The Detroit Pistons are headed in the right direction as the preseason concludes. Jalen Duren saw preseason minutes, and man, did the Minnesota Timberwolves feel his presence. He ragdolled whoever, whenever. The Toronto Raptors function much differently than the newly formed run-and-gun Wolves, but we will see if Detroit gets the full version of Toronto tonight.
After a 122-120 loss to the New York Knicks last night, how many starters play is in question for the Raptors. This is their last preseason game too, so maybe we get a mucked up first half with two of the projected stingiest defenses.
GAME VITALS
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
When: 7:00 PM EST
Watch: TV20 Detroit/DAZN-DET
Odds: Pistons (-9.5)
That’s how you respond to noise, JD. Whether the sound alarms were self-inflicted or not is irrelevant now. You’ll win over skeptics with performances like that, while carrying it over to the playoffs. But we’re taking it game by game. He treated the Timberwolves like he was a D1 player returning to their high school, scrimmaging against the JV kids.
From the opening tip, it was curtains. Slick right-to-left push dribbles, aggressive up-at-the-level defense, and a “what a future Detroit has” lob to Ausar in transition. Those first few minutes got you out of your seat. The lob to Ausar was an exclamation point because it showed what this team can be.
This Pistons build goes as far as those two go. Cade is going to be an MVP candidate (and winner) for a long time. An aggressive, better-defending Duren and all-around threat Ausar will take this team to another level.
The more Ausar can initiate the offense while being a threat defenses respect, the more freed up Cade will be. You love to see that instinctive behind-the-back dribble leading to a Duncan Robinson trey ball. That’s who Ausar can be!
While the Raptors are still filling out their roster, we may see more reserves fighting for a spot tonight. On the key player front, their Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and Collin Murray-Boyles lineups will not be pleasant for anyone. That’s a hellacious defensive nucleus.
Hopefully Isaiah Joe can get some string music going tonight if the Pistons reserves play extended minutes. I won’t overreact to his preseason slump because historically he’s a can’t-leave guy. He’ll snap out of it, and teams will forever treat him like the career 40 percent range shooter he his. His two-point scoring is intriguing because he might be the guy taking grenade shots in certain lineups. We’re going to see how much wiggle he has with an expanded role quickly.
Ron Holland, Kevin Huerter, Paul Reed, Daniss Jenkins, Javonte Green, and Ebuka Okorie need to be plus-contributors for Detroit to go further than last year. We’re monitoring Holland’s offensive growth and Huerter’s shooting. Both have clear pathways to scale up there. Should we expect Okorie to get unlimited run on a team contending for a Larry O? No, but his microwaveness could swing games in certain spots.
Detroit’s identity is still intact. They’re physical across the board and can now run more offensively slanted lineups. With J.B. Bickerstaff’s defensive principles, it’s hard to imagine any Detroit lineup trotting out a *bad* defense. They have some pieces to play with and can sacrifice some D for more offensive juice. Those things will be ironed out as the season progresses, but for now, we get through the preseason finale and get ready for the real thing.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 13: Shawn Armstrong #43 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches during Game Two of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Guardians and Rays will, apparently, play tonight at 8PM ET, and Shawn Armstrong will open.
I would guess it will be Armstrong for an inning, maybe plus a batter or two, then Joey Cantillo. It’s possible Tanner Bibee and Slade Cecconi will get some middle inning opportunities there. I wonder, too, if Armstrong gets the open today to possibly give him as much time as possible to recover for a possible closing opportunity in game 5, if Cade Smith is unable to go.
No official word from MLB, yet, but I think we are left to assume they will try to play at 8PM tonight. Looks like there will be a weather window.
The Brewers swept the Dodgers to win their first NL Pennant since 1982. If the Guardians were to make the World Series, I would greatly prefer to play the aging Dodgers. I also know many folks were hoping the Dodgers would make the World Series for the purpose of arguing for a cap-floor. Me? I am just happy the Dodgers will not three-peat and that we will either have a brand new champion OR my Guardians will end the longest title drought in sports.
PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 25: Rain falls as the tarp covers the infield prior to game three of the 2008 MLB World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays on October 25, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Does game four of the American League Championship Series feel like a must win for the Tampa Bay Rays?
100% yes.
Will the weather affect the game?
Also, 100% yes.
The Rays and Guardians are at the mercy of mother nature in Cleveland and thus far, she has not been benevolent to the two teams.
Game three’s start time was moved up to 1pm on Thursday, making the earliest LCS game since the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets played at 12:20 at Shea Stadium. The earlier start time did little to help wake up the Rays sluggish offense as they only mustered two runs and struck out 13 times during the 3-2 loss.
Junior Caminero in particular had a rough game as he went to the plate four times and returned back to the dugout each as a strikeout victim. Caminero has only once in his big league career struck four times in a single game and that was back in 2025, when he went 0-4 with 4 K’s against the San Francisco Giants. The rest of the starting lineup didn’t fare much better as they only collected three hits during the game; Chandler Simpson provided the only runs when he laced a two-run triple down the right field line that actually gave the Rays the lead at the time.
The Rays postseason offensive production continues to be miniscule as they are now collectively hitting .197/.249/.314 with a 56 wRC+. The Rays touted big three of Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero have combined to hit .221/.284/.324 with just 1 HR over 75 PA, registering a 71 wRC+. During the regular season, those three hit .281/.359/.469 with 86 HR over 2026 PA, registering a 130 wRC+.
