HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 16: Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown looks on before Game Two of the Championship Series against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dana Brown is reportedly returning to the Braves’ organization and the Alex Anthopoulos front office. Brown was a big part of the draft side of things for a while and highly respected in that role before joining the Astros as their top executive. His stint in Houston was a mixed bag and seemingly filled with owner meddling. He now rejoins the Braves on the amateur scouting side once again. I have heard a mixed bag of stories about Brown from the Braves’ prospect community, but clearly smart people in the Braves’ front office and around baseball value him highly enough to put him in important spots, so it seems like a good thing to add someone like that back into the fold.
And, unlike their Mammoth counterparts on Thursday, they were unable to play late-game heroics.
Despite a commendable effort in the third period by the Penguins, they were unable to muster enough to tie the game in the final minutes, losing by a score of 5-4. Sergei Murashov, who got his first start between the pipes in two weeks, surrendered five goals on 27 shots, while the Penguins put 29 shots on young Habs' netminder Jacob Fowler - most of which came in the final frame.
The Penguins were actually the first to get on the board in this one, as they cashed in on an early power play opportunity. Sidney Crosby set up Erik Karlsson for a one-time shot, and he buried it, giving Crosby his 1,112th career helper to break the NHL record for most assists with a single franchise.
However, the Penguins' only lead in this game didn't last long because, just 33 seconds later, Canadiens' forward Oliver Kapanen put one past Murashov for a bit of a shaky goal to tie the game. Then, only 24 seconds after that, yet another egregious defensive zone giveaway by the Penguins - this time, by forward Hendrix Lapierre - led directly to a goal against by Josh Anderson to make it 2-1.
A few minutes later, the Penguins' first line broke into the offensive zone on a 3-on-2. Crosby came down the right side and dropped it Rickard Rakell down the middle, and Rakell quickly put the puck on the tape of Tommy Novak coming down the left side. Novak cut across the net-front and went five-hole to beat Fowler and tie the game at 2-2.
Shortly after that goal, Montreal appeared to have scored again, but as it turns out, Penguins' head coach Dan Muse challenged the play for goaltender interference and won to keep things knotted up.
But the Habs still managed to take the lead early in the third period on a goal by Alexandre Texier. And, once again, the Penguins surrendered another goal within the span of a minute - this one, 27 seconds later to Chris Kreider - to make the score 4-2.
Less than a minute and a half later, Karlsson made an outstanding play at the offensive blue line to keep the puck onside, and he cut across the slot. He made a no-look backhand pass to Rakell, who was cycling into the high slot area, and Rakell beat Fowler to once again cut the Penguins' deficit to one.
Unfortunately, with a little less than seven minutes to go in the second period, Anderson netted his second of the game off a fluke play. Murashov made the initial save, but the puck hit off Kris Letang's leg and went into the back of the net, giving Montreal the two-goal lead.
The Penguins pushed hard in the third period, registering 15 shots and coming to within one after Crosby scored with the extra attacker and a little more than three minutes left in regulation. However, they could not muster another tally before the clock ran out, giving them their sixth loss in the last eight games.
Here are a few takeaways from this one:
- It's easy to say Murashov had a bad night, especially after the first goal he surrendered. And, yes, he could have made a save or two extra.
But the Penguins are absolutely leaving him out to dry in every single one of his starts. And it has been that way since the beginning of the season.
Another bad defensive zone turnover led to the second goal. The third and fourth goals from the Habs were results of poor defensive zone coverage. Say all you want about Murashov needing to be better, but it's not a particularly easy ask or reasonable expectation for your 22-year-old rookie goaltender with 10 games NHL experience under his belt to have to stand on his head each and every outing.
No, the AHL won't do anything to help Murashov. He's beyond that. The Penguins having only four games in two weeks didn't help, either, especially with Arturs Silovs performing the way he is. He has to ride it out and figure it out.
And that's just something that is going to come along with the youth movement in the NHL. Folks ask for young players. Young players are not going to have it figured out right away. Murashov needs time and NHL reps, and if the expectation is for him to semi-regularly steal games for the Penguins right from the start like he stole a point for them in Columbus, that expectation needs to be taken down a few notches.
- The giveaway by Lapierre on the second goal was, again, egregious. But It's a mystery what Declan Carlile was trying to accomplish on the next two goals against.
On the third goal, he committed to coverage higher in the zone, where Egor Chinakhov was already covering his man, leaving Texier exposed. On the fourth goal, he was all the way up near the blue line in defensive zone coverage, leaving Lapierre to defend the net front.
Carlile positions himself in the defensive zone like a forward, and stuff like this simply cannot happen at the NHL level. As a general rule of thumb, it is a defenseman's job to defend the net-front and defend down low as a whole. Leaving your forwards to carry that load in those situations, especially when there was already coverage higher in the zone, is not something that should happen.
The 26-year-old has some offensive talent, but he is a minus-9. Normally, that stat is a bit arbitrary, but in this case, that minus-9 is entirely indicative of his play in his own zone. At this point, it's nearly a nightly occurrence that he makes a defensive zone gaffe that leads to a goal, or multiple goals, against.
That slight offensive upside, in no way right now, outweighs his defensive zone liability. I'm not sure how much longer a leash the Penguins can have with him.
- On a positive note, Crosby sure looked like himself Saturday.
