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Chisholm’s power-play winner lifts Devils past Avalanche 4-3

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Declan Chisholm scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period and Jake Allen made 31 saves as the New Jersey Devils beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Chisholm scored his first goal for the Devils at 12:33 on a power play, putting New Jersey in front to stay after the teams traded goals in the first.

Luke Evangelista, Arseny Gritsyuk and Jesper Boqvist also scored for the Devils, who recovered from a 4-2 loss at Washington in their previous game.

The 34-year-old Allen, honored before puck drop for playing his 500th career game earlier this month, improved to 4-2-0.

Gabriel Landeskog scored and Artturi Lehkonen added two late goals for the Avalanche, who lost for the third time in four games. Colorado was beaten 3-2 at Philadelphia on Monday.

Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood made 37 saves against his former team. He entered 5-0-0 with a 1.52 goals-against average versus the Devils.

Evangelista opened the scoring at 6:40 of the first with his third goal.

Landeskog tied it at 14:32 with his fourth of the season. The Avalanche captain missed more than three seasons following major right knee surgery. He returned to score 14 goals in 60 games last season.

Gritsyuk’s fourth goal came at 4:39 of the third. Boqvist scored an empty-netter at 16:05 to make it 4-1.

Lehkonen scored at 16:46, then added his team-leading eighth goal with 3.5 seconds left.

New Jersey won for the fourth time in six home games.

ISLANDERS 3, DUCKS 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Ondrej Palat, Viktor Eklund and Simon Holmstrom scored first-period goals and New York beat Anaheim for its second straight victory.

Ilya Sorokin made 15 saves to help the Islanders improve to 3-0-1 in their last four games.

Frank Vatrano and Alex Killorn scored for Anaheim, which lost its fourth straight game. Lukas Dostal finished with 22 saves.

Palat opened the scoring with 6:21 left in the first period. Jean-Gabriel Pageau found Palat streaking toward the net, and the forward fired a wrist shot past Dostal.

Eklund doubled the lead less than three minutes later. Emil Heineman floated a wrist shot from the blue line, and Eklund corralled the loose puck and buried it for his second goal of the season.

Vatrano pulled the Ducks within a goal 49 seconds later, lifting a backhander past Sorokin off a feed from A.J. Greer.

Holmstrom restored New York’s two-goal advantage with a power-play goal with 1:18 left in the first, deflecting Mathew Schaefer’s shot from the point past Dostal.

KINGS 5, CAPITALS 2

WASHINGTON (AP) — Adrian Kempe scored twice and Los Angeles got its first win of the season, rallying from an early deficit to beat Washington.

Artemi Panarin, Erik Gustafsson and Scott Laughton also scored for Los Angeles (1-4-2), and former Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper made 30 saves.

Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson scored for the Capitals, who took a 2-0 lead in the first period but were held scoreless for the final 41:25. Washington’s Logan Thompson stopped 21 shots.

The Kings, who came in having scored just four goals over their previous four games and 12 goals through six games, lost second-line center Quinton Byfield to an upper-body injury in the first period. He played just 2:44.

Hutson put the Capitals ahead 2-0 on the power play with 1:25 left in the first, but Kempe found the net less than a minute later and Panarin scored 2 seconds before the intermission.

Gustafsson put the Kings ahead at 7:28 of the third on the power play. Kempe scored his second goal midway through the third, and Laughton added an empty-netter that gave the Kings their highest-scoring game of the season.

MAPLE LEAFS 6, BLUE JACKETS 2

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist in his 700th NHL game and the Toronto Maple Leafs scored four straight goals in the second period to beat Columbus for its second road victory of the season.

Easton Cowan and Jack Roslovic each had a goal and two assists, William Nylander had a goal and an assist, and Morgan Rielly added three assists. Kirill Marchenko and Marshall Rifai also scored, and Anthony Stolarz stopped 33 shots for the Maple Leafs.

Jake Christiansen and Charlie Coyle scored for the Blue Jackets. They have been outscored 15-3 in the second period through eight games and lost for the fourth time in five games.

Jet Greaves stopped 14 shots before being pulled in the second period after allowing his fifth goal. Cam Talbot stopped two of the three shots he faced in relief.

SHARKS 4, CANADIENS 3, OT

MONTREAL (AP) — Macklin Celebrini scored his second goal of the game on a power play at 2:13 of overtime to give San Jose a victory over Montreal.

Celebrini fired a one-timer into the top-left corner after goalie Jakub Dobes was called for interference on Colin Graf.

Celebrini added an assist and Tyler Toffoli and Michael Misa also scored to help San Jose (5-4-1) rebound from a 3-1 loss to Toronto on Monday night.

Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 31 shots.

Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki had a goal and an assist each as Montreal (4-3-2) surrendered a two-goal advantage for the fourth time this season. Dobes made 26 saves.

Misa, who hit the post earlier in the period, cut into the Canadiens’ lead at 5:36 in the third, finishing a feed from Kiefer Sherwood after Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson turned the puck over.

Toffoli tied it with 8:51 remaining in regulation when he buried Celebrini’s pass on the power play with Arber Xhekaj in the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct.

BLUES 2, JETS 1

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Philip Broberg scored on a power play at 8:47 of the third period to break a tie in St. Louis's victory over Winnipeg.

Robert Thomas set up Broberg’s slapper from the middle of the ice above the faceoff circles. Thomas has 332 career assists, one short of matching Brian Sutter for fourth on the Blues’ list.

Broberg also assisted on Jimmy Snuggerud’s first-period goal, and Joel Hofer stopped 32 shots as the Blues opened a five-game homestand. Snuggerud has five goals this season.

St. Louis snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 4-4-1.

Cole Perfetti tied it at 1 for Winnipeg at 32 seconds of the third with his sixth goal of the season.

Stuart Skinner made 27 saves for the Jets.

STARS 3, BRUINS 2, OT

DALLAS (AP) — Mikko Rantanen scored in overtime to complete a hat trick, and Dallas beat Boston to snap its five-game winning streak.

It was the 11th career three-goal game for Rantanen and his first in the regular season since joining the Stars in a trade during the 2024-25 season. He became the fourth Stars player with an overtime hat trick since the team moved to Dallas for the 1993-94 season.

Rantanen got his first goal early in the second period to tie the game at 1-all, and he tied it again in the third. His winner came on the power play at 3:52 of overtime when he did some nifty stick work in close and fired a shot past the left shoulder of Jeremy Swayman, who earlier in the extra period stopped Wyatt Johnston on two breakaway attempts 10 seconds apart and finished with 22 saves.

Jake Oettinger stopped 18 shots for Dallas (5-3-1) in its third straight win.

Matthew Poitras and James Hagens scored for the Bruins (7-2-1), who concluded their Western Conference trip at 3-0-1. Boston went 0 for 4 on the power play against Dallas, which came in allowing an NHL-best 1.5 goals per game and had the fourth-best penalty kill in the league. The Stars have allowed one power-play goal on opponents’ last 25 chances.