On the mound, the pitchers have done their part, with the staff holding a 2.72 ERA over their six postseason games. But there isn’t much margin for error when the offense has only averaged exactly three runs a game.
Tonight, it will be up to Nick Martinez to keep up the valiant pitching effort thus far from the Rays staff.
The 35-year old veteran makes his return to the mound after last starting during game three of the ALDS against the New York Yankees. Martinez was shaky during the outing but the overall results were fine. He surrendered five hits — all singles — while he walked one and struck out three over 3.2 innings of work. He left the game after getting drilled by a line drive off of the bat of Anthony Volpe, though the hit likely would have spelled the end of Martinez’s outing anyways.
Over the course of an All-Star season, the now 36-year old Martinez compiled a 3.10 ERA | 3.96 FIP with a 15.1 K% and league leading 3.6 BB% over 180 IP.
The Rays bullpen was exceptional during game three as Tyler Wells and Steven Matz provided the Rays with a total of four scoreless innings while racking up six strikeouts.; it was Matz’s first time pitching since September 26th. This allowed Kevin Cash to provide an extra day of rest to his top relievers, while also shielding them from being seen by the Guardians hitters more than needed; plus, they kept the game close enough to where the Rays still had a chance to mount a comeback.
Thus, all of the Rays top bullpen arms should be available today should Kevin Cash need to call upon them.
The Guardians meanwhile are thus far undecided on their pitching plans.
Speculation right now points to southpaw Joey Cantillo providing the bulk of the innings with Tanner Bibee and Slade Cecconi also appearing as options. Manager Stephen Vogt relied on his top relief arms during game three’s victory so there’s a question as to the availability of Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, Erik Sabrowski, and Daniel Espino although I’m sure if the moment calls for it, any of that foursome would eagerly pitch.
Joey Cantillo has been an under-the-radar solid thrower for the Guardians since making his big league debut in 2024. The 26-year old mainly worked as a starting pitcher this season for Cleveland while splitting the 2025 season between the rotation and bullpen. Overall during the 2026 campaign, Cantillo compiled a 3.62 ERA | 3.98 FIP with a 24.9 K% & 11.8 BB% over 159 IP.
As for the weather.
The local news in Cleveland is reporting dreary miserable weather conditions for the weekend. It is likely to rain almost for the entirety of Friday, almost surely leading to a rain delay or possible postponement. The wind will wreak havoc on fly balls while the cold and rainy atmosphere will make for horrendous on field conditions. Memories of BJ Upton sloshing around on a muddy infield are at the forefront of my mind.
The sun will reemerge on Saturday but won’t bring warmth with it as the high is forecasted to to be around 46 degrees during the first pitch.
First pitch tonight is currently slated to be thrown at 8pm
The Los Angeles Dodgers' season ended abruptly Thursday night and in so doing effectively kickstarted the most scrutinized free agency for a starting pitcher since Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s arrival three years ago. Tarik Skubal, like all free-agents-to-be, will not officially be a free agent until five days after the World Series ends. But he will not pitch another inning before he signs. His resume is written. The market will do the rest.
Exactly how the Mets will approach, let alone shape that market is not something they have been willing to share yet publicly. President of baseball operations David Stearns went so far at his end-of-season news conference as to dodge a question about the high end of the starting pitching market that he merely inferred (correctly) was referring to Skubal. Publicly, at least, he and his front office have barely provided any tea leaves at which to squint.
But context, history, and conversations throughout the season with Mets officials who could not speak publicly about a player who was not yet a free agent, offer some insight into a potential Skubal pursuit. Despite Stearns' infamous reticence to hand out massive pitching contracts, the Mets seem likely to chase him to some degree – if only because there is no superstar Cohen technically cannot afford and therefore no superstar he seems unwilling to pursue. And unlike Kyle Tucker or evenBo Bichette, when the Mets pursued the former and signed the latter, Skubal directly addresses his team’s greatest need.
At present, the situation is loaded with variables about which the available information is incomplete. The first of those variables is Skubal, who was unwilling to speak about his future immediately after the Dodgers’ loss in Game 4 of the NLCS Thursday night. He offered no hints. He was focused on the disappointment.
"Today sucks, you know," he told reporters, including the California Post. "And that's kind of where my head's at."
Skubal, 29, has always spoken publicly like someone who will prioritize winning in his next destination. He is represented by Scott Boras (more on that later), who also represents Juan Soto. People familiar with Soto’s thinking say he still firmly believes Cohen wants to win and will do what it takes to transform the Mets into the annual World Series contender he promised. If Skubal checks in which his fellow Boras client, there is no reason to believe he would not hear a spirited pitch for Queens.
And if Skubal, who is currently on the Major League Baseball Players Association’s Executive Subcommittee, wants to prioritize setting a new bar for starting pitching contracts… well, Cohen and the Mets are capable of doing that, too. While Cohen has spoken publicly about how financially inefficient free agency can be, and while some have speculated that he might wish to pull back on payroll after two missed postseasons, Stearns was adamant in recent months that he is operating with no new budgetary restrictions and expects to able to make the moves he wants. Therein lies another variable.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Signing Skubal to the kind of massive, long-term contract a two-time Cy Young Award winner in his prime will expect goes against all of Stearns' team-building instincts. The only time Stearns pursued a long-term deal for a free agent starting pitcher, it was for the much younger Yamamoto, who was 25 when he signed and therefore fit the Mets' youth-driven model for pitchers more comfortably.
