseason. And, though some outlets projected him to sign only a one-year deal upward of $20 million, others have him pegged to land a three- or four-year contract.

By nature, the Dodgers typically prefer shorter-term deals, particularly in a role as volatile as relief pitching. If Williams does receive longer-term offers from other clubs, it’s unclear if the Dodgers would be willing to match.

The team could face similar dynamics if it goes after other top relievers on the market, including three-time All-Star and top free-agent closer Edwin Díaz (who also comes with the added complication of a qualifying offer that would cost them a draft pick).

They could wind up having to once again weigh a high-risk, high-reward move.

And on Tuesday, general manager Brandon Gomes struck a decidedly risk-averse tone in the wake of last year’s failed signings.

“It’s one of those things that, I don’t think it’s a ‘need,’” Gomes said of the team’s interest in making another splashy reliever acquisition. “But it could be a nice-to-have, depending on how it all plays out.”

There are other alternatives, of course.

Former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Pete Fairbanks is one potentially shorter-term target some in the industry see as a fit in Los Angeles, after racking up 75 saves with a 2.98 ERA over the last three seasons.

Former Angels and Atlanta Braves right-hander Raisel Iglesias is potentially another, after amassing 96 saves with a 2.62 ERA over the last three years, thanks to a mid-90s mph fastball and swing-and-miss changeup that have kept him productive even at age 35.

Read more:Dodgers pick up club options on Max Muncy and Alex Vesia; Tony Gonsolin and Justin Dean DFA'd

There are other familiar free-agent relievers available this winter, too, from former San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez to former St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets right-hander Ryan Helsley (who has also been linked to the Dodgers in trade rumors in the past).

The Dodgers could also explore the offseason's trade market, or roll the dice with a current relief corps that still includes Scott (whose 2025 issues had more to do with execution than quality of stuff), Alex Vesia (who has established himself as one of the top left-handed relievers in the sport) and Blake Treinen (another reliever the team sees as a bounce-back candidate after he struggled with injuries last season in the first season of a two-year, $22 million deal). They will also be getting Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips back from injuries, with Graterol on track to be ready for the start of 2026 after missing last year with a shoulder problem, and Phillips expected to return at some point in next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last June.

For now, however, the team’s search could depend on how the markets for Williams, Díaz and others develop — and whether it’s willing to take another big bullpen swing on a longer-term deal.

“We have so many guys that are capable of closing and have done it in the past,” Gomes said, highlighting the team’s current returning bullpen arms. “But it’s one of the areas we’ll look to potentially add to the team.”

Skenes wins NL Cy Young Award, Yamamoto third in voting

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will always be remembered for his historic performance in the Dodgers’ postseason this past October.

On Wednesday, his regular-season performance received some deserved recognition, too.

While Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes won the National League Cy Young Award as expected, after leading the majors with a 1.97 ERA in just his second MLB season, Yamamoto finished third for a campaign in which he went 12-8, posted a 2.49 ERA over 30 starts, and anchored a Dodgers rotation that was ravaged by injuries for much of the season.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez was the NL’s other Cy Young finalist, and was runner-up. Skenes garnered all 30 first-place votes while Sánchez received all 30 second-place votes. Yamamoto collected 16 third-place votes.

Yamamoto’s finish was the highest by a Dodgers pitcher since Julio Urías came in third in 2022.

It caps a year in which the 27-year-old Japanese star made significant strides from his debut rookie MLB season (when he had a 3.00 ERA and was limited to 18 starts because of a shoulder injury) and helped carry the Dodgers to a World Series with a 1.45 ERA in six playoff outings and a grueling 37 1/3 October innings — including back-to-back complete games in the NL Championship Series and World Series, before back-to-back victorious appearances in Games 6 and 7 of the Fall Classic.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Impassioned Doug Christie sends stern warning to Kings stars as skid continues

Impassioned Doug Christie sends stern warning to Kings stars as skid continues originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – In a 30-hour span, Doug Christie has spoken to the media with more fire and passion than the Kings have played with all season.

One night after calling out haters and critics during his pregame media availability before Tuesday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Christie approached the podium Wednesday after another blowout loss, his team’s fourth in a row.

Before a reporter could even get a question off, the coach muttered three words as he took a seat.

“Shameful compete level,” he said after Sacramento’s 133-100 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

A ticked-off and emotional Christie went on to address the media in a fiery 13-minute dialogue that included a couple of F-bombs and the word “unacceptable” a handful of times.

“I’ve taken butt whoopings, that’s part of the game,” Christie said. “But you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to come back. You are not going to represent the Sacramento Kings — it just ain’t happening, man. Put on a jersey – represent it properly. 

“These people need to come into the turnstiles, and they need to be proud when they leave here about the product that they see, not f–king embarrassed. It’s unacceptable. Period.”

