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In a battle of little things, Brewers did the big thing to beat Dodgers in NLCS Game 1

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 11: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers runs home to score and take the lead in the fifth inning during Game One of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

A pair of long inning cut short the promised battle of aces in Game 1 of the National League Championship, but the overall adage that runs would be hard to come by still proved true. Both teams scratched across a single run in their big innings, but the Brewers added a solo home run which was the difference in a 2-1 win over the Dodgers on Sunday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

Tarik Skubal struck out six batters his first time through Milwaukee’s batting order, stranding Jake Bauers after a one-out double in the second inning, the only batter to reach base in the first three innings against the left-hander.

Brewers second baseman Brice Turang made his mark in the field with a tremendous stop and throw well behind the bag to get Mookie Betts in the first inning, then made a lightning-fast turn on a double play which ended a big Dodgers rally in the second.

Then Turang got Milwaukee on the board with a leadoff home run in the fourth inning, going other way to left center field off Skubal to tie the game at 1-1.

The fifth inning was the stressful one for Skubal, with his only two walks of the game. The first one — Garrett Mitchell — was sacrificed to second base then driven home on a single by No. 9-hitter Luis Lara, giving the Brewers their first lead. A single and walk loaded the bases with two outs but William Contreras flew out to strand three.

Skubal escaped the big inning but needed 26 pitches in the fifth alone, and that was his final frame. After his first time through the order, Skubal allowed four hits and two walks to his next 12 batters, with one strikeout.

The Dodgers knew they were in for a battle against likely National League Cy Young Award-winner Jacob Misiorowski, who throws in triple digits more than anyone else and is usually a nightmare to face. They tried a deliberate approach.

“It’s more a little bit conceding the slug, hitting the ball out front, to then seeing the ball a little bit longer to spoil pitches, to shoot the ball the other way. That’s how you’ve got to beat this guy,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Milwaukee before Sunday’s game. “To think you’re going to catch him out front and pull it in the air is bananas.”

This was a plan similar to what the Dodgers used against Chris Sale in Game 3 of the Division Series last Tuesday, and got him out of the game after five innings, with three runs in the bank.

The Dodgers made Misiorowski work, fouling off 21 pitches and running six different three-ball counts, three of the latter in the second inning alone. The Dodgers scored a run in that inning and had the bases loaded but couldn’t get more in a 35-pitch frame by the big right-hander.

Misiorowski needed 94 pitches to get his 13 outs, none of the five innings in which he appeared a clean one, with five singles and three walks allowed. But the Dodgers were only able to plate one run against the Brewers, thanks in part to grounding into three double plays in the first five innings alone.

The Dodgers led the National League this season with 128 double plays, third-most in the majors.

In relief

Two Dodgers singled in the sixth inning against Abner Uribe but did not score, and Will Smith walked against Aaron Ashby in the eighth against the Brewers bullpen, with four pitchers combining for 13 outs to close out the game.

Closer Trevor Megill walked Kyle Tucker with two outs in the ninth to keep the game going, then 21-year-old pinch-hitter Josue De Paula did the same to keep the game going. But Mookie Betts flew out to end the game.

Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, and Tanner Scott combined for three scoreless innings of their own, with six strikeouts, with only a single and one unintentional walk allowed (plus two intentional free passes, who were stranded). Scoring against these bullpens should be difficult. Now it’s just a matter of seeing if relative early access to relievers in Game 1 bears fruit later in the NLCS.

But the Brewers got the win in front of them on Sunday, and lead the NLCS, one game to none.

NLCS Game 1 particulars

Home run: Bruce Turang (1)

WP — DL Hall (2-0): 1 batter, 2 outs

LP — Tarik Skubal (1-1): 5 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

Sv — Trevor Megill (3): 1 IP, 2 walks

Up next

Game 2 has an earlier start time on Monday (2 p.m. PT, Fox), with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound against Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson. The NLCS will be two games into their series just before the American League Championship Series begins on Monday night.

Both Yamamoto and Henderson have allowed 18 earned runs since the All-Star break — in 84 1/3 innings over 12 starts with 86 strikeouts for Yamamoto, and in 75 innings over 13 starts with 80 strikeouts for Henderson.

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Milwaukee plays Brewer Ball to land uppercut on Dodgers, grab control of NLCS

MILWAUKEE — It was Milwaukee Brewer baseball on full display Sunday evening, showing the baseball world why they’ve won more games than any team in baseball the past two seasons.

They also showed the Los Angeles Dodgers that this edition of the Brewers won’t be the pushover that embarrassed themselves in the National League Championship Series a year ago.

