Posts

Posted on

Jalen Williams injury update: Thunder star exits on stretcher after hurting leg

Oklahoma City Thunder standout Jalen Williams suffered a lower leg injury and had to be taken off the court on a stretcher during a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, Oct. 25.

Williams' injury occurred after an awkward landing under the basket with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter. The Thunder earned a 108-101 victory over the Clippers.

A team official was seen coming over to place a towel over Williams’ leg as he was quickly attended to by an athletic trainer. The tone immediately changed in the arena as members of both teams began to turn away, while Thunder players could be seen getting emotional over the scene.

The crowd was heard chanting "JDub" before the 25-year-old All-Star was carted off the court on a stretcher. He was seen giving two thumbs up to the fans in the arena.

Williams won a championship with the Thunder in 2025 and was named to the All-NBA third team and the All-Defensive second team for the 2024-25 season.

"I just feel bad for him," Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said while fighting tears in his postgame interview. "... We just got to hold the fort down until he comes back."

Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored a game-high 34 points and added six rebounds and five assists, was among those visibly shaken on the court at the sight of Williams' injury.

How did Jalen Williams' leg injury happen?

Williams went up for a dunk at the 1:15 mark in the fourth quarter and was fouled by Clippers Kris Dunn, who came in hard from behind while Derrick Jones Jr. was guarding Williams underneath.

Dunn was called for a personal foul that was upgraded to a flagrant 1 after an official review. Gilgeous-Alexander made both free throws.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault on Jalen Williams' injury

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was asked for the status of injured players on Sunday night, including Williams. Daigneault stated that Williams' injury "speaks for itself."

“Those are tough, man," Daigneault said when talking about the feeling in the locker room. "We’re not doing great.”

Thunder guard Cason Wallace (left shoulder soreness) and forward Jaylin Williams (right wrist soreness) also suffered injuries in the contest. Both players left the game in the first quarter and did not return.

The coach thanked the fans for their support of Williams and chanting his name after the injury.

“I think anybody that's in the arena can empathize with that," Daigneault said. "So appreciate our fans for doing so.”

Daigneault stated that the team will come together on Monday, Oct. 26 as a team to be there for one another as they continue to process the tough situation.

Jalen Williams stats vs. Clippers

  • Minutes: 31:41
  • Points: 8
  • FG: 3-for-8
  • 3PT: 0-for-1
  • FT: 2-for-2
  • Rebounds: 2
  • Assists: 5
  • Steals: 2
  • Blocks: 1
  • Turnovers: 3
  • Fouls: 3

Jalen Williams injury history

Williams was limited to just 33 regular-season games and five playoff appearances during the 2025-26 season as he recovered from two wrist surgeries and suffered multiple hamstring strains.

Williams has dealt with lower body injuries throughout his career, including ankle injuries in 2024 and hip injuries in early 2025. He also had a previous wrist injury in 2023.

Jalen Williams career stats

  • Games: 250
  • Starts: 237
  • Minutes: 7,735
  • Points: 4,497
  • FG: 1,743-for-3,432 (.508)
  • 3PT: 326-for-871 (.374)
  • FT: 685-for-848
  • Rebounds: 1,152
  • Assists: 1,110
  • Steals: 334
  • Blocks: 136
  • Turnovers: 460
  • Fouls: 596

When do the Oklahoma City Thunder play next?

The Thunder have a back-to-back and host the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center on Monday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local).

Contributing: Justin Martinez, The Oklahoman

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Williams injury update: Thunder star exits on stretcher after hurting leg

Posted on

Magic 111, Knicks 102: Scenes from another unspectacular L

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 25: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks confronts Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic after committing a flagrant foul during the first quarter of the game at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The world champion Knicks (0-3) hosted the Magic (1-2) at Madison Square Garden. The victory seemed almost assured, given that Orlando was playing without their star, Paolo Banchero, and the champs were feeling—let’s not say desperate, but certainly eager to notch one in the win column. Their terrible shooting from the lines—the three-point arc and free-throw line—let the guests stay close all night, and faulty fourth quarter defense sank our heroes, 111-102.

As with most stories, this one started differently than it ended. Making half their shots, the Knicks dropped ten unanswered points to start the game while the Disney’s missed their first eight attempts from the field. Frustrations boiled over when OG Anunoby plowed over screening Wendell Carter, Jr. After the barking teams were separated, Anunoby received a flagrant-one foul. That started a run, with four points by Anthony Black to halve the lead. This was Black’s season debut, after missing time due to injury.

Coach Mike Brown was determined to deploy all of his offensive weapons. Karl-Anthony Towns facilitated the offense to start the game, Jalen Brunson took the reins on the next possession, and then OG Anunoby had a chance to penetrate with the ball, kicking out to Josh Hart on the far side. They tried that last play a seccond time to lesser effect, but it smacked of a one that they intend to make a fixture of their repertoire.

Towns sat at the midway mark after fouling Franz Wagner on a screen. Andre Drummond (4 PTS, 3 RBS, 7 MIN) relieved him. The Knicks misfired repeatedly from deep, but stayed ahead by dominating in the paint and on fast breaks. With the Magic stumbling and bumbling, the homers went up by 12 before finishing the quarter, 28-21.

KAT was at it again to start the second, laying out Jamal Cain on a screen for another foul. Love the player, hate the goofs. That brought Drummond back out. Reunited with the Magic, veteran Nikola Vučević laced a triple and led a comeback to tie the game. Tyler Kolek saw extended time because Jose Alvarado sat out with a sprained ankle. Kolek played hard, if not necessarily well.