Skubal will be 30 next season and underwent an elbow procedure this year. One could almost plan for him to lose one of the next few years to Tommy John surgery (which would be his second). All great starters do at some point. But Stearns does not shy away from those deals as much because of potential injury as because of what happens later in the deals, when aging saps performance but the financial commitment is still commensurate with a premium player.
It would be worth pointing out here that Stearns has signed several other players to contracts that turned out to be financially inefficient and did not yield the long-term ace this team has needed for half a decade, and also that Cohen has pushed Stearns beyond his comfort zone for several long-term position player deals the former Milwaukee head of baseball operations would never have suggested himself. Soto's deal, for example, is astronomical. The average annual value of Bichette’s deal would qualify as an overpay in any team’s model – at least in terms of the quantifiable aspects of his impact.
Those deals offer an important lesson: Even if Stearns is reluctant to sign a player – or, more accurately, if it does not fit his team-building tenets – Cohen’s opinion matters. No one knows that better than Boras, who will pitch Skubal to Cohen as a big-market necessity. "Want to be like the Dodgers?" the argument will likely go, according to those who know Boras' approach. "Sign the stars while you build out the player development monster to support them."
Still, Cohen says one of truths he has internalized during his first years owning the Mets is how ineffective free agency can be as a team-building method.
"What are the areas to make the team better? Farm system. Trades. Staff. And free agency. Free agency is a negative expected value," Cohen said late this season. "…If you have to fill in holes, you have to fill in holes, too. So you have to be tactical. But every time you dip into free agency, you just know that’s a tough place to be."
But even as he is skeptical of its expected value, he has always seemed to understand he cannot win without using free agency entirely. For example, he has also spoken several times about operating in what he calls reality, particularly as it pertains to signing starting pitchers: If the market suggests the Mets can only sign top-end types by giving long-term deals, they might have to adjust their approach and give a few. Under the current rules of MLB – and who knows what those will be after the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations – signing Skubal is the quickest way for the Mets to jumpstart a rotation built around promising young arms that could use an ace to show them how to win.
Whether Skubal wants to be a mentor, or the pressure that comes with being the Mets' latest highly paid savior, or the scrutiny of pitching in New York after thriving as one of many stars in Los Angeles, is the biggest variable of all. The general consensus among those in the Mets organization and those who deal with Stearns' front office regularly seems to be that if Cohen decides he wants Skubal, the Mets will pay whatever it takes to get him. So trying to predict whether Skubal will be a Met next year, then, might be as simple as whether Skubal wants them.
Before the White Sox jump into a contract extension, Munetaka Murakami needs play like he’s worth a more premium contract. | (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
For a team predicted to bust before the first pitch on Opening Day was thrown, the Chicago White Sox managed to usurp expectations and delay disappointment until October 10, when they lost the ALDS after blowing a 2-0 series lead to the Guardians. Optimists may say that criticism can only go so far when a team improves by 24 games, but for those who are brutally honest with this team’s front office, prospect pipeline and team performance, we know that this team is far from dominating the AL Central — much less the AL.
Getting down to brass tacks, the biggest drivers of the swift postseason collapse need to be seriously and objectively examined for the health and longevity of the team.
Munetaka Murakami’s stock drop Murakami’s overall performance this year was underwhelming. Although his .847 OPS is what the majority of his paycheck went towards, his .207 batting average and 196 strikeouts, which translated to a 35.4% strikeout rate, detracted from his value. With a poor second half, Murakami’s end to his rookie campaign left a bitter taste, even for Sox fans. And a playoff output of five hits in 31 plate appearances, with 16 strikeouts and only one extra-base hit coming from his lone homer run in Game 1 of the ALDS, was painful.
Back in May, I would’ve found a way to subsidize Murakami’s salary to keep him in black and white. Now, the play and the pay aren’t adding up. His strikeouts became too routine, while his home-run swing progressively slowed. Although it’s was only his first taste of the majors, Murakami wouldn’t be able to command eight figures if he were signing a one-year deal today. While he’s delivered sensational moments and viral clips, his presence on the team in 2028 isn’t guaranteed, even if money wasn’t an object.
Colson Montgomery: Sink or swim In his first full year in the majors, Montgomery’s volatility at the plate is hard to dismiss as a mere sophomore slump. He batted below the Mendoza Line, hit just .179 against righties, and struck out in 35% of his at-bats. In the postseason, these benchmarks hardly improved: Montgomery’s batting average benefited from a small plate appearance sample size, improving to a more tolerable .238, but his ability to hit against righties fell to .154 and his strikeout rate jumped to more than 40%.
Young lefties who consistently struggle against righties are typically boom-or-bust players. Boom players like Kyle Schwarber and Kyle Tucker compensate for their shortcomings with Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards. Bust players like Jarred Kelenic, on the other hand, always have their suitcase packed for their next minor league stint. The Sox still have a couple years before Montgomery is eligible for arbitration, but GM Chris Getz should think long and hard about whether his starting shortstop is worth keeping around with Roch Cholowsky hot on his heels.