The Brewers, playing the style of baseball that earned them 103 victories this season, stunned the Dodgers with a 2-1 victory in Game 1 of the NLCS in front of a sellout crowd of 42,617 at American Family Field.

They pitched, with ace Jacob Misiorowski permitting one run in 4 ⅓ innings while their bullpen came in and pitched 4 ⅔ shutout innings.

'Who doesn't like beer?': How Brewers owner built model MLB franchise | Exclusive

The Brewers produced only six hits, but they worked their pesky magic.

They bunted.

They executed the hit-and-run.

They attempted stolen bases.

They even showed they could homer, with second baseman Brice Turang hitting his first postseason longball.

And now, for the first time in five years, the Dodgers are facing a deficit in the NLCS in their bid to become the first National League team to win three consecutive pennants since the 1942-1944 St. Louis Cardinals. And no National League has ever won three consecutive World Series titles.

“I think the organization is fantastic …,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gushed about the Brewers. “They play baseball. They play baseball the way it was intended. They value 90 feet. They take extra bases. They defend well. They're athletic. They prevent runs with really good pitching and then with the defense layered in. They don't give pitches away. They hit to all fields.

“And with that, they're in every game."

The Brewers became the first team to keep two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal from completing six innings in his eight career postseason games. Skubal still showed just why he was the most wanted man at the trade deadline, and why he’ll become the richest pitcher in baseball history this winter when he hits free agency, but the Brewers forced him to throw 81 pitches and beat him playing small ball in the fifth inning.

The Brewers showed off their playbook going ahead in the fifth with Garrett Mitchell drawing a leadoff walk. Rookie Cooper Pratt laid down a sacrifice bunt. And fellow rookie Luis Lara drove in Mitchell by slapping a single up the middle, giving the Brewers a 2-1 lead. They threatened to blow the game open when they loaded the bases, but Skubal escaped the jam when William Contreras flied out to right field.

It was certainly a relief for the Brewers, who badly wanted Skubal, too, at the trade deadline. The Brewers put in what they thought was an aggressive bid, but it just wasn’t as good as the Dodgers’ offer.

“I thought that if they wanted to outbid us, they could," Brewers owner Mark Attanasio told USA TODAY Sports, “”but because of the team they have and the depth of the team they have. It would be easier for them to add that extra prospect.

“The Dodgers run an exceptional organization. Yes, it's not easy to be that exceptional, and they're exceptional in everything. That's not easy. Yeah, they're getting showered with money. Well, why do you think they have all this money? Because they've been so smart in their business."

Certainly, Skubal could still change the fate of this series, with Skubal scheduled to go in Game 5, but Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations, dreaded the idea of having to face Skubal and Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski, too.

“I’m very happy it’s Skubal vs. Miz,’’ Friedman before the game, “and not Miz and Skubal in the next two.’’

Just as the San Diego Padres did in the NL Division Series, the Dodgers copied the same blueprint and also wore down Misiorowski early.

Misiorowski threw 69 pitches just to get through the first three innings – including 35 pitches in the second inning when the Dodgers scored their lone run. They could have blown it open but Enrique Hernandez grounded into a bases-loaded double play to end the inning.

While the Padres fouled off 29 of Misiorowski’s 88 pitches in their game, the Dodgers fouled off 16 of Misiorowski’s first 69 pitches and 21 in the game. Misiorowski, who allowed eight baserunners, threw 94 pitches and lasted just 4 innings.

No problem.

The Brewers turned to their vaunted bullpen, and the firm of DL Hall, Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill closed it out.

“I think the success they've had over the last handful of years, the deepness of their roster,’’ Friedman said, “really stands out. It's hard over 162 to do what they've done. .. I think there's really not a glaring weakness. So 1 through 26, they can beat you in a lot of different ways. Those are the kind of things that I feel like you need in October.

“If you're just reliant on hitting a homer, tough way to live life. They just have so many different ways to do it."

The Dodgers certainly aren’t panicking, not with World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound for Game 2. They also are accustomed to comebacks, down 3 games to 2 to the Toronto Blue Jays in last year’s World Series, only to cross the border going home with a World Series trophy.

“Once you get through the marathon and you get to the sprint of the postseason,’’ Roberts said, “advantage goes to us in the sense of the experience.’’

Then again, now that the Brewers are back in the NLCS, they’re starting to get that experience, too.

“They’re playing with confidence," Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts said, “so that may have been all they needed. To get real experience, and a real taste of it, and now they know what they have to do.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Milwaukee plays Brewer Ball to land uppercut on Dodgers, grab control of NLCS

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Flyers Fans Begin Turning on Rick Tocchet as 7-Game Losing Streak Sets Undesirable Record

What started as an opportunity for the Philadelphia Flyers to change the narrative on their awful season ended in brief but noticeable chants for the club to fire head coach Rick Tocchet, following an uninspired 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes that set a most undesirable franchise record.

