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Senators Pay For Defensive Breakdowns In 6-2 Loss To Sharks

After Wednesday night's wild and emotional 5-1 victory over Brady Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers, the Ottawa Senators were probably due for a letdown.

And playing again less than 24 hours later certainly didn't help.

The Senators fell 6-2 to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre, although the game was considerably closer than the final score suggests.

Sens head coach Travis Green wasn't pleased with his power play giving up two second period goals (Senators YouTube).

After falling behind 4-1 in the second period, the Senators took complete control of the game, but couldn't capitalize on a steady stream of scoring opportunities.

Tim Stützle and Jordan Spence scored for the Senators, who outshot the Sharks 43-28, including a 17-6 advantage in the third period. Travis Green said after the game that the Sens probably created more chances on Thursday night than they have in any game all year.

Jacob Trouba and Colin Graf each had a goal and an assist for San Jose.

The Senators opened the scoring on Stützle's seventh goal of the season, but Nolan Allan replied five minutes later by roofing a snapshot to tie the game at one.

Things unravelled badly for the Senators in the second period.

Team defence has been one of the club's strengths this season, but it completely deserted them during a disastrous four-minute stretch that saw the Sharks score three unanswered goals.

Tyler Toffoli started the damage at 9:13, when his power play wrist shot from the point deflected off the shaft of Artem Zub's stick and past Samuel Ersson to give San Jose a 2-1 lead.

Then things got ugly with the Senators power play unit getting a little too casual on D.

Graf scored his second of the season, shorthanded, on what should have been a routine two-on-two situation.

But a spectacular miscommunication between Stephen Halliday and Jake Sanderson left Graf completely uncovered as he headed for the far post. He accepted a perfect pass and easily converted to make it 3-1.

The defensive breakdown on Trouba's goal was even worse.

With the Sharks coming off a penalty kill, Graf controlled the puck deep in the Senators' corner. Halliday, Sanderson, and Drake Batherson all decided to converge on him, somehow leaving Trouba completely alone in front of the net.

Graf simply slid the puck to Trouba, who tapped it past Ersson for a 4-1 lead.

The video of that goal might someday find its way into a Hockey Canada coaching clinic as an example of what not to do defensively.

Ersson was making the start in place of Linus Ullmark, and he's going to need to get comfortable in the role quickly. Ullmark is expected to miss at least two weeks with the lower-body injury he suffered against Florida on Wednesday.

To their credit, the Senators didn't fold after falling behind by three. In fact, they dominated much of the remaining game.

Spence cut the deficit to 4-2 with a beautiful wrist shot, and the Senators continued to generate quality chances, particularly during a one-sided third period.

Nobody had worse luck than Batherson.

With a wide-open net staring him in the face, Batherson appeared certain to score. But Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov desperately threw out his glove on a wing and a prayer.

Of all the places Batherson could have shot the puck, he somehow managed to find the geometric centre of Askarov's trapper.

It was that kind of night.

With a late Sharks penalty in the third, the Senators pulled Ersson for a six-on-four advantage.

But the comeback wasn't to be.

Former Senator Zack Ostapchuk scored into the empty net to put the game away, and Ivar Stenberg added another empty-net goal to complete the scoring.

The loss continued a troubling early-season trend for the Senators in back-to-back situations.

They're now 0-3-0 in the second game of back-to-backs this season, matching their total number of losses in those situations from all of last season, when they posted an impressive 9-3-0 record.

The Senators will have Friday to regroup before hosting the New York Rangers on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre. After an emotional high on Wednesday and a frustrating low on Thursday, a day off probably couldn't come at a better time.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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How Milwaukee Brewers fans can get free Miller Lite for World Series Game 1

The Milwaukee Brewers aren't named the Brewers for nothin'!

Molson Coors is celebrating the National League team's second World Series appearance by offering fans a free beer for Game 1 of the Fall Classic on Friday, Oct. 23.

Wisconsin residents aged 21 years or older can purchase a 16-ounce Miller Lite or larger on game day and get reimbursed through the company's rebate program, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Molson Coors is also offering free tours of the Miller Brewery on game day. The company is treating 120 fans to an afternoon tour, which usually costs $20 and includes three beer samples. Each fan will also receive a Miller Lite Brewers hat.

“We can’t think of a better way to toast the Brewers’ incredible run than with beer and tours of the brewery we proudly call home," Alison Hanrahan, community affairs manager for the Miller Brewery, said in a statement.

In the World Series, Milwaukee will take on the Tampa Bay Rays, who are making their third appearance in the title series. Neither team has won a World Series, which means there will be a first-time champion.

The Brewers faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1982 World Series and lost in seven games. That Milwaukee team featured several players who would eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Rollie Fingers, Don Sutton, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and Ted Simmons.

To get to this year's championship matchup, Milwaukee swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. The Brewers previously beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 in the Division Series after finishing the regular season with a 103-59 record, making them the National League's top seed.

The Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series to punch their ticket to the World Series. They powered their way through the ALCS after going down 2-1 early and persevering after Game 4 was postponed due to rain. They were the top seed in the American League and swept the New York Yankees in the Division Series.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Milwaukee Brewers fans can get free Miller Lite for World Series Game 1

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Utah Jazz Injury Report | 10/22/26

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 16: Jusuf Nurkic #30 of the Utah Jazz arrives to the arena before the game against the Phoenix Suns on October 16, 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Utah Jazz released their injury report, and it looks similar to opening night.

It does look like Tony Bradley has a chance to play tomorrow. Or, at least, he’ll be potentially available. Utah struggled with the rebounding battle against the Memphis Grizzlies, and Bradley could provide help with that.

Utah is going to have to be careful with their depth at center at this point because they have a very specific problem. Jaren Jackson Jr. is going to get in foul trouble, it’s just something you should expect at this point. That said, it means the Jazz need all the rebounding and rim-protection help they can get. That’s why they signed Tony Bradley, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him get minutes at some point, even over Mo Bamba. Utah also needs the entire team to step up their rebounding to fix the issue. Once they do, they’ll likely start clawing their way up the standings.

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Andrew Friedman claps back at narrative that Dodgers dynasty has ended

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani walking to the dugout, Image 2 shows A man speaks at a press conference during the National League Championship Series, Image 3 shows A distressed Los Angeles Dodgers fan holds his head in his hands during a baseball game

The Dodgers’ collapse in the postseason has brought the organization to a crossroads.

