DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 9: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates after scoring a three point basket during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 2026 in Dallas, 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (7-4) were on the second night of a back-to-back when they welcomed the Indiana Pacers (3-8) Monday night. They found themselves battling back from a deficit for most of the first half, but in the third quarter they started to find a groove and ultimately pulled away for a 125-122 win in a game that came down to the final possession. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving led the way, while players like Walter Clayton, Santi Aldama and Caleb Martin did the little things around the edges for what proved to be a total team victory.
78: Flagg and Irving combined point total
The duo of Flagg and Irving is absolutely terrifying when they are “on” and they were on Monday night. The pair dropped 78 points combined on impressive efficiency. Together, they shot 27-of-43, good for a 62.7% connection rate. Irving hit an insane 7-of-10 from downtown, with Flagg an excellent 3-of-6 in his own right. They were also 14-of-15 from the free throw line. Each player individually was a sight to behold, but the combination of what they were doing together was truly next level.
29: Irving’s plus/minus
A single game plus/minus needs to be looked at carefully, as it can be misleading. Having said that, Irving played 38 minutes and was a game-high +29 with no other player on either team being even close (the next best was +15 by Daniel Gafford and Andrew Nembhard). Irving’s presence was apparent from his scoring, but he did so much more than that as a poised floor general that helped the Mavs to victory in other ways as well.
43-27: Mavericks’ rebounding edge
Don’t look now, but Dallas once again dominated on the boards. Being +16 on the glass in a three-point game is unquestionably a big factor in why the Mavs came out on top. The best part of the disparity is that Gafford was in foul trouble most of the night and Morez Johnson, Jr. sat out altogether. Within the overall discrepancy was Dallas’ 10-1 offensive rebound advantage.
1: Caleb Martin steals
On the final possession with the Mavericks up by three points, the Pacers were inbounding from half-court. Dusty May substituted Irving for Martin for his length and defensive prowess and Martin rewarded him and Mavs nation with the defensive stop of the night. On a somewhat errant pass across nearly the entire court sideline-to-sideline, Martin streaked in and tipped the ball away from Pascal Siakam, allowing the clock to run out. Pacers’ coach Rick Carlisle was furious there was no foul call, however it appeared to be the correct no-call by the referees. Martin got his hand on the ball and tipped it well away from Siakam before the two players’ body’s made contact with each other. As a result, the Pacers weren’t able to attempt a final shot and Dallas got the win.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
The second-year star had 43 points in the Dallas Mavericks' 125-122 win against the Indiana Pacers on Monday, Nov. 9 at the American Airlines Center. He added 10 rebounds for a double-double and six assists with three steals for good measure.
According to the NBA, the 19-year-old joins Kevin Durant as the only other player in league history to have at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game as a teenager. ESPN adds that this is the 14th game in which Flagg has scored at least 30 points before turning 20 years old. Only LeBron James has more with 20 such games before he reached his 20th birthday.
Flagg had back-to-back dunks in the first quarter to cap an 11-0 run by the Mavericks. In one key play with less than 30 seconds left in the game, he dribbled against Andrew Nembhard, then drained a step-back jumper. The bucket extended Dallas' lead to four.
Kyrie Irving contributed 35 points for the Mavericks, while Pascal Siakam had 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Indiana.
This is the first time this season that Flagg has crossed the 40-point mark and the fifth of his young NBA career. In April during his rookie season, the former Duke standout scored a career-high 51 points in a loss to the Orlando Magic. At 19 years old, he was the youngest player in NBA history to reach the 50-point mark.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 7: Brandon Williams #12 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw during the game against the Orlando Magic on November 7, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are positively cruising, despite dealing with a lot of injuries. Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody have yet to play this season, and are still a few months away, while Kristaps Porziņģis is stepping away from the sport. Gui Santos and Gary Payton II have struggled with injuries in the opening weeks, and Will Richard is sidelined with a UCL tear in his thumb.
And unfortunately, those injuries took a hit on Monday, during the Warriors’ home game over the New Orleans Pelicans, as reserve guard Brandon Williams left the game with a hamstring injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the contest. As usual, Williams entered the game in the first quarter, and immediately provided a spark with an instant burst of super-speedy offense. But his initial stint on the court was short lived, and when the second quarter arrived, it was two-way contract LJ Cryer on the court rather than Williams.
In the third quarter, the Warriors officially ruled Williams out for the rest of the game with a left hamstring injury. Hopefully it’s minor, and won’t cost the electric guard much time.
Jalen Brunson celebrates after making a 3 during the Knicks' win over the Bulls in Chicago on Oct. 28, 2026.