He was affecting the game everywhere. He was cycling and turning on the jets down low in the offensive zone. He broke an NHL record and also tied Marcel Dionne for sixth all-time in scoring by the end of the night. His chemistry with Rakell was on display. And Rakell himself scored his fourth goal in the last five games.
His line was, by far, the best line for the Penguins in that game. Novak looked far more comfortable Saturday, too, than he had in the previous games. If they can begin to gel - and the second line can continue to build - the Penguins should have no trouble scoring.
It was good to see the version of 87 that everyone knows and loves.
- Karlsson now has three goals and 16 points in 14 games. He was very, very good for the Penguins Saturday, and he was particularly good when they put Sam Girard on his left in the third period.
This pace for Karlsson is a big deal for a great many reasons. If the Penguins cannot stop the ship from sinking in the next couple of weeks, I would reasonably expect his name to pop up like crazy in trade rumors.
If he can't help the Penguins win, he could sure help another contending team win. And his value would be far higher earlier in the season at a point-per-game pace than it would be at the trade deadline, when he would be a pure rental.
There is a lot at stake for the Penguins in the next few games, even if it is early in the season. They will have some tough decisions to make regarding personnel this season, but depending on which direction their season goes quickly, that could make some decisions a whole lot easier.
HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 4: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers during the 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 4, 2026 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jay Metzger/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Friday night the Warriors dressed up as a lottery team for exactly one quarter, then took the costume off and beat the Lakers by 17. They were down 38-15 after twelve minutes, watched the deficit swell to 25, tied it at 53 by halftime, and outscored LA 59-42 the rest of the way. According to the league, no team in the shot-clock era had ever trailed by 23-plus after one and tied it by the break. So the Halloween party at Chase started a day early.
Now the Clippers come to town at 1-4, losers of four straight, fresh off a 127-101 beating in Minnesota where the Wolves closed on a 23-2 run, without Anthony Edwards. This is a different Clippers team than the one you’ve been booing for a decade. Kawhi is gone, and the keys now belong to Darius Garland, Brandon Ingram and No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler.
Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors When: November 1st, 2026 | 5:30 PM PT Where: Chase Center TV: NBC Sports Bay Area Radio: 95.7 The Game
Steph Curry and Draymond Green will both rest tomorrow night on the front side of a back-to-back against the Clippers. Injury management. That should clear them to face the Suns on Monday night.
Al Horford will play vs Clippers, meaning he would rest vs Suns.
There’s also some history here that Clipper fans would rather not discuss. Last April, Steph came back from a knee issue and dragged the Warriors past the Clippers 126-121 in the play-in. That loss ended the season and, as it turned out, the whole Kawhi era. So technically the Clippers’ rebuild was built in Golden State’s backyard. Sunday is Día de los Muertos, which feels right for a franchise that’s still figuring out what came back to life and what stayed buried.
Wagler is the guy to watch on their side. He’s scored in double figures every night, and he gets to the line like he has a coupon, going 7-for-8 in Minnesota even while shooting 2-for-11 from the field. Brook Lopez gave them 13 off the bench, and Rui Hachimura is back from a quad issue. They’re also missing big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who’s out after Lisfranc surgery. That leaves a frontcourt that Golden State’s small-ball lineups should be able to run off the floor if the effort is there.
On the Warriors’ side, everybody’s watching the rookie. Yaxel Lendeborg spent the week in the national headlines for calling Luka a whiner after opening night, then had the kind of rematch you only have in a nightmare: six points, six fouls, five turnovers.
The bench is the other storyline worth your attention. Golden State’s reserves went for 50 against the Lakers bench’s seven, with De’Anthony Melton scoring 16, Georges Niang finishing plus-21, and Will Richard going plus-20 mostly on defense and pure nuisance. If that second unit is real, this team has a ceiling nobody gave them credit for in October.
Unfortunately the Dubs will be without Draymond and Steph; Steph is balling out of control this season.
Steph Curry this season:
— 29.2 PPG — 1.4 SPG — 4.4 3PM — 48/44/100% — Leading NBA in points per minute
The Warriors started 0-3, and Dub Nation was already measuring the Steph era for a coffin. Three wins later they’re back at .500, and a rookie has given everybody something to argue about besides the end of the dynasty. The Clippers are coming to Chase looking for a fresh start, and Golden State has a chance to remind them who ended the last one.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 31: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 31, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Allen was an absolute force to be reckoned with. He relentlessly attacked the basket by rolling hard to the rim and looking for any opening he could find to make himself available for a pass inside. Defensively, he controlled the paint and cleaned up the glass.
This was the ideal game from Allen.
Second star: Evan Mobley
27 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Basically everything I said about Allen could also be said of Mobley. He was aggressive offensively, attacking inside. And when the defense sagged off, he took the outside shot, going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
This game was the template from a process and results standpoint for Mobley.
Third star: James Harden
13 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds
Harden spread the ball around and looked to get the bigs involved. It was exactly what the Cavs needed from their starting point guard.
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Dud of the game
Bum: Tyler Herro
15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Milwaukee’s point-of-attack defense was a mess. Herro wasn’t the only reason to blame for that, but he was the most noteworthy example of someone who wasn’t upholding their end of the bargain. On top of that, Herro struggled to make anything happen as a scorer as he went just 5-for-18 from the field.
Cavaliers who deserve shoutouts
Donovan Mitchell
15 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, +31
Mitchell let the game come to him in a way that he doesn’t always do. He attacked when the moment called for it, and he deferred to his teammates when they had cleaner looks. This led to Mitchell controlling the game without controlling the ball, making room for the dominant performances from the bigs.