OILERS 4, WILD 3, OT

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Evan Bouchard scored on a power play at 3:32 of overtime to give Edmonton a victory over Minnesota.

Connor McDavid set up Bouchard’s goal for his third assist of the game, pushing his NHL-leading points total to 26 and extending his season-opening points streak to nine games.

Leon Draisaitl scored twice, Mathieu Joseph also connected and Devon Levi made 27 saves. The Oilers (7-1-1) have won two in a row and seven of eight.

Joel Eriksson Ek, Kirill Kaprizov and Ryan Hartman scored for Minnesota (6-2-2), and Jesper Wallstedt stopped 28 shots. Kaprizov leads the NHL with 11 goals.

Kaprizov and Hartman scored in the third period as Minnesota overcame a 3-1 deficit to force overtime.

HURRICANES 6, CANUCKS 3

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Logan Stankoven and Nikolaj Ehlers each scored twice and had an assist and Carolina beat Vancouver to take the NHL points lead and hand the Canucks their eighth straight loss.

Nicolas Deslauriers also had two goals for the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes (8-2-1). Jackson Blake added three assists, and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 14 shots, They rebounded from a 3-2 loss at Calgary on Sunday night.

Linus Karlsson, Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Max Sasson scored for the Canucks (2-8-1).

Leevi Merilainen provided a bright spot for Vancouver with 38 saves. He stopped Sebastian Aho on a penalty shot in the second period after Canucks center Elias Pettersson was caught throwing his stick.

KRAKEN 4, RED WINGS 3, SO

SEATTLE (AP) — Freddy Gaudreau and Bobby McMann scored for Seattle in a shootout as it defeated Detroit after blowing a three-goal lead in the third period.

Mackie Samoskevich, Ryker Evans and Brandon Montour scored in the first two periods for Seattle, which improved to 6-3-1. Philipp Grubauer made 22 saves in regulation and then denied Dylan Larkin to end the shootout.

Viktor Arvidsson and Lucas Raymond scored 59 seconds apart for Detroit (3-3-3), and Alex DeBrincat tied the game on a power play with 17 seconds left in the third. Daniil Tarasov stopped 24 shots.

Samoskevich opened the scoring 6:45 into the first period.

Overlapping too-many-men and delay-of-game penalties by Detroit gave Seattle a two-man advantage early in the second. Evans doubled the Kraken’s lead with a power-play goal at 3:22 after the first penalty expired. The defenseman scored from alone in front of the net after Michael Rasmussen turned over the puck along the boards.

Montour scored his first goal of the season with 3:59 remaining in the second. He returned to action after missing one game with a lower-body injury.

Detroit got going late. The Red Wings took 13 shots in the third period after mustering only 11 in the first two. Arvidsson spoiled Grubauer’s shutout bid 6:25 into the third, and Raymond scored his first goal of the season at 7:24 on a power play.

DeBrincat tied it with his sixth goal of the season.

LIGHTNING 6, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Anthony Cirelli scored twice, Nikita Kucherov had three points to tie Tampa Bay’s career scoring record, and the Lightning extended their strong start by beating Vegas.

The Lightning (7-2) are off to their best start since opening 7-1-1 in 2020-21, when they repeated as Stanley Cup champions.

Vegas had won seven of eight.

Kucherov has at least one point in all 15 games he’s played against the Golden Knights. That ranks behind only Mario Lemieux (26 games against Calgary) and Tomas Sandstrom (17 games against Tampa Bay) among players who scored in every game against an opponent. Connor McDavid had a 17-game streak against New Jersey that ended in January.

With a goal and two assists, Kucherov increased his total to 1,137 career points, pulling even with former teammate Steven Stamkos for the club record.

Brandon Hagel, John Carlson and Victor Hedman also scored for the Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 32 shots.

Ivan Barbashev scored his first goal of the season for the Golden Knights, and Mark Stone got his fifth in three games. Carter Hart made 15 saves on 21 shots.

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This World Series has no Goliaths but plenty of Davids who play a different brand of baseball

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski is one of the stars in this Brewers-Rays World Series, Image 2 shows Drew Rasmussen, who shut down the Yankees and Guardians, likely will start in Game 1 of the World Series for the Rays

The best team in the National League and the best team in the American League have advanced to the World Series, which nonetheless qualifies as a stunner considering those teams’ identities.

Welcome to the Brewers-Rays World Series, in which, regardless of the result, an organization that scrimps on roster payroll and prides itself on outthinking its opponents will win its first championship.

Milwaukee has only played in one other Fall Classic — way back in 1982, 44 years ago — and Tampa Bay lost in 2020 and 2008.

Finally the brains, more so than the brawn, of one of the clubs will pay off in a matchup that begins Friday in Wisconsin. If this battle of technically sound and remarkably athletic players supported by brilliant baseball minds does not excite masses who wanted Goliaths such as the Yankees and Dodgers, maybe savor the game at its best while it is being played.

Which brings us to another storyline of the 122nd World Series …

This is poorly timed for the owners ahead of an expected lockout

The league’s billionaires soon will shutter the sport to argue that significant steps — namely, a salary cap — must be taken to achieve better competitive balance. Because how could a team like the Rays — with the 28th-highest payroll, according to Spotrac — and the Brewers — No. 19 — compete with the Yankees and Dodgers?

So yes, the owners’ case would have more greatly resonated if the annual winter winners became the October winners, perhaps with the Dodgers three-peating.

But to get this far, the Rays and Brewers acted differently than the bigger-market behemoths who more freely throw money at free agents. Each market and each owner operates distinctly in a system with a soft salary cap and no salary floor, and money spent is an inarguable advantage.

It is not just that they act differently, but …

Both teams play differently

They score differently than most. The Rays led the majors in singles, and the Brewers were second.

The Rays swing differently. They excel in putting bat on ball, best in the majors in strikeout rate and tops in bunts — for hits and sacrifices — laid down.

The Brewers swing differently. They are not as contact-driven but delight traditionalists in other ways, notably by using the opposite field more than anyone. They find gaps, take their walks, advance runners and figured out ways to score the second-most runs in baseball while hitting the second-fewest home runs in baseball.

Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski is one of the stars in this Brewers-Rays World Series. Getty Images

Both teams run differently, the Rays with the slight edge in steals (second best vs. fifth best) but the Brewers overall faster (the fastest team in MLB, according to Statcast’s Sprint Speed).

They defend differently, both largely excellent with the gloves. The Rays outfield is particularly strong, and the Brewers’ all-around defense has vacuumed up ball after ball, helping their pitchers with a .229 Batting Average on Balls in Play in the postseason.

They pitch differently, the Brewers’ high-powered bullpen the best in October while the Rays rotation has led the way.