The Kings got off to a sluggish start, scoring just 10 points in nearly the first seven minutes of the game. But a couple of substitutions and a spark off the bench helped Sacramento pull within three to close out the quarter.

Then Sacramento turned the ball over eight times in the second frame and scored just 12 points in the entire quarter. Twelve points.

The Kings shot 4 of 22 (18.2 percent) from the field and 2 of 14 (14.2 percent) from 3-point range in the second quarter.

Atlanta outscored Sacramento 39-22 in the third quarter, and Christie had had enough at that point. He benched his veteran starters and thrust Precious Achiuwa, who joined the team last week, Daeqwon Plowden, who played his first game of the season and first with Sacramento, and rookies Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford onto the floor. They replaced DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook. Keon Ellis, who already was on the floor, remained in the game.

Christie admitted postgame that the substitution was intended to send a message to the team – particularly its leaders.

“I was embarrassed,” Christie said. “I wish I could have put on the Jersey at 55 [years old], I would have showed you better than that. At least I’m going to use all six fouls. I can’t move, but I’m going to foul the s–t out of somebody.”

DeRozan finished with four points in 19 minutes. It was just the third time he’s scored four points or less since joining the Kings during the 2024 offseason.

Schroder appeared to have been on the right track toward snapping out of a shooting slump, but finished with just nine points. Sabonis had 12 points and four turnovers. Westbrook and Achiuwa each had 10.

Two Hawks bench players outscored every Kings starter on Wednesday.

The leading scorer for Sacramento? Keon Ellis, who during this homestand, has been in and out of Christie’s rotation and experienced back-to-back games where he didn’t see the floor until the fourth quarter.

Ellis finished with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 6 of 11 from downtown, with six rebounds, three assists and one steal in 30 minutes off the bench.

Sacramento’s bench outscored Sacramento’s starters 55-45.

Christie kept it straightforward when he was asked if the bench’s production could lead him to shake up some things with his lineups moving forward.

“You got to,” he said. “Those guys [the starters] are minus-31, minus-38, minus-34, minus-20. I mean, you got to.”

Sacramento’s locker room is filled with established veterans, multi-All-NBA and All-Star players and likely future Hall of Famers.

They’ve each experienced their fair share of ebbs and flows that come throughout an NBA season, and one would think, should know how to respond when adversity hits like it has for Sacramento.

Christie hopes — and encourages — his leaders will be leaders.

“I would like them to lead,” Christie said. “You said veterans, so they need to lead, because we got young players in there watching this, and I’m going to text every one of them young players [saying] that’s not acceptable. Do not even think about even trying to equate that that is OK. Do not do it. I will not let you do that, because that s–t, it ain’t cool, no. So they need to lead.

“What do you want for your team? What do you want for this city? If you want something more than what that was — because that was trash — then lead them. Talk to them. Demonstrate for them. Go out there and show them. … Play the game. The game is to be respected. There’s a way to play this game and that ain’t it.”

While Christie didn’t seem to take a breath during his press conference, there was one lengthy pause that was noteworthy.

Christie, a former Kings player and now lead coach for the organization he loves and admires with every fiber in his being, was asked how he gets his players to care as much as he does.

A 44-second pause ensued. Silence.

Alas, a well-thought-out response.

“You know this one has passed me. This is about you. I know what I feel. I know what time I get up. I know what time I put into this. I know how serious I am about my job. I know what I want for them. And I even take it a step further and say, I know what the organization wants. But you got to want that as an individual — individually — when you look in the mirror. Then after that, you go collective. And right now, that’s where we run into the problem is the individual and the collective. Individually, you got to bring it, and then collectively, you got to love on each other. You got to love your brother enough to help him, to talk, to be there, to have extra efforts.

“I’m here to tell you it’s hard. Defense is not for the faint of heart. That’s why everybody don’t do it. But if it’s the last thing that I do, we will put a product out there that they’re like, ‘Damn. He did that. They doing that.’ It just is how it’s going to be. We’re not going to accept none of this. I don’t want our fans to accept. Nah, don’t. You don’t have to. It’s people that actually will do things the right way. [They] might not be as talented, but guess what? That’s when the hockey shift came in. We got some young kids, but you know what they’re going to try to do? They’re going to try to compete. Now, Max is not as talented as [Kristaps] Porzingis yet, and he got into trouble. And Nique gets back cut and OK, but it ain’t from a lack of effort. It ain’t from a lack of want.”

While Kings players have said, at least publicly, that Christie’s stern messaging has resonated well with them thus far, Christie isn’t so convinced by his players’ words.

“They’re saying they want to compete. One thing that I know is you could talk about it all you want, but we not going to be verbally competing,” Christie said. “This ain’t a debate show. This is physical. This is basketball. So you can tell me all day, and you can tell yourself all day, and you can tell your teammates all day, but one thing that I do know is the ball is thrown up, that’s when you need to step up and show that. Period. Every night, 48 minutes, 24 f–king seconds at a time.”