Jalen Brunson said before the season that the first few weeks will “show who we truly are.”
Now that the Knicks begin their third week of this campaign, what have they shown?
“That we’re still resilient,” Brunson said after practice Monday. “That we’re still open to getting better every single day. And through the highs and lows of the season, how quickly can we bounce back?”
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson reacts after making a 3-pointer against the Nets on Nov. 2. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
Head coach Mike Brown has welcomed early-season adversity, saying that he actually wanted his team to be punched in the mouth and knocked down from their championship high horse. A 2-4 start, and all the immediate discourse about what was wrong, certainly delivered that.
Now at 5-4 after winning five of their past six games, the Knicks have stabilized. Brown believes the rough start provided a valuable reminder for the team.
“The group is resilient,” he said. “[We learned] that it’s gonna be hard. This is a new year, new season and new challenges, so we have to embrace all the little details while trying not to have much slippage in our process because nobody is handing anything to us. And if we want to have success, which we’re more than capable of, that’s what some of these wins show you, that we have to go earn it.”
Josh Hart, who missed the past two games due to right ankle soreness, is questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Bucks at Madison Square Garden. He practiced Monday.
Josh Hart has missed the past two games. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Hart had practiced Friday before missing Saturday’s win in Cleveland. Landry Shamet started in Hart’s place the past two games.
If Hart returns Tuesday, it will be notable if he is able to play both legs of the upcoming back-to-back — the Knicks play the Cavaliers at home Wednesday — or if the Knicks sit him for one of those games.
Tyler Herro (right knee contusion), Milwaukee’s leading scorer, is questionable to play.
Brunson was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for last week. He averaged 27.7 points and 6.3 assists in three games — all Knicks wins.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Adrian Morejon #50 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning at Petco Park on September 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the start of another week here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the fall chill. We’ve been expecting you. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. We still have a few tables available. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Here’s the part with the music and the movies. You’re welcome to join us. It should be a good time.
Tonight we have a piece of classic jazz from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967. This is Tony Bennett with Count Basie and his Orchestra playing the Duke Ellington tune “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.”
I’ve got a holdover Halloween movie with the 1992 film Highway to Hell, directed by Ate de Jong and starring Patrick Bergin, Chad Lowe and Kristy Swanson. This film gave me a lot of video store “Direct-to-video” vibes, although I guess it did get a token theatrical release before going almost direct-to-video. I’ve read online that it’s become a cult classic over the years and it is currently streaming on the Criterion Channel, so some people think it’s a worthwhile project. For me, it was very reminiscent of the film that you checked out of your local video store because you got there at 8 pm on a Saturday night and everything else was gone. You’re expecting it to be really bad and after you watch it, you’re like “Hey! That’s a lot better than I expected.” Not that it’s really good, but it was at least good enough that you’re not embarrassed that you rented it. And if you’re really a fan of those direct-to-video B-movies, then you probably told your friends about it.
First off, Highway to Hell is based on the myth of Orpheus, so there’s at least a little ambition there. Charlie Sykes (Chad Lowe—Rob’s brother) and Rachel Clark (Swanson) are young lovers running off to Las Vegas to elope against her parents’ wishes. Rachel is underage and still a virgin, so that probably plays some role in their objections.
Convinced that Rachel’s parents have hired someone to follow them, Charlie takes a dark backroad to Vegas. He gets a bit lost, so he stops for gas and directions at Sam’s (Richard Farnsworth) gas station. He tells them to get back on the interstate but if they insist upon going on, don’t stop between the two Joshua trees. Of course, Charlie ignores him, falls asleep and goes off the road between the two Joshua trees. The two encounter Hellcop (C.J. Graham) who immediately grabs Rachel and disappears with her.
Charlie returns to Sam who tells him that the Devil abducts young virgins on that road, taking them down to Hell to serve him. It happened to him fifty years ago when his young fiancée Clara (Pamela Gidley) was carried to the underworld. (When Charlie asks why he didn’t say this in the first place, Sam says he never would have believed him) Charlie is determined to go down to Hell and retrieve Rachel, so Sam gives Charlie a special shotgun with demon-splashing shells and his old souped-up thirties-era car. Charlie goes into the underworld where he needs to fight off countless demons and navigate the politics of Hell to bring Rachel back to the world of the living.