Now 0-5-2 with no silver lining or signs of hope, Tocchet's Flyers are now winless through their first seven games of the season, marking the first such instance in franchise history.

This would be a different story, contextually, if the Flyers kept each of those seven losses close, but the two overtime losses are disservices to how badly New Jersey and Carolina outplayed them in those games.

The reality is that, outside of the 2-1 loss to Ottawa on Thursday night, the Flyers have been smacked around the rink on a nightly basis. Effort and "compete" have been constant talking points discussed by the players, Tocchet, and even general manager Danny Briere himself.

That shouldn't happen two weeks into a season, if at all, and it follows a season where the Flyers made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

As much blame as the players should get, as the ones playing the game, equal blame should fall on the shoulders of the coaching staff and front office.

For instance, prospect defenseman Oliver Bonk, who played on Saturday night for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, was called up and immediately pressed to action, getting a jarring wake-up call having to play against the Hurricanes on Sunday.

Placed on the top defense pairing next to Travis Sanheim, the pair was torched for three of the Hurricanes' four goals, with Bonk also getting whistled for two penalties in the first period.

Forward Matvei Michkov is the only Flyers player with multiple goals this season. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)
Forward Matvei Michkov is the only Flyers player with multiple goals this season. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

With Helge Grans still on the roster, it was just plain unnecessary to throw Bonk to the wolves in the manner the Flyers did, even if they do feel he deserves to play games for them going forward.

David Jiricek had given the power play some spark, aiding the team to man-advantage goals in two straight games, but the Flyers again went 0-for-3 against the Hurricanes. The Flyers make scoring goals in the NHL look like a miraculous feat, and their defending and shot suppression are virtually non-existent.

Outside of Joseph Woll, who was in net for all four Hurricanes goals on Sunday, there is not a single bright spot for the Flyers through their first seven games, and that is not hyperbole.

At some point, the Flyers are going to feel even more pressure to make a significant, meaningful change that goes beyond the faint "Fire Tocchet" chants heard hurtling down from the few remaining fans in the building on Sunday night.

Signing Michael Bunting to play him 11:39 a game isn't one of those moves, but it is a move that took NHL reps away from a young Alex Bump, who is supposed to be an important prospect for this team.

And Bump has two goals and an assist in his two games for the Phantoms since returning to the AHL, for what that's worth.

Somehow, some way, the Flyers have to do something, because carrying on like this clearly is not working.

If they don't, they'll subject their building block veterans and youngsters to another losing, meaningless season, which will assuredly have downstream effects when it comes to wanting to compete for a Stanley Cup in the future.

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How did Tarik Skubal pitch in Game 1? Dodgers vs. Brewers stats

Tarik Skubal was tasked with being the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Game 1 starter for the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, Oct. 11.

Skubal’s outing was successful for the Dodgers at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner was brought to Los Angeles with the intention of having him strengthen the pitching depth and rotation for the postseason.

He was acquired by the Dodgers in a blockbuster trade with the Detroit Tigers in early August, sending outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith to Detroit.

Skubal allowed his first hit in Game 1 to right-handed hitter Andrew Vaughn in the bottom of the second inning. Vaughn was eventually left stranded at third base after Skubal struck out Cooper Pratt.

Skubal was dominant to start, striking out six batters through the first three innings. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts replaced Skubal with Alex Vesia to start the bottom of the sixth inning.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy chose to insert Vaughn into the lineup as the designated hitter instead of Christian Yelich, a left-handed batter for the Brewers. The decision was influenced by Vaughn's success against left-handed pitchers such as Skubal.

Here's how Skubal fared in NLCS Game 1 win over the Brewers:

Tarik Skubal stats vs. Brewers

  • Innings pitched: 5
  • Hits allowed: 5
  • Runs allowed: 2
  • Earned runs allowed: 2
  • Walks: 2
  • Strikeouts: 7
  • Pitches thrown: 81
  • Strikes thrown: 53

Tarik Skubal highlights

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How did Tarik Skubal pitch in Game 1? Dodgers vs. Brewers stats

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Ovechkin gets on board, but Kraken get the 5-3 win

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jared McCann broke a tie with 5:27 left and the Seattle Kraken overcame NHL career leader Alex Ovechkin’s first goal of the season to beat the Washington Capitals 5-3 on Sunday night.

Jordan Eberle, Frederick Gaudreau, Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Winterton also scored to help the Kraken improve to 4-2-0. Joey Daccord stopped 33 shots.

On the deciding goal, McCann cut to the middle and beat goalie Logan Thompson on a quick shot. Ryan Winterton iced it with 2:40 left.

Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner also scored for Washington as the Capitals dropped to 3-2-0. Thompson made 22 saves.

After back-to-back penalty kills, Seattle got off to a quick start, with Kakko sneaking in a rebound just 6:06 minutes into the game.

The Capitals responded with two goals in a 5:06 span. First, Kyrou buried a cross-ice feed from Cole Hutson for his first with Washington. Then, after a strong forecheck and forced turnover from brothers Aliaksei and Ilya Protas, Ovechkin got the puck alone in front and sniped a quick shot past Daccord for his 930th NHL goal.

RANGERS 6, CANUCKS 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Ty Kartye and Will Cuylle scored two goals each and Dylan Garand made 19 saves as New York beat Vancouver in their first game since losing goaltender Igor Shesterkin for the season with a knee injury.

Kartye snapped a 2-2 tie with his second goal of the game at 18:25 of the second period and the Rangers went on to win their fourth straight at home to start the season.

Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault also scored for the Rangers, while J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad each had two assists.

Kartye opened the scoring 27 seconds into the contest. Vancouver’s Jake DeBrusk tied it at 17:04 of the first before Cuylle put New York ahead with his first at 2:09 of the second.

Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson scored short-handed at 16:56 of the second to tie the contest again before Kartye’s go-ahead goal.

Lafreniere extended New York’s lead to 4-2 with his team-leading fifth of the season on the power play at 1:04 of the third. Perreault made it 5-2 at 5:57. Cuylle scored again with less than five minutes to play.

HURRICANES 4, FLYERS 1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho each had a goal and an assist and Carolina beat Philadelphia, handing the Flyers their franchise-record seventh straight loss to open the season.

Flyers rookie defenseman Oliver Bonk had a rough second period in his season debut and was a factor in three Carolina goals.

Svecnhikov scored his fourth goal of the season at 10:16 of the second period to open the scoring. Bonk turned it over to former Flyer Sean Walker at the blue line, and Walker fed Svechnikov, who skated into the slot and snapped a wrister past goalie Joseph Woll.

Aho fed a pass through Bonk, who turned around at the side of his own net, to another former Flyer, Shayne Gostisbehere, who banged home his second goal of the season to make it 2-0. Both of Gostisbehere’s goals this season have come against his former team.

Aho later netted his sixth goal of the season on a pass from William Carrier. Svechnikov stripped Own Tippett in the neutral zone and fed Carrier, who blew past Bonk and slid the pass to Aho, who had an open net to shoot and score the Hurricanes’ third goal.

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Brice Turang belts home run as Brewers tie Dodgers in NLCS Game 1

Brice Turang hit a solo home run for the Milwaukee Brewers' first run scored against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, Oct. 11.

Turang hit the homer off Dodgers ace Tarik Skubal in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie game at 1-1.

It was Turang's first home run of the postseason.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brice Turang belts home run as Brewers tie Dodgers in NLCS Game 1

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How did Jacob Misiorowski pitch tonight? NLCS Game 1 stats vs Dodgers

Jacob Misiorowski pumped his fist in the air. After struggling to locate his stuff for most of the night, the Milwaukee Brewers ace got Shohei Ohtani to bite on back-to-back perfectly placed pitches: a 91-mph slider just below the zone that Ohtani would've needed a golf swing for, followed by a 100.8 mph fastball right on the upper inside corner of the plate for strike three to get out of the top of the third inning.

He needed that one.

The Brewers gave the ball to the 24-year-old Cy Young frontrunner in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, trusting him to set the tone for a rematch with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He did just that at first with a 12-pitch first inning, but things quickly unraveled from there.

The Miz's command slipped away from him in the second inning, with the break on his fastball down two inches and his slider down three. The Dodgers, for their part, were more than happy to watch Misiorowski miss the zone. Shohei Ohtani walked on four pitches to lead off the frame; he came around to score the first run of the game on singles from Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages. Kyle Tucker then worked a 10-pitch walk to load the bases, but the Miz was able to get out of the jam by getting Kiké Hernández to ground into a double play to retire the side after throwing 35 pitches.

In addition to issues with his command, Misiorowski struggled to put guys away with two strikes. Furthermore, the MLB's strikeout leader this season couldn't draw swings-and-misses early on with just four total whiffs through his 47 pitches in the first two innings. He started to look more like himself in his final two frames, though, getting five strikeouts but his whiff rate Sunday was still a mere 24%.

Nevertheless, Misiorowski was able to settle in, limiting the damage to just one earned run in 4.1 innings. But with 94 pitches thrown, five hits and three walks allowed in that timeframe, that was the most the Brewers could ask from their ace as the Miz got a standing ovation at American Family Field when he walked off the mound.