Mario Hezonja
8 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists
Hezonja thinks the game at a high level. He does a great job of reading how the opponent is playing, and then exploiting it to the best of his ability. In this game, that weakness was rebounding.
Milwaukee had to send extra bodies to contain Mobley and Allen on both ends. Hezonja ducked inside around the help to grab 11 rebounds, including four on the offensive end.
Play of the game
Well, that's a new wrinkle.
Mobley off down screen into Allen handoff to get him going downhill on the catch. pic.twitter.com/h7Qfr7zWv4
Plays like this show how dynamic the bigs can be when you give them an opportunity to do so. Forcing a forward to chase Mobley around a screen from a guard, then around a dribble-hand-off with Allen is incredibly difficult to do. I would love to see them incorporate more actions like this that force bigger defenders to guard in space and navigate screens like a guard.
Quote of the day
“It was part of our film session this morning, so it’s nice to see it transfer. Reward these guys, they’re both playing great. Sixteen shot attempts, we were very intentional about getting them the ball. Good job by our perimeters, finding those guys in the right spots.”
Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley led the team with 16 shot attempts each.
Allen and Mobley were aggressive in looking for opportunities to score, and their teammates were consistent in getting them the ball. That is a formula worth repeating.
This game will be remembered for how the Cavs got the bigs involved
Mobly and Allen were forces all night. Not just for a few minutes, not just for a quarter, but until the game was completely out of reach early in the fourth quarter. The bigs stayed aggressive inside, and their teammates kept feeding them the ball.
Getting the bigs involved to this degree can destroy a defense. It’s similar to establishing the run in football. Once you control the line of scrimmage, the pass game opens up because the defense has to sell out to overload the box.
Milwaukee’s defense tried to shrink the floor to stop Mobley and Allen. Defenders crashed down from the corners in an effort to cut off the initial drive, but this opened up the floor for everyone, including whatever big wasn’t the main focus of the defense. This allowed for some of the big-to-big passes and put-back offensive rebounds.
This offense is at its best when they’re forcing the ball to the bigs, and the bigs are rolling hard and aggressively looking for openings to attack inside. Despite that, both groups have struggled to establish the bigs as consistent scoring threats for a full 48 minutes.
Far too often, the Cavs abandon this formula when things get tough. Either the guards take it upon themselves to handle the majority of the scoring load or the bigs become passive and stop looking for opportunities inside — and usually it’s both.
It’s not always this easy to establish the bigs as scorers. Milwaukee’s defense is bad and easy to exploit, but this formula should be more repeatable than it’s proven to be. Maybe this game can set them on the right path.
DALLAS (AP) — Defenseman Thomas Harley scored with 0.2 seconds left in the first period and Arttu Hyry added an empty-netter with 0.3 left in the game as the Dallas Stars beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Saturday night.
Mikko Rantanen also scored for the Stars, who broke a two-game losing streak during which they never led to finish a season-long six-game homestand 4-2-0.
Defenseman Damon Severson scored and Jet Greaves stopped 14 shots for the Blue Jackets, who dropped the last two games of a three-game road trip.
Jake Oettinger, fifth in the NHL with a 1.69 goals-against average going into play, stopped 25 of 26 shots to bounce back after allowing seven goals in his two previous outings.
Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen had two assists.
Harley whistled a shot from the left half wall into a sliver of space between Greaves’ right skate and the post for his first goal of the season to give the Stars a 2-0 lead.
Rantanen had opened the scoring 33 seconds into a power play at 2:16 of the first period after Greaves was called for delay of game. Rantanen tapped in a cross-crease, backhand pass from Wyatt Johnston for his team-high seventh goal.
Severson scored at 6:21 of the third, about four minutes after the Stars successfully challenged a Jackets goal by Valeri Nichushkin for offside.
Dallas killed Columbus’ one power play, running its top-ranked penalty kill to 28 straight successful dating to Oct. 13.
Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov made his season debut after being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 1. Columbus used 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
Two of Dallas’ wins on the homestand came against the Stars’ two previous coaches — Columbus’ Rick Bowness and Pete DeBoer of the New York Islanders.
The teams will play their other inter-conference game next Thursday at Columbus.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche turned a strong start into a statement performance Friday night at Ball Arena, overwhelming the Calgary Flames 5-2 behind two goals from Artturi Lehkonen, a four-assist performance from Cale Makar and a balanced offensive attack.
The victory came with one anxious moment, as Brock Nelson left the ice after taking a puck to the ear in the second period before returning to the bench ahead of the third.
Lehkonen scored twice to extend his team-leading goal total to 12, while Makar recorded four assists and Devon Toews added two. Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas and Nelson also scored for Colorado. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 25 shots to earn the victory. For Calgary, Joel Farabee and Martin Pospisil provided the goals, while Arsenii Sergeev made 29 saves.
Artturi Lehkonen speaks to the media following another incredible performance.
First Period
The opening period featured a measured pace as both teams looked to establish their offensive rhythm.
Cale Makar, affectionately known as “Slim Shimmy” here at The Hockey News, put his signature moves on display early, dancing across the ice before unleashing a wrist shot that Calgary goaltender Arsenii Sergeev gloved down.
Just past the midway point, T.J. Hughes was taken down by Calgary defenseman Yan Kuznetsov on a breakaway. Avalanche fans were left frustrated when no penalty was called. The reaction intensified after the replay showed Kuznetsov wrapping his left arm around Hughes and grabbing him before bringing him to the ice.