Both are cohesive, well-meshed teams that nonetheless feature …

Standouts whose stardoms are about to grow

It is not an exaggeration to say Jacob Misiorowski is the hardest-throwing starting pitcher in baseball history. At a time when velocity is king, the crown belongs to a wiry, 6-foot-7, 24-year-old with a boyish face, a love of Pokémon and a Cy Young Award in his future. The Mets staff threw nine regular-season pitches of at least 100 mph this season; “The Miz” threw 1,115.

Behind him, 22-year-old Jackson Chourio, having a quiet postseason, has the ability to instantly become a household name. As does Brice Turang, who is no longer among baseball’s most underrated stars.

On the Rays side, Junior Caminero — who, growing up in the Dominican Republic, successfully lobbied to name his little brother “Girardi” after the then-Yankees manager — announced himself in the ALCS-clinching victory with a shot off the left field foul pole, some chest-beating and a detour-filled slow trot around the bases. A 23-year-old MVP candidate for this year and a threat for years to come, Caminero has the talent to become one of the faces of the game.

And one the ALCS-losing Guardians will forever regret trading. Speaking of which …

Trade payback

In all likelihood, the Rays will turn to Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta in Games 1 and 2 on normal rest. If they get shut down, the Brewers would have only themselves to blame.

Rasmussen, an oft-injured but promising prospect, debuted for the Brewers in 2020 and was traded to the Rays the next year in the Willy Adames swap that looked lopsided until it wasn’t. Finally healthy, Rasmussen has a combined 2.71 ERA in 61 starts the past two years.

Drew Rasmussen, who shut down the Yankees and Guardians, likely will start in Game 1 of the World Series for the Rays. Aaron Josefczyk/UPI/Shutterstock

The Peralta saga is more familiar locally, another walk-year Brewers player dealt before free agency, this time to the Mets. Peralta struggled, could not be fixed in Queens and was sent to the pitching-fixers in St. Petersburg, who have unlocked the ALCS MVP.

Speaking of recognizable faces, there are plenty of …

Local connections

For the Brewers, Gary Sánchez and Jake Bauers will be familiar to Yankees fans, and Trevor Megill is the brother of the Mets’ Tylor.

For the Rays, there is Peralta plus Steven Matz, short-time Mets Cedric Mullins and Cole Sulser and former top Yankees prospect Jorge Mateo.

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Cubs BCB After Dark: Which free agent pitcher is the best fit?

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 06, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We’re open for business here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the fall chill. There’s no cover charge. We always have room for a friendly face. We have a few tables available. The hostess can seat you now. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last night, I asked you who you were cheering for in the upcoming World Series. The vote wasn’t as lopsided as I thought it would be, as “only” 63 percent of you said you were cheering for the Rays. For the other 37 percent, I guess you have your reasons.

On Tuesdays, I don’t normally do any movie stuff. But I always have time for jazz and you’re free to join us.

Tonight we’re featuring Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox playing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as a 1930s Cab Calloway-style jazz tune. And yes, that’s Wayne Brady on lead vocals.

Welcome back to everyone who skips all that jazz.

Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma have an article up in The Athletic about some free agent pitching targets for the Cubs over the winter. (sub. req.) Tonight’s question is which one do you think would be the best fit for the Cubs?

OK, I’m cheating a little bit. The first name that Mooney and Sharma mention is Tarik Skubal, and if I put him in the poll he’d probably get at least 90 percent of the vote. But as Mooney and Sharma mention, signing Skubal would force owner Tom Ricketts to go way outside of his comfort zone as far as it comes to signing free agents. I’m not saying that there is no chance the Cubs sign Skubal. I do think there’s a chance that Ricketts and Hoyer decide to roll the dice on Skubal. But I don’t think it’s a big chance. Small chance. Really small chance. But I am saying there’s a chance. But not enough of a chance to include him here.

The other three starting pitchers mentioned by the pair are much more likely options for the Cubs. The three of them are:

Right-hander Michael King: King isn’t technically a free agent yet, but he has an opt-out clause that everyone is expecting him to exercise. As Mooney and Sharma note, the Cubs were interested in King last year, but didn’t want to match the Padres’ offer. For one, it would have cost the Cubs a draft pick as he had received a qualifying offer. Second, the deal for three years and $75 million with two opt outs meant that the Cubs would have been taking on all the risk and potentially getting only one year out of King.

But King had a good year in 2026, including shutting the Cubs down in the postseason, which you probably remember. The 31-year-old King went 12-10 with a strong 3.21 ERA over 185 innings this past season. He also kept the ball on the ground, which is good with the Cubs infield. The one warning sign is that King’s strikeout rate this past year dropped to a career-low 21 pecent in 2026.

Right-hander Freddy Peralta: The Cubs have been linked to Peralta for a while, mostly because of the long history between him and manager Craig Counsell in Milwaukee. With free agency approaching, the Brewers dealt Peralta to the Mets last winter and until the trade deadline in August, he was pretty freaking bad in Queens with a 4.99 ERA. Some of that was the Mets poor defense. Some of that was just Peralta being bad.

But Peralta was traded to the Rays at the deadline and after a disastrous start in Colorado when he got rocked for seven runs, Perlata was mostly pretty good for the Rays. He seemed to have rediscovered his old form from Milwaukee. In ten regular season starts with the Rays, Peralta had a 3.25 ERA. Then, of course, he dominated in the playoffs and was just named the American League Championship Series MVP last night after two terrific games against Cleveland. As Mooney and Sharma point out, Peralta’s velocity took a big step up during the playoffs, potentially indicating that his problems with the Mets are behind him.

The one potential yellow flag to Peralta’s time with Tampa Bay is that, like King, his strikeout rate dropped, striking out just 19.7 percent of batters. On the other hand, his walk rate dropped too.

Right-hander Sonny Gray: At 36, Gray is easily the oldest of the three pitchers we’re looking at tonight. But he really isn’t slowing down much at all. Gray had one of the best seasons of his career in 2026 and he led the league with 18 wins. Gray also had a 2.72 ERA, which was his lowest since his abbreviated rookie season in 2013.

Gray is also a strong ground ball pitcher, getting 46 percent ground balls last season and 49.4 percent over the course of his career. Gray also doesn’t walk batters, which allowed him to go deeper into games even as he ages. In 22 of his 29 starts last year, Gray went at least six innings. In six starts, he went seven innings or more.

The other advantage with Gray is that with his age, he’d probably be willing to settle for a much shorter contract of one or two years. That would mean a lot less risk if things go bad.

Mooney and Sharma mention the players and coaches on the Cubs with Vanderbilt connections, that might entice the Commodore alum. But I also wanted to mention that the Cubs drafted Gray out of high school in 2008 in the 27th round. Admittedly, Gray was a strong commit to Vandy and that draft pick was a kind of “Hey, if you change your mind. . .” pick, but the point is that the Cubs interest in Gray goes all the way back to the Jim Hendry era.