There are a lot of cameos along the way. The entire Stiller family is here—Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara and their children Ben and Amy Stiller all have minor roles as mythological or just the damned in Hell. Singer Lita Ford appears as a hitchhiker. Gilbert Gottfried plays Hitler in Hell, which, is pretty much what it sounds like. Gottfried doing his schtick dressed up as Hitler. Hell also has “reserved” table for four still-living people in 1992, including one very surprising choice. So as you can tell, this is a film that wisely isn’t taking itself seriously.
Obviously this is a low-budget affair with a lot of silly stuff going on. The scares are pretty rare as the film almost always goes for ridiculous over frightening. The demon makeup is pretty standard stuff for an early-nineties direct-to-video film. Most of the film was shot in the desert areas of Arizona and Utah.
It’s hard to say a lot about Highway to Hell other than watching it in 2026 gave me real nineties video store flashbacks. This is probably one of the better titles that is more concerned with the title and box illustrations to catch a browser’s eye more than what’s actually on the videocassette. It’s to the credit of director de Jong and the cast that they didn’t just phone the whole film in. Despite it’s Greek myth setup, it’s not meant to be any sort of classic. But everyone does just enough to keep the popcorn flowing on a Saturday night in someone’s basement den.
Here’s the trailer for Highway to Hell. No, the AC/DC song is not in the movie. I’m sure they’d have loved to have had it but it was likely too expensive. The film does have some Tangerine Dream electronic music for the musical score.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.
I’ve been talking a lot about free agent left-hander reliever Adrián Morejón in this space lately, despite the fact that all of the articles linking him to the Cubs are speculation and not based on inside information, as far as I know.
But we need something to talk about and there’s no doubt that the Cubs would like Morejón at the right price. Over the past three seasons, Morejón has been healthy, averaging just over 70 innings a year. In those 223.1 innings, Morejón has struck out 248 batters and posted a 2.58 ERA. He’s only allowed ten home runs over three years and issued just 66 walks.
I have trouble seeing Morejón getting over $100 million, with McDaniels’ estimate more in line for a top-flight reliever who is still young at 27. But, there’s another factor that Britton brings up and I’ve seen other people bring up in connection to the Cubs. What if Morejón converts to starting?
It’s not an outlandish idea. Morejón was a top starting pitching prospect when he signed with the Padres after leaving Cuba. He started throughout the minors and even started a bit with the Padres until he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021. Since he’s returned from that, he’s pitched out of the bullpen and has been dominating. But several reports state that he still wants to start.
That’s where the Cubs come in. The Cubs could certainly use Morejón out of the bullpen, but the starting rotation is a bigger issue of concern for the Cubs this offseason. Beyond money, the Cubs could offer Morejón a chance to start. As a reliever, Britton’s contract estimate for Morejón looks too rich for the Cubs’ (and most other teams’) blood. But as a starter who doesn’t turn 28 until February? That’s a bargain for a young top starter.
So tonight’s question is “Would you offer Adrián Morejón a chance to start to sign with the Cubs?” Obviously if he couldn’t hack it, he could move back to the bullpen as what we hope would be an effective, if overpaid, reliever. But the Cubs would have to give it some time to succeed. You couldn’t promise Morejón a chance to start and then pull the plug after six-to-eight starts. If the Cubs did that, no free agent would ever trust this front office again. You’d have to at least give him a year, unless he decided to move back to the bullpen on his own earlier.
There have been some notable successes in turning relievers to starters lately. Clay Holmes was a top-ten closer before the Mets decided to make a starting pitcher out of him. The White Sox successfully moved Garrett Crochet from the bullpen to the starting rotation. Tampa Bay moved Griffin Jax from the pen to the rotation last year with some success as well.
Morejón certainly has the stuff to start and he started in the minor leagues and early in his major league career. However, he also has never thrown more than the 86 innings in one season that he did in 2026. So it’s not like he has a long tradition of being able to stand up to the physical demands of being a starter. And in case you’ve forgotten, the Padres moved Morejón to the bullpen because he got injured as a starter and had to have Tommy John surgery. So there’s no doubt that there is a lot of injury risk in such a move.
So what would you do? Would you sign Adrián Morejón as a starting pitcher?
Thank you for stopping by tonight. We’re always happy to have a friendly face around. Please get home safely. Call a ride if you need one. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 09: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on November 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After two garbage-time appearances, Cameron Carr received his first rotation minutes on Monday. It was a relatively brief seven minutes split across the two halves, but it was also still enough time for him to get his first NBA bucket.
In the second quarter, Luka Dončić got on the end of a loose ball and fed it to Carr for a fastbreak dunk and his the first basket of his career.
A lot transpired over the next two quarters as the Lakers grinded out a win over the Hawks for their second straight victory. But once the final buzzer hit, Luka Dončić made sure to track down the game ball to give to his rookie.