Orlando’s Jalen Suggs took a rebound coast-to-coast, dribbling past four defenders for a waltz to the cup. With such whimsical resistance, we understood why James Wiseman got the call two minutes later. Luckily, the Floridians were too sloppy to make serious headway against New York’s general mediocrity, and back-to-back buckets by Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet helped preserve the advantage.

Once or twice in the half, Josh Hart secured a rebound and rifled it long to a racing teammate for an advantage at the other end. His usual receiver, BFF Brunson, scored to give the hosts a seven-point lead deep in the period. That sequence is a crowd pleaser and, with Jalen’s ability to finish at the rim, almost guaranteed points. Meanwhile, Wiseman played well in his limited appearance, with a board, a block, and defensive intensity in the paint. Could there be a little Mitchell Robinson in that fella? If you squint?

You’d expect the team with a 28-12 advantage in the paint, twice as many offensive rebounds (8-4), and half their opponent’s turnovers (10-5) would have quite a lead by halftime, but the world champs were only up 52-48 at intermission. Orlando’s deep shooting (42%) was much better than New York’s (25%), to the tune of about 18 points. The Knicks’ offense stalled in the second quarter, making just nine of 29 shots after shooting 52% in the first. Extra possessions kept them afloat, but a better team would have really given them the bootheel. Through the half, Black led all scorers with 12. KAT had 11.

Out of the break, our heroes were led by Brunson and Towns, riding nine unanswered points to a 10-point lead. Towns blocked Wagner at the rim, and Orlando shot themselves in the sneaker with consecutive turnovers by Carter and Richardson, plus an offensive foul and technical for Carter. However, the game swung again on two bad passes by Towns, a charge by Hart, and two blanks by Bridges.

We figured Desmond Bane might receive more touches after halftime. The walking muscle helped keep Orlando within reach, assisting Jase Richardson’s (no relation) opening three and Carter’s jumper before adding a pull-up jumper and his own three. That three followed a Towns turnover and capped a quick 6–0 response that trimmed New York’s lead to four. He also committed a turnover and fouled Anunoby for two free throws, finishing his stint with five points and two assists. Tristan Da Silva shot fireballs off the bench, contributing a quick eight points, and Black’s trey brought Orlando within one. Kolek steadied the Knicks with assists on a Towns layup and Hart’s three, restoring a 75-69 cushion. But Vooch’s hook at the buzzer brought the score to 75-71 as we steered into the fourth.

Towns, Anunoby, and Kolek synergized in the final frame, with the two starters passing the 20-point mark and Kolek dishing nine dimes (and no turnovers). After Kolek fouled Wagner at the hoop, Brunson replaced him with about eight minutes left. Meanwhile, Anunoby scored five-straight points, but Wiseman fouled Wagner, too, giving the German two freebies that completed an 11-point swing. Franz had 15 points and counting in the fourth alone, and the Disneys took their first lead of the night.

Hart answered at the other end. During an important stretch in the middle of the period, Mike Brown went with Brunson, Shamet, Bridges, Hart, and Wiseman. Drummond had yet to see the court in the second half. Read into that what you will. At the same time, the Knicks were shooting a woeful 8-of-33 after Hart missed two more threes.

Needing an offensive injection, Brown sent Towns back in, and he attacked the rim against the Magic’s smaller frontcourt. Bane delivered the bigger shot, however: a 26-footer that put his squad up 94-91 with under five remaining. Jalen Brunson missed his sixth attempt from deep, Black made one for a six-point lead, and what should have been a routine win looked anything but with three minutes left.

After a timeout, Brunson and Wagner traded buckets, then Cap threw the ball away. Suggs charged the basket at the other end and popped something in his knee. He was helped to the locker room. Prayers up for him.

Brunson missed a pair of free throws, Anunoby missed two, as well, and the hosts trailed by 10 with 1:21 left. Cap scored seven points in the final minute, but Orlando made their free throws and New York couldn’t catch up. Ballgame.

Up Next

Mo’s in the lab, perfecting a recap. Detroit visits NYC on Tuesday. Rest up, Knickerbockers.

Posted on

Alexander Nikishin Signs For One Year

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 02: Alexander Nikishin #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes hits Nic Dowd #26 of the Vegas Golden Knights in Game One of the Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center on June 02, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The long process is finally over, the Carolina Hurricanes finally were able to get Alexander Nikishin to agree to a contract. The deal will pay the defenseman $3 million for the 2026-27 season and it is just for a single season.

This is considerably less then what Nikishin originally wanted, (reportedly $8 to 9 million annually). It is also much less than the offer that the Canes supposedly, originally put on the table, a long term deal worth $6 million a year. (This is an unconfirmed rumor)

All the rumors mean nothing at this point. For all we know, the Canes could have originally offered $3 million a year and stayed hard on that number. They had no reason to offer more, since the team held all the cards. And that would make a valid reason for the defenseman to hold out, at least for a short time anyway.

But with the success of the team right now, along with the quality of work from Mike Reilly and Juuso Valimaki, the team certainly had no incentive to offer more.

So here we are. Will the Russian play with 100% effort when called upon? His future pay will depend upon it.

Will the coaching staff even give him a chance? Will they play him at all? Will they tell him to rehab and get in game shape in Chicago? At this point he is an asset, at least he is under contract. But if he plays and improves, he could become a more valuable asset.

Not that it mattered in the past with Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The coaching staff didn’t try to improve his value with some playing time last season. Keep in mind that the only reason Kotkaniemi is playing now is because of injury and they need him. Otherwise, he would probably still be sitting in the pressbox, behind Nicolas Deslauries on the depth chart. His value as an asset is certainly much higher now than it was when the season started.