Will Venable’s effectiveness as a manager Getz went on record with a loose commitment to bolstering the starting rotation in his end-of-season press conference, but his manager doesn’t get off scot-free. After flirting with a dynamic and a role-less pitching strategy during the regular season and increasingly down the stretch, Venable decided to get cutesy and underutilize the rotation while overtaxing the bullpen. Relievers contributed 44 ⅓ IP, while starters (primarily Sean Burke) supplied 17 ⅔ IP, representing the biggest contrast of any team that played in a division series. While it’s easy to say his magic worked against the Astros and Guardians through four games of the postseason, Venable’s magic touch ultimately proved to be more show than substance.
Like Montgomery, Venable is still learning and growing after finishing his second year in his first managing job. However, there will be a low tolerance to Venable’s antics in years to come if the Sox don’t take the division and run. Look at how Joe Espada’s tenure with Astros took a turn within one year. Chicago isn’t never far from a talent drain with its shoestring budget and unpredictable front office, so Venable should try to focus on winning than outsmarting teams if he wants to keep his job.
England begin their tournament on Saturday with a must-win fixture in Perth that can inject some optimism into the European game
Two games into the men’s World Cup and the tournament is already overflowing with colour. As if the biggest Test crowd in Sydney for more than 50 years was not enough cause for celebration, Australia and New Zealand served up one of the great international games of modern times, with the Kangaroos edging a thriller on the opening night.
But the stories do not end there. Samoa’s rise as a league powerhouse continued with a record win against France on Friday, with their passionate and united Pasifika fanbase fuelling the energy for a tilt at a second consecutive final. Tonga and Papua New Guinea will continue the theme of national pride and unforgettable noise this weekend.
Dramatic end to Trent Grisham’s year after such a pedestrian regular season, eh? He was elevated to the leadoff spot in Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Rays as Aaron Boone tried to jolt a snoring October offense. It did not work, making Grisham a flashpoint in the post-sweep disappointment.
Grisham, who has numbers against Rays starter Nick Martinez and owns a discerning eye for the strike zone, was supposed to get on base in front of Ben Rice, who was most of the pinstriped thunder in the playoffs. Big damage would follow.
But Grisham went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, including a whiff for the final out of the final Yankee game of 2026. Rice was on deck, helpless as a one-run loss – and a season – ended.
Now Grisham heads into free agency coming off very different circumstances than last year, when the Yanks extended him the $22.05 million qualifying offer and he took it. What’s his fate now?
Should Grisham, who played 259 games in center field over the past two regular seasons for the Yanks, plus 12 more in the playoffs, stay or go?
WHY IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP GRISHAM
It was easy to dream on Grisham after 2025, when he had 34 home runs, 74 RBI and an .811 OPS, all career bests. On the Yankees, only Aaron Judge hit more homers and walked more that year. Grisham’s short lefty stroke and ability to hit the ball hard seemed a snug fit for Yankee Stadium’s right-field porch.
Grisham has never been a high batting average guy, but his strike-zone control jacked up his on-base percentage that season to .348, a career-best for a full season that the Yanks could at least hope represented a late-20s breakout. He was a center fielder who had won Gold Gloves in 2020 and 2022 with San Diego.
But Grisham, who turns 30 on Nov. 1, could not repeat that success in 2026. In 121 games, he had 18 home runs and 59 RBI. His slash line sagged to .211/.308/.395. His OPS tumbled 108 points to .703, below the MLB average of .719.
Still, the Yankees could reason that it was just a down year and that there’s more in his tank. Grisham’s expected batting average was down only three points from 2025 and his expected slugging indicated he could’ve expected bigger results, based on the quality of contact he made.
Grisham was hampered by two stints on the injured list with hamstring issues. Could the Yanks re-sign Grisham theorizing that they can expect a reasonable amount of production from him while they see how much they’ll get from youngsters such as Spencer Jones and Jasson Domínguez? Can Jones or Cody Bellinger be the regular center fielder?
In the losing clubhouse after Game 3, Grisham said, "I love the people here. I love playing here." At the very least, Yankee fans seem to appreciate a certain level of want-to when it comes to playing in the Bronx. Is that meaningful here?
WHY IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO LET GRISHAM GO
Here are the Yankee outfielders for 2027, at least so far: Judge (duh), Bellinger, Heliot Ramos, Jones and Domínguez. Grisham just crowds it.
Aug 13, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham (12) runs out a single against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
It’s only a sample of 86 regular-season games and five more in the playoffs, but Jones probably earned a regular role after notching a .742 OPS, 11 homers and 10 steals. He seems to know he’s got things to work on, too. He’s athletic and can run and throw and maybe the Yanks should see if he can handle center field. Perhaps he’s the left fielder if Bellinger slides over.
Domínguez has not been able to seize a job and had a .635 OPS in 57 games this year. He has not been a good defensive player. But he’s only 23 years old. Isn’t it time to find out for real whether he can be the big deal he’s always been purported to be?
For what Grisham was in 2026, it’s not worth rostering him and potentially blocking anyone else. Defensive metrics did not love Grisham’s work in center field this year. When he was a leadoff hitter this year, his rate stats were worse than his overall production.
He’s also a left-handed hitter. As an offense, the Yankees probably could use more right-handed balance.
VERDICT
Go.