After the buzzer, Luka Dončić immediately tracks down the basketball and secures it, presumably headed to rookie Cameron Carr for his first NBA points
“Obviously, you always want to remember your first bucket and get that ball,” Luka said after the game. “You want to remember it. So, it was kind of important for me to grab it.”
The topic led to plenty of conversation in the locker room postgame, ranging from if players remembered their first bucket to whether they had teammates chase down the basketball after the game as well.
In light of Cameron Carr scoring his first NBA basket tonight in Atlanta, does Sandro Mamukelashvili remember his first bucket in the league?
Mamu: "Yeah, it was against the Miami Heat. It was a putback."
Luka Dončić making fun of question in the background
At the risk of sounding cliché, this team feels different than most. There is a togetherness and bond that clearly got kickstarted with the trip to Slovenia, but it’s evident in moments like this.
Not only are they looking out for each other in chasing down the game ball after the contest, but they’re making jokes in the locker room about it postgame. What a fun season this already has been with much more to come.
PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 9: Miles Bridges #22 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 9, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In a tale of two (positive) San Antonio (9-2) halves, Victor Wembanyama put his dominant stamp on a 61-46 first half, and second-year guard Dylan Harper shined brightly in a 32-22 third period to inflate a 15-point halftime cushion to more than 30 in the 122-96 win. Instead of doing it over the second and third periods as it did in previous games, the Spurs put up 30+ point quarters through the first three quarters to build and hold its sizable advantage and moved to 3-0 on the road trip.
Wembanyama (40 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 blocks) asserted himself from the tip to put Phoenix back on their heels early on. Harper (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) impressed with his smooth stroke and increasing confidence as San Antonio put the game out of reach in the third quarter. De’Aaron Fox (15 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) did the bulk of his damage in the first half. Other double digit scorers included Julian Champagnie (11 points) and Harrison Barnes (11 points), and all Spurs that saw the court tonight again scored.
Devin Booker’s otherworldly mid-range shooting (32 points and 4 assists) prevented the Suns from being eclipsed fully in the first half. However, no other Suns joined him in double digits until Khaman Malauch (11 points) did well after the outcome was decided.
Perennial star Booker (nine) was the entirety of Phoenix’s offense over the first 5+ minutes. Though they didn’t shoot particularly well, the Spurs secured and maintained a slight lead by more conventional means as their outside shots were not finding their mark. Champagnie, in particular, had to find his seeing eye in the paint before knocking down a triple. A seven-point burst by Wembanyama enabled the Spurs to leave the quarter up six.
Wembanyama figured into nearly every part of an opening 10-2 run to start the second period. The lobbing problems – willingness and competency – that plagued prior Spurs squads seemed long gone as the superstar center put up a nearly perfect shooting line from the field (6-6) and line (5-6) only 15 game minutes in. After a couple of free throws, Booker (19 of 38) still had half of his team’s output. San Antonio got its lead as high as 20, and more importantly – did not relinquish much of it – as it went to the break up 61-46.
Phoenix found more sure footing on offense to start he third, but the unfazed Spurs executed well in the halfcourt. Harper, in particular, showcased a pair of stepback jumpers, and topped those with a sublime floater on the left baseline to help extend the San Antonio lead to 19. After Harper’s fourth and fifth buckets of the quarter, Jacob Tobey noted he “is just in his bag right now.” His sixth basket evoked shakes of Michael Jordan’s post game. Wemby’s 16-foot finger roll capped a dominant third quarter clapback by San Antonio and they went to the fourth ahead by 25.
Carter Bryant entered action later in the first half and encouragingly willed home a transition three. His second three in the fourth quarter splashed home.
Collin Gillespie’s Tough Sequence: In the opening minute of the fourth, Gillespie tried the Steve Nash move on Wembanyama and had his turnaround swatted away, and then his follow-up jumper was deflected, as well. To add insult to injury, the Suns guard was dunked on by Wembanyama at the other end.
Dylan Harper Sequence of the Game: The only thing that prevented him from doing more damage in a 14 point third quarter blitz was twisting his ankle on a Suns foot in transition. All of his field goals in the frame came from different spots on the court, which is very hard to do.
Keldon’s Kitchen: That moustache has staying power.
Sequence of the Game #1: In what is a very viable after timeout play late in the first quarter, Fox slithered through the paint and delivered a feathery lob to Wembanyama. On the next possession, Keldon Johnson looked like he left a floater several feet short until Wembanyama took the errant orb and re-directed it through the rim. #greatpass
Sequence of the Game #2: Minutes into the second quarter, Wembanyama appeared to be fooled by a pocket pass from a Brooks pass to Igodaro – only to meet the Phoenix center at the rim to prevent a sure two points, and when Brooks tried to sneak a floater in after an offensive rebound, he, too, was turned away.