People are frustrated with Nikishin but before everyone gives up on him, there are a few things to remember.

He has good size, has a long reach, and breaks up plays with his stick well.

He has the hardest slap shot on the team, which is valuable on the powerplay.

He had the highest number of hits per 60 minutes played on the blueline last season. He came in third of the top six defensemen with blocked shots per 60 minutes played. He was not a pylon out there.

Even though some folk discount the value of the plus/minus stat, he had the best plus/minus on the team, at least showing that he was not the weakest link on the defense.

He was selected to the NHL’s all rookie team, so some people around the league thought he was pretty good.

There is no reason to believe that he will not improve the above numbers, given a chance and more minutes. If that happens in Carolina, we will see.

Here is the team’s press release:

RALEIGH, NC – Eric Tulsky, General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one-year contract. The deal will pay Nikishin $3 million for the 2026-27 season. 

“We’re glad that Alexander is returning to our group,” said Tulsky. “This has been a long process, but we look forward to him re-entering our locker room ready to contribute with the Hurricanes, as he did during a Stanley Cup championship season last year.”

About Alexander Nikishin:

  • The 25-year-old was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2025-26, after ranking second among NHL rookie defensemen in goals (11) and points (33) and tied for second in assists (22).
  • Led rookie NHL defensemen and ranked second among all rookie skaters in plus/minus (+18) during the 2025-26 season.
  • Appeared in 17 playoff games for the Hurricanes in 2026, earning one assist and helping Carolina capture the Stanley Cup.
  • Spent six season the KHL with Spartak Moskva and SKA St. Petersburg prior to joining the Hurricanes, totaling 177 points (54g, 123a) and 166 penalty minutes in 288 regular-season games.
  • Established a record for single-season scoring by a Russian-born KHL defenseman in 2022-23, leading all KHL defensemen with 55 points (11g, 44a) in 65 games, and then broke his own record the following season, again leading all KHL defensemen with 56 points (17g, 39a) in 67 contests.
  • Was the youngest player representing Russia at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, capturing a silver medal.
  • Selected by the Hurricanes in the third round, 69th overall, at the 2020 NHL Draft.
Posted on

Knicks lose third straight to begin new season, falling 111-102 to Magic

The Knicks (0-3) continued their slow start to the new season with a 111-102 loss to the Orlando Magic (1-2).

Here are the takeaways...

-- The Magic were missing star forward Paolo Banchero, having just been ruled out for the next four-to-six weeks with a high ankle sprain. Orlando's first-year head coach Sean Sweeney started second-year swingman Jase Richardson in Paolo's place.

-- The Knicks jumped out to an 8-0 lead thanks in part to threes knocked down by OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. Even after a Magic timeout, the Knicks kept pouring it on, with Hart making life miserable for free-shooting Orlando guard Desmond Bane. Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. tried to jolt some life into his team with some physical play, and got into it with Hart and Anunoby, the latter of whom picked up a flagrant one foul by running through Carter's screen. Carter's two made free throws were the first Magic points of the night, which came with 7:17 left in the first quarter, and guard Anthony Black splashed a triple to complete the five-point play to the dismay of Knicks head coach Mike Brown. The Knicks held the Magic to 30 percent from the field in the first quarter, leading 28-21 entering the second.

-- Both offenses kicked it into gear in the second quarter. The Knicks bench -- namely Tyler Kolek, Landry Shamet, and Andre Drummond -- picked on Orlando's backup center Nikola Vučević, while the Magic's motion offense made it rain from behind the arc. New York had a noticeable pep in their step when Hart returned to the floor, generating some turnovers and protecting their lead with fastbreak points. While the Knicks were lockdown in the halfcourt with superb rotations and physicality, their transition defense was slow to react throughout the first half, and Bane heated up to cut the Knicks' lead to just four by halftime, 52-48.

-- The Knicks had really struggled in the third quarter during their first two games of the season, both of them losses. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson asserted their will on the third quarter in their third game of this new season to ensure the early trend didn't continue. The star duo got to the rim for a combined 19 points in the quarter as the Knicks extended their lead to 10 points at one stage. But the Magic battled back thanks to some sustained shooting heroics fromBlackand forward Tristan Da Silva, who made a delayed season debut due to injury. The quarter ended with the Knicks still yet to relinquish their lead, up 75-71.

-- Orlando's best player, Franz Wagner, took control early in the fourth to give the Magic their first lead of the game, 87-86, converting on a three-point play. Brown called timeout midway through the quarter with the Knicks trailing by two. Towns tied the game up, 91-91, beating the shot clock with a thunderous baseline slam. Bane responded by rattling home a three to retake the lead for the Magic. Shortly afterward, Brunson implored the Knicks to challenge a loose-ball foul he committed on Wagner, and the call was overturned. Bane split a pair of free throws to make it a two-possession game, Brunson missed his sixth three without a make, and Black promptly swished his fifth three of the game to put New York down seven points with under four minutes remaining. Brunson and Wagner traded layups as the clock ticked down. Jalen Suggs was carried to the locker room with a right knee injury after an awkward layup attempt. The Knicks remained trailing by multiple possessions until the final buzzer.

-- The Knicks shot 17 for 24 (70.8 percent) from the free throw line and an abysmal 8 for 34 (23.5 percent) from behind the arc. In contrast, The Magic shot 17 for 21 (81 percent) from the charity stripe and 18 for 42 (42.9 percent) from three. In a game that was pretty tight throughout, that made all the difference.