This one seems pretty easy. It’s time to find out what’s on the roster already. And if the Yankees deem they need outfield help, there are intriguing free agents who could help the offense.
Randy Arozarena (.865 OPS) and Seiya Suzuki (26 homers) are right-handed corner options. Tyrone Taylor, who hit .351 after the Mets traded him to the Cubs, is another righty option who would fit as center-field insurance and do-it-all fourth outfielder.
Grisham came to the Yanks as part of the pre-2024 season trade that brought Juan Soto to the Yankees. They got a player who eventually took over center field and gave them one very good year, but now he’s likely bound for a new baseball home.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: David Hamilton #6 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning during Game Four of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Is everything in baseball actually about the Red Sox, even when it’s not about the Red Sox? Somehow I feel like the answer is yes.
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers last night to complete a four-game sweep of the NLCS and reach their first World Series since 1982. The first out of the game came on an outstanding play at shortstop by Mookie Betts. The first runs of the game were scored off Dustin May, who entered the game in the second inning, after Shane Drohan opened things up for the Brewers. And the Brewers comeback was powered by none other than David Hamilton, who knocked in childhood Sox fan Sal Frelick in the fifth inning, and then iced the game with a solo shot in the 9th. It’s Red Sox all the way down, just as it should be.
Use this space to talk about David Hamilton and whatever else you want and, as always, be good to one another.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 12: Tarris Reed Jr. #10 of the San Antonio Spurs grabs the rebound during the game against the Utah Jazz during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 12, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Who or what has impressed you the most during the Spurs’ preseason so far?
Marilyn Dubinski: I was just hitting publish on an article about Tarris Reed’s impressive play when these questions came out, so I’ll change things up and go with Carter Bryant. He looks so much calmer and more comfortable, isn’t lost on defense, is contesting well without as much fouling, and while 6-12 from three while missing a game (as of Thursday) is not a huge sample size, his willingness to let it fly and lack of hesitation is a huge improvement over last season.
Mark Barrington: I don’t know if you can learn much from preseason, especially since the Spurs haven’t let their starters play much, and they have looked pretty rusty for much of the time they’ve been on court. The biggest surprise for me has been Tarris Reed. I figured he’d be in the Spurs’ plans this season, but he’s making a case for being in the rotation on opening day. He’s the most NBA-ready rookie I’ve seen on the Spurs since … maybe Tim Duncan? There have been plenty of really good players that have started their careers in the Silver and Black uniform, but most of them weren’t quite fully developed when they arrived. I’m excluding Victor Wembanyama from this assessment, because his talent level defies analysis.
Devon Birdsong: I won’t say that I’m surprised by how good Carter Bryant looks, after he held his own in the postseason as a rookie who had uneven regular season minutes, but he has looked every bit the 3-and-D forward of the future that the Spurs will need him to be. It’s easier to see with Harrison Barnes, but Tobias Harris is also into the back nine of his career, and age is, as always, undefeated. I loved seeing the Spurs inject youth into their big man rotation in the draft, but forward is such a critical position in this era of the NBA, and the Spurs proving they can still find contributors at that part of the draft (14th) and bolster the roster with young talent bodes well for a club with impending depth departures and cap gymnastics in their future.
Jeje Gomez: The storyline I was the most excited to follow heading into preseason was the battle for minutes at the forward spots, and especially how Carter Bryant looked. So far, Bryant has impressed. There are no signs of a major leap that foreshadows stardom, but that wasn’t really what anyone was looking for. The main things he needed to show were the ability to play under control and to show not as much fear of shooting, and so far, he’s done well in both areas. Teams still leave him open often, but that’s just going to happen until he develops consistency as a marksman. I’m not sure if he’ll start the season getting major minutes, but he has looked like a genuine option.
Have you seen anything so far that has you worried about the Spurs heading into the regular season?
Dubinski: This is where you really can’t overreact to the preseason. It was easy to half-joke about the Spurs blowing yet another double-digit lead to open the preseason considering how the Finals went, but we’ll worry about that if it continues to be an issue in the regular season. I was also (jokingly) working to not let my Battered Aggie Syndrome from the way Texas A&M’s football season is going sneak over to the NBA side – from playoff team to this?! You better not do this to me too, Spurs! – but I know they’re just shaking off the rust, and they appeared to start finding their rhythm again by the home game against the Suns (albeit with none of Phoenix’s starters playing, but when talking about rhythm, opponent doesn’t matter). I trust they’ll be in form by the regular season opener.
Barrington: I’m not worried! Yes, the level of play has been haphazard and inconsistent in preseason, which is basically meaningless. This team went to the Finals last year, and they might have a bit of a slow start to the regular season after a short off-season, but no team has ever won a championship before the All-Star Break*. [Except for the Knicks, who won the NBA Cup and then won the Larry O’Brien trophy, becoming the first team ever to win both in the same season.] This team is supremely talented, and Reed and Quaintance address the major weaknesses in the roster. Will this come together again in Mitch Johnson’s second full year as a head coach in the NBA? I think a lot of that depends on how well Billy Donovan can implement his system in his first year on the staff. I have a good feeling about that.