After assembling one of the best rosters in baseball, the back-to-back World Series champions were swept in the National League Championship Series by the Brewers.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman pays no attention to the discourse surrounding the Dodgers’ dynasty and whether the golden era of baseball in Hollywood is over.

“I welcome it… everything we do is for our fans and there’s a lot of noise around us. We don’t really pay much attention to it, it’s a partnership we feel with our fans,” Friedman said.

“People saying that we’re done and we’re on the downside of this run — it’s just more noise to us.”

Andrew Friedman, President of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks to the media prior to game one of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Getty Images

The Dodgers spared no expense last offseason in their efforts to create a roster that could achieve the three-peat. Kyle Tucker joined LA on a four-year, $240 million deal, and Edwin Diaz signed with the Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million contract.

But the Dodgers ultimately fell short and the team has several question marks ahead of the winter. For one, the aging roster will likely have to get younger this offseason, which means fan favorites may not return or could be traded.

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani walks to the dugout after striking out during the seventh inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Los Angeles Dodgers fans watch during the ninth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

At age 32, Shohei Ohtani intends to be a two-way player throughout the entirety of 2027. Though Ohtani was a top player in the National League throughout the regular season, he was not himself in the playoffs.

The Dodgers also have several free agents hitting the open market, potentially impacting the impending roster reconstruction ahead of the 2027 season.

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Jacob Misiorowski's velocity intact, strikeouts down so far in playoffs

The Milwaukee Brewers will have their ace on the mound as the 2026 World Series gets underway on Friday, Oct. 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Flamethrowing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, a near-lock for the National League Cy Young award, will look to give the Brewers an early advantage in their quest to win the first World Series in franchise history.

While Milwaukee has won both of Misiorowski's first two postseason starts, he's been far from the overpowering pitcher he was in the regular season.

Against both the Padres and Dodgers, the 24-year-old was unable to get through five innings while throwing 88 and 94 pitches and giving up a total of three earned runs.

What can we expect from The Miz in this year's World Series?

Jacob Misiorowski stats

Misiorowski was incredibly dominant during his 30 regular-season starts in 2026.

He tied for third in the majors this season with 16 wins, but perhaps the most eye-opening stat is that his ratio of walks plus hits to innings pitched (WHIP) was the lowest by a major league starter since Pedro Martinez in 2000.

  • Record: 16-5
  • ERA: 1.80 (led majors)
  • WHIP: 0.80 (led majors)
  • Strikeouts: 252 (led majors)
  • Strikeouts per 9 innings (K/9): 13.0 (led majors)

In addition, Misiorowski's four-seam fastball averaged 100.6 mph this season, the highest by far of any major league starting pitcher.

More: Milwaukee braces for first World Series in generations: 'People are losing their minds'

Jacob Misiorowski in the 2026 postseason

Granted it's a very small sample, but Misiorowski has a 3.24 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in his two playoff starts, both no-decisions.

Perhaps the main reason he hasn't been as dominant as he was during the 2026 regular season, as MLB.com's David Adler points out, is that he hasn't been racking up swinging strikes anywhere near as often.

Misiorowski threw his fastball 60% of the time during the regular season, more often than any other starting pitcher. He also got swings and misses on an incredible 40% of his four-seamers. But in two postseason starts, that whiff rate has dropped to 16% as Padres and Dodgers hitters excelled at fouling those pitches off − even though 96 of his 122 fastballs were clocked at 100 mph or higher.

How successful Misiorowski is at getting Rays hitters to swing and miss could be one of the keys to Game 1.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jacob Misiorowski's velocity intact, strikeouts down so far in playoffs

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Game Preview: Knicks at Celtics, October 23, 2026

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Mitchell Robinson #4 of the Boston Celtics is introduced before the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 14, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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

Remember the good old days of just caring about diamond rings, roughly 70 square feet of fabric and the feelings of Ariel Hukporti? Yeah, me neither. It’s what a loss against the Philadelphia 76ers on Banner Night at Madison Square Garden can do to you. It functions as a stark reminder that the new NBA season is upon us and the Knicks somehow have to find a way to let the past be the past and kick some serious you-know-what in the present. On Friday night in Boston, though, it will once again be hard to keep the nostalgia at bay. Even if Mitchell Robinson is not wearing the orange and blue anymore.

The former longest-tenured Knick has moved on to (not so) greener pastures and now starts for one of New York’s biggest rivals a good 200 miles up north. There’s probably no Knicks fan out there who won’t have some weird feeling in their stomach seeing the “Blockness Monster” in a uniform we’ve all been brought up to hate. And if I had to guess, I’d bet that Mr. Robinson puts in quite an effort on the glass tonight. Maybe Mitch even offers a glimpse of an expanded “bag,” as people like to call it these days. He’ll want to show his former team what they’re missing without him and prove to the Land of the Leprechauns that the $48 million they left for him at the end of the free agency rainbow wasn’t fool’s gold.

Celtics still love their three pointers

In Boston’s season opener, Mitch did not make a great impression on the C’s fanbase. Outside of Paul George, though, few players in green and white did. The Celtics lost at Detroit despite leading by 22 four minutes into the third quarter and by 10 with eight minutes left in the fourth. Somehow, someway, that sounds familiar, doesn’t it? And the Boston Celtics haven’t really changed that much from that incredibly entertaining playoff series they played with your beloved Bockers 17 months ago. Their personnel certainly changed, but in terms of their style of play, it’s still bombs away in Beantown.

Boston’s barrage of threes can overwhelm an opponent, just as it did against the Pistons for roughly three quarters on Tuesday, when the Celtics attempted 42 shots from downtown. Their shooting creates a lot of space to operate, puts a lot of stress on the opposing defense and can turn any game in an instant. That cuts both ways, though, because the Celtics really don’t care if they are up by 20 or down by 20. They just keep shooting, and sometimes they shoot themselves in the foot. They certainly did at Detroit, where they let a shell-shocked Pistons team right back into the game with quick shots, nonexistent floor balance and bad transition defense.