Sequence of the Game #3: It only took one possession in the second half for the Spurs to generate another highlight play – this time, Wembanyama found Fox at the dunker spot, and the guard whipped a behind the back pass to the left baseline to Champagnie for a corner three. It’s worth watching possibly a dozen times.
Area 51 Sequence of the Game: Wembanyama and Castle orchestrated a beautiful two-man game late in the half that culminated in a Castle one-handed slamma jamma.
Tarris Reed, Jr. (lithe AND bruising big man) playing time: The big man (4 points, 1 rebound, 1 block, and 3 fouls) was an active presence in his eight minutes of playing time.
Game Rundown
Fox and Harper scored San Antonio’s first two buckets no more than three combined feet from the rim. Castle sand Champagnie put up goose-eggs over the first 5+ minutes, but Wembanyama, Fox, and Harper picked up the slack. Before the viewing audience could blink, Booker had put up 12 of the Suns’ 14 points. An Igodaro baseline dunk provided some relief from the Booker scoring barrage. After successive bricks, Champagnie banked home a jumper in the paint to secure his first points. Tshe other Suns started contributing offensively and Khaman Malauch’s surprising corner three tied the game. Wembanyama paired two lobs with an encouraging catch-and-shoot three to help San Antonio go up 31-25.
An opening 8-2 burst to start the second put San Antonio up a dozen. Wembanyama’s fifth straight bucket – the prettiest to that point – was a baseline fade that Hakeem Olajuwon would have been proud of. After Johnson found Wembanyama for yet another lob, Sean Elliott exclaimed “What a change! Our guys have really figured out that lob!” Wembanyama then turned away Phoenix’s lob attempt at the other end. Even after his first miss, Wembanyama snared the rebound and threw down a thunderous two-hand jam. Booker’s next field goal caused Mitch Johnson to call a Pop-like timeout. Champagnie and Luke Kornet found each other on consecutive possessions to keep the lead near 20. Phoenix took advantage of the Spurs’ hyper-aggressive perimeter defense to get cheap offense at the charity stripe. Booker took a shot to the nether regions on a Johnson bankshot that could be felt several states over. San Antonio ended its well-played half up 15.
A pair of triples from Champagnie and Fox prevented a tough third quarter start for San Antonio. Booker hit the 30 point mark 3 1/2 minutes in, and yet, the Spurs added to their lead. During one possession, Fox, Castle, and Harper occupied the left side (with Champagnie deep in the right corner), which allowed Wembanyama to go back door for a reverse lob from Harper. Johnson smartly fouled a runaway Igodaro and prevented a dunk while the Sun hit 1-of-2 from the line. Harper’s flurry of baskets from different spots in and around the paint were what took away my breath this evening. San Antonio’s run spanning the third and fourth quarters made it a no-doubt road win.
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Leon Draisaitl scored twice, Connor McDavid also had a goal and the Edmonton Oilers held off the New York Rangers 3-1 on Monday night to sweep their season series.
Jaroslav Chmelar scored a short-handed goal for the Rangers (10-8-1), who had won three straight games. Dylan Garand stopped 17 shots, but gave away the puck to McDavid for an easy, unassisted goal that opened the scoring 6:42 into the first period.
McDavid leads the NHL with 48 points (11 goals, 37 assists). The three-time MVP became the fourth player in league history with a 19-game point streak to begin a season, joining Wayne Gretzky, Dany Heatley and Mats Sundin.
For the first time this season, however, McDavid failed to record an assist — ending his record-setting streak to start a season at 18 games.
Draisaitl scored on a snap shot at 2:59 of the second for a 2-0 lead.
Just more than two minutes later, the Rangers killed off a brief 5-on-3 Edmonton power play and Mika Zibanejad sprung Chmelar on a breakaway as he exited the penalty box. Chmelar beat Levi for his second goal of the season.
New York pulled Garand for an extra skater late in the third and drew a penalty that produced a 6-on-4 advantage. Draisaitl picked off a soft backpass and lofted the puck into an empty net from his own zone for his NHL-best 18th goal.
That extended his goal-scoring streak to four games and his point streak to six.
Edmonton is 11-0-2 when scoring first. The Rangers are 0-7-1 when allowing the first goal, making them the only team in the league without a win after falling behind at the outset.