Game MVP: Franz Wagner

21 of Wagner's 23 points came in the final quarter. The lanky forward also added 13 rebounds and nine assists.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

Posted on

Disastrous third period sinks Islanders in 6-3 loss to Stars

DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson scored twice and the Dallas Stars had a three-goal third period in a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday night.

Robertson’s breakaway at 9:45 of the third period came five minutes after Wyatt Johnston’s tiebreaker. Mikko Rantanen added a goal four minutes after Robertson with his team-high sixth goal of the season.

Tyler Seguin and Justin Hryckowian also scored for the Stars, who have won five consecutive games. Jake Oettinger made 16 saves.

Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Kyle Palmieri and Brayden Schenn scored for the Islanders, who erased three one-goal deficits only to lose two straight (0-1-1) for the first time this season. Ilya Sorokin stopped 32 shots allowing a season high in goals.

Johnston scored from the slot 4:10 into the final period on a feed from Nils Lundqvist. After scoring a career-most 45 goals last season, Johnston has goals in consecutive games after going goalless in his first seven outings.

Sunday marked the Dallas return of Pete DeBoer, who took over the Islanders with four games to play last season. DeBoer was fired by the Stars in June 2025 after losing in the conference finals in each of his three Dallas seasons.

The Stars have 20 straight penalty kills through its last five games, three on Sunday.

The game was Dallas’ third in a six-game homestand and began a three-game Central Division trip for New York.

Hryckowian’s younger brother, Dylan, and fellow forward Matthew Seminoff made their NHL debuts on Dallas’ fourth line. The brothers were in the starting lineup.

Up next

Islanders: At Nashville on Tuesday night.

Stars: Host New Jersey on Tuesday night.

Posted on

Nets routed by Pacers in ugly home loss: ‘Just unacceptable’

Brooklyn Nets center Day'ron Sharpe handles the ball while surrounded by Indiana Pacers defenders during a game.
Brooklyn Nets center Day'ron Sharpe (20) looks to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026.

There’s losing a game, and then there’s playing like a losing team. 

There’s getting beat, and then there’s rolling over. 

Sunday was the latter. 

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (17) defends Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The Nets came back to Brooklyn and got humiliated on their home floor, 136-109 by the Pacers at Barclays Center. 

Or more to the point, they humiliated themselves. 

“The performance we put up after the first quarter was just unacceptable — 112 points in three quarters, you’re not winning basketball games. So it didn’t feel good on either end of the floor,” said coach Jordi Fernández. “And I’m the first one. We have to help them better. 

“[It was] just disconnection, full-on and everything: from the spacing to the plays that we run, to the communication on pick-and-rolls, to multiple efforts, to being disappointed with a mistake and dropping your shoulders. All those things are losing things, and now we did not look like a winning team out there.” 

Whether it was tired legs on the tail end of a back-to-back, the fact is the bottom fell out defensively for the Nets, who fell to 0-3 and play Tuesday in Boston. 

Yes, the offense did go missing, shooting 41 percent overall and 13-for-39 from 3-point range. Julius Randle, Michael Porter Jr. and Egor Dëmin combined for just 23 points on 7-for-27 shooting (1-for-11 from deep) to finish a combined minus-50. 

Brooklyn Nets center Day’ron Sharpe (20) looks to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

But the defense was even worse. 

The Nets allowed 57 percent shooting and 21-for-43 from 3-point range. And while the first quarter was competitive, the rest was capitulation. 

The Nets allowed 112 points on 60 percent shooting and 18-for-32 from long range over the final 36 minutes. 

“They had a little run at the end of the third or the beginning of the third, and then it felt like we just rolled over as a team. We came back from 20-some [Saturday], made it a game. I think we should stay in the fight,” said Porter, who had 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting. “Whether we hit adversity or not, as a team we’ve got to be resilient, top to bottom and just keep fighting, keep plugging away.” 

There was nowhere near enough fighting and precious little plugging away. 

Just a bunch of Indiana highlights … and Nets lowlights. 

There was Porter getting blocked at the rim by backup Jay Huff. 

And after a turnover by Randle (10 points, 2-for-8 shooting), Pascal Siakam got the ball upcourt to Tyrese Haliburton so the Pacers star could bounce it off the floor to himself for a disrespectful breakaway dunk. 

That left the Nets down 83-68 in the third with the Pacers laughing on the bench. 

Haliburton finished with 24 points and 10 assists for a plus-29. Siakam finished with 21. 

Tyrese Haliburton (0) of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball during a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

Dëmin had just three points for the Nets in 1-for-6 shooting. He was a minus-20. 

Moritz Wagner’s 3 had the Nets up 51-49 with 2:45 left in the half, but they surrendered a 16-5 run the rest of the way to go into the locker room down by nine. 

They were still down 88-74 midway through the third on Nolan Traore’s free throw, but promptly conceded a dozen straight. 

Obi Toppin’s layup capped the blitz to make it 100-74 with 3:19 left in the period. The Nets trailed by 26, and unlike the night before — when they cut a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit in Cleveland down to just two — there was no comeback. 

“The biggest [problem] is our communication. We’re just not all on the same page,” said Randle. “We’ve got to find a way to communicate better, respect communication amongst each other. If a guy calls something, we’ve got to honor the call. 

“But whatever it is, we’ve just got to communicate on that end because we do a lot of switching. So if we’re going to do a little switching, we’ve got to be communicating, and guys have got to know what the other guy’s doing. We’ve got to be on a string. We haven’t been so far.”

Posted on

Nets still looking for first win after getting blown out by Pacers in 136-109 loss

NEW YORK (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton had 24 points, 10 assists and an All-Star Game-worthy dunk as the Indiana Pacers hammered the Brooklyn Nets 136-109 on Sunday night.