The latter part of that contest was especially ugly for Boston, as they allowed 39 points in the final quarter. Their lone remaining superstar, Jayson Tatum, had an awful shooting performance and could not steady his teammates. He missed 17 of his 23 shots and did not provide the much-needed dimension his isolation scoring usually gives Boston from the top of the key. After Jaylen Brown was traded to Philadelphia, the Celtics really do not have that many guys who are comfortable creating their own shot. If Tatum isn’t performing at the All-NBA level he reached before his gruesome Achilles injury, it could become a problem all season long.

First road test for the reigning champions

The one big bright spot for Boston was the play of Paul George, who looked like he wanted to turn back the clock to his old Pacer days. His 38 points were the most ever scored by a Celtic in his debut, and he only needed 21 shots to do it. Not many Bostonians were especially excited to subscribe to the Podcast P experience, but this performance eased at least a few of their worries. Joe Mazzulla’s shot-happy system should suit George quite a bit, and maybe he surprises a lot of people with a solid year.

Besides their two big-name wings, Boston will look to Derrick White and Payton Pritchard to provide most of the scoring. White struggled from the floor in Boston’s first-round playoff loss last season, shooting 32.1 percent, while Pritchard remains one of the elite bench energizers in the entire league. The rest of the Celtics’ rotation includes their three centers, Mitch, Luka Garza and Neemias Queta; a bevy of scrappy younger guys like Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh; and elite marksman Sam Hauser. Rookie big Chris Cenac, Mike Conley (yes, he’s still around) and Ron Harper Jr. did not see any action versus Detroit.

Not exactly the scariest bunch on paper, right? Make no mistake, Boston has made a habit of getting consistent results from Mazzulla’s system. They run a professional organization, have a system that more often than not works like a well-oiled machine and have a clear plan for beating their opponent. Tatum is one of the best players in the NBA and surely wants to remind Boston fans that he was the right All-Star wing to build around. So expect a big effort out of him, Mitch and the rest of the Celtics.

For New York, defending the arc and finishing possessions on the glass will be essential, especially with Mitch hunting second chances. Boston’s collapse in Detroit also showed why the Knicks should look to push after misses and take advantage before the Celtics can set their defense. Whatever they throw at New York on Friday won’t surprise our veteran-laden Knickerbockers. But walking into Boston for its home opener and handing the Celtics a second consecutive loss will still be a tall order.

Of course, that’s exactly what we hope to remember from this game. So let’s go Knicks!

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (0-1) at Boston Celtics (0-1)
Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Place: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: Prime Video
Follow: @ptknicksblog (X) and @postingandtoasting (BlueSky)

Injury Report

Devin Carter will miss the game for the Celtics with mononucleosis. As of this writing, nothing of note for the Knicks.

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Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs game preview

SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 8: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the game against the Houston Rockets in the first half at Frost Bank Center on March 8, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Antonio Spurs will do anything to fly under the radar. First, they bribed The Athletic to rank them lower than anyone expected them to finish.

Then they lost their opening game of the season at home to further throw us off the scent.

The Spurs have grown accustomed to being the snake in the grass. They just hang around until you look up and they’ve consumed all the wild rodents and they’re a juggernaut. That was a strategy that worked to perfection in the aughts and earl ‘10s. They spent all season just mind their own business until the Rodeo Road Trip, where they would go on a run (always against subpar Eastern Conference teams) and ramp up in anticipation of the playoffs.

The problem is that the league wants the Spurs front and center. This isn’t your “Pop never says anything and Tim Duncan makes Sydney Sweeney look like someone who can emote” Spurs. This is Victor Wembanyama! This is Dylan Harper! This is Stephon Castle! They can’t hide because everyone wants to see them.

So no, they are not and cannot fly under the radar. Barring health issues for Wemby, they’re going to be a popular preseason pick to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the next ten years. At +300, they’re the second-biggest favorites to win it all this season, at what amounts to a 25% chance. OKC is sitting at just under 30%, for reference. Except the Spurs got better and the Thunder traded away three key pieces. And the Spurs beat OKC last season, including Game 7 in OKC. So anyway, here’s “Wonderwall” they’re my pick to win it all next June.

Tip-off

8:30pm CT

How To Watch

Amazon Prime Video

Injury Report

Rockets

Steven Adams: GTD

Reed Sheppard: GTD

Spurs

De’Aaron Fox: GTD

Keldon Johnson: GTD

Tobias Harris: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

SA -5.5

Check here for updates

Schedule Advantage Counter

Rockets: 0

Opponents: 1

Looking ahead because we can

Tomorrow night in Atlanta against the Hawks

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Lakers vs. Clippers Preview: The season’s first battle of L.A.

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 20 Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball on Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) during the Los Angeles Lakers vs Los Angeles Clippers game on December 20, 2025, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

After kicking off the season with a dominant victory against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers (1-0) will take on the L.A. Clippers (1-0) on Friday. The Clippers are coming off their own strong win over the Sacramento Kings.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. L.A. Clippers

When: 7 p.m. PT, Oct 23

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

The purple and gold couldn’t have asked for a better way to begin the new season.

Luka Dončić was dominant, Austin Reaves picked up where he left and, oh my goodness, Walker Kessler was incredible. The Lakers delivered commendable two-way basketball most of the night, with their role players stepping up and fitting seamlessly into the mix.

The best part about the team’s first win is that they have so much to build on and improve. Can we highlight how often and easily everyone was at getting to the rim? The Lakers scored 66 points inside the paint compared to the Warriors’ 56. They may have shot just 22.2% from the 3-point line and nabbed seven fewer rebounds, but they beat them in transition as well.

Granted, the Warriors were down two starters, but that win offered plenty of reasons for optimism and should give the Lakers added confidence heading into their matchup against their crosstown rivals.

A new era for the Clippers

Like the Lakers, the Clippers ushered in a new era this offseason without Kawhi Leonard. They technically can’t be considered a rebuilding team because they simply don’t have incentive to tank. What they’ve put together this offseason can be considered a competitive team on paper but even that offers little optimism for their future.

The Clippers, as we speak, also have multiple injuries. Brandon Ingram is dealing with a partially torn right Achilles tendon, Max Strus with the plantar fascia in his right foot and Bradley Beal with an inflamed knee. So as of right now, the Clippers’ best player is Darius Garland, who is coming off a great 30-point outing against the Kings.

A different kind of matchup

This Clippers team will be a tougher matchup for the Lakers than the Warriors because they’re more complete at every position. With Isaiah Jackson and Brook Lopez anchoring their frontcourt, it’ll be interesting to see how Kessler handles this matchup.