So which of these three pitchers would be the best fit for the Cubs in 2027?

Thanks for stopping by tonight. It’s been nice hosting you. Please get home safely. Tell your friends about us. Don’t forget any personal items. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.

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Sixers Bell Ringer: Philly win portends great things to come in victory over defending champs

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shake hands during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Aside from potentially playing a role in a tiebreaker scenario at the end of the season, Tuesday night’s game was just one of 82 on the schedule. But it felt much bigger than that, what with the New York Knicks raising the banner, and the Philadelphia 76ers both looking to show that last spring’s playoff sweep wasn’t who they are anymore, both figuratively and literally with the number of new faces. Fans were treated to a playoff-like atmosphere in October, and it’s hard to come away with anything but optimism about the Sixers’ prospects after their 106-100 win over New York.

The defense looked much better than anticipated, stifling the Knicks into shooting just 37 percent from the field. Philadelphia’s unselfishness mantra held true offensively, with 28 assists on 37 made field goals. In addition to the big-name acquisitions, two of the new players down the roster contributed in the team-wide effort, with Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both finishing in double figures. It was a hard-nosed, gutsy performance from a bunch of guys who haven’t played a ton together yet against a Knicks group that has about as much continuity and recent success as anyone in the league. We saw a lot to like from these Sixers, so let’s talk our first Bell Ringer of the season.

Tyrese Maxey: 28 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a layup during the third quarter of the game against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In a game featuring the defending champions and teammates with all the accolades you can accrue in this sport, Tyrese Maxey looked to be the best player on the court to my eyes. He was the most consistent offensive engine for the Sixers all evening long, starting the scoring with a pair of threes, one off a nice read in the open court to pick off a pass. All game, whenever the Sixers needed something, it seemed to be Tyrese in transition, or using his elite acceleration to drive to the rim for a bucket or a foul. And remember when Maxey was a negative on defense? Those days are long gone. He’s learned to hone his speed and athleticism to perfectly time rejections at the rim or intercept passing lanes. His pick-six with around two minutes left in the game firmly put the Sixers in control for the remainder of the contest. In so many ways, this is Tyrese Maxey’s team now.

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LeBron James: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

LeBron James, Philadelphia 76er, became an actual on-court reality on Tuesday night, and it was beautiful in so many ways. He brings so much connectivity to the team on both ends of the court. James helped shore up the defensive glass and was such a communicative piece on the defensive end; I guess it remains to be seen if he’ll be this locked in defensively on a non-nationally televised game against the Kings or whoever, but this game proved he still has that gear. Offensively, he made all the right reads we’ve come to expect over the years from LeBron James, basketball savant. I’m sure it will only get better as his chemistry with his new teammates increases. He also supercharges the transition game, both as an initiator and a finisher. LeBron James in the open court is still a freight train that can’t be derailed. This was a “quieter” game from LeBron on a night his shot wasn’t really falling, and he still had his fingerprints all over the win.

Jaylen Brown: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the third quarter of the game against Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jaylen’s Sixers debut went how you would have drawn it up to a tee. He played a lot of off ball when the starters were in the game, and then got his turn as a lead initiator when members of the second unit filtered into the game. Through it all, he never forced anything, picking his spots to score and doing a terrific job distributing to his teammates as well. Brown was the catalyst of the Sixers’ 11-0 run to close the third quarter and turn the tide of the game, knocking down a pair of threes and assisting another. His end-of-quarter buzzer beater was a fun first capsule highlight for his Philadelphia 76ers career. Defensively, he was brilliant, stifling Jalen Brunson during his stints guarding the reigning Finals MVP. I hope he enjoyed his debut in a Sixers win combined with Boston blowing a 22-point lead in the same day as much as we did.

Anfernee Simons: 13 points, 2 rebounds, 0 turnovers

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 20: Anfernee Simons #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

We weren’t absolutely sure Simons would play in the opener after missing the preseason with a hamstring injury, but it’s a good thing he did. On a night a lot of folks were having trouble seeing their outside shot fall, Simons came in and knocked down three triples across a three-minute span in the third quarter. It helped ensure the Knicks didn’t start to pull away and the Sixers could remain within striking distance. Simons looks like a super microwave scorer option off the bench, and considering he joined the team with this viewed as a huge weakness, there wasn’t anything I saw defensively that gave me great pause. He’s going to see a ton of open looks this season, and Anfernee looks poised to drain his fair share.

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Recap: Bruins fizzle out down the stretch, lose to Dallas in OT

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 20: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Dallas Stars is congratulated by Miro Heiskanen #4 following a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period at American Airlines Center on October 20, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Mikko Rantanen finished off a hat trick with the game-winning goal 3:52 into overtime, helping the Stars to a come-from-behind, 3-2 OT win over the Bruins.

Rantanen’s winner came on the power play, with the B’s around 30 seconds away from successfully killing a slashing penalty on Pavel Zacha.

The Bruins got goals from Matthew Poitras and James Hagens, while Jeremy Swayman recorded 22 saves in defeat.

The B’s had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in this game, but seemed to run out of gas and ideas down the stretch.

The loss is the B’s first in more than two weeks and sees them end their road trip with a 3-0-1 record.

To the highlights!

After the B’s forced a turnover, Frederic Brunet threaded a perfect pass through to Poitras, who didn’t miss to make it 1-0 Bruins early in the first.

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Speaking of turnovers, the Bruins managed to give the puck away about five times in five seconds, the last of which ended up on the stick of Rantanen. He followed his own shot to make it a 1-1 game early in the second period.

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Five minutes after the Rantanen goal, Hagens beat Miro Heiskanen to the top of the crease and tapped home a great pass from Casey Mittelstadt to make it 2-1 Bruins.

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The Stars began to tilt the ice in their favor in the third period, and they finally got what felt like an inevitable goal with around six minutes left. Rantanen was the beneficiary of a deflected puck, and he wasted no time firing it on net. 2-2 game.

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The B’s were bady outplayed in the last five minutes of regulation and played a dreadful overtime (save for Swayman, who was great) that was capped by (guess who) Rantanen, who finished a standout night with a hat trick winner.

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In the words of Jack Edwards, “a torture chamber goal.”

Bruins lose in OT, 3-2 final.