Nathan MacKinnon opens the scoring with his ninth of the year 🐕
About a minute later, Colorado defenseman Noah Juulsen, filling in for the injured Josh Manson, delivered a thunderous hit on Calgary forward Aydar Suniev along the boards. Suniev struggled to get back to his feet and fell again while attempting to regain his balance.
Nathan MacKinnon broke the scoreless tie with 5:47 remaining in the period. After Makar and Martin Necas attempted to connect on an offensive opportunity, the puck found its way to MacKinnon, who wasted little time snapping it past Sergeev to give Colorado a 1-0 lead.
The goal was MacKinnon’s ninth of the season, his 21st career tally against Calgary and his eighth in his last eight games against the Flames.
Mackenzie Blackwood then delivered a highlight-reel save of his own. Facing a 2-on-1 rush, Blackwood sprawled across the crease, split his pads and flashed the leather to rob Matt Coronato with a spectacular glove save.
Colorado carried its 1-0 advantage into the first intermission while holding a 9-6 edge in shots on goal.
Second Period
Calgary forward Ryan Strome was penalized for high-sticking less than a minute into the second period, giving Colorado its first power play of the night.
The Avalanche wasted little time capitalizing.
At 2:37, Martin Necas blasted a one-timer from the slot off a perfectly placed pass from Nazem Kadri, doubling Colorado’s advantage to 2-0.
Just over three minutes later, Lehkonen extended the lead. After evading a stick check, he received a pass from Makar at the bumper position and fired a wrist shot underneath Sergeev’s pads at 5:48. The goal was Lehkonen’s 11th of the season, moving him into the team lead.
Brock Nelson made it 4-0 with a terrific individual effort. Gabriel Landeskog initially tried to connect with Nelson, but Calgary defenseman Zach Whitecloud deflected the pass. Nelson stayed with the play, tracked the puck and managed to tip it out of midair past Sergeev.
Calgary finally broke through with 9:10 remaining in the period. A defensive-zone turnover by Kadri gave the Flames an opportunity, and Joel Farabee made Colorado pay, one-timing a pass from the bumper position past Blackwood to cut the deficit to 4-1.
The goal was followed by a frightening moment for the Avalanche.
Nelson took a shot to the ear and immediately went down to the ice. He remained on one knee for several minutes before eventually making his way off the ice and heading down the tunnel. His status was initially uncertain, leaving Colorado fans concerned about the veteran forward.
The Avalanche entered the second intermission with a commanding 4-1 lead and a 24-14 advantage in shots on goal.
Third Period
Nelson’s return to the bench before the start of the third period provided a welcome sight for Colorado. Although his status remained a concern, seeing him back with his teammates offered some reassurance.
Calgary wasted little time trying to make things interesting.
Martin Pospisil scored from the doorstep at 1:58 after receiving a pass from Strome, who found him alone in front of Blackwood. The goal cut Colorado’s lead to 4-2 and briefly shifted the momentum toward the Flames.
Lehkonen quickly restored order.
Just 2:10 after Pospisil’s goal, the Finnish forward redirected a point-blank shot from Makar past Sergeev to make it 5-2. It was Lehkonen’s second goal of the night and his 12th of the season, extending his team lead.
Colorado had an opportunity to add to its advantage with approximately six minutes remaining when Kuznetsov was assessed a four-minute double minor for high-sticking Fedor Svechkov. The infraction drew blood, resulting in the extended penalty.
Despite having four minutes with the man advantage, the Avalanche could not convert on the power play. Calgary successfully killed off the penalty, preventing Colorado from adding to its lead.
Blackwood and the Colorado defense held firm the rest of the way, preserving the three-goal cushion.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 31: Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 31, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 136-11 in their second straight blowout. With Tyler Herro having his first bad game of the year, the Bucks’ shining lights were rookies Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, who each notched a career-high 14 points on efficient shooting. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen led the way for Cleveland, combining for 52 points.
Let’s just say the first quarter wasn’t exactly pretty, with both teams shooting 20/49 from the field. Jaime Jaquez Jr. got the Bucks started with two of their first three field goals, but the Cavs’ big-man duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen punished Milwaukee inside to tie it at 10 after five minutes. Many bricks followed for both teams, but Kasparas Jakucionis came in and gave the home side some pace and pizzazz, nailing a driving layup and a three after his defender shot under the screen to give the Bucks a six-point edge. At that point, Kel’el Ware checked in, and the game shifted, with Ware struggling mightily to deal with the tall trees down low on both ends, missing two point-blank shots and getting put in the mixer on the block. Luckily, the Cavs gave the Bucks an easy target when they subbed in rookie Maleek Thomas; Tyler Herro scored six quick points on him, including a three at the buzzer to put the Bucks up 25-24 after one.
Although Milwaukee had some encouraging moments to start the second—including a great hustle play from Nate Ament to recover the long rebound and find Brayden Burries for three—the Cavs began to flex their muscle. Thomas may have defensive issues, but the kid can score, and he proved it with two quick threes in the opening few minutes. Donovan Mitchell also got going, dropping a transition bomb to force the Bucks to call a timeout, down 39-31 three minutes in. Milwaukee responded out of the timeout with buckets from Turner and Ament but couldn’t find a way to stop Cleveland as Mobley asserted his dominance with 10 straight points to extend the lead. Ware broke the seal from three after going 0/7 in the last two games, but other than that, the Bucks just could not get anything to go down (depsite generating decent looks), as the Cavs went on a 21-3 (!) blitz to close the quarter, leading 72-46 at the half.