Not to mention, former Laker Rui Hachimura will be on the other side as well and, knowing the 6’8” ft forward, he’s going to be extra energized for this one.

That said, the Lakers still have a good chance of winning this matchup just because they’re the more talented team. It’s difficult to envision a team lacking the necessary defensive personnel containing Dončić, Reaves, and Kessler all at once. With a more talented supporting cast, the purple and gold should be well-equipped to maintain their level of play.

A Ty Lue-coached team will always bring it against the Lakers and it’ll up to the latter to rise to the challenge and bring that same energy. Let’s see if the Lakers can carry the momentum from their season-opening win into Friday’s first Battle of L.A.

Notes and Updates

  • Speaking of what we hope to see, remember, Clippers guard Kris Dunn and Luka have had their fair share of spats over the years. Perhaps Dunn can pull a Yaxel Lendeborg because a riled-up and feisty Luka is always fun to watch.
  • The Lakers are facing another Pacific Division team, which means this game becomes a little more important. It’s worth keeping track of throughout the season because division wins come in handy when playoff seedings shake out.
  • For the Lakers’ injury report, Cameron Carr (right oblique strain) and Adou Thiero (left knee effusion) remain out. Jake LaRavia (right ankle sprain) is questionable.
  • Meanwhile, the Clippers list Bradley Beal (right knee management), Brandon Ingram (right heel surgery), Jordan Miller (left rotator cuff surgery) and Max Strus (right plantar fascia tear) and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right lisfranc surgery) as out.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

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Penguins blank Panthers 4-0, spoiling Black’s debut

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh’s Arturs Silovs stopped 25 shots to spoil the history-making debut of Florida counterpart Cooper Black as the Penguins beat the Panthers 4-0 on Thursday.

Black, who at 6-foot-9 became the tallest goalie ever to appear in an NHL regular season game, made 18 saves but it wasn’t enough to stop the Panthers from dropping their second game in as many nights.

Nick Robertson scored twice for Pittsburgh. Hendrix Lapierre and Evgeni Malkin both finished with a goal and an assist as the Penguins shook off a miserable Western Conference road trip in which they were badly outplayed in losses to Chicago, Colorado, Vegas and Utah.

The trip ended with 19-year-old forward Ben Kindel collapsing on Tuesday during the flight back to Pittsburgh. Kindel spent the night in a Salt Lake City hospital for observation and returned to the Penguins’ facility on Thursday. The team placed him on injured reserve but is hopeful may be able to return to practice as early as next week.

Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse shuffled his lines in hopes of a spark, and the Penguins responded by solving the towering Black, a 25-year-old from Michigan, three times.

Black, called up from Florida’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte recently after Jacob Markstrom sustained a shoulder injury, was sharp early as the Panthers struggled to find their legs a night after an emotionally charged loss in Ottawa.

DEVILS 4, DUCKS 1

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Arseny Gritsyuk and Nico Hischier scored first-period goals, Nico Daws made 16 saves and New Jersey beat Anaheim.

Anthony Mantha restored the two-goal lead with 6:33 left in the third, and Jack Hughes added an empty-netter with 6.1 seconds remaining. New Jersey won its second straight to improve to 6-4-0, while Anaheim dropped its fifth in a row to fall to 4-6-0.

Gritsyuk and Hischier each scored their fifth goal of the season, with Jesper Bratt assisting on both scores. Hughes assisted on Gritsyuk’s goal.

Tim Washe scored for Anaheim on a tip at 8:20 of the third period. Ville Husso made 25 saves for the Ducks.

Gritsyuk opened the scoring at 4:38 of the first, connecting from close range off Bratt’s centering pass. Hischier scored off a rebound on a power play with 41 seconds left in the period.

BRUINS 6, PREDATORS 0

BOSTON (AP) — Michael DiPietro made 28 saves for his first career shutout, David Pastrnak had two goals and two assists, and Boston cruised to a victory over Nashville.

Charlie McAvoy had a career-high four assists for Boston, and Casey Mittelstadt, Elias Lindholm, JJ Peterka and Mark Kastelic also scored.

Pastrnak leads the Bruins in goals (six) and assists (10). Boston improved to 6-0-1 in its last seven games, with the only loss coming Tuesday in overtime at Dallas to conclude a four-game trip.

Justus Annunen stopped 25 shots in first start for Nashville since last season. The Predators have lost four of five.

The Bruins went ahead 3:49 into the game when Pastrnak sent a cross-ice pass to Mittelstadt, who fired it past Annunen’s right shoulder.

Lindholm made it 2-0 on the power play later in the first. Pastrnak scored midway through the second when he deflected McAvoy’s shot past Annunen, and the Bruins captain assisted on Peterka’s goal late in the period.

Pastrnak capped the scoring with 5 minutes remaining and became the eighth player in Bruins history with 20 career four-point games.

SHARKS 6, SENATORS 2

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Colin Graf had a goal and an assist, Yaroslav Askarov stopped 39 shots and San Jose beat Ottawa for its first regulation victory of the season.

Nolan Allan, Tyler Toffoli, Jacob Trouba, Zack Ostapchuk and Ivar Stenberg also scored for the Sharks (6-4-1).

Tim Stutzle and Jordan Spence scored for Ottawa (7-4-0). Samuel Ersson made 23 saves.

Ottawa placed goalie Linus Ullmark on injured reserve Thursday after he suffered a lower-body injury a night earlier.

Spence scored at 6:24 of the third period to make it a two-goal game.

The Senators pulled Ersson while on the power play with under four minutes remaining, but Ostapchuk took advantage of a giveaway and scored an empty-net goal.

Stenberg added a second empty-netter to round out the scoring.

MAPLE LEAFS 5, RANGERS 4

TORONTO (AP) — Troy Stecher scored with 26.3 seconds left in regulation and Toronto outlasted the New York Rangers for its third straight victory.

Brandon Duhaime had a goal and two assists, and Teddy Blueger, Kirill Marchenko and Easton Cowan also scored for Toronto (6-4-2).

Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves. Zack MacEwen added two assists. Blueger also had an assist for a two-point night.

Mika Zibanejad, with a goal and an assist, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tye Kartye and Alexis Lafreniere replied for New York (7-4-1), which got 31 stops from Dylan Garand. Adam Fox had four assists.