Game notes

  • You can’t help but feel for Swayman, as he made two OT breakaway saves on Wyatt Johnston only to find Rantanen alone at the top of his crease for the winner. NOT IDEAL. Swayman’s play helped extend overtime by a minute or two, and his ability to hang in there in the third period helped the Bruins at least earn a point.
  • While the B’s had some impressive passages of play in this game, they spent pretty much the last 25 minutes holding on for dear life. Dallas tying the game in the third period felt like an inevitability.
  • To illustrate the point above: the Bruins went the final 13ish minutes of regulation and all of overtime without recording a shot on goal. To be frank, I’m not sure I really remember them coming all that close to even attempting a shot on goal during that stretch.
  • The power play went back to being a sore spot for the Bruins, as they went 0-for-4 on the night. They weren’t without their chances and Jake Oettinger made a couple of big stops, particularly in the second period, but this was one of those games where a PPG would have gone a long way and the B’s couldn’t muster one.
  • It was a night to forget for David Pastrnak. He finished without a shot on goal (a rarity for Pastrnak), though it wasn’t for a lack of attempts. His misplay of the puck/a bad bounce at the attacking blue line led to Johnston’s first breakaway in OT and was essentially the beginning of the wheels really falling off. This certainly isn’t meant to suggest Pastrnak lost the game for the B’s, just that it wasn’t his night.
  • If you were looking at this game as a measuring-stick game against a legitimate Cup contender, there are positives to take away from it. For example, the youths (Hagens, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Fraser Minten, in particular) had stretches of play where their speed and tenacity gave Dallas trouble, the B’s had a handful of occasions where the speed and crispness (for lack of a better word) of their breakouts caught Dallas by surprise, etc.
  • Having said that, this game also illustrates what can happen when you get a little too passive/tentative against a good team. There seemed to be a point where the B’s decided they had to circle the wagons and hunker down instead of push back, and that rarely goes well. I don’t think this was an intentional strategy on Sturm’s part, just that Dallas started skating downhill and the B’s couldn’t muster a response. Live and learn.
  • You’re likely not feeling charitable at the moment, but going 3-0-1 on this road trip is a great result for the B’s. Maybe you will feel better in the morning. If not, that’s fine too.

The B’s will head back to the East Coast (best coast) Tuesday night and will host the Nashville Predators at TD Garden on Thursday night.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bests fellow MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama in NBA opener

The Oklahoma City Thunder got a measure of revenge on the San Antonio Spurs for last season's Western Conference finals when they won 116-104 on opening night of the 2026-27 NBA season.

The game, which was on Tuesday, Oct. 20 in San Antonio, featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continuing to make history as a shooter and Victor Wembanyama struggling on offense, but showcasing his defensive prowess, reminding fans why he was last year's Defensive Player of the Year.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, six rebounds and four assists. Oklahoma City was in control for most of the game, which was devoid of drama besides a scuffle in the third quarter when De'Aaron Fox committed a hard foul against Chet Holmgren.

"Obviously, it's the team that eliminated us from achieving our goal, but for us, I think it was more we're just happy to be back," Gilgeous-Alexander said on the NBC broadcast after the game. "... One of 82. This doesn't prove anything. This doesn't mean anything besides the fact that we won tonight. We took a step in the right direction. We gotta do it 81 more times."

Wembanyama started 0-for-12 from the field and finished the night with 12 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and six blocks.

The Spurs were seeking to rebound after losing the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks. The defending champions also lost their first game earlier in the day in a battle against LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers.

San Antonio ousted the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals in a seven-game battle royale last season. Oklahoma City was riding high off Gilgeous-Alexander's second MVP season and their own NBA championship in 2025.

Both Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander are early favorites for this season's MVP as their young teams play hungry for more glory. In USA TODAY's preseason ranking of the top 100 players in the league, 22-year-old Wembanyama is No. 3 and Gilgeous-Alexander, 28, is No. 1.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stats in NBA season opener

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, six rebounds and four assists. He also was a strong defensive presence with three steals and three blocks.

It was his 141st straight game with 20-plus points, the longest streak in NBA history, per the NBC broadcast.

"This is the game I love. I work hard in the summertime. I come out here and trust my work," the MVP said after the game. "It's that simple."

Victor Wembanyama stats in NBA season opener

Victor Wembanyama had a lackluster night and started 0-for-12 from the field, the longest drought of his career. The only points off a field goal came via an alley-oop dunk at the end of the third quarter.

The French superstar finished the night with 12 points, 13 rebounds and three assists. He shined on defense on top of the double digit boards with six blocks.

Thunder vs. Spurs highlights

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bests fellow MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama in NBA opener

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LeBron James says it was ‘pretty special’ for 76ers to spoil the Knicks’ ring night

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Philadelphia 76ers player LeBron James reacts on the court during a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden
LeBron Knicks

If you can’t get a ring yourself, you might as well spoil the party. 

That was LeBron James’ mindset after he helped the 76ers defeat the Knicks 106-100 on Tuesday night in the season opener, which came after the Knicks celebrated last year’s NBA championship — the franchise’s first in 53 years — with a ring and banner ceremony before tip-off. 

“Yeah, I do,” James told NBC when asked if he liked getting a win on the Knicks’ celebration night. 

“It’s pretty special,” he continued with a grin. 

James finished the night with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 34 minutes on the court in the Sixers’ win at Madison Square Garden. 

LeBron James reacts on the court and looks toward Spike Lee during the third quarter of the Knicks’ 106-100 loss to the 76ers in their home opener on Oct. 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

It wasn’t the only memorable shot at Knicks fans that he got during the game. 

In the second quarter, he was seen exchanging words with a spectator sitting courtside at the Garden. 

According to Mike Tirico on the NBC broadcast, a fan behind him yelled at LeBron about his helicopter and said that just because the NBA superstar lives in New York, it didn’t mean they would cheer for him. 

A video posted online showed James cursing at the fan, appearing to tell them there “ain’t nothing soft about the Midwest, I don’t know what the f–k you talking about.” 

Eventually, Spike Lee stepped in to play peacemaker and cooler heads prevailed. 

“Guess who’s playing peacemaker? Spike Lee,” Reggie Miller said on the broadcast, much to his own amusement.

“He’s over here playing peacemaker. Boy, I’ve seen everything.” 

LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey react on the court in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ loss to the 76ers in their home opener at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The win marked James’ first with the 76ers after he signed a two-year, $8 million contract with Philly in a much-anticipated free agency. James also recently told ESPN that he even envisioned playing in New York.

“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,” James said. “One of the best places I’ve ever played.

“I think it’s the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player. But after [the Knicks] beat San Antonio, I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’ I couldn’t do it.”

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LeBron James' versatility, passing on full display in Philadelphia 76ers debut

What LeBron James brings to the 76ers was on full display right after halftime of their season opener: Coach Nick Nurse switched up the matchups and had LeBron guarding Karl-Anthony Towns (putting Joel Embiid on Josh Hart).

Versatility. He can defend multiple positions. He can get a bucket, but spent most of the game as a facilitator, making the smart pass to get someone else the easy two.

Or, he can just do this.

On a team stacked with talent — and guys used to having the ball in their hands — LeBron's willingness to sacrifice to do whatever it takes to win stood out in his opener — and is part of the reason the 76ers picked up the 106-100 win to spoil ring night in Madison Square Garden.