Tyler Herro became the first Buck to reach double figures with a three of the chase action with Myles Turner, but the Cavs’ stout defence was yielding them easy shots on the other end as they took an 81-54 lead three minutes in. At least Kyle Kuzma gave the home fans something to cheer for, scoring a quick 10 points to keep pace with the rampaging Cavs, and a Myles Turner three to cap a 7-0 run forced the Cleveland timeout as their lead shrank to 21, 89-68. Unfortunately, two quick Cavs triples out of the timeout spoiled any momentum the Bucks had built as they reached a century with over two minutes to play. Cavs led 109-76 entering the final frame.
You wouldn’t have known the Bucks were down big from the way Jakucionis was flying around on defence; the second-year guard pursued loose balls and long rebounds with vigour, which helped Milwaukee open the fourth on a 9-3 run to force a Kenny Atkinson timeout. Another major positive was Nate Ament, who scored 11 points in the opening six minutes of the fourth, including a spine-tingling cram in transition that had Fiserv jumping. Of course, it wouldn’t be a blowout without the $64m man proving his worth, as Gary Trent Jr. nailed his second three of the year to cut the deficit to 24. Then came the highlight of the night: Brayden Burries caught it in transition with one man ahead and detonated all over Tristan Enaruna for the facial—a nice finish on an otherwise rough night for Milwaukee.
Stat That Stood Out
The Bucks actually played OK for three of the four quarters, but their second quarter—which they lost by a staggering 27 points (48-21)—was decisive.
Obscene Overreaction
Brayden Burries and Nate Ament should make the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team solely for those dunks!
Another night, another loss for the Vancouver Canucks as they fell 4-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Brock Boeser scored on the power play while Max Sasson picked up his fourth goal of the campaign in the loss. In net was Leevi Meriläinen, who stopped 24 of the 27 shots he faced.
The Canucks once again struggled to put forth a full 60-minute effort. While Vancouver had a strong first period, their play in the second was the difference as Toronto outshot them 13-6 and outscored the team 2-0. With the defeat, the Canucks are now 1-11-1 over their last 13 games and have been outscored 57-30.
"I thought the first period, we played great, and second period we defensively weren't as sharp as the first period," said Brock Boeser post-game. "They have too many good players over there. You could see them get their chances, their looks, and they tilted the ice, and they had momentum. We were kind of just sitting back and couldn't find our way out of it, and gave up a couple that cost us."
Unlike some losses this season, this game can't be blamed on a lack of effort. While Vancouver struggled in the second, they played a strong game but couldn't find a way to equalize in the third. Post-game, Head Coach Manny Malhotra spoke about where his team is in terms of playing the style of game he wants.
"Getting closer," said Malhotra. "It's not close to where we need to be or need to get to, but there is progress. And it's frustrating as we talk about these games after loss after loss. But we do see improvement in different areas of our game, and it's just tough to see those when there's no correlation to wins."
Saturday's matchup was also Jacob Quillan's first in a Canucks uniform. The 24-year-old was acquired earlier this month from the Maple Leafs and called up on Friday after Filip Chytil was placed on IR. In the end, Quillan logged 11:58 of ice time, recording one shot, one hit, and winning four of his nine faceoffs.
"It was good to get the first opportunity against them, said Quillan post-game. "Not really playing for revenge or anything. Just fresh start with this organization, and glad to be here as they wanted me here. So I'm thankful to play for them."
Finally, the biggest positive of the night was arguably the penalty kill. Vancouver went a perfect two for two and killed off 1:08 of five-on-three time. Considering all the issues the penalty kill has had this year, tonight should be viewed as a step in the right direction.
Ultimately, this loss was similar to others suffered this season. The Canucks played well for a good portion of the game, but eventually lost due to a lack of execution and a poor stretch of play. In the end, Saturday was yet another tank-friendly game at Rogers Arena as Vancouver came close, yet still skated away with a loss.
Stats and Facts:
Elias Pettersson's six-game point streak comes to an end
Filip Hronek led all players in ice time with 26:57
Paul Cotter led the Canucks with four hits
Vancouver won just 39% of the faceoffs
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
1:23- TOR: William Nylander (10) from Nick Paul and Jake McCabe
10:30- VAN: Brock Boeser (5) from Filip Hronek and Jonathan Lekkerimäki (PPG)
2nd Period:
3:47- TOR: Auston Matthews (11) from Darren Raddysh and Jack Roslovic
12:34- TOR: Zack MacEwen (2) from Morgan Rielly and Teddy Blueger
3rd Period:
9:27- VAN: Max Sasson (4) from Brendan Gallagher
18:23- TOR: Teddy Blueger (2) from William Nylander and Anthony Stolarz (ENG)
Up Next:
Vancouver Canucks vs Anaheim Ducks, November 3, 7:00 pm PCT
Oct 31, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) stick checks Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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MONTREAL, CANADA- OCTOBER 31: Arber Xhekaj #72 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against Hendrix Lapierre #22 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of the NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Centre on October 31, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Matt Garies/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Penguins fell 5-4 in regulation in Montreal on Saturday night. Sidney Crosby scored a late goal, his third point of the night, late in the third period to bring the Penguins within one goal but the team couldn’t find one more goal to tie the game and fell in regulation.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 31: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 31, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Silver and Black had some impressive runs in tonight’s game, with Victor Wembanyama making some physics-defying moves that bent basketball reality into a shape that seemed impossible to comprehend. But the greatness was alternating with spells of uninspiring play and mental lapses, and the shorthanded Timberwolves kept themselves within spitting range for almost the whole game, even with Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, and with Lamelo Ball being limited due to foul trouble. Asayo Dosunmo and Jaden Daniels played very well for the visitors and a well-rested Ball made some key plays in the fourth quarter, until he fouled out late.