Stecher’s winner came on a delayed penalty after he took a pass from Morgan Rielly and ripped a high shot.

Bobrovsky tied former Rangers star Henrik Lundqvist for the most wins by a non-North American goalie with 459.

KINGS 3, ISLANDERS 2, OT

NEW YORK (AP) — Artemi Panarin had two goals, Brandt Clarke scored in overtime and Los Angeles won a second consecutive game, beating the New York Islanders.

The Kings have back-to-back victories after losing their first six games. They were the final NHL team without a win before defeating Washington on Tuesday night.

LA was outplayed for much of the Islanders game and outshot 43-26. Panarin beat rusty backup Semyon Varlamov glove side twice, and Darcy Kuemper kept making stops even as his rebound control was lacking, finishing with 41 saves.

Kuemper cracked for the first time with just under six minutes left in the second period when rookie Victor Eklund’s shot squeezed through on a power play. Islanders face of the franchise Matthew Schaefer wired a wrist shot by Kuemper 7:06 into the third.

Clarke scored the winner with 2:18 left in 3-on-3 OT after he and his teammates possessed the puck for several shifts in a row.

BLUES 6, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Justin Barron had a goal and three assists, Dylan Holloway had two goals and an assist and St. Louis beat Vegas.

Jimmy Snuggerud had a goal and an assist and Pavel Buchnevich and Mason McTavish also scored for the Blues, who improved to 3-0-1 at Enterprise Center this season. Joel Hofer made 27 saves.

Brett Howden and Jack Eichel scored and Aidan Hill made 25 saves for the Golden Knights, who dropped their second straight game.

Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner didn’t play because of what the club called “a family matter.” His wife, Stephanie, was due to give birth to their second child, someone with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the specific reason wasn’t announced.

Marner has a seven-game point streak and has recorded 12 points in 11 games for the season. Alexander Holtz replaced him in the lineup.

STARS 3, JETS 2, OT

DALLAS (AP) — Roope Hintz scored on a breakaway 3:47 into overtime after his game-tying goal with 2 minutes left in regulation and Dallas beat Winnipeg.

Wyatt Johnston scored his first goal of the season for Dallas, after 45 last season, and had an assist. Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen each had two assists.

Rantanen, who two nights earlier had a hat trick for every Stars goal in a 3-2 overtime win against Boston, passed to Hintz from behind the net for the late regulation goal.

Hintz had been denied a tying goal at the end of the second period after he got his stick on a puck from the side of the net behind Stuart Skinner, who made an incredible save reaching back with his glove to smother the rolling puck before it could cross the line.

Skinner finished with 35 saves.

Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor scored goals less than 2 minutes apart in the second period for the Jets, who have lost four one-goal games in a row.

FLAMES 2, WILD 1

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Devin Cooley made 36 saves and Calgary scored two power-play goals in the first period in a victory over Minnesota.

Aydar Suniev scored with 9:11 left in the first and Joel Farabee struck just over three minutes later to help the Flames (3-6-0) win their second straight on home ice.

Michael McCarron scored for the Wild (6-3-2). Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves.

Suniev’s goal, his third of the season, was his first career power-play goal. Farabee beat Wallstedt on a rebound for his first goal of the campaign.

The Flames were without captain Mikael Backlund, who’s listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Former Wild center Ben Jones made his season debut for Calgary.

OILERS 6, HURRICANES 5, SO

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor McDavid forced overtime with a late goal for his fifth point of the night, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had the lone shootout score and Edmonton beat Carolina.

McDavid had two goals and three assists to give him a whooping 31 points in the first 10 games of the season. He joined Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky as the only NHL players to reach the 30-point mark in 10 games or fewer.

Leon Draisaitl also had two goals and three assists, and Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist.

Edmonton tied it with 1:28 and goalie Devon Levi off for an extra attacker. McDavid sent a shot on net that deflected off Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s skate for his eighth goal.

The Oilers (8-1-1) have won three straight and seven of their last eight. Levi made 22 saves.

Jackson Blake, Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Logan Stankhoven and Juuso Valimaki scored for the the Hurricanes (8-2-2). The defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes have lost two of their last three.

Brandon Bussi made 16 saves for Carolina.

RED WINGS 5, CANUCKS 2

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Lucas Raymond scored twice and added an assist to help Detroit give Vancouver its ninth straight loss.

William Wallinder, Michael Rasmussen and Emmitt Finnie also scored for the Red Wings (4-3-3), and Victor Arvidsson and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard each had a pair of assists.

John Gibson stopped four of the five shots he faced in the Detroit net before leaving the game with an upper-body injury. He was replaced by Michal Postava to start the third period and the Czech netminder logged seven stops in his NHL debut.

The Canucks (2-9-1) got a goal and an assist from Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and Elias Pettersson scored his fourth of the season on a first-period power play.

Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen struggled early, giving up three goals in the first nine minutes of the game. He finished with 26 saves.

KRAKEN 5, MAMMOTH 3

SEATTLE (AP) — Mackie Samoskevich scored with 5:25 left, and Seattle, despite blowing a multiple-goal third-period lead for the second game in a row, beat Utah.

The Kraken (7-3-1) carried a 3-1 lead into the third against Utah (7-4-0). On Tuesday. Seattle was up 3-0 heading into the final 20 minutes against Detroit before winning in a shootout, 4-3.

Jordan Eberle and Brandon Montour each had a goal and an assist. Matty Beniers and Frederick Gaudreau also scored, Gaudreau’s going into an empty net with 1:00 left in the game for his team-leading sixth of the season.

Logan Cooley had two goals for the Mammoth, and Vincent Trocheck scored once.

Philipp Grubauer made 33 saves for Seattle.

With the scored tied at 3-3 after each team had a goal taken down in the third on successful offside challenges, Bobby McMann stole the puck near center ice and skated down the left side His shot was deflected wide but the rebound bounced in front of the net. McMann finally got a stick to it, tapping it over to Samoskevich, who pushed it in for his fifth of the year.

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Golden Knights Suffer Second Straight 6-2 Loss, Fall to Blues as Defensive Struggles Continue

The Vegas Golden Knights have gone from dictating games to chasing them, and the defensive breakdowns that surfaced earlier this week followed them on the road Thursday night.