If words won basketball games, Christie’s Kings might be the top seed in the West right now.

But as the coach passionately explained, words don’t get you anywhere.

And now it’s on his team to respond with action.

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Australian restaurant chain apologises for burger curse as Oscar Piastri hopes to turn F1 season around

  • Grill’d apologises for jinxing 24-year-old with promotion

  • Piastri’s manager Mark Webber backs McLaren driver to rebound from Formula One woes

As Oscar Piastri desperately works to rebound from his recent Formula One woes, an Australian restaurant chain is doing its part to keep his title hopes alive.

After offering free burgers for every time the Australian made the podium, Grill’d burger chain has apologised for putting a “curse” on the McLaren driver.

Continue reading...
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Brian Cashman: Ben Rice 'very well could be' Yankees everyday first baseman for 2026 season

Ben Rice, coming off a season in which he smacked 26 home runs and announced himself with hard contact all year, the Yankees are entering the offseason with a similar question to the one manager Aaron Boone had to solve on a near-daily basis: Where should he play?

Without Paul Goldschmidt on the roster, first base appears to be the most likely spot for Rice to take up on the diamond, after playing 370 innings there across 46 starts. When asked if he viewed Rice as the everyday first baseman,Brian Cashman gave a noncommittal answer. 

"He very well could be," the Yankees general manager said while speaking on a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday. 

"I view Ben Rice as having an everyday role in the big leagues for us next year, whether it's at first... right now the lane is first base, I have no doubt teams will continue to come after our players, Rice included, for trade conversations," Cashman continued. "But as of right now, yeah, he's in our lineup, and the more likely spot would be first base. 

"But he can catch, as well. I have [Austin] Wells is our catcher, and him at first, but, again, you never know how the winds of change blow here every winter. And they'll be challenge trades made to us or by us, and most will lead nowhere, with one team insulting the other, vice versa. More likely than not, I see him at first base, without a doubt."

Despite the GM's remuneration on trades, Cashman said the Yans are "really proud" of the season Rice put together when he produced 58 extra-base hits, 65 RBI and slashed .255/.337/.499 for a .836 OPS (131 OPS+, 133 wRC+) with a thunderous 56.1 percent hard-hit rate (97th percentile in MLB).

"He's always hit, and he continued to back that up," Cashman said. "And he had a huge impact for us, thankfully, this year, especially when [Giancarlo] Stanton went down. He really filled in, softened that blow significantly by being Stanton in Stanton's absence for a period of time.

"And then obviously forced his way into the lineup on an everyday basis the rest of the way, and then has forced his way into our future on an everyday basis."

As far as the catcher position, where the Yankees fielded three left-handed batters on the roster with Rice, who caught 229.2 innings filling in between Wells (1001 innings) and J.C. Escarra (209 innings), Cashman was asked if adding a righty was a priority for the offseason.

"Only if we like one well enough," the GM said. "You'd like to have the balance if you can have it, no doubt about it. The catching market is very thin, but we'll see. 

"It's a benefit of having balance at, without a doubt. So we'll see if something presents itself here in the marketplace."

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Mavericks' governor Patrick Dumont wants medical data before approving return of Anthony Davis

Only good things happen when owners take a hands-on approach to roster decisions. Just ask Knicks and Kings fans.

Anthony Davis will miss his seventh straight game Wednesday night when Dallas hosts Phoenix, and his return date is up in the air as Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont has requested medical information that Davis is not at risk of aggravating the calf strain that has had him out, reports Tim MacMahon at ESPN.

[Davis] originally targeted his return for Saturday's road game against the Washington Wizards, but there was a disagreement between Mavs director of health and performance Johann Bilsborough and Davis' personal medical staff on whether that was prudent, sources said. Davis was held out after Dumont sided with Bilsborough, preferring to err on the side of caution, sources said.

One can understand Dumont's caution here. Players are often the worst judges of how fast they can return (especially from soft tissue injuries) — they are in the NBA in part because they believe they can overcome anything. While Davis has a personal medical staff, he pays them. The team is likely to be more cautious with players it has invested tens of millions of dollars in.

As noted by MacMahon, Dumont's decision against Washington likely was in part tied to his growing lack of trust in now-fired general manager Nico Harrison. Also in Dumont's mind is the fact that last season, when the Mavericks acquired Davis in the Luka Doncic trade, he was sidelined with an abdominal injury. Davis rushed back from that injury in the wake of all the criticism of the trade, only to aggravate it in his first game back, which kept him out for another six weeks.

That said, the idea of an owner becoming more hands-on in basketball decisions or medical decisions is concerning. Dumont needs to do a serious search, eventually hire a new GM with a long-term plan, then get out of his way.