The Pacers shot 58 percent (49 for 85) from the field, including 49 percent (21 for 43) from three-point distance.

Haliburton shot 8 for 13 from the field, Pascal Siakam added 21 points and Obi Toppin chipped in 16 off the bench.

Reserve guard Nolan Traore had 17 points for Brooklyn, which has lost its first three games of the season.

Indiana trailed by two points at the end of the first quarter before outscoring the Nets 41-30 in the second period to take a 65-56 lead at the break. The Pacers shot 58 percent from the field and 42 percent beyond the three-point line in the first half.

The Pacers continued their good rhythm in the third quarter by blitzing the Nets 37-24 for a 98-74 advantage heading into the final period.

Haliburton, who missed last season while recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon, provided the highlight of the third quarter.

With 7:17 remaining, Julius Randle lost control of the ball at the top of the arc and Aaron Nesmith dove for it before Siakam picked it up and found a wide-open Haliburton, who bounced the ball to himself in front of the free throw line and threw down a two-handed dunk that drew the approval of his teammates.

Ivica Zubac was removed from the game after he sprained his left ankle with 4:57 left in the first quarter after he stepped on Kelly Oubre’s foot while chasing down a rebound.

Up next

Pacers: Visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.

Nets: Visit the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

Posted on

The Ex-Files – How Are Ex-Sabres Doing? – Central Division

Here is an update on former Sabres players with Central Division clubs:

Bowen Byram - Chicago

The Stanley Cup winner had a career-high 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) last season with the Sabres, but after he informed Buffalo he would not be signing an extension, GM Jarmo Kekalainen dealt him to the Hawks for the #4 overall pick (Daxon Rudolph), Louis Crevier, and a 2nd round pick (which was converted into Olen Zellweger). 

Byram signed a six-year, $75 million extension with Chicago, and assumed a heavy workload of nearly 25 minutes a night. In six games, he has one assist, is a -7, and has been out since October 13th with an upper-body injury. 

Tyler Myers - Dallas 

The 36-year-old former Calder Trophy winner is playing a shutdown depth role with his fourth NHL club after being dealt from Vancouver to the Stars last March. In 10 games, Myers has no points and is averaging just under 15 minutes per night.  

Marcus Foligno - Minnesota

The 35-year-old, along with older brother Nick, played against the Sabres on October 6, but suffered a mid-body injury in the Wild’s next game against Tampa Bay on October 8 and was placed on injured reserve. 

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL  

Owen Power has picked up the offensive slack after the departure of Bowen Byram

Ryan O’Reilly - Nashville 

The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is in the final year of a four-year contract with the Predators, where he has scored 20 or more goals every season in Music City. In 10 games, he has eight points (4 goals, 4 assists). GM Chris McFarland has been active since taking over from Barry Trotz this summer, and if his club drops out of playoff competition, O’Reilly will likely be one of the hottest commodities on the trade market before the deadline.  

Isak Rosen - Winnipeg

The 2021 first-rounder was sent to the Jets last March in a deal for Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, after three solid seasons in AHL Rochester, but never really getting a serious opportunity with the Sabres. In 31 games at the end of last season and this year, the 23-year-old winger has four points (3 goals, 1 assist). 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

THN.com/Free
THN.com/Free
Posted on

Islanders see how far they have to go with key deficiency exposed in eye-opening loss to Stars

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Islanders goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin (30) in his net during a game against the Dallas Stars, Image 2 shows Dallas Stars center Justin Hryckowian celebrates a goal with teammates Wyatt Johnston, Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen

DALLAS — That will put a damper on the Islanders’ fledgling momentum. 

It’s not merely that the Stars snapped their five-game points streak here at American Airlines Center on Sunday night, beating the Islanders 6-3. It’s that the how of it included so many reminders of the Islanders’ limitations. 

Namely, their speed, or lack thereof. The Islanders have shown they can play around it — indeed, they did at points Sunday — but doing so requires impeccable detail and decision-making up and down the lineup. When pieces are off, when they are playing one of the league’s faster teams or both, as was the case here, it is so much harder to get away with. 

Jake Oettinger (29) of the Dallas Stars tends goal against the New York Islanders at the American Airlines Center on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Dallas. NHLI via Getty Images

“The lesson in that,” coach Pete DeBoer said after his Dallas homecoming was spoiled, “is we can’t play that game against good teams.” 

The Stars could get pucks behind Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock and then beat them to it. They could handle dump-ins from the Islanders’ workmanlike third and fourth lines with ease, moving the puck out before the Islanders could start their forecheck. Jason Robertson can capitalize on a split second of indecision from Brayden Schenn behind his own net and turn it into a goal. 

Put all that together and you have a steep uphill climb for the Islanders to stay in a game. 

“[The Stars] have great gaps, great reloads,” Schenn told The Post. “They take away the middle of the ice. … And then when we put it in, forwards weren’t getting first touches and forechecks, allowing them to break out a little cleaner than obviously we wanted to. We have lots to clean up and focus on.” 

To their credit, the Islanders stayed in the game, at least for a time. They fought back down 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 to go into the last 20 minutes tied 3-3 after Schenn deposited Anthony Duclair’s feed from behind the net past Jake Oettinger at 17:45 of the second. 

Tony DeAngelo (77) of the New York Islanders handles the puck against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images

What they couldn’t do, though, was change the tide of the game. And when the current picked up, the Islanders were carried right along with it. 

So 4:10 into the third, Wyatt Johnston gave Dallas its fourth lead of the night, getting open in the slot after the Islanders overcommitted to the strong side of the ice and burying one. 