DL Hall entered the game in his place, inheritng Mookie Betts on first base with one out in the inning.

Despite not having his best outing, Misiorowski somehow did enough to keep the Brewers in it with Tarik Skubal on the opposite mound. Brice Turang rewarded his efforts with a solo home run off of Skubal to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth.

"As he's matured this year, you've seen huge changes in this kid on how he's handled situations," manager Pat Murphy told reporters pregame. "He's not just excited to get out of the first. He doesn't want to burn any more energy. He wants to get out of the seventh."

A year ago, Jacob Misiorowski wasn't sure if he would make the postseason roster for the Milwaukee Brewers. He did, making three solid outings out of the bullpen before the Brewers were ultimately swept out of the NLCS by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This year, though, Misiorowski emerged as an ace, and one of the best in baseball at that.

If you ask him, not much has changed mechanically over the past year. The Miz is still a flamethrower with a fastball topping out at 105 mph (his first pitch on Sunday was a 102 mph heater), and now he's much more comfortable attacking the strike zone with his stuff. He attributes that to simply being more confident with a year of big league experience under his belt.

"The only thing is confidence," he told reporters on Saturday. "I think that was the big one. Going into last year's postseason, I didn't know if I was going to be on the roster. I didn't know if I was going to make it and help the team. This year they trust me a little bit more. So it's a little easier to get behind yourself."

Here's how Misiorowski fared in Sunday's outing against the Dodgers:

Jacob Misiorowski stats today Dodgers

  • Innings pitched: 4.1
  • Hits allowed: 5
  • Runs allowed: 1
  • Earned runs allowed: 1
  • Walks: 3
  • Strikeouts: 5
  • Pitches thrown: 94
  • Strikes thrown: 60

Jacob Misiorowski highlights

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How did Jacob Misiorowski pitch tonight? NLCS Game 1 stats vs Dodgers

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Karl-Anthony Towns on Knicks tabling contract extension talks: 'It was news to me'

New York Knicks management clearly thought talk about contract extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart were becoming a distraction, so they paused those talks until later in the season.

That move caught Towns off guard, he told James Edwards of The Athletic.

"It was news to me," Towns said. "Very disappointed, to say the least. Let's state the obvious: It's a business, but there is business on the court for us to handle."

Towns hits on a key point: This is a veteran New York roster that is not going to let contract talk or other things distract them. They will be professional and focused.

New York has four players eligible for extensions — Towns, Hart, Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek — but it's Towns and Hart that are drawing attention as the Knicks try to find a way to keep their championship core together while the second apron looms.

Towns is eligible for a four-year, $276 million extension, but he's repeatedly said he is willing to take a discount to help the team — just not as big a discount as the Knicks were thinking. New York reportedly offered four years, $200 million, a $50 million per season average, which is a considerable pay cut from the $57.1 million he will make this season (Towns has a $61 million player option for the 2027-28 season). Towns has said he feels he's earned a payday, coming off a season in which he averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game and was critical to the Knicks winning an NBA title.

The Knicks want to cool the temperature and put negotiations on hold for a little while, and released this statement.

"As an organization, our entire focus is on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of. As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season."

The Knicks just didn't tell Towns about it before they announced it.

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Are the Raptors rebranding to purple jerseys permanently?

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 2 - Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) celebrates a teamates basket as the Toronto Raptors will retire Vince Carter's jersey on a night they play the Sacramento Kings at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. November 2, 2024. (Photo by Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images

The 2027-28 season is a year away from starting, and yet, there may already be something to be hopeful about for Raptors fans.

On Sunday, Twitter account ProLine Mockups has announced that according to their sources, the Toronto Raptors will be among four NBA teams to receive major overhauls to their jersey lineups.

The Raptors in particular are described as about to change the colour of their Statement Edition jerseys from black, to purple. Most recently worn during Game 5 of the playoffs last year (which the Raptors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers), these jerseys with the staggered letters were first introduced in 2020.

Meant to merge old and new design elements, combining the team’s modern look with the pinstripes of their original dinosaur jerseys, these jerseys have been a mainstay of Toronto’s look for the entirety of the 2020s.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 29: Ja'kobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates during the second quarter of Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on April 29, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

However, it seems that this jersey’s darkness will be giving way to the traditional royal purple. And while it’s not new for the Raptors to wear purple jerseys as alternates, making Toronto’s Statement Edition purple means that the colour will yet again become a semi-permanent part of the team’s brand. NBA’s LockerVision site explains this, noting that Statement jerseys are “core uniforms… on-court for multiple seasons.” This means that Purple Fever could be hear to stay.