LeBron had a 14-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist night.

"I can be a lot better. Still getting my rhythm," LeBron said in his walk-off interview with NBC's Zora Stephenson. "Obviously, just a little over two weeks with the new squad. I like the way we played, I thought we played well, especially defensively. Didn't shoot the ball well but we have capable shooters, we know that."

It looked better than LeBron thought. When LeBron and Embiid were on the floor, the 76ers could invert the offense, put them both out high, and have Tyrese Maxey or Jaylen Brown cut and move with space in the paint. It wasn't always smooth, but it worked.

LeBron still has his haters. "We don't want you" chants rang out in Madison Square Garden when LeBron stepped to the free-throw line (a reference to LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, saying that if the Knicks hadn't won a title, he would have gone to New York this summer).

That's not going to bother him. And, it's not going to bother the 76ers. Coach Nick Nurse called other coaches to see what he was in for coaching LeBron.

"There wasn't a whole lot of amazing, laundry list of things they're gonna say. They say you're gonna really like coaching him, and that is the case," Nurse said.

Nurse also talked about what LeBron, and another champion in Jaylen Brown, bring to the 76ers.

"You see both of their work ethics are A-plus, right? So without them even saying anything, who they are and how they go about things, automatically gives you some some pop, right?" Nurse said. "But they're both very serious about winning, both very serious about their preparation, and they both understand the game and do use their voices and help their teammates do things out there."

LeBron did that on opening night, and that is exactly why Philadelphia was excited to welcome him in. They are 1-0 because of it.

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Lakers vs. Warriors Preview: The season is finally here

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball against Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on October 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Lakers open their season by hosting the Golden State Warriors at home on Wednesday.

Los Angeles has won only two opening-night games in the last 10 years and will look to change that tomorrow.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors

When: 7 p.m. PT, Oct 21

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: ESPN

In the last five years, the Lakers have faced the Warriors three times on opening night. At this point, it feels inevitable that these two Pacific Division teams clash on opening night — with or without LeBron James in the mix.

Speaking of The King, one thing the Lakers didn’t do well during his era was kick off the regular season. During James’ eight-year tenure in Los Angeles, they won only once, that coming in 2024. Will this trend continue now that the Luka Dončić era is in full effect?

In order for the Lakers to do just that, they’re going to have to play sharp and smart basketball right off the bat on Wednesday. As we saw in both preseason losses to the Dubs, they’re a more connected team right now, which makes sense since they barely made noise in free agency, contrary to the Lakers. So look out for them to bank on that with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green leading the way.

What the Lakers should do is capitalize on the Warriors’ injuries. Note that aside from Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody — who have been sidelined since last season — Brandin Podziemski and Kristaps Porziņģis also aren’t suiting up. So while that would probably mean more minutes and touches for Curry and even Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, the Lakers should outperform them on offense. They absolutely can’t get beat by anyone not named Steph from the Warriors.

It would be nice to get a sensational Dončić game right away, because who wouldn’t want that on opening night? Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler can’t afford to be passive or role players. Rebounds will be key for the Lakers because they mean more possessions for a supposedly more offensive-minded team. Ideally, the role players make their shots and their impact is felt in this one. Which one of them will stand out in the season opener?

Remember, a Curry-led team is always worth having appropriate fear for and hopefully that encourages the Lakers to play purposeful basketball from start to finish. There may be 82 games in a season but only one season opener that can help set the tone and begin the year with positive vibes.

Let’s see if the Lakers can secure their first victory on Wednesday.

Notes and Updates

  • For the Lakers’ injury report, Cameron Carr (right oblique strain) and Adou Thiero (left knee effusion) will start the season sidelined with injuries.
  • After missing the whole preseason, Colin Sexton (right soleus strain) is noted as questionable.
  • As for the Warriors, Jimmy Butler (ACL recovery), Moses Moody (patellar tendon repair). Brandin Podziemski (bilateral low back soreness), Kristaps Porzingis (not with the team) are listed as out.
  • Stephen Curry (right ankle soreness) is expected to play.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

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Mikko Rantanen's overtime hat trick gives the Stars a 3-2 win over the Bruins

DALLAS (AP) — Mikko Rantanen scored in overtime to complete a hat trick, and the Dallas Stars beat Boston 3-2 on Tuesday night to snap the Bruins' five-game winning streak.

It was the 11th career three-goal game for Rantanen and his first in the regular season since joining the Stars in a trade during the 2024-25 season. He became the fourth Stars player with an overtime hat trick since the team moved to Dallas for the 1993-94 season.

Rantanen got his first goal early in the second period to tie the game at 1-all, and he tied it again in the third. His winner came on the power play at 3:52 of overtime when he did some nifty stick work in close and fired a shot past the left shoulder of Jeremy Swayman, who earlier in the extra period stopped Wyatt Johnston on two breakaway attempts 10 seconds apart and finished with 22 saves.

Jake Oettinger stopped 18 shots for Dallas (5-3-1) in its third straight win.

Matthew Poitras and James Hagens scored for the Bruins (7-2-1), who concluded their Western Conference trip at 3-0-1. Boston went 0 for 4 on the power play against Dallas, which came in allowing an NHL-best 1.5 goals per game and had the fourth-best penalty kill in the league. The Stars have allowed one power-play goal on opponents' last 25 chances.

Roope Hintz had a shot from in close deflect off the leg of Boston’s Charlie McAvoy, and the loose puck ricocheted directly to Rantanen, who poked it past Swayman with 6:22 left in regulation to tie it at 2-all.

Up next

Bruins: Host Nashville on Thursday.

Stars: Host Winnipeg on Thursday.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Blake Griffin points out Clippers refusal to honor ‘Lob City’ era teams

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Basketball player Blake Griffin wearing a red Los Angeles Clippers uniform with number 32, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Clippers player Blake Griffin points upward while on the court
Blake Griffin reveals the Clippers have not reached out to honor "Lob City" era teams.

One of the greatest eras of Clippers basketball took place during the 2010’s when “Lob City” was in full effect.

Blake Griffin, who was the face of the Clippers during this era, told Front Office Sports that the organization hasn’t done anything to honor those past teams.

Blake Griffin reveals the Clippers have yet to honor past “Lob City” era teams. Anthony J. Causi

“I don’t think we’ve ever been asked to come back or do anything to honor that team,” Griffin said.

Between 1997-2011, the Clippers were perennial outcasts when it came down to making the playoffs. The team had only one playoff appearance during this 14-year period in 2006, when they were eliminated in the second round by the Phoenix Suns.

Griffin played for the team between 2009-2018 he and Chris Paul helped change the identity of the team entirely.

During the “Lob City” era, the Clippers made the playoffs six straight years and made it out of the first round three times, in 2012, 2014, and 2015.