This time, the Islanders didn’t have the immediate answer. Robertson floated behind Pelech and was sprung by Tyler Seguin’s pass before scoring to make it 5-3. 

New York Islanders goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin (30) celebrates a goal against the Dallas Stars during an NHL hockey game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images

Adding insult to injury, Mikko Rantanen — the arch-villain last time the Islanders played here — made it 6-3 mere minutes later. 

Ilya Sorokin, who gave up six or more goals just twice last season, finished with stops on just 32 of the 38 shots he saw, albeit without impressive defense in front of him. DeBoer said he never considered giving Sorokin the hook, saying it was more on the defense in front of him. 

Nevertheless, by the end of the night, pockets of the crowd chanted “Otter’s better.” 

Matthew Schaefer (48) of the New York Islanders celebrates a goal with teammates against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Dallas. NHLI via Getty Images
Dallas Stars center Justin Hryckowian (49) celebrates after scoring with teammates Wyatt Johnston (53), Jason Robertson (21) and Mikko Rantanen (96) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Dallas. AP Photo/LM Otero

“Tough game,” Sorokin told The Post. “We should be better in D zone, and [I] should be better in net, my [positioning]. Tough game. Should make a good review and get ready for next game.” 

At so many different points before the Islanders fell apart, they were on their heels. 

They didn’t record a shot for more than seven minutes to start the game. When they did notch a dangerous chance, the Stars came down the other end, and Seguin scored on the rush. There wasn’t much forecheck to speak of; rather, it was the Stars who were consistently able to get pucks in deep and get to work. 

Still, the Islanders found ways to stay in it. Matthew Schaefer turned on the jets and blew past Johnston to tie the game at one, and Palmieri made an excellent play on his backhand to tie it 2-2. Schenn atoned for his earlier error to make it a 3-3 game, but in the third, the duct-tape-and-glue approach with which they’d kept it together all night caught up with them. 

“We weren’t great,” DeBoer said. “It was Game 11, it’s the first night I felt we didn’t have great legs, great juice.”

Posted on

Islanders Five-Game Point Streak Snapped In 6-3 Loss To Stars

DALLAS, TX -- The New York Islanders (5-4-2) were caught playing Dallas Stars hockey, losing 6-3 on Sunday night to Pete DeBoer's old squad. 

The Islanders's five-game point streak (3-0-2) turns into a two-game slide with two games left on this road trip. 

Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves on 38 shots in the loss. 

Here's how it happened:

After the Islanders couldn't score on Oettinger despite a flurry of chances, Tyler Seguin beat Sorokin with a sharp-angle shot on a 2-on-1 at 11:31 of the first, giving Dallas a 1-0 lead.

The Islanders answered courtesy of Matthew Schaefer at 4-on-4 as he beat Oettinger blocker side off the rush at 13:43 to sit with the second most goals all time by a teenager with 26:

But, less than a minute later, Brayden Schenn turned the puck over, leading to Jason Robertson having time and space to take the puck from behind the net to the low slot and roof one glove side on Sorokin:

Lively boards got the game evened up at 2-2 after Kyle Palmieri banked home a Ryan Pulock missed shot at 4:01 of the second period:

Those lively boards giveth and taketh, as after Thomas Harley's power-play slapper missed the net, the puck came flying back toward the low slot where Justin Hryckowian, out of the air, beat Sorokin at 10:52 to give the Stars a 3-2 lead:

But, the Islanders evened things up at 17:45 of the second when Anthony Duclair won a board battle on the forecheck before finding a cutting Schenn in the low slot for a finish blocker side on Oettinger to tie the game at 3-3: 

The back-and-forth continued as the Stars got back on top 4-3 at 4:10 of the third period after Nils Lundqvist found Johnston wide open in the slot before he roofed one glove side on Sorokin:

The Stars added another two, with Robertson adding his second of the game at 9:45 and Mikko Rantanen potting one at 13:02 of the third for the 6-3 final.

UP NEXT: The Islanders face the Nashville Predators at 8 PM ET on Tuesday

Posted on

“Hold My Beer”: Avalanche Get Run Out of Nashville in Embarrassing 6-2 Loss

When the Colorado Avalanche dropped two straight games on their previous road trip, head coach Jared Bednar called them “two of the worst games I've seen our team play in years.”You might as well have billed Sunday's game in Nashville as “Hold My Beer.”

The Avalanche turned in a putrid effort from start to finish, getting hammered 6-2 by the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Colorado was sloppy with the puck, undisciplined, and completely ineffective on special teams, allowing four power-play goals while failing to record a single shot on net during three of its four power plays.

Former Av Ryan O'Reilly scored twice, Filip Forsberg added his 21st career goal against Colorado, and Steven Stamkos found the net twice as Nashville took full advantage of the Avs' mistakes.

Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews scored for Colorado, but their goals did little to change the story of the night. Justus Annunen, who was traded to Nashville for Scott Wedgewood, stopped 17 of 19 shots to earn the win, while Wedgewood made 28 saves on 34 shots for the Avalanche. It was a rough night all around for Colorado, which never really looked in control.

First Period

The Predators came out flying, putting Colorado on its heels early and taking a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Filip Forsberg opened the scoring on the power play after Parker Kelly was called for hooking. It was Forsberg's 21st career goal against the Avalanche, and he made it count by giving Nashville an early lead.

Steven Stamkos doubled the advantage on a close play that needed a video review to confirm the puck had crossed the goal line. Just like that, Colorado was down two before it could find much of a rhythm.