Journalist Zulfi Sheikh posted a mockup of the potential jerseys, showing what a simple colour swap would look like. ProLine, the originators of this rumour, did not suggest that the Raptors would fully reincorporate new branding centred around a dinosaur of any kind, so this conservative approximation is the most realistic concept of new jerseys based on the most up-to-date information.

This would be a step in the right direction for the Raptors, who have retained the “chevron” jerseys as their main look for multiple years, despite some very popular City Editions coming and going, with both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 looks bringing back the Raptor mascot in a prominent fashion.

There seems to be overwhelming public admiration for the purple dinosaur jerseys of the 1990s, which the Raptors are resistant to embrace despite a resurgence of throwback looks across the league. And while ProLine’s reporting does not suggest that fans will get to see that look back in a major way anytime soon, this is certainly an improvement over more red and black.

Regarding the veracity of these claims, ProLine refused to name their source of information, but, have a record of accuracy regarding such information. In 2025, they correctly predicted the revamped Rockets and Timberwolves jerseys for the 2026-27 season. While the return of the Hawk’s classic bird logo was incorrectly suggested, ProLine explained that the idea ended up going unused, despite a leak of the jerseys in the 2K video games.

So, it seems that the Raptors are likely to make a big switch next season. How are you feeling about those new jerseys? Excited? Bored? Happy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Preseason Rapid Recap: Hornets 105, Bucks 90

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 11: Naz Reid #0 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks during a preseason game on October 11, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Charlotte Hornets. Tyler Herro led all Bucks scorers with 18 points in 23 minutes, followed by Ryan Rollins (12 in 23) and Kyle Kuzma (12 in 22). Brandon Miller—marked as day-to-day before the game—showed out, dropping 18 points in 23 minutes. Brayden Burries, Nate Ament, Ousmane Dieng, Kasparas Jakucionis, and new acquisition Johni Broome were all inactive for the Bucks, among a few others.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap

The Bucks began the game on the right foot, with Tyler Herro converting a midrange floater to open the scoring. Soon, led by triples from Ryan Rollins and Jaime Jaquez Jr., the Bucks jumped to a 10-2 lead. However, the up-tempo Hornets offense worked wonders, getting the home team back into it and tying the game at 13—Bucks timeout. Royce O’Neale took the lead with 4:17 remaining, but AJ Green answered with a 28-foot three-pointer to tie it. Triples from Tidjane Salaun (he can shoot now!) and Sion James, however, pushed Charlotte’s lead to six shortly thereafter. Kevin Porter Jr. rose over Ryan Kalkbrenner to throw down a contact dunk, and Jericho Sims had a nice reverse layup to narrow the lead, but Charlotte held on to end the quarter, up 29-26.

Although Kyle Kuzma connected early in the second quarter, the Hornets kept rolling over Milwaukee—mostly in transition. A Brandon Miller three widened Charlotte’s lead to six, forcing a Milwaukee timeout. From there, the Hornets clicked as the Bucks’ offense stalled. Miller had 11 second-quarter points, while key scorers like Herro remained muted. The Bucks also struggled with ball handling, committing seven first-half turnovers. That said, Milwaukee ran a 10-3 stretch to cut Charlotte’s lead to two with three minutes left in the half, but Charlotte answered with 13 unanswered points—led by Naz Reid and Sion James—to close out the half up 60-45.

The Bucks struggled to find their footing from long range, while the Hornets kept dancing around Milwaukee’s defense. Without Kel’el Ware on the court, Milwaukee’s bigs looked slow to switch on the perimeter. They also looked especially vulnerable on screens, where Charlotte could either find an open corner shooter when the defense collapsed or trap the Bucks big in a favourable two-on-one. Charlotte’s advantage stayed steady, led by their small-ball pairing of Naz Reid and Moussa Diabaté. A thunderous Ryan Kalkbrenner lob put the home team up 20 with just over two minutes remaining. The Bucks’ offense looked unresponsive to anything the Hornets’ defense gave it; they didn’t shoot well from three, and they weren’t good at banging it out in the post. The Hornets had a big lead at the end of third quarter, up 87-67.

The game was all but over as the final frame began. Charlotte put in a reserve lineup led by first-round draft pick Hannes Steinbach and two-way center PJ Hall, while Herro, Kuzma, and Porter tried to close the Hornets’ 20-point lead. The Hornets scrapped against the Bucks’ starters, taking charges, grappling for offensive rebounds, and making extra passes to find open teammates on the perimeter. Eventually, he Bucks threw in the towel and trotted out Pete Nance, Kam Jones, and Jake Stephens, who made his preseason debut. Despite Stephens’ late three-pointer to close out the game, it was too little, too late as the Hornets strolled out of Spectrum Center with the win.