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Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. not expected to be called up in 2026

George Lombard Jr. is the Yankees' top prospect and his timeline for a big league call is always the topic of conversation. Fans are talking even more about the potential of Lombard Jr. in the Yankees lineup this offseason due to the injury and ineffectiveness of Anthony Volpe at shortstop. 

However, Yankees GM Brian Cashman tempered expectations for his young infielder on a Zoom call with the media on Wednesday.

When asked directly how far off he viewed Lombard Jr. from making it to the major leagues, the longtime GM said it was difficult to assess for a few reasons.

"Players that possess some high-ceiling talent, which Lombard has, once it comes altogether, it can come really fast, it’s just an avalanche of success of instant ready," Cashman said. "He could be coming on strong as early as next year or he might need some more time. The game will tell us more than anything else. 

"Defensively, he’s ready to go and offensively, it looks like he needs more time and we’re looking to ride that time and those reps."

The 20-year-old tore through High-A ball this past season, slashing .329/.495/.488 with an OPS of .983 to go along with one home run and 13 RBI across 24 games. Those numbers warranted a promotion to Double-A, where he struggled at the plate.

Across 108 games with the Somerset Patriots, Lombard Jr. slashed .215/.337/.358 with an OPS of .695. He did see his home run output increase (8), but he struck out 124 times.

The Yankees are set in the infield heading into the 2025 season. Barring any offseason moves, Jazz Chisholm Jr. will be the Opening Day second baseman while Ryan McMahon will likely start at third base. Ben Rice will be at first and shortstop will be Jose Caballero until Volpe returns from shoulder surgery. 

Those factors leave Cashman believing they won't see Lombard Jr. with the Yankees in 2026 but things can change quickly as the organization saw with another prospect in 2025.

"I wouldn’t think '26 is on the horizon, but I wouldn’t rule out some point in '26 at the same time because you saw what happened with Spencer Jones last year, where he started to tear through all levels," Cashman said. "And once it starts coming together, there’s no stopping a lot of these guys unless somebody's standing in front of them at the major league level. So, we’ll see."

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Mets Notes: Less time for Jeff McNeil in center field, Dylan Ross has chance to make team

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns spoke again at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Among the topics Stearns discussed this time around were the possibility of playing Jeff McNeil in center field again in 2026, the potential role for right-hander Dylan Ross this upcoming season, and the need to add multi-inning options to the bullpen. 

Here’s what Stearns had to say…

McNeil in center in 2026?

Throughout his eight-year career with the Mets, McNeil has proven that he can play just about everywhere. And while second base and the corner outfield spots have been his primary positions, he’s also dabbled in center field. In fact, his 31 games as a center fielder were second most to only his time at second base (77 games).

So might McNeil fit into the Mets’ puzzle in center field? It doesn’t seem so, according to Stearns. 

“I think probably less,” Stearns replied when asked if McNeil is in the mix for center. “I think we love Jeff’s positional versatility, but I don’t see us looking at that as a significant portion of his time for next year.”

Ross in the major league bullpen?

Ross, originally a 13th-round pick of the Mets in 2022, has had a meteoric rise through the team’s farm system. After pitching just one game for Low-A St. Lucie in 2024 as he bounced back from a Tommy John revision procedure, Ross started 2025 with High-A Brooklyn but made his way all the way to Triple-A Syracuse, putting himself in the conversation for a late-season call to the majors thanks to his dominant 2.13 overall ERA and 83 strikeouts in 55.0 innings. 

According to Stearns, the flame-throwing Ross could be a factor for the major league team as early as Opening Day.

“I think Dylan’s a guy who is going to come to camp with a chance to make our team,” Stearns said. “It’s a big arm. He’s a unique guy who can throw really hard and also zone up his secondary stuff. It’s elite stuff. 

“We have to help him get in the zone a little bit more. He doesn’t need to be a premium strike-thrower, but he can get in the zone a little bit more and I think that can help him at the major league level. And we would expect him to contribute throughout the season next year.”

Looking for a long man out of the pen?

As the Mets’ 2025 season went downhill, perhaps one of the biggest issues for the club was the lack of length out of the starting rotation. As a result, the Mets had to mix and match constantly with their relievers, calling players up to add fresh arms on a just-about-daily basis. 

With that in mind, Stearns indicated on Wednesday that adding multi-inning options out of the bullpen could be a priority for the Mets this offseason, mentioning there could be both internal and external candidates.

“Something we’ve talked about is, especially after the trade deadline, we got to the point where we had a lot of one-inning relievers in our pen,” Stearns explained. “You can do that for a short period of time, but when you combine that with lack of length out of the starters, which is what we had, especially in the month of August, it taxes you, and we got taxed. So, there’s a recognition that having some multi-inning flexibility out of the pen is going to be important for us.”