The Avalanche's top line of Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Necas generated some pressure late in the period, but couldn't get the bounces they needed. Colorado managed just eight shots in the opening frame, four of them from Lehkonen.

The bigger problem was how the Avs were getting in their own way. Misfired passes, careless turnovers, and sloppy puck management made it tough to build any sustained offense. It was the kind of road period that leaves a team chasing the game before it's even had a chance to settle in.

Second Period

If Colorado was hoping to reset in the second, that plan didn't last long.

Bad clears, miscommunication, and turnovers continued to give Nashville chances, including a few odd-man rushes that forced Scott Wedgewood to bail out his teammates. He came up with several saves, including one against Brent Burns, who was playing in his 1,019th consecutive NHL game at age 41.

The Avalanche couldn't get much going on their own power play, either. They failed to register a shot on one man advantage, and Sam Malinski was later called for too many men on the ice, adding another mistake to an already frustrating night.

Things got chippy when Necas tangled with Jordan Struble after the Predators defenseman jabbed at him following a whistle. Necas responded with a slash, and the two started mixing it up along the boards before captain Gabriel Landeskog joined the scrum. Necas and Struble were sent off for roughing, while Malinski's penalty left Colorado shorthanded.

Nashville made the most of it. O'Reilly was left alone in the low slot and buried the puck to make it 3-0, giving the Predators their second power-play goal of the night.

The Avs had a chance to respond when Roman Josi was called for slashing MacKinnon, but Colorado couldn't get anything going and remained scoreless on its first three power plays. Parker Kelly later dropped the gloves with Struble and quickly took him down, providing one of the few moments of fight from Colorado on a night when the scoreboard was getting ugly.

After an exhausting shift that left the Avalanche scrambling, former Av Jack Drury — dealt away in the offseason — beat Wedgewood with a backhand to push Nashville's lead to 4-0.

Colorado was already struggling to keep up, and the penalties kept coming. Brock Nelson was called for interference, and another breakdown in the defensive zone gave O'Reilly room to strike again on the power play. His second goal of the night made it 5-1 and marked Nashville's third power-play goal.

At this point, the Avalanche looked like Survivor contestants caught in a hurricane, scrambling to stay afloat while the Predators kept piling on.

Lehkonen finally got Colorado on the board, continuing his hot stretch with his 10th goal in 12 games. It gave the Avs a little life, but Nashville still had control of the game heading into the third.

Third Period

Colorado finally managed to record a shot on the power play after O'Reilly was called for hhooking. Moments later, Nazem Kadri was penalized for tripping Adam Wilsby, but the Avalanche found the net anyway.

Malinski threaded a pass to Devon Toews, whose shot hit the post and bounced past Annunen. The goal cut Nashville's lead to 5-2 and briefly gave Colorado something to build on.

Any momentum didn't last long.

Brent Burns and Logan O'Connor took consecutive penalties, putting the Avalanche in a difficult spot once again. Colorado's parade to the penalty box had reached eight minor penalties, and Nashville was handed a five-on-three power play.

Wedgewood took a shot off his mask and struggled to get back into position. Stamkos was waiting with an open net and made no mistake, scoring his second goal of the night to restore Nashville's four-goal cushion at 6-2.

That was effectively the end of it. The Avalanche had no answer for Nashville's power play, couldn't clean up the mistakes that kept putting them in trouble, and never found a way to make the game competitive.

The Avalanche gave up four power-play goals, took eight minor penalties, and spent most of the night chasing the game. If Bednar thought the last two road games were among the worst he'd seen in years, Sunday's showing in Nashville gave him another one to consider.

Image
Posted on

Nets can’t keep up with Pacers, lose 136-109

BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 25: Nolan Traore #10 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 25, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets are still looking for a defensive identity, offensive consistency, and of course, their first win of the season. The Indiana Pacers had no interest in aiding the search Sunday evening.

Brooklyn started with the same five again tonight. Held out for back injury maintenance, Mikel Brown Jr. wasn’t even an option.

The Net defense was a mixed bag in the first. The team did well getting into the Pacer passing lanes, coming away with seven steals in the period. While Keon Ellis was the lead bandit out there today, coming away with four, Josh Minott had a pair as well. He got first half minutes for a second straight game after riding bench for the entirety of the season opener.

However, Brooklyn’s tendency to throw two at the ball paired with Indiana’s collective ability to move the rock also brought trouble.

“Obviously we have to guard better one on one, but also we have to be focused on the details,” Nolan Traoré said. “Like, I mean, they were not doing anything crazy that we didn’t see, so we just have to be better. We can be way better than that.”

While Brooklyn’s defense, particularly around the rim, hasn’t been anything to rave about so far this year, this wasn’t the afternoon to be critical of Mo Wagner and Day’Ron Sharpe. The bigs essentially carried the Nets in the game’s first 15 minutes, combing for 16 points while shooting 6-8 from the field. Wagner was a +9 in his first stint off the bench.

Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle had a combined two points on 1-6 shooting during that stretch. So, yeah, they needed that.

Brooklyn still led by a few at the start of and early into the second, but Indiana never let them separate and eventually caught them midway through the frame. They had little success distancing themselves on the scoreboard until the half’s final two and a half minutes, where Indiana hit a flurry of threes to carve out a nine point advantage.

At that point, Randle and Porter Jr. had mustered a combined 12 points, but were still shooting 2-14 from the field. Mo Wagner led Brooklyn with 13 points, going 5-7 inside and 2-2 outside the arc. Ellis and Sharpe each had nine.