“You look back and have a sense of pride because of what the Clippers were before, and it was often a punchline,” Griffin said. “I think that we feel pride in that we sort of got that franchise to a place where it was like, ‘Oh no, you’re expected to make the playoffs. You’re expected to go further.”

Blake Girffin guarding Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis as a member of the Clippers during an NBA game in 2017. Anthony Causi

While the Clippers were starting to be taken seriously in the NBA spotlight, one of Griffin’s iconic moments for the organization happened during the 2010-2011 season.

Not only was Griffin the NBA’s Dunk Contest champion that season, he also became the fifth member of the organization, and first since they’ve been in Los Angeles, to win the Rookie of the Year award when he averaged 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game.

Aside from Griffin being disappointed in the organization not willing to recognize their past teams, Griffin spoke about the team’s controversial decision to release Paul in the middle of the year, during his final NBA season.

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Blake Griffin reveals the Clippers have yet to honor “Lob City” era teams. Getty Images

“I was just kind of confused where the disconnect was like,” Griffin said. “This is who he’s been his whole career. He’s like a leader. He’s a talker. So why not use that to your advantage?”

“I wasn’t there, obviously so I don’t know everything that went on, but you know, to see it end like that, it’s definitely disappointing.”

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Andre Drummond enjoys historic first half before running out of steam in Knicks debut

The Knicks saw their banner-raising night spoiled, as the defending champs couldn’t find that late-game magic they had so often last year just yet, falling to the 76ers in their season opener Tuesday night. 

New York struggled on both ends and looked, as head coach Mike Brown described them as being “stuck in the mud” in an ugly night, but they did receive a positive from one of their newest and eldest members. 

Veteran big manAndre Drummond was one of the Knicks’ biggest early contributors off the bench, shining in the first half before seemingly running out of steam down the stretch in the second. 

The backup center ended up being called upon much earlier than anyone could've anticipated, but he did a tremendous job sliding in after Karl-Anthony Towns picked up a pair of early fouls. 

Chants of ‘Andre Drummond’ quickly came raining down from the fired-up MSG crowd for the first time as he quickly made his presence felt down low on both ends of the floor. 

Drummond needed just over 14 minutes to put together 10 points and 11 rebounds, which, according to the team, was the third-fastest double-double by a Knick since 1996-97. He also became the first and only player in franchise history to record a first-half double-double in the season-opener dating back to that same year.

The 33-year-old picked up just one more bucket following halftime, but he still finished with a dozen points and a game-high 14 boards across 24 minutes in his impressive Knicks debut. 

Drummond also recorded a pair of blocks, a steal, and a team-high four assists. 

“I thought that he played with a lot of bounce and energy,” Brown said. “We probably ran him a little too long there because it looked like in the second half, not just him but all five of our starters too, ran a little bit out of gas.

“I have to keep getting to know him to see where the minutes may lie for him to be effective for us, but I thought that he was really really, really good on both ends of the floor during the first half.”

Even if Brown has to cut his time down slightly on a nightly basis, receiving this type of production from Drummond would go a long way towards the Knicks bolstering their center depth after losing Mitchell Robinson this offseason. 

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Jordan Ott’s 10-man rotation is set

Oct 5, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) pulls down a rebound in front of Detroit Pistons forward Tolu Smith (35) in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The preseason has come and gone right before our eyes, and the regular season is finally here. Several battles took place on the roster, and while some may be decided, nothing is set in stone this time of year.

But we do have a cut-and-dry 10-man rotation at this point. And the first preseason roster cut casualties went down with Haywood Highsmith, Kennedy Chandler, and Phillip Wheeler being waived. Then, Koby Brea and CJ Huntley joined shortly thereafter.

Jamaree Bouyea kept his spot on the roster, and the Suns elected to enter the season with 14 players on standard contracts. Drew Timme was signed after being cut by the Timberwolves.

Phoenix’s official roster:

Guards: Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Collin Gillespie, Luke Kennard, Jordan Goodwin, Jamaree Bouyea, Pat Spencer

Wings/Forwards: Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming, Koa Peat, Drew Timme

Bigs: Khaman Maluach, Oso Ighodaro, Duop Reath, Mark Williams

Who Actually Plays

So what about the group that actually plays? Well, it’s a shorter list. And preseason told us most of it.

Ryan Dunn emerged; Rasheer Fleming faltered. The center position is still to be determined, though we all know Jordan Ott has that answer… he is just reluctant to tip his hand.

10-Man Rotation

Below you will find the 10-man unit in two groups, along with who may be next in line, with a quick snippet on each guy. Dunn could be the odd man out if they cut it down to a 9-man rotation, depending on the matchups.

Starters

  • G: Jalen Green
  • G: Devin Booker
  • F: Dillon Brooks
  • F: Miles Bridges
  • C: Oso Ighodaro

Bench

  • G: Collin Gillespie
  • G: Luke Kennard
  • F: Jordan Goodwin
  • F: Ryan Dunn
  • C: Khaman Maluach

Next man up?

Jamaree Bouyea– If Phoenix needs another guard to step in, they trust him. He appeared in 46 games for the Suns last season, including one start.

Duop Reath – Foul trouble, foul trouble, foul trouble. Or an injury to either center. Duop Reath will be relied on at times this season. It’s better if he’s not, but it’s a long season.

Rasheer Fleming – Still a young, talented defender with massive 3-&-D upside, Fleming had a disappointing preseason and appears to have fallen out of the rotation.

Koa Peat – The rook will have to serve his time most likely, but don’t sleep on him. He has an NBA-ready body and will be ready to go if his number is called. If Ryan Dunn falters and Rasheer isn’t ready… enter Koa Peat.

Pat Spencer – Like Bouyea, if an injury occurs, Spencer could be someone they trust as a reserve to give them 10-15 minutes. Similar to all of their two-way guys, they have options if the injuries pile up.

Drew Timme – Depth signing. They’ll see what he’s got in the G League. Don’t expect to see him much, and if you do, it means things went bad.

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Who do you think is next in line outside of the top 10? I think it likely depends on what position is needed.

Let us know in the comments.

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Spurs and Thunder scuffle after De'Aaron Fox's hard foul on Chet Holmgren

Tempers flared on Tuesday night as the San Antonio Spurs faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on opening night of the 2026-27 NBA season.

Early in the second quarter with the Thunder up 37-28, Ajay Mitchell tossed a pass under the net toward Chet Holmgren. The big man was defended by De'Aaron Fox, who shoved him and flipped him so he landed on the court. A scuffle ensued under the net with Kenrich Williams and Jalen Williams rushing over to defend their Thunder teammate. Victor Wembanyama was caught up in the melee and got into a shoving match with Jaylin Williams.

Both teams were separated as the crowd booed. The referees reviewed the scuffle and Fox was given a Flagrant 1 foul for "an unnecessary act." Technical fouls were given to Wembanyama and the three Williams players.