Victor Wembanyama had 43 points and was the engine of success for the Silver and Black, while De’Aaron Fox had one of his better games of the season with 22 points and 8 big rebounds, while keeping the team organized. Dylan Harper had a great night with 25 points, while Stephon Castle didn’t score a point while he struggled with a migraine, and probably should not have been out there.
The Longhorns game kicked off just before the Spurs game. I think the schedulers need to be more considerate of my watching habits.
Rudy Gobert was ruled out with a sore back, which ruined prediction in the game thread.
Victor show up at the game in a Witcher costume, which was really cool. He does remind me a bit of Geralt. He definitely has a dark side to him.
Lamelo Ball has happy feet but he seems to be able to cast a spell of the refs so that they can’t count his steps. Is he a warlock?
The Wolves didn’t honor the Twilight Zone near the hoop created by Victor’s length, Kuminga and Beringer had their shots erased by Wemby. The Spurs rushed out to an 11-1 lead, but decided to get fancy the the Wolves went on an 11-0 run to taker the lead halfway through the first.
Kornet had a putback jam in the first quarter, and got up higher than I’ve seen so far this season? Is his mini-slump over? The Spurs actually won the non-Wemby minutes, and got the lead back up to double digits, which is a good sign going forward.
Carter Bryant finally hit a couple of three-point shots, which is what he needs to do in order to gain floor time. If Mitch can trust him to hit open shots, he’s going to get minutes.
Finch is a master complainer, which I kind of hate, but maybe Mitch should watch him and see how he works the officials and take some hints from that.
The Spurs led 34-28 at the end of the first quarter.
Victor does things that don’t seem real sometimes. His pass to himself off the backboard for a slam just seemed impossible, but it really happened. His skill is so special. I don’t even regret the shady deal I made at the crossroads about the lottery a few years back. [This did not actually happen.]
KJ drew Ball’s fourth foul early in the second quarter, which led to Lamelo hocking a loogie onto the court in front the broadcaster’s table. Due to his warlock powers, the officials did not witness this unsanitary act, and he wasn’t even given a tech for it. It’s probably just a coincidence, but the Spurs offense completely shut down right after that, and they didn’t score any points for 5 minutes, as the Wolves retook the lead.
The Spurs went on one of their patented cold spells, and forgot how to score for most of the second quarter, and they visitors retook the lead with another extended run, 15-0 to take a 51-46 lead with Dosunmo doing a lot of the damage.
The Spurs made a bit of a comeback in the final two minutes of the first half, and trailed 60-61 going into the locker room.
The second half started with the Spurs taking the ball to the hoop, with the Wolves handing out shooting fouls like Halloween candy as the Silver and Black re-took the lead.
Bones Hyland is one of those players who isn’t that good but always looks like a superstar against the Spurs. Surprisingly, he didn’t do that much tonight, just scoring 6 points and not having much impact on the outcome.
Lyles and Hyland both committed traveling violations in the third quarter. Maybe they’re watching Ball too much in practice?
The Spurs didn’t play a perfect third quarter, with a few too many turnovers and defensive lapses, but they played well enough to lead 93-88 with one quarter to play, with Wembanyama leading the way with 36 points through the first three.
The TWolves somehow left Victor a free path to the hoop and he made them pay with a thunderous dunk, and before you knew it, the Spurs had a double digit lead. Guess what happened next? If you guessed that the Spurs lost focus and let the opponent get back into the game, you’d be right. … So predictable, I guess.
Lamelo Ball did his part to get the Wolves back into the game, but committed his sixth foul with 3:43 left, pretty much ending the Wolves shot at a comeback.
Tarris Reed watch: He did not play.
For the opponent’s perspective, visit Canis Hoopus, which has some scary good writers, and an interesting community vibe.
The Spurs play the Jazz again on Monday, this time in the Frost Bank Center. The Jazz should have Lauri Markkonnen back for that game, and that’s definitely not a game that the home team can take for granted since they required overtime to beat the Jazz in Utah on Wednesday, with the young players almost pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the early season.
Oct 31, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dunks a basket in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Cleveland Cavaliers rode a dominant 48-24 second quarter to a stress-free 136-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Cleveland pushed their lead to 36 at the start of the fourth quarter before calling off the dogs.
Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen led the way in this one-sided win. The Cavs made a concerted effort to continually get the bigs involved offensively, and both Mobley and Allen stayed aggressive in looking for ways to attack. This led to both finishing with a team-high 16 shot attempts.
Mobley provided 27 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal while going 11-for-16 from the field, which included going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. Allen put up 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting with 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Jarrett Allen Fro shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
This dominant performance from the bigs allowed the Cavs to control the paint. They went 25-for-35 on shots in the restricted area and scored 60 points in the paint overall.
Four other Cavaliers besides Mobley and Allen finished with double-digit points. Donovan Mitchell put up 15 points while being a team best +31. James Harden and Meleek Thomas contributed 13 points. Thomas Bryant added in 11 points exclusively in the fourth quarter.