Up next
Rangers: Visit the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
Oilers: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 09: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs attempts a shot against Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 09, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What flavor do you like your popcorn? Are you a traditional butter person? Or do you look forward to the holidays, when the Chicago mix makes its annual appearance, and you’re treated to that glorious combination of cheddar and caramel popcorn? Because on Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, you might as well have grabbed a bag of your favorite popcorn, settled into your favorite chair, and enjoyed the show that is Victor Wembanyama.
Coming off an electrifying 52-point performance last week that included 24 rebounds and eight blocks, Wembanyama followed it up with another spectacular showing, this time at the expense of the Phoenix Suns, as San Antonio cruised to a 122-96 victory.
Wemby was the story. Plain and simple. He finished the evening with 40 points on an absurd 15-of-19 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and eight blocks. And here’s the part that makes those numbers even more ridiculous: He accomplished all of that damage in a mere 25 minutes of action. You know how we like to track Khaman Maluach’s restocks per 36 minutes around here? That wonderful combination of rebounds, steals, and blocks that helps quantify a big man’s impact? Well, Wembanyama posted 27 restocks per 36 minutes in this one.
Devin Booker certainly did his part to keep the Suns afloat, scoring 32 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field. He also added four assists, a steal, and a block while committing zero turnovers. Unfortunately, no other Phoenix starter scored more than seven points to help him out.
Against a team like the Spurs, you need to be able to shoot the three ball efficiently to have a chance at competing, and the Suns simply couldn’t do that. They ended 9-of-26 from deep, good for 34.6%. They only turned the ball over 7 times. But they were blocked 10 times.
San Antonio has now won nine consecutive games and sits at 9-2 on the season, while the Phoenix Suns have fallen to 3-6.
Game Flow
First Half
The whistle was blown pretty liberally to start the game, as Victor Wembanyama drew three shooting fouls within the first five minutes. San Antonio’s early game plan was clearly to attack the basket, knowing the Suns lacked a significant shot-blocking presence on the interior. Meanwhile, Devin Booker once again catalyzed Phoenix’s offense, scoring the team’s first nine points.
Counting last game, Devin Booker has scored Phoenix's last 18 points.
Booker’s presence was certainly felt throughout the first quarter, and his impact was evident on both ends of the floor. His best sequence began with a defensive breakup of an alley-oop attempt to Stephon Castle. He then went down to the other end and knocked down a three-pointer over Victor Wembanyama.
Devin Booker’s presence is being felt on both ends of the floor.
His best sequence? Breaking up an alley-oop intended for Stephon Castle, then heading down the floor and burying a three-pointer over Victor Wembanyama.
Devin Booker finished the first quarter shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, scoring 15 of the Suns’ 25 points. But the Spurs capitalized on all three of Phoenix’s turnovers, converting them into seven points while outrebounding the Suns 14-9. San Antonio took a 31-25 lead into the second quarter.
The momentum carried over as the Spurs extended their run to 12-0 across the two quarters, pushing Phoenix’s deficit to 11 points. With Devin Booker taking a breather, the Suns opened the second quarter shooting 1-of-6 from the field and 0-of-4 from beyond the arc through the first 2:37. Meanwhile, the Spurs were a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, including 1-of-1 from deep, and suddenly Phoenix found itself trailing by 14 points.
The Suns were -12 in the non-Booker minutes in the second. From 1:23 in the first to 7:59 in the second, the Spurs put together a 21-2 run.
With 5:19 remaining in the second quarter, the Suns found themselves trailing by 20 points.
Then, with 1:54 left in the first half, Keldon Johnson delivered an unnatural kick on a layup attempt that caught Devin Booker square in the junk, the same type of play that got Dillon Brooks ejected last week. Yet the officials opted not to even review it. Funny how that works, isn’t it?
Over the final eight minutes of the half, Phoenix was +3 with Booker on the floor, but the Suns were ultimately outscored 30-21 in the second quarter. Booker finished the half with 23 points.
Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama had 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. He also added six rebounds, three assists, and five blocks, leading the Spurs in all of those statistical categories. At halftime, San Antonio led Phoenix 61-46.
Turns out the Suns are much better when Booker is on the court.
The Phoenix Suns opened the second half with a much-needed infusion of energy, finding opportunities to attack in transition and briefly put pressure on the San Antonio Spurs. After an opening three-pointer from Julian Champagnie, Phoenix responded with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 10 points. But getting that close seemed to flip a switch for Victor Wembanyama, as San Antonio answered with a 10-4 run of its own to regain control. Before long, the Suns found themselves staring at another 20-point deficit.