Birdsong: I still have questions about that three-guard lineup (four, if you count Wemby) they’ve been trotting out, especially on the defensive end. Wemby’s going to be able to smother a lot, but teams with quality stretch bigs have figured out that they can scheme him to the perimeter. Now, that’s not a lot of teams, thankfully, but Spurs brass can’t just depend on Wemby to bail schemes out defensively. I need to see how that (and other) lineups/schemes fare in the regular season, but that’s about as nitty a pick as I can find for now. Preseason disclaimers aside, the team looks really locked in. We’ll know exactly how locked in (and schematically sound) they are soon enough.
Gomez: Preseason can be a good gauge of how teams with a lot of roster turnover are gelling, but that’s not the Spurs, especially after Harris’ injury, so there’s not much to worry about. I’ll admit that since we know how they look when they are trying, I haven’t been watching the games as attentively as I do when they count, but I have noticed some up-and-down moments that are expected of a team that went so far in the playoffs and probably isn’t taking these games as seriously. The three-guard starting lineup is new, but it seems like it’s here to stay, so I’ll worry (or get excited) about it around 15 into the regular season, when we’ll have a better understanding of its strengths and weaknesses.
Do you think preseason performances will change the projected rotation or result in a signing using the last roster spot?
Dubinski: I don’t think there will be another signing right away considering they have to wait a bit to stay under the cap, but of all the players who weren’t rotation players last season, Reed is the one who will make Mitch Johnson have to start thinking. I don’t think he’ll be in the main rotation right away, but it should mean a shorter leash for Kornet, and Johnson shouldn’t hesitate to throw Reed out there against bigger centers that give Kornet trouble.
Barrington: As I mentioned above, I believe that Tarris Reed has earned himself a spot in the regular rotation. Other than that, nobody has really distinguished themselves. I feel bad for David Jones-Garcia, who has played poorly in preseason. If he sticks as a two-way player, hopefully he can pick up his game during the season and earn more playing time.
The Spurs aren’t going to fill that last spot with anyone on the preseason roster, but there’s always the chance that they’ll pick up a player that gets waived by another team. I feel like it’s most likely that they keep that spot open until the trading deadline so they can pick up a player for the playoff run if someone good becomes available.
Birdsong: Maybe, but outside of Reed (who has all but locked down the role of 3rd big man), I don’t see much happening that isn’t due to injury. It’s a long season, so I fully expect there to be games where players like Reed and Bryant get a lot of run, but that extra slot feels like flexibility insurance. Whether for trade purposes or waiver pickups, who knows? I’m not sure it’ll matter much, because this team is so insanely deep that it would take a medieval plague for the Spurs to get desperate. *knocks on wood* Still, it’s fun to hypothesize. I choose to believe that they’ll hold it open in case Timmy decides to fundamentally flex on another generation, five minutes or so per game, just for fun.
Gomez: I don’t see many changes to the rotation. I really doubt a couple of preseason performances would change the plan to go with the three-guard starting lineup; the battle at forward is intriguing, but no one has played so well as to separate themselves from the pack; Reed is a beast, but I doubt he’ll beat out Kornet for backup center, at least to start.
The one spot in which I can see a change is with the third two-way spot. The Spurs have gotten a really good look at David Jones-Garcia, and if they feel like they need more depth at a different spot or someone intriguing is available, I could see a world in which they give someone else a shot. But even that would surprise me. San Antonio seems ready for the season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives against Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors during the fourth quarter of a preseason game at Madison Square Garden on October 15, 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 terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors fell to the New York Knicks 120-122 at Madison Square Garden. Despite coming off a 50-point victory against the Knicks on Tuesday, the Raptors couldn’t produce a similar performance.
The Knicks fielded a significantly stronger lineup tonight, which featured their usual starting five, except for guard Josh Hart, who did not suit up due to injury. The Raptors would do the same, starting the same five from the last game.
Raptors forward Scottie Barnes would get things started, scoring nine out of the 12 baskets and going 4/4 from the field. Both teams continued to trade baskets as the quarter progressed. The Knicks were finding a lot of success with their ball movement, whereas the Raptors ‘ three-point shooting was difficult to slow down. The Knicks would carry a three-point lead into the break.
The second quarter showed the Knicks bench carrying the load as they jumped out to a quick eight-point lead. The Raptors eventually found their footing and would battle back. Barnes remained the focal point for the Raptors as he would continue to play well. He finished the half with 15 points, two rebounds, and three assists, while being 6/10 from the field and 3/3 on three-pointers.
For the Knicks, centre Karl-Anthony Towns was giving the Raptors all sorts of trouble with his scoring ability in the paint and his flashy passes, contributing to the 63-58 halftime lead.
Coming out of half, it was a committee of Raptors, including forward Kawhi Leonard and former Knicks duo RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, who would contribute to an eight-point lead. The Raptors had more success on offence when Quickley, Barrett, Leonard, Barnes, and centre Collin Murray-Boyles were the five on the floor, something to keep an eye on when the regular season starts.
The quarter would resume with both teams trading baskets, though Toronto looked to be the stronger team. This would be the case until New York exploded for a nine point unanswered run late in the frame to take the 87-79 lead into the final quarter of play.
The final quarter of play started with both teams still having their strongest lineup out there. Barnes and Barrett would continue to add to their strong outings, though it seemed that everything the Raptors did well, the Knicks would do even better. Both teams would opt to put in bench players late in the game to give them valuable minutes.