Stat That Stood Out

The Bucks shot 3/17 from three during the second quarter. That shooting slump let the Hornets build a large lead and eventually run away with the game. It seemed like no one, including the Bucks’ sharpshooters, could find the net.

Obscene Overreaction

Will Kevin Porter Jr. struggle heavily this season? He hasn’t scored double digits in the preseason, and his performance today—six points on 1/6 shooting—was particularly underwhelming. With so much guard depth on the roster, KPJ could quickly fall out of Milwaukee’s rotation.

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Rangers open post-Igor Shesterkin era with gritty, resilient win over Canucks

New York Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand (33) defends the net as Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) rushes for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, N.Y.
Dylan Garand (33) defends the net against center Linus Karlsson (94) during the Rangers' 6-2 win over the Canucks on Oct. 11, 2026. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

There is something to be said about the way the Rangers have responded in the face of adversity so far this season. 

Last season’s Blueshirts crumbled nearly every time a game got hard, revealing a debilitating mental fragility in the wake of any game-tying goals against, erroneous officiating or their own costly turnovers. 

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So far in this new campaign, however, the Rangers have done just the opposite. 

After hearing the most devastating injury news possible about star goalie Igor Shesterkin, who will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, these Rangers took a 6-2 win over the struggling Canucks despite giving up an equalizing short-handed goal late in the second period. 

“This is a situation I feel like not a lot needs to be said,” captain J.T. Miller said Sunday morning. “Everybody in here knows what needs to be done. Everybody’s got to pull a little more weight around here. I said the other night: [Shesterkin] is one of the pillars of our organization and this hockey team and a leader for us. It’s devastating to lose a guy like him, outside of how elite he is as a goalie. … There’s a lot to be pulled from every guy in here right now to make up for what we’re losing.” 

It’s been a couple of years since the Rangers were described as resilient, but there have been flashes of the trait this season. 

New York Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand (33) defends the net as Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) rushes for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Robert Sabo for NY Post

After the Rangers gave up two second-period goals to tie the Oct. 6 game against the Islanders, Mika Zibanejad said it himself that last year’s team probably would’ve collapsed in that position. 

Not this time. Not this year. Not if the Rangers and their intentions for the season have anything to say about it. 

Similarly to that Isles game last week, the effort by the Rangers never faltered after the momentum swung in favor of the Canucks following a short-handed goal from Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson. In fact, the home team was able to respond before the period was even over, just as it did against the Islanders. 

New York Rangers left wing Will Cuylle (50) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the second period of a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post

It would’ve flatlined the Rangers in the past, but Tye Kartye recorded his second goal of the night off a beautiful shot from the left circle to regain a 3-2 lead for his team. 

“I think there’s a maturity to this group,” head coach Mike Sullivan said after the win. “I think these guys, they haven’t lost any level of enthusiasm. I think they believe in the team game that we’re trying to build here.” 

Rookie goalie Dylan Garand, who took the ice as the Rangers starting goalie for the foreseeable future, rebounded as well. Stopping 19 of the 21 shots he faced, Garand has limited every opposing team he’s faced to two goals or fewer over his six NHL games. 

New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (10) reacts on the ice after his team scores a goal during the first period of a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post

The Rangers scored three more times in the third period while limiting the visitors to just four shots on goal, continuing a trend of dominance in third periods that’s beginning to develop. 

“I feel like all the games we’ve been playing a pretty good 60 minutes, for the most part,” said Will Cuylle, who scored his first two goals of the season. “I feel like it helps, too, that’s the first first-period goal we’ve given up all year.” 

Birthday boy Alexis Lafrenière, who turned 25, kicked off his new second-line assignment with a slick pass in the neutral zone to spring Miller for a partial 2-on-1 opportunity with Kartye. Miller extended his point streak to four games (one goal, four assists) as Kartye buried the rebound off his shot to put the Rangers up 27 seconds into the game. 

Sullivan said he was hesitant to swap Lafrenière and Pavel Dorofeyev since both lines in the top six have looked good so far, but the Kartye-Miller-Dorofeyev unit wasn’t finding the back of the net. 

“It seemed to work on the very first shift,” Sullivan said with a smile. “I think when you look at the growth of Laf’s game, Laf is creating offense in numerous ways now. He’s multidimensional. He creates off the rush. You can see what he does off the rush. But his down-low game and hanging on pucks and creating offense from below the goal line, I think that aspect of his game has really grown.” 

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Final Score: Cavs beat Magic 119-105

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on October 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 119-105. The Cavs are now 1-1 in the preseason.

James Harden led all scorers with 24 points. This was Harden’s first game of the preseason after missing Cleveland’s previous game with ankle soreness. He looked like he hadn’t missed a step, easing into a rhythym and making his first five shots.