Dylan Holloway scored twice, and the St. Louis Blues defeated Vegas 6-2 at Enterprise Center, handing the Golden Knights consecutive identical-score losses after Tuesday's defeat to Tampa Bay.

Vegas (8-4-0) has surrendered 12 goals in two games, with turnovers, defensive-zone coverage and an inability to sustain momentum emerging as recurring problems.

“I think it's a good opportunity for us all to look in the mirror and know we have to be better as a group,” Jack Eichel said. “I don't want to say concerning, because obviously we know we have it in this room, but you don't want to give up that many goals in back-to-back games.”

Brett Howden and Eichel scored for Vegas, which twice pulled within one goal but couldn't build on either opportunity.

Pavel Buchnevich and Jake Barron gave St. Louis a 2-0 first-period lead before Howden scored at 5:38 of the second. Mason McTavish answered less than three minutes later.

Eichel brought Vegas within 3-2 early in the third, but Jimmy Snuggerud restored the Blues' two-goal advantage before Holloway scored twice to put the game away.

Coach Ryan Craig said his team has drifted from the connected, aggressive defensive structure that helped produce its strong start.

“When you have a chance to close, we want you to go,” Craig said. “The four other guys are reading off you. ... Through the first ten games we had done a real good job and know what that feels like. We've gotten away from it a little bit here now.”

Defenseman Brayden McNabb pointed to the team's slow start and ineffective penalty killing.

“They got to their game right away and we didn't,” McNabb said. “It's humbling the last couple games, so we got to get better.”

Craig said he expects a response rather than allowing two difficult performances to become a larger trend.

“We're not pleased with this. Expect a response,” Craig said. “When we push, we're a good team.”

KEY MOMENT

The Golden Knights twice trimmed a two-goal deficit to one, but St. Louis answered each time. Jack Eichel's goal at 4:08 of the third period made it 3-2, only for Jimmy Snuggerud to restore the Blues' two-goal cushion at 8:21. Dylan Holloway scored just 2:08 later, stretching the lead to 5-2 and effectively ending Vegas' comeback hopes. St. Louis scored three times in the final period, including Holloway's second goal at 16:05.

“We made it 2-1. They made it 3-1. Made it 3-2. They made it 4-2,” coach Ryan Craig said. “Give them credit. They pushed back and responded well when we were able to chip away there.”

KEY STAT

The Golden Knights have surrendered 12 goals in consecutive 6-2 losses after allowing just 24 through their first 10 games. St. Louis scored twice on the power play, while Vegas was outshot 31-29 despite delivering 36 hits to the Blues' 13. The defensive issues have been particularly glaring considering Vegas allowed only six combined goals during its three-game winning streak immediately preceding the losses.

“You don't want to give up six back-to-back games, so that's something we're going to have to look at,” defenseman Brayden McNabb said. “It's humbling the last couple games, so we got to get better.”

WHAT A KNIGHT

Alexander Holtz provided one of the few encouraging developments in his season debut, recording an assist on Brett Howden's goal at 5:38 of the second period. Holtz helped generate offense by attacking the middle of the ice and showing the willingness to battle in traffic that Craig felt was missing from portions of Vegas' overall performance. The Golden Knights struggled to establish a consistent net-front presence against Blues goaltender Joel Hofer, who finished with 27 saves, but Holtz's energy stood out.

“I thought Holtzy had some jump,” Craig said. “Attacked the interior of the ice, went right in there with Carly and Howie and did a good job. One of our better players tonight.”

UP NEXT

The Golden Knights continue their road trip Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 4 p.m. PT. Vegas will look to avoid its first three-game losing streak of the season after opening 8-2-0. The immediate priorities are improving defensive-zone coverage, eliminating turnovers that fuel opposing rushes and restoring the aggressive five-man structure that characterized the team's early success.

“We're not pleased with this. Expect a response,” Craig said. “We're gonna get a lot of teams' best games on each and every night because of what these guys have accomplished here last season. So we have to be ready for that push.”

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) makes a save against St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg (6) during the second period at Enterprise Center.

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Sixers Bell Ringer: Philadelphia completes historic comeback to top Cavaliers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers react during the fourth quarter of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Regular Season Bell Ringer Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 1

Following a first half that saw the Philadelphia 76ers turn the ball over 14 times and trail Cleveland by as many as 29 points, the Sixers team we dreamed about all summer re-emerged in the second half. The Sixers ratcheted up the defensive intensity four or five notches, and were flying all over the court, scoring 14 fast break points in the third quarter alone as part of a 37-point frame. They kept up the intensity in the fourth and hit a number of clutch shots down the stretch to keep the Cavaliers at arms-length for a 114-106 win. The 29-point comeback was the largest for the Sixers in the play-by-play era, the worst lead blown by the Cavaliers during the same time period, and the biggest comeback of LeBron James’ career (which has been going on for quite some time in case you’re just checking in). The Sixers move to 2-0 and that second half provided us with a glimpse of what sort of ceiling is possible with this squad.

Tyrese Maxey: 32 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives around Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

You can make a very credible argument that Tyrese Maxey was the best player on both ends of the court tonight. Tyrese was once again the most consistent scoring threat for the Sixers, flying up and down the floor, sometimes stopping and popping from three, but more often streaking all the way to the cup for crafty finishes around the rim. Philadelphia is running so many of their actions through him as the clear focal point of the offense. But the defensive end was probably where he changed the game even more. In the second half, Maxey started pressuring James Harden full-court, completely taking the Beard out of the game and disrupting Cleveland’s offensive rhythm. Harden got so frustrated that there was a sequence at one point where the former close teammates exchanged some shoves, leading to a bit of a scuffle between the two sides. It’s amazing that Tyrese has the juice to go full pedal to the metal on both sides of the ball for over 40 minutes.

Joel Embiid: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover

PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 22: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 22, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Like many of the Sixers, Joel had a shaky first half of action. But he found his offensive rhythm after halftime, scoring 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 from the foul line. With the Sixers within striking distance in the fourth quarter but trying to do the always difficult thing of getting over the top following a long comeback, it was Joel who took over the game. Embiid went on a personal 7-0 run in a little over a minute, turning a six-point deficit into the Sixers’ first lead of the game at 96-95. He later hit a tough fadeaway over Jarrett Allen in crunch time to extend the lead to six points, capping off what was a scoring exhibition in the fourth.