The Bucks were led by 19 points from Kel’el Ware on 6-of-16 shooting, along with 10 rebounds. Tyler Herro had 15 points on 5-for-18 shooting.
This was a dominant performance for the Cavs. Once they grabbed control of this game in the second quarter, they never looked back.
Cleveland will head home after this game. They host the injury-riddled Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday evening.
MONTREAL (AP) — Josh Anderson had two goals and an assist and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory.
Chris Kreider added a one goal and an assist, and Oliver Kapanen and Alexandre Texier also scored as Montreal (9-3-2) returned home from an undefeated four-game Western trip. Lane Hutson had two assists.
Jacob Fowler made 25 saves and became the third Canadiens rookie goalie in the past 40 years to win seven consecutive games.
Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson each had a goal and two assists for Pittsburgh, and Tommy Novak and Rickard Rakell each had a goal and an assist. Sergei Murashov stopped 22 shots.
Anderson gave Montreal a two-goal lead with 6:54 left on a deflection. Crosby pulled one back with 3:11 remaining with Murashov off for an extra attacker.
Earlier, with his 1,112th career assist, Crosby passed Boston Bruins great Ray Bourque for the most with one franchise in NHL history. The 39-year-old center also tied Marcel Dionne for sixth on the scoring list with 1,771.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 31: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers embrace during the fourth quarter of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on October 31, 2026 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. (Photo by Helen McGinnis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bell Ringer Standings: Tyrese Maxey – 2.5 Joel Embiid – 1 LeBron James – 1 Anfernee Simons – 1 Jaylen Brown – 0.5
The Philadelphia 76ers looked sleepy, but they woke up just in time to come from behind and snag a 109-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday evening.
This was the second game of a back-to-back after the Sixers defeated the Knicks last night at home, so no Joel Embiid or LeBron James for this one for Philly. Jaylen Brown returned for this contest, but looked a little out of sorts at times. The Hornets were without Kon Knueppel, Coby White and Grant Williams
The Sixers (minus Tyrese Maxey) were shaky to start this one and looked a bit sluggish, allowing some hot shooting from Charlotte to take over. Philly tightened things up a bit in the second to retake the lead going into the break, but they really started to look like a tired team in the second half. The Sixers looked completely asleep in the third, couldn’t get a single thing going and lost their narrow lead. Fortunately, though, the Hornets were also a weary-looking team on the second leg of a back-to-back, so they couldn’t take full advantage. They led going into the fourth, but not by much.
It was never an insurmountable lead for Charlotte, but it was a resilient one. The sluggish Sixers couldn’t seem to come up with the necessary string of buckets or put up enough defensive stops to ever gain any ground on the Hornets… until the last two minutes. Suddenly, the Sixers ripped off a 15-3 run to end the game, finally taking the lead late and holding on for the dramatic victory — capped off by another clutch three-pointer from VJ Edgecombe. Who else?!
The Sixers continue their winning ways and move to 6-1 on the season. They’ll get Sunday off before hosting the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
<p>(Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Tyrese Maxey started out this one by pretty much being able to do whatever he wanted on the offensive end, putting up nine points on 4-for-4 field goal shooting before the game was even four minutes in. He was in his bag to put on a three-level scoring clinic in the first half on Saturday night, nailing his soft finishes at the rim, the midrange jumpers and nailing a few from outside the arc. Maxey led the Sixers with 19 points on 8-for-13 field goal, 3-for-5 three-point shooting at the break.
After having a quiet third (along with the rest of his team, mostly), Maxey went back to work in the fourth. He scored 15 points on 4-for-6 field goal shooting in the final frame as the Sixers finally broke through to erase the Hornets’ narrow but resilient lead and take on the win for themselves.
Maxey finished this one with a commanding 38 points (13-for-23 field goal, 4-for-9 three-point shooting) with four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Tyrese Maxey is off to a superstar start to this season, and that continued Saturday night vs. CHA. Even a bit sleepy on the second leg of the back-to-back, he made it just look easy at times.
38 PTS (13-23 FG, 4-9 3PT), 4 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL Here's every one of those 13 FGs 👇 pic.twitter.com/F1Oc4Ar5Qw
<p>(Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
On Saturday night, Anfernee Simons picked up where he left off the last two games: absolutely nailing some threes. Simons sank another three triples in the first half against the Hornets on Saturday night in addition to knocking down a few free throws for 11 first-half points, the only Sixer other than Maxey to make it to double-digit scoring by the break.
His biggest moment came late in the forth, with Simons hitting his fifth triple of the night, coming up with a steal on the Hornets’ next possession, then nailing an excellent finish at the rim in transition to pull the Sixers within a point of the Hornets with just a few minutes to play — all part of the run that would ultimately win the game for Philadelphia.
Simons ended up with 19 points including five three-pointers. He also had two assists and three steals.
Anfernee Simons with his FIFTH triple of the night!
And with that, Simons is the first 76ers player in franchise history to make at least five 3PT off the bench in three consecutive games (per @76ersPR_stats) pic.twitter.com/Cq85o1yiGF
<p>(Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Probably more of an honorable mention here, but Jabari Walker had a very solid night coming off the bench for Philadelphia. From hitting his layups, to getting involved on the offensive boards for put-backs, to pulling up confidently from long range when he had good opportunities, Walker was doing a little of everything against the Hornets. Especially important when the Sixers are without LeBron and Embiid, Walker took every opportunity to drive the baseline and/or muscle his way into the paint for a rebound or a bucket.