This would prove worthy to the Raptors, as guard Malachi Smith would hit two crucial three-pointers and a three point play from second-round pick Jaden Bradley would cut the Knicks lead to two. A crucial backcourt violation error for New York would give the Raptors a great opportunity to win the game, though some inspiring Knicks defending would shut the door as time out run out.
An unfortunate result for the Raptors tonight as they played well for the majority of the game. They struggled heavily with on-court communication. Barnes (23 points, three rebounds, four assists and four blocks) and Barrett (21 points, eight rebounds, four assists) were the Raptors standouts and the younger guys in the squad showed reliability, resulting in some positive takeaways from tonight’s match.
The Raptors will have one more preseason game to fix their mistakes as they take on the Detroit Pistons on Friday. Tip-off is set for 7 pm.
LAS VEGAS - Mark Stone collected the hats. Jack Eichel continued collecting points.
But beneath the star power driving the Vegas Golden Knights’ early success is something coach Ryan Craig considers essential: four lines capable of keeping the game moving in the same direction.
Through nine games, Vegas has received goals from 13 different players, with nine scoring at least twice. Thursday’s 6-2 victory over Calgary lifted its total to 35 goals, an average of 3.89 per game, after entering the night seventh in the NHL at 3.63.
Stone leads Vegas with six goals after his third-period hat trick, while Eichel has five goals and 16 points. Yet the supporting cast has helped the Golden Knights reach 7-2-0 and top the NHL standings.
“When we’re at our best, we’re rolling four lines,” Braeden Bowman said. “We have everybody contributing and doing their thing, and you know when the full team’s going, we’re a pretty tough team to beat.”
Bowman supplied a timely example Thursday.
After Calgary scored shorthanded to cut Vegas’ lead to 2-1, the fourth-line winger converted on the second power-play unit, restoring the two-goal cushion.
“We talk about those kinds of reset shifts all the time,” Craig said. “That was one from the second unit going out there and getting the job done.”
That contribution followed Tuesday’s victory at Nashville, when five different Golden Knights scored. Beyond the leading duo, Tomas Hertl and injured Victor Olofsson have four goals apiece, while rookie Trevor Connelly and Brett Howden have three each. William Karlsson, Mitch Marner and Bowman have two each.
Ivan Barbashev added three assists against Calgary, illustrating that the contributions extend beyond finishing chances.
“Everybody’s stepping up in our team,” Barbashev said. “It’s fun to play right now.”
More Than The Headliners
For Craig, the depth begins with what happens before a scoring opportunity develops. Forwards working back, defensemen moving the puck quickly and connected support allow different combinations to turn defensive stops into attacks.
“The depth of our lineup maybe allows us to do that with whatever line is on the ice,” Craig said.
Bowman embodies that flexibility. Alongside Marc Gatcomb and Nic Dowd, he brings forechecking pressure and dependable defense. His special-teams opportunities expand the ways he can contribute.
“He can play up and down our lineup. He can play on the special teams,” Craig said. “Braeden’s a very responsible, detail-oriented player.”
Stone sees a benefit that reaches well beyond October. Sharing the workload now can help preserve the players Vegas will need most when the season reaches its decisive stretch.
“If you can have your top guys playing 16 to 18 minutes a night and rolling over lines, it’s the formula for us going into that time of year,” Stone said.
“It’s a good thing to have four lines that are ticking.”
The stars remain the headliners, sure, but Vegas’ encouraging development is seeing many teammates help carry the show.
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period at Bridgestone Arena.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 22: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers stands on the mound during the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on September 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors in a preseason game at Madison Square Garden on October 15, 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 terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No more fake basketball for the next eight months, folks!
The Knicks wrapped up the preseason with their most solid performance, defeated the Raps in New York, and will next see the banner(s) rise to the rafters of MSG.
Here’s the latest from everybody and their mothers.
Mike Brown was asked about Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond and didn't know KAT was one assist shy of a triple-double 😂
On the Knicks’ progress over the past year heading into their title defense:
“I’m going to keep it real that there’s something in front of us. I’m not a fan of having an elephant in the room. I’ll address it: It’s about the process. It’s not about the end result. We can’t think about the end result right now. We have a ways to go. This is a new season, new team and we’re gonna have challenges in front of us.
“It’s like climbing a mountain. Sometimes you go a 100 yards, but you might get knocked back five yards. Hopefully, it’s not 50 yards, but you might get back five or 10 yards, and you regroup as a team, and you figure out how to keep going forward the right way.
“But making sure we embrace the process without slippage in that is going to be huge. And if I see us slipping up, it’s my job to let us know as a team that we’re off track. We need to get back on hopefully sooner than later.”
On why Jalen Brunson is the NBA’s best leader, as voted by GMs:
“He studies the game, and that helps a lot because you can always grow in any field you do. But he walks the talk. He works extremely hard, and he strives for perfection from himself. And when you do that, your peers see you do that, and you’re looked upon as the best player on the team, and it gives you credibility to tell somebody else when they’re not given their all or when they need to do this a little bit better or that a little bit better.”