Jaylen Brown: 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 22: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For the second straight game, I was impressed with Brown’s defensive intensity. He is taking on tough assignments, and you can see the effort he’s providing and how locked in he is on that end. One play I loved that won’t end up in the box score was Jaylen helping off his man to try and wrestle the ball away from Jarrett Allen around the nail, forcing a jump ball. Then, Brown also had a sequence where he took over the game offensively, taking the baton from Embiid during that fourth-quarter surge. He scored buckets on three consecutive possessions as part of the overall 15-0 Sixers run. It was reminiscent of Jimmy time back when Butler was with the team, where the Sixers could give it to the strong wing in isolation and let him handle the rest in the guts of the game.

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Kings Survive In OT Behind Brandt Clarke's Heroics

After starting the season 0-4-2, the Los Angeles Kings (2-4-2) have now won two impressive back-to-back road games, defeating the Washington Capitals on Tuesday and, today, winning a thrilling overtime match against the New York Islanders. 

The fear was that the way Los Angeles had been playing to start the season, this five-game road trip starting on Tuesday would potentially end their season because of how horrid they've looked, and traveling on the road against quality teams would drop them to potentially 0-10. 

Forward Artemi Panarin showcased his presence and reminded everyone why he's still an impactful player in the league, finishing with two goals and two points, putting the Kings' offensive engine under his belt. 

After nearly blowing a two-goal lead, the visiting team took care of business in the extra period, with Brandt Clarke scoring the game-winner to give the Kings a 3-2 win at UBS Arena. 

"These are vital points. We don’t want to drop these; we want to capitalize on our chances, Clark said after getting a 3v3 win. "The coaches emphasized capitalizing and crisscrossing, as Juice and I did there. We’ve been working on it. I was happy to capitalize.”

New York outshot and outscored LA on the power play throughout the game, which isn't a surprise given how poor the Kings' shot selection and power play have been to start the season.

Still, the Kings prevailed, with Clarke's clutch overtime goal and goaltender Darcy Kuemper having a great night, finishing with 41 saves on 43 shots, including several big saves in the final period and overtime. 

What the Kings have got in these back-to-back victories is an offense that's looking increasingly comfortable, especially the Panarin-Adrian Kempe-Quinton Byfield line, despite missing tonight's game with injury, and a defense that's looking more organized. 

LA jumped to a 2-0 first-period lead on back-to-back goals from Panarin, putting pressure on New York at home to crawl back. We headed into the second and third periods, where the Islanders each scored one goal to tie the score 2-2. 

It looked like the Kings would blow another lead, as they've been accustomed to in seasons past, especially in overtime, but this time they stayed calm and let Kempe drop the pass to Clarke, who finished the play to end the game. 

Los Angeles will continue its five-game road trip against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at 12:30 PM. 

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The Suns are on the wrong side of history

PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 21: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns talks with Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We all witnessed a basketball atrocity in the Suns’ season opener.

Portland scored the first 21 points of the game. The Suns lost before they even scored a single point. Phoenix didn’t get on the board until Devin Booker went to the free-throw line with 5:54 left in the first quarter, and the Suns didn’t make a field goal until Oso Ighodaro dunked with 4:27 to go. After 12 minutes, it was 43-12.

The final at Moda Center on Wednesday night was 124-83. A 41-point loss to open the 2026-27 season, with the Suns trailing by as many as 52.

Phoenix finished at 35.7% from the field and 6-of-31 from three. Damian Lillard, playing his first regular-season game for Portland in 1,310 days, dropped 25 and matched the Suns’ team three-point total alone with 6 of his own. It was rare territory we entered. Just how rare, you ask?

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The History

So here’s the question every Suns fan is asking this morning. Has a team ever lost its season opener by more than 40 and still made the playoffs? The answer is yes. Exactly once.

According to Basketball Reference, over the past 50-plus seasons, only six teams in NBA history have lost their own season opener by more than 40 points, and two of them joined the list on Wednesday night.

The Miami Heat are the only team that made the playoffs after a 40+ point loss in their opener. And it was actually on their ring ceremony night, which is an incredible nugget I found looking this up. That Heat team ended up getting swept by that same Bulls team that spanked them on opening night in the 1st round of the playoffs that year.

The Chicago Bulls joined Phoenix in the club last night, after getting smacked by 43 points to the Raptors in their season-opener.

Now, this is a verysmall sample size of teams, but the fact that it’s that short a list tells you everything you need to know about how rare it is. Blowouts like this happen in the NBA, but rarely ever on opening night. To people saying it’s just one game, it is. But it was one of the worst “one games” in NBA history given the context of the season opener.

Especially after we heard about continuity, how the team was in the gym together all summer, etc., all offseason and on Media Day.

You’ll notice the Suns are on this list twice, with both games coming against the Blazers. I was in the building for that one, unfortunately.

The Suns got humbled. Plain and simple. Now, it’s about how they respond. We will learn a lot about this team on Saturday night based on how they respond.

The energy needs to be better. The effort needs to be better. The ball movement. The shot selection. The defense. The communication. All of it needs to be better.

They have two full days off before hosting the Golden State Warriors in Phoenix on Saturday night. Which version of the Suns will we get? Either way, it will tell us a lot.

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Diving deeper into Cavs opening-night collapse against 76ers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 22: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2025-26 season effectively ended when they squandered a double-digit fourth-quarter lead to the eventual champions. Fittingly, they started this season by blowing a 29-point lead to a Philadelphia 76ers team that could become the eventual champions.

Three stars of the game

First star: Tyrese Maxey

32 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

The Sixers came out flat and struggled to establish any kind of momentum after an emotional victory on Tuesday against the New York Knicks. They could’ve rolled over after they fell behind by 29 points, but their best player kept fighting.

Maxey’s energy and effort in the first half kept the game somewhat manageable. Then, his shot-making in the third and fourth quarters helped close the gap and get them over the hump.

LeBron James’s decision to go to Philadelphia was a bet on Maxey being ready to take the next step forward and become a top-tier star in this league. Through two games, he has to feel good about that gamble.

Second star: LeBron James

17 points, 5 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 steals

James wasn’t spectacular on the court. The days of him single-handedly taking over games are long behind him — yet few players influence winning more than he does.