The incident was reminiscent of last season's Western Conference semifinals when the Spurs played against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wembanyama was given a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected from Game 4 for throwing an elbow in Naz Reid's face.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spurs and Thunder scuffle after De'Aaron Fox's hard foul on Chet Holmgren

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New York Knicks and their fans share one more title celebration with championship ring and banner ceremony

Even three hours before the New York Knicks season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, you could sense the excitement outside of Madison Square Garden. The sun had come out, and the bars across the street were filled with the sound of energetic conversations and laughter hours before the workday was over.

“Opening night’s always exciting for anybody and everybody,” said Knicks head coach Mike Brown before the game. “It's starting something new for everybody. It's fresh. Everybody's energized. You know, you feel the buzz. I don't care where you are, you feel the buzz. Here with our fans, I’ve said this many times before, but Knicks fans are different, and the buzz has been going on for a while. You felt it today.”

Obviously, Tuesday wasn’t just any opening night. The NBA champion New York Knicks were receiving their championship rings and having their banner hung from the rafters at the Garden. It was the main event on the NBA’s opening day, and the ticket to get in, which averaged around $2,000, was more than it cost to get into every other opening game combined. There was some fear that the exorbitant cost of entry would impact the vibes in the arena, similar to Game 3 of the NBA Finals, when the high prices and special guests seemed to price out the raucous Knicks fans.

That wasn’t the case on Tuesday, despite the Garden being filled with attendees like NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, singer Jon Bon Jovi, and fellow New York star athletes Cam Schlittler, Ben Rice, Michael Strahan, and many more.

From the moment fans started streaming into the arena, the energy was high. The walkways of Madison Square Garden were filled with Knicks fans wearing championship memorabilia and chanting “Knicks in 5.” As fans walked to their seats, they snapped photos of the championship graphic on the jumbotron or looked over the championship shirts that were on the back of every seat. Some fans hugged the ushers they’ve come to know over the years, enjoying a moment of shared joy. “We did it! We did it!” they smiled.

Unlike most Knicks home games, there was no edge to the crowd (that would come later after one hard foul by Joel Embiid). However, the pre-game atmosphere felt almost relaxed. The mountaintop had been reached. The monkey had been removed from the back. The fans weren’t anxious about the team earning something or achieving something; they were just here to celebrate what had already been completed.

Even though a basketball game was going to be played, the celebration of last season’s accomplishments would take center stage. Which is exactly the tightrope that Coach Brown knew he would have to walk in getting his team prepared for the night.

“It's tough because…this could be a once in a lifetime thing,” he said before the game. “You never know. It's hard. It's hard to accomplish something like this, and you definitely want guys to embrace it and celebrate it with each other because they went through a lot, with the fans, with the rest of the organization, with their families, so you don't want to take that moment away from them. But, in the same breath, we obviously have a job to do tonight. But I keep telling myself that no matter what happens tonight, if we win by five, if we win by 20, if we lose by five, if we lose by 20, there's a lot of basketball left. Whatever happens tonight is not going to define us, and so I would rather they enjoy the moment than me cut it short or carve into their emotions.”

There was certainly no carving into emotions once the ceremony began. It started with a video narrated by Ben Stiller that highlighted what the Knicks title meant to the team.

Then the jumbotron showed a video close-up of the Knicks’ championship rings, designed by Jason of Beverly Hills. The ring, which was crafted in white gold, has just under 800 diamonds and sapphires totaling 22 carats. The white and blue colors aren't the only reflection of the Knicks since the ring also features a built-in mechanism that raises a miniature version of Madison Square Garden, and the removable top of the ring reveals the distinctive ceiling architecture of the area. The words “WORLD CHAMPIONS” are set with 69 diamonds, to represent the Knicks’ 69 combined wins during their season, and the jersey number of every player on the team wraps around the ring. It’s an extravagant ring to match the flash and prestige of the city and team.

Knicks Championship Ring

Courtesy of Jason of Beverly Hills

“Courtesy of Jason of Beverly Hills”

During the ring ceremony, each Knicks front office member, coach, and player had a chance to stand before the crowd and receive their ring to thunderous applause. When it was the player’s turn, Knicks legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier strode to the middle of the floor and had his moment shaking hands with, and presenting a ring to, each member of the Knicks’ title team (minus Mitchell Robinson, who was playing for the Celtics earlier today).

Brooklyn native Jose Alvarado received the first arena-shaking roar of the night, but there were plenty more to come, including when former Knick and current 76er Ariel Hukporti wheeled himself out with a knee walker after his recent Achilles surgery. Unsurprisingly, the biggest cheers came for the playoff heroes. Karl-Anthony Towns was the first starter to walk out, and the crowd would have risen to their feet, but they had already been standing for almost 20 minutes. Game 4 hero OG Anunoby was greeted by cheers and the entire stadium melding into chants of “OG! OG! OG”

By the time Jalen Brunson came out to receive his ring, the crowd was in a fervor. Chants of “MVP” meshed with chants of “[Expletive] Wemby,” as Knicks fans simply seemed happy to scream any kind of support for their team. When Brunson took the mic a few minutes later before the championship banner was raised and told the crowd the team wanted to “do it again this year,” the Mecca of Basketball exploded one more time.

The banner hung over the court for the entire game, watching as the Knicks failed to muster the same come-from-behind magic they had during the postseason and fell 106-100 to the 76ers. Yet, just as Mike Brown had expected, the loss didn't seem to deter the fans. As they filed peacefully out of the arena, a fanbase that would usually have been lambasting the poor shooting performances or the lazy third quarter defense was instead uttering things like "It's a long season," or "I forgot that October basketball doesn't matter as much."

Maybe it was self-preservation. Hopefully it wasn't complacency, but, more than likely, it was still the feeling of joy and appreciation for what this team was able to accomplish last season. In a few days, the banner that hung over the court on Tuesday will be moved to the open spot next to the 1970 and 1973 banners, which will be its final home. A few spaces to the right, the Knicks recently raised their banner commemorating the 2025 NBA Cup trophy.

“I think it's just a recognition of what our journey was like last year,” said Coach Brown. “There were a lot of ups and downs throughout the course of the year, and our guys rallied and figured out a way to win the NBA Cup, and then you go ahead and win the end-of-season final. It's just a recognition not just to our guys, but to the fans out there. We’ve got fantastic fans, and to be able to show a little love to them is pretty good.”

It was a pretty good recognition as part of a pretty good ceremony to honor a pretty great year. Yet, even as the team took it in, they had one eye on the next chapter.

“This is a new season,” said Coach Brown. “It's a new team, new challenges in front of us.”

Starting those challenges out with a loss is certainly not going to dampen the mood in New York on Tuesday. After all, this team has come back from far greater deficits.