Phoenix had another frustrating offensive quarter and again failed to reach 25 points. The Suns collectively shot 8-of-26 from the field and 3-of-9 from beyond the arc, struggling to generate any consistent offensive rhythm. Devin Booker led the way with nine points, while Dillon Brooks contributed five. The rest of the roster? A miserable 3-of-14 from the field.
Meanwhile, San Antonio continued to demonstrate why it’s one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference. Dylan Harper erupted for 14 points in the third quarter, adding three rebounds and an assist, while Wembanyama contributed 10 points, four rebounds, and a block. Every time Phoenix appeared ready to make things interesting, the Spurs had an answer, methodically dismantling whatever momentum the Suns managed to generate.
By the end of the third quarter, Phoenix trailed 93-68, facing a 25-point deficit and another uphill battle that was becoming increasingly difficult to overcome.
The fourth quarter? Well, the Suns essentially waved the white flag with eight minutes remaining, pulling their starters and allowing Jamaree Bouyea and Rasheer Fleming to see the floor. Cam Spencer, Koa Peat, and Duop Reath followed shortly thereafter, as Phoenix found itself trailing by 30 points and the outcome was all but decided.
There were at least a few entertaining moments from the young guys. Peat, the Suns’ rookie, wasted little time making an impression, executing a smooth spin move before finishing off the glass. On the very next possession, he connected with Jamaree Bouyea for an alley-oop, providing a brief spark of energy as Phoenix trimmed the deficit to 26 points.
At that stage, moral victories were about the only thing left to celebrate. Suns lose, 122-96.
Up Next
The Suns are right back at it tomorrow night as they host the Clippers. We shall see you then.
Walker Kessler of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw during a game against the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta, Georgia, Nov. 9, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
More importantly, he accomplished something neither Magic Johnson nor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar managed twice in a Lakers uniform.
Doncic became the first player in franchise history to record multiple games with at least 30 points, five assists, five steals and two blocks. Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar each accomplished the feat once.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during an NBA game in Atlanta, Georgia, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic has already done it twice in his first 10 games this season.
He also climbed into 10th place all-time for games featuring at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Walker Kessler of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw during a game against the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta, Georgia, Nov. 9, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Of course, what else was Kessler supposed to say about his new pick-and-roll partner? That he’s the fifth-best player in basketball?
Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards might have a few objections to Kessler’s declaration.
But with the Lakers sitting atop the NBA standings at 10-2, Doncic has something those other superstars don’t: the league’s best record, and an NBA-best scoring average of 40.1 points per game.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Scott Boland brushed off Usman Khawaja’s claim that his home state Victoria once perfected the “dark arts” of ball-tampering, while Vics captain Will Sutherland has denied the technique is a part of Sheffield Shield cricket anymore.
Scott Boland brushed off Usman Khawaja’s claim that his home state Victoria once perfected the “dark arts” of ball-tampering, while Vics captain Will Sutherland has denied the technique is a part of Sheffield Shield cricket anymore.
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 9: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates after scoring a basket during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 2026 in Dallas, 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (7-4) survived a wild one Monday night, beating the Indiana Pacers (3-8) 125-122 in one of their most entertaining games of the season. Cooper Flagg was incredible, finishing with 43 points on 16-of-25 shooting, 10 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while Kyrie Irving added 35 points on seven made 3-pointers. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Dallas trailed by 10 at halftime, but Flagg and Irving powered a second-half comeback and made enough plays late to escape with the win.
Dallas opened sluggishly and spent most of the first quarter trying to dig out of an early hole. Flagg was easily the Mavericks’ best player, scoring nine points with five rebounds, two assists, and three steals while shooting 4-of-6. Kyrie started 1-for-4, Caleb Martin missed both shots, and Dallas shot only 40 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three. Indiana, meanwhile, shot 55 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three, with Siakam going perfect from the floor for nine points and Aaron Nesmith hitting both of his threes. Flagg’s activity kept Dallas within reach, but Indiana was the sharper team and led 31-26 after one.
The Mavericks found more offense in the second quarter, but Siakam completely took over. Kyrie got going with three threes and reached 15 points, while Flagg continued to create as both a scorer and passer. Walter Clayton Jr. also gave Dallas good minutes, but the Mavericks couldn’t string together enough stops to take control. Siakam finished the half with 26 points on 8-of-9 shooting and hit five of his six threes, repeatedly answering every Dallas run. Indiana shot 60 percent from the field and 56.3 percent from three in the half, while P.J. Washington struggled badly at 2-of-10 from the floor. Andrew Nembhard hit a turnaround jumper at the horn to send the Pacers into halftime up 66-56.