But those triples for Indiana turned out to be the first few drips of a flood soon to break through. The Pacers opened up the second half shooting 4-6 from deep to give themselves a 16-point lead. Getting down the floor in a hurry after Brooklyn’s misses, they had an easy time finding space for their shooters with the Nets often looking a step or two behind. They finished with 25 fast break points to Brooklyn’s 18.

And, this time, Mo Wagner couldn’t save them. After Brooklyn’s bench unit checked in, the Pacers inflated their lead to 26 points with 3:19 to go in the third. The Nets also stopped turning Indiana over, only to start giving away possessions themselves, committing five turnovers in the third. They shot 8-23 from the field and 1-8 from deep during the period too.

Those are a lot of negative figures, and they translated onto the scoreboard all too smoothly, with the Nets quickly going down 26 with with 3:19 to play. That’s also when Danny Wolf checked in for his first minutes of the season. Drake Powell got his shortly after as well, followed by Ben Saraf.

Before you knew it, we were once again left with little more than a joint team practice for the young guys to develop, as a legitimate game felt out of reach.

“The performance that we put on after the first quarter was just unacceptable,” Fernández said. “112 points in three quarters — you’re not winning basketball games.”

In the consolation contest, Traoré led the way, tallying with 17 points and five assists while shooting 6-11 from the field and 2-3 from three. He finished as Brooklyn’s leading scorer. Powell and Wolf both played the entire fourth quarter but offered little to write about. Wolf made two threes. Powell did not score but assisted on two baskets.

Joshua Jefferson did get his first NBA minutes, but not points. He came in for the affair’s final three minutes, missing his lone shot attempt, a three from the corner.

With none of the starters playing in the fourth, Porter Jr. finished with 10 points while shooting 4-13 from the field and 0-5 from deep. Randle also had 10 points along with seven rebound and seven assists. Egor Dëmin struggled as well. The pendulum appeared to swing back the other way today after his redemptive game against Cleveland. Dëmin added just three points while shooting 1-6 from the field and committing three turnovers.

Back-to-backs are always going to be tough, as will getting wins against expected playoff teams for this young Nets squad. However, in a season where it finally felt like winning could be on the table, you can’t help but feel disappointed with an 0-3 start.

The search continues.

Final: Indiana Pacers 136, Brooklyn Nets 109

Milestone Watch

  • Keon Ellis recorded four steals in the first half tonight against Indiana, which tied his career high for steals in a half (fourth time). It is the seventh time that a Net has had 4+ STL in the first half of a game since Shaun Livingston had five on 2/3/14 vs. PHI.

Injury Update

Jordi Fernández confirmed pregame that nothing new has changed or come up with Mikel Brown Jr.’s back. He was held out today purely for precautionary reasons. Fernández said that he’d be “ready to go” next time out. Speaking of…

Next Up

The Nets will play their first inter-divisional game on Tuesday night in Boston. It’ll be the latter half of a back-to-back sequence for the Celtics, so Brooklyn might have a better shot to pull off an upset than the matchup alone indicates. The Nets have lost 11 of their last 12 to the boys from bean town.

Posted on

Former Sharks Defenseman Placed on Waivers by Vancouver

The Vancouver Canucks have placed former San Jose Sharks defenseman Jack Thompson on waivers with the intent of reassigning him to their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks. 

Thompson, a former Tampa Bay Lightning third-round selection in 2020, was originally acquired by the Sharks as a part of the trade that sent Anthony Duclair to Tampa back in 2024. During his time in teal, the now 24-year-old defenseman played 33 games at the NHL level while spending the rest of his stint in the Bay Area with the San Jose Barracuda. 

During his time with the Sharks, Thompson had 10 points (four goals and six assists). Meanwhile, he played 85 games with the Barracuda and registered a total of 35 points in 85 games.

Eventually, the Sharks opted to trade Thompson in a one-for-one deal that saw Jett Woo coming to the Bay Area in an attempt to bolster the Barracuda's blue line with a veteran presence. 

Thompson, who has spent the entirety of his time in the Canucks organization in the NHL, missed training camp and the start of the 2026-27 season due to an injury. Now that he's ready to go, the Canucks are sending him back to Abbotsford, assuming he's able to clear waivers.

Posted on

Jason Robertson scores twice to help the Stars beat the Islanders 6-3

DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson scored twice and the Dallas Stars had a three-goal third period in a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday night.

Robertson’s breakaway at 9:45 of the third period came five minutes after Wyatt Johnston’s tiebreaker. Mikko Rantanen added a goal four minutes after Robertson with his team-high sixth goal of the season.

Tyler Seguin and Justin Hryckowian also scored for the Stars, who have won five consecutive games. Jake Oettinger made 16 saves.

Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Kyle Palmieri and Brayden Schenn scored for the Islanders, who erased three one-goal deficits only to lose two straight (0-1-1) for the first time this season. Ilya Sorokin stopped 32 shots allowing a season high in goals.

Johnston scored from the slot 4:10 into the final period on a feed from Nils Lundqvist. After scoring a career-most 45 goals last season, Johnston has goals in consecutive games after going goalless in his first seven outings.

Sunday marked the Dallas return of Pete DeBoer, who took over the Islanders with four games to play last season. DeBoer was fired by the Stars in June 2025 after losing in the conference finals in each of his three Dallas seasons.

The Stars have 20 straight penalty kills through its last five games, three on Sunday.

The game was Dallas’ third in a six-game homestand and began a three-game Central Division trip for New York.

Hryckowian’s younger brother, Dylan, and fellow forward Matthew Seminoff made their NHL debuts on Dallas' fourth line. The brothers were in the starting lineup.

Up next

Islanders: At Nashville on Tuesday night.

Stars: Host New Jersey on Tuesday night

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here