Walker finished the night with 12 points on 5-for-8 field goal shooting with six rebounds (two offensive).
On Friday night, Dean Wade might’ve put together one of the best games ever for a guy who didn’t take a single shot. On Saturday, he took a couple, but the story was his passing, defense and ability to find loose balls.
Most of Wade’s points are going to come from the three-point line this season, but funny enough, both his field goals in this one came at the rim — on two pretty moves. Wade played the ultimate connector on offense, setting good screens and finding open teammates all night long. Defensively, he continued to show the versatility that makes him so valuable.
It felt like every time the Sixers needed it, he found away to come away with the ball and steal an extra possession, including on this huge Simons’ three.
Anfernee Simons with his FIFTH triple of the night!
And with that, Simons is the first 76ers player in franchise history to make at least five 3PT off the bench in three consecutive games (per @76ersPR_stats) pic.twitter.com/Cq85o1yiGF
<p>(Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
This actually wasn’t the best game from VJ Edgecombe. Quite the contrary, actually. He was decent on the boards and on defense, but it wasn’t an offensively productive game from Edgecombe. He didn’t shoot all that well, notching just 10 points on 4-for-13 field goal shooting.
But he was 2-for-4 from three, and one of those couldn’t have come at a more important moment.
Again. The kid is clutch. With the Sixers finally taking the lead out from under the Hornets very late in this one, Philly held just a narrow advantage as time was winding down… until VJ Edgecombe hit a nasty step-back and sank a monster three over the defense of Grayson Allen, extending the Sixers’ lead to four points and helping seal the victory for Philadelphia.
Clutch. And I personally think that alone earns you a Bell Ringer nomination.
Like the St. Louis Blues did with Otto Stenberg, they have reassigned Quinton Burns to the AHL following a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
The Blues were resilient against the Red Wings coming back from a two-goal defecit to win. The Blues scored three unanswered goals in the third period, with the winner coming off the stick of Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, his first goal of his NHL career.
With the win, the Blues now have a 7-6-1 record, good enough for 15 points and fifth place in the Central Division.
Prior to the game, the Blues recalled Theo Lindstein from the AHL to replace an injured Colton Parayko. Lindstein logged 10:14 of ice time, finishing as a minus-2.
In his call-up, Burns did not play in any NHL games and has yet to dress for any. He has featured in pre-season games. This year he skated in two games. In the AHL this season, the 21-year-old has recorded one assist in seven games.
This is his second season in the AHL, as he split most of his rookie season between the ECHL and AHL.
Burns is a 6-foot-2, 194-pound left-handed defenseman whom the Blues drafted in the third round (74th overall) in the 2023 NHL draft. Burns is a native of Smith Falls, Ont.
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It was one of the first issues that Mike Brown mentioned.
He had plenty to dissect after a 98-93 loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia, but the head coach was frustrated by the Knicks allowing 26 points in the paint during the first half of their loss — and brought it up, along with turnovers, to reporters following the game. The Knicks, by comparison, managed just 14. And while they responded in the second half and limited the 76ers to just 10 points in the paint across the final 24 minutes, their early lapses contributed to an early deficit that haunted them throughout their loss to open NBA Cup play.
“They were getting in our paint left and right, right and left, and it was really, really easy doing it,” Brown said. “… If it’s a post-up game or something like that, OK, maybe, I don’t know. But to continue to have that ball driven in the paint, especially in the first half when they shot 5 of 17 or whatever it is from the 3-point line, was not good.”
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the New York Knicks on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. NBAE via Getty Images
This was new for the Knicks. Even after Friday, they were still only allowing 39.3 points per game in the paint, which ranked second in the NBA and trailed just the Celtics (38.0) for the league’s best mark. But Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with eight points in the paint during the first half, while LeBron James and VJ Edgecombe both added six.
Less than two minutes into the game, James cut behind OG Anunoby, collected a pass from Joel Embiid and finished a layup. Early in the second quarter, when the Knicks had some reserves in, too, ball movement allowed Maxey to get the ball on the wing, and a pump fake allowed him to drive past Landry Shamet and finish a dunk.
“It’s not just one thing,” Brown said, when asked about pick-and-roll communication leading to paint defense issues. “It’s a little thing here, little thing there, little thing there, and that’s why it adds up. We’re competitive when we need to be, and that’s why all our games that we’re in, we have a chance down the stretch.
“But trying to make sure we continue to do the little things throughout the course of the game is gonna be huge for us because we’re not doing it right now.”
LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers goes up for a rebound against the New York Knicks during an NBA game in Philadelphia on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Even without Mitchell Robinson, who signed with the Celtics in the offseason and is one of the league’s best offensive rebounders when healthy, the Knicks entered play Saturday ranked second in the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage at 36.3 — trailing just the Warriors’ 37.5. In Philadelphia on Friday, the Knicks gathered 14 offensive rebounds compared to the 76ers’ five, with Andre Drummond and Miles McBride leading them with three each.
Since the start of the 2024-25 season, the Knicks have only been limited to 93 points or fewer on three occasions during the regular season — and all of those occurred last season. They were also held to 93 and 91 points by the Celtics during the 2025 postseason. … Mikal Bridges, who finished third on the Knicks in scoring, tied his season high with 12 points, but he’s still just averaging 6.2 points per game to start the year.