Cleveland traded for Harden in the middle of last season, giving them minimal time to practice and gel with their new star. A full summer and training camp should allow them to hit the ground running this season. So far, so good. Harden had complete control of the offense and showed that he can still score in bunches even at 37 years old.

Evan Mobley added 14 points and 7 rebounds. He struggled from the floor (3-10 shooting) but made up for it by getting to the free throw line and nailing 8-of-9 attempts.

Jaylon Tyson drilled three three-pointers for 13 points in 16 minutes. The third-year wing is expected to play a key role on Cleveland’s bench this season.

The Cavs weren’t happy with their defensive effort last week when they lost to the Boston Celtics. They wanted to shore up their efforts on the glass and do a better job of containing the perimeter tonight. And, they picked the right opponent to set that goal, as Orlando’s lack of offensive firepower made it easier to shrink the floor. The Magic shot just 13-of-36 from downtown and weren’t able to consistently create advantages against a more active Cavs defense at the point of attack.

Mario Hezonja had a nice bounce-back game with 13 points on 5-9 shooting. Hezonja looked a step slow in his previous game but was able to break free in transition and serve as a floor-spacer tonight. He also added 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.

The Cavs play their final game of the preseason on Tuesday before beginning the regular season on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22.

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Canucks Implode In The Third Period, Fall 6-2 To The Rangers

The Vancouver Canucks fell 6-2 to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Jake DeBrusk scored his third of the season while defenceman Elias Pettersson found the back of the net shorthanded. As for Kevin Lankinen, he allowed six goals on 25 shots and finished the night with a save percentage of .760. 

Sunday's matchup was close until the third period. New York scored three times in the final frame, which pushed their one-goal lead at the second intermission into a four-goal advantage. Ultimately, the Canucks looked like they ran out of gas in the third, as they were outshot 10-4 in the final frame by the Rangers. 

"Obviously, when you start a game down 1-0 30 seconds in, it is not an ideal start," said Manny Malhotra post-game. "The resiliency we showed throughout the course of the period just to get ourselves back into it. In the second, I felt we started to swing the momentum at them. Just didn't sustain it long enough to have a lasting impact."

The biggest storyline from this game was the play of Lankinen. He allowed six goals for the third time this year and was caught out of position several times. Even though this team is in a rebuild where wins and losses are not the most important thing, this team needs to get better goaltending from Lankinen so they do not have to try to outscore their issues on a nightly basis. 

This game was not all doom and gloom, as Pettersson, or D-Petey, had a strong performance. He was tied for the team lead with four hits and, as mentioned, scored shorthanded. Pettersson looks to be taking positive steps from a development perspective, which is good news for the rebuild. 

As for the other feel-good story, Guillaume Brisebois returned to the NHL for the first time since January 11, 2025. The 29-year-old was able to fill the stat sheet as he recorded two shots, two hits, a blocked shot and a penalty. Although he struggled defensively at times, it is nice to see Brisebois getting chances in the NHL after all the injuries he's dealt with over the years. 

Ultimately, there are plenty of learning lessons Manny Malhotra and his staff can take away from this game. Vancouver's defensive coverage was all over the place at times while the team failed to create any form of pushback in the third period. With three more games on this road trip, the Canucks will need to regroup quickly if they want to avoid a lengthy losing streak. 

Stats and Facts:

  • Defenceman Elias Pettersson records his first career shorthand goal
  • Canucks are the first team this year to allow 30 goals against
  • Vancouver has been outscored 17-5 through three games of this current six-game road trip
  • Elias Pettersson and Elias Pettersson led the Canucks in hits with four each

Scoring Summary: 

1st Period: 

00:27- NYR: Tye Kartye (1) from J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafrenière

17:04- VAN: Jake DeBrusk (3) from Jonathan Lekkerimäki

2nd Period:

2:09- NYR: Will Cuylle (1) from Noah Laba

16:56- VAN: Elias Pettersson (2) from Brendan Gallagher and Drew O'Connor (SHG)

18:25- NYR: Tye Kartye (2) from J.T. Miller and Vladislav Gavrikov

3rd Period:

1:04- NYR: Alexis Lafrenière (5) from Gabe Perreault and Mika Zibanejad (PPG)

5:57- NYR: Gabe Perreault (3) from Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad

15;22- NYR: Will Cuylle (2) from Eeli Tolvanen and Braden Schneider

Up Next: 

Vancouver Canucks @ New York Islanders, October 13, 4:45 pm PT

Oct 11, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Sean Durzi (5) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) battle for control of the puck in the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Oct 11, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Sean Durzi (5) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) battle for control of the puck in the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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