LeBron used to control the game with the ball in his hands. He would dictate the matchup he wanted and bend his opponent to his will. Now, he does the same thing by being a chess master behind each move, without being the one actually making every play.

Here, James deferred to his teammates when he needed to, he told the defense where to go to take away Cleveland’s bigs, and he picked his spots to score when they were there.

The Sixers needed a steadying presence when things got tight. James provided that with consistent high-IQ plays on both ends. And in the process, he also showed why this Cavs team desperately needed James to choose them last summer.

Third star: Donovan Mitchell

32 points, 3 assists, 10 rebounds, 2 steals

Mitchell was phenomenal this game. He’s a world-class scorer who proved that once again in a showcase game. Thirty-two points on 19 shot attempts is impressive work, especially when you only take four three-pointers.

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Dud of the game

James Harden

16 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 6 turnovers

Talent hasn’t been an issue for the Cavs — a lack of composure in big moments has. The same thing could be said about Harden’s career.

Harden isn’t known for being a clutch player, but the Cavs hoped at the time of the trade that he could help organize the offense when things were getting away from them in big moments. Unfortunately for Cleveland, he didn’t do that in Game 1 against the Knicks and didn’t do that here in front of a raucous Philadelphia crowd.

The Cavs needed their point guard to settle the storm in the second half, yet he couldn’t. Harden turned it over four times in the final two quarters, and wasn’t an impactful scorer. On top of that, he wasn’t able to get the bigs involved at all after both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley had tremendous first halves before disappearing from the offense. The blame for that falls squarely on the point guard.

One regular season game shouldn’t be a referendum on Harden or this team, but it’s difficult to ignore the pattern that’s been developing for years now.

Cavalier that deserves a shoutout

Mario Hezonja

10 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

Hezonja showed how useful he could be. He created mismatches in the post, leading to easy baskets whenever he got a smaller guard matched onto him. That opened up what was at times a stagnant offense.

On top of that, he held up well defensively as he used his frame to stay in front of opponents in space.

This was a solid debut for a player the Cavs hope can provide consistent bench contributions like this.

Play of the game

In the first half, the Cavs did a great job of recognizing mismatches and then continually exploiting them whenever they could. This was seen most in how they hunted Joel Embiid in the pick-and-roll, but it also came through in their insistence on getting the ball to their forwards when they had a mismatch in the post.

Here, Peyton Watson sees that Allen has a shorter Jaylen Brown on him and gets the ball to him quickly before Embiid can get back into the play.

On it’s on, this play isn’t spectacular, but it could be emblematic of an overall shift the Cavs are trying to implement. If you see a mismatch, exploit it.

Quote of the day

“We were anticipating and excited [to land James] and then you have that [news]. Having gone through free agency a lot, when you’re expecting something to happen and it doesn’t happen, that first day or two, you’re just like, you’re depressed, quite honestly. That’s the emontions of it.”

– Kenny Atkinson on LeBron James choosing the Sixers instead of the Cavs

The result of this game was also pretty depressing for the Cavs.

Stat of the game

Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combined for 18 shot attempts and 29 points in the first half. In the second half, they combined for just five shot attempts and three points.

Allen and Mobley were one of the main reasons the Cavs were up by double digits throughout the first half. Philadelphia didn’t have an answer for them inside, and the guards were consistently looking to get them the ball whenever they had an opening. And then in the second half, the guards seemed to forget that the bigs existed.

The Cavs have consistently been at their best when they’re forcing the ball inside to their bigs. Their three-point shooting and entire offense flow from playing inside out. When that goes away — as it consistently has late in big games — things can become far too stagnant offensively.

There’s no excuse for this team forgetting about the Allen and Mobley this far into this core’s time together.

This game will be remembered for the blown lead

The Cavs had a chance to make an emphatic statement against a Sixers team that should be a title contender. They also had an opportunity to prove to LeBron that he made the wrong choice by going to Philadelphia instead of heading back home.

For two quarters, it looked like they were going to deliver both fronts. They jumped out to a 29-point lead, showing everyone the immense talent that they have. Then, they confirmed why the national media didn’t take them seriously in the run-up to the season.

The Cavs can’t be trusted with leads in big moments. They showed us a preview of that last Christmas against the Knicks before repeating it in Game 1 of the Conference Finals. And now, they’re starting this campaign exactly where they left off the last one.

This isn’t a contrived narrative. It’s a reality the Cavs have created for themselves, and only they can change that.

Losing on opening night means very little in the grand scheme of things. However, how they lost does. Every time they drop a big game like this, it becomes that much easier to lose the next one.

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Rays make surprise World Series Game 1 starter decision

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez throws a pitch against the New York Yankees, Image 2 shows Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen reacts on the field during a game against the Cleveland Guardians

It won’t be Rays ace Drew Rasmussen taking the mound in Game 1 of the World Series.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash made the surprising decision to give the ball to Nick Martinez for Friday’s Fall Classic opener against the Brewers, opting to give Rasmussen an extra day of rest before his likely Game 2 start.

“He’s had a pretty thick workload here,” Cash said of Rasmussen’s playoff usage, according to ESPN. “We’ve relied on him heavily. We know when he takes the ball, we’re trying to get the full-pitch allotment out of him.”

Drew Rasmussen of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts to a double play during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. Getty Images

Martinez, who posted a 3.10 ERA across 180 innings in the regular season, held the Guardians to one run over 5⅓ innings in his last postseason outing. 

“It’s exciting,” Martinez said. “I think as a team, as a staff, we’re confident in whoever we call up to the mound. It fell on me, and my job is just to rack up as many outs as we can and keep us in this ballgame.”

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez (28) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Friday, May 22, 2026, in the Bronx borough of New York. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Martinez, 36, came to Tampa Bay after signing a one-year, $13 million deal over the offseason and has enjoyed a career year in his first season as a full-time starting pitcher. 

He will start opposite Milwaukee flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski, who is a heavy favorite for the 2026 National League Cy Young award after leading the majors in both ERA (1.80) and strikeouts (252).

Rasmussen has tossed a team-high 21 innings this October, including seven innings of one-run ball in his most recent outing in Game 5 of the ALCS on Oct. 18, meaning he will have a full five days of rest if he does indeed take the mound in Game 2 on Saturday.

The move also allows Freddy Peralta, the likely Game 3 starter for the Rays, an extra day of rest.