Dallas finally flipped the game in the third, and Flagg was the biggest reason why. He scored 14 points in the period, getting to his turnaround jumper, attacking the rim, and making better reads as the Mavericks steadily erased the deficit. Kyrie stayed hot with two more threes, while Washington finally found some rhythm with a tip-in and a three. Dallas also tightened up defensively, forcing turnovers and getting better activity from Clayton and Naji Marshall. Siakam cooled off significantly after torching Dallas in the first half, and Flagg kept pushing late with back-to-back finger rolls to cut the deficit to two. Dallas closed the quarter down just 93-90 after entering it trailing by 10.
The fourth quarter was an absolute blast. Dallas and Indiana traded tough shots, mistakes, and momentum swings to the finish, with Flagg and Kyrie carrying the Mavericks offensively whenever things started to fall apart. It was far from clean, with turnovers, unnecessary fouls, and several possessions that could have swung the game either way, but Dallas kept responding. Every time Indiana landed a punch, Flagg or Kyrie found another huge basket. The final minutes turned into a possession-by-possession fight, and the Mavericks finally made enough plays on both ends to survive 125-122. It was messy, stressful, and probably harder than it needed to be, but it was also one of the most fun wins of the season.
Right now, the Mavericks need to do everything they can to keep Kyrie Irving in rhythm. Kyrie was great again Monday, finishing with 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting while hitting seven of his 10 threes, and it felt like a continuation of everything he started against Brooklyn the night before. Since returning from injury, Kyrie has looked noticeably better when he has been able to stack games together. He came back a little rusty, started finding his rhythm, then sat against Sacramento and looked rusty again when he returned. Now he has played on consecutive nights, and suddenly he looks completely comfortable.
Against Indiana, he was the driving force behind Dallas staying alive long enough to make its second-half run. Every time the offense stalled, Kyrie created something, whether it was a pull-up, a three or a tough finish around the rim. He had 25 points by the end of the third quarter and kept making huge shots as Dallas erased a 10-point halftime deficit. The Mavericks obviously have to be smart with him after the injury, but there is also something to be said for letting Kyrie play when he is rolling. Right now, he has his rhythm back, and Dallas looks completely different because of it.
Cooper Flagg is ridiculous
Somehow, Cooper Flagg keeps finding another level.
Flagg finished with 43 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and three steals while shooting 16-of-25 from the field, 3-of-6 from three, and a perfect 8-of-8 at the line. He was Dallas’ best player early when almost nobody else had anything going, then became the centerpiece of the comeback after halftime. He scored 14 points in the third quarter alone, repeatedly getting to his turnaround jumper and the rim, and he continued making huge plays when the game tightened in the fourth.
What continues to stand out is how comfortable he looks with the game on the line. Flagg does not shy away from the moment or wait for someone else to create. He wants the ball, attacks mismatches, and has already developed an incredible ability to create something when possessions break down. His case for Clutch Player of the Year is only getting stronger because this keeps happening. Dallas needed nearly all 43 of his points Monday, and when the Mavericks needed someone to will them across the finish line, Flagg was right there again.
The Mavericks win in the clutch again
This is becoming one of the biggest differences between this Mavericks team and what we watched last season.
Monday was exactly the type of game Dallas would have found a way to lose a year ago. The Mavericks were down double digits, had stretches filled with turnovers, missed free throws, and unnecessary fouls, and gave Indiana plenty of opportunities to take control. Instead of folding, they kept answering. Kyrie and Flagg made difficult shots, the defense made timely stops, and Dallas stayed composed enough to survive a genuinely chaotic finish.
That matters.
Close games are rarely clean, and Monday certainly was not. The Pacers shot 52.4 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three; Siakam was incredible, and Indiana kept finding ways to punch back. Still, Dallas found a way to win 125-122. This team has the talent to make tough shots late with Flagg and Kyrie, but it also feels like Dusty May has given them more structure and confidence in those moments.
Mistakes and ugly possessions will still happen, but the Mavericks no longer seem to panic when games get tight. They believe they can close, and with Flagg and Kyrie playing like this, there is a pretty good reason for that confidence.
Axed Australian star Marnus Labuschagne has declared he has “no doubt” he’ll return to the country’s Test team, opening up on how he plans to embrace the opportunity to earn his way back into the international fold.
Axed Australian star Marnus Labuschagne has declared he has “no doubt” he’ll return to the country’s Test team, opening up on how he plans to embrace the opportunity to earn his way back into the international fold.