On Brunson’s toughness and willingness to hold teammates accountable:
“He’s not afraid because, as a leader, sometimes you can be on an island because you have to always be conscious of ‘I got to do more, I got to do more’ in terms of work harder, focus, everybody’s going to make mistakes, but those little things. And so when you tell your teammates, they can get pissed at you, or they can be like, ‘hey, screw him because who is he to tell me what to do?’ And so you have to have some thick skin because it’s not going to always be you telling somebody to do something, then they embrace it. And I think Jalen has that thick skin and a toughness about him to be in a seat like this.”
On Brunson potentially becoming an NBA head coach after his playing career:
“I think Jalen has that thick skin and toughness about him to be in a seat like this. You won’t need to, though. My view? If you don’t want to… It’s up to you, Jalen.”
On what he expects from the Knicks’ final roster spot:
“If one of those guys makes our team, at least right now, they may not even play seven minutes — you know, seven straight minutes. And then at the end of the day, we just have to make a decision.”
On the mentality required from the Knicks’ third-string center:
“We just hope that there’s a passion and an energy and a focus coming from that spot because, I’m sure at times that person will start, at times they may be the first backup and at times they may be second backup. So as the minutes are fluctuating, you’re going to have to generate some internal energy at times, to go play in a low-minute game.
“Sometimes he’ll maybe not play one or two, maybe three games in a row. You look for that, and then you know, you just look for somebody that’s going to play hard at the end of the day – try to do the things that you’re asking on both sides of the floor. And bring a little something different than what the two guys in front of you bring.”
On Bruce Brown’s experience, toughness and versatility:
“Bruce has been through a lot with a lot of different teams at a pretty high level. His toughness, his experience, his feel, all those things — he’s a winner. It seems like every place he’s gone, he’s won, but all those things can add a lot to the program, and then he’s versatile both ends of the floor. He could play a few different positions offensively; he can guard a few different positions defensively. So a guy like that, especially a veteran winner, can be helpful to any team.”
On James Wiseman’s potential and development:
“He’s young, he’s talented, you know, he’s raw, still. I think he’s still trying to establish a foothold in this league. But with the God-given attributes he has, in terms of athleticism and length and quickness, [they] can bode well for him on both ends of the floor. And at 25 years old, he hasn’t even reached his prime, especially knowing he hadn’t played a ton of basketball; having a vertical threat at the rim will help [the Knicks], or could help everybody else play the game a little bit easier, whether it’s driving the basketball or playing pick and roll.”
Bill Pidto: "Banner's going up Tuesday night…What's it gonna be like here?"
“I had nine different casts. I was able to take it off if I ran or worked out with it. So I had one for workouts, one for showering and obviously one for everyday use.”
On maintaining the Knicks’ championship-winning approach entering a new season:
“I think what’s most important is that last year we took everything one day at a time. We were talking about — obviously, the topic was getting back to the conference finals and trying to advance. And I think for us now, the way we approached it last year was to take it one day at a time, every single day. So not talking about certain things.
“Obviously, we know what it takes, but just going into this with the same mindset for this journey. Even though it’s a new journey, it’s a different journey; the approach has to be the same, if not better.
“The first couple of weeks of the season is going to show us who we are and where we are. No matter what we’re doing, whether we’re playing great, playing bad, how are you going to be able to learn? And so, I mean, we’ll find a way. We’ll hold each other accountable, just like we did last year, and then we’ll be better.”
On the Knicks’ preseason progress and preparing to defend their championship:
“Each game got better and better. Just happy to be back. I feel like it’s a learning experience for us. We have to turn the page on last year and figure out how to get better every single day. It’s gonna be a different journey for us. Our mindset has to be different, and we’ll be ready to go.”
Karl-Anthony Towns laughed when asked if he wanted to stay in tonight's game to try for a triple-double
On the Knicks’ preseason finale and preparing for opening night:
“I thought today was a good dress rehearsal. It was cool, it was very nice to get back out there and get back into our flow and be really good. Obviously we have a lot of things to work on. But it was a good way to end the preseason.”
On how he feels physically and his rhythm entering the regular season:
“Yeah, I feel good. I feel really, really good.”
On who’s the biggest complainer to referees among Knicks:
“Josh Hart. Why’d y’all laugh? Did y’all agree with that or something? Everyone behind the camera, I just want y’all to know: y’all just clowned Josh Hart. That’s crazy for y’all to say — in New York, too.”
On choosing between winning another NBA championship and a World Series:
“Win a World Series, for sure. I already won an NBA championship.”
On his pregame routine:
“Before the game starts, I always give everyone at the table, including the fans behind, a chance to really get into the game. Just giving everybody a fist bump down the line of the table, and then go on the court.”
On his favorite all-time big man:
“I think Hakeem. I feel like, in a way, he kind of is mythical, like Wilt Chamberlain… but I’ve been able to talk and meet Hakeem, and he’s an amazing, amazing human.”
On @Honda SportsNite, @IanBegley joins @emacSNY to discuss his prediction for the final Knicks roster spots, what stood out in the preseason, what to look for as the Knicks start the season, and the anticipation for raising a banner at Madison Square Garden pic.twitter.com/h7H0HUzPmD
On the Knicks’ roster decisions involving Bruce Brown, James Wiseman, Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek:
“Brown and James Wiseman have made it through preseason cuts. The Knicks clearly like both players. But New York only has room under the second apron in team salary to keep one player. In order to keep both Brown and Wiseman, the Knicks would need to trade a player on a standard contract without taking back salary.
“My read heading into the weekend: Wiseman is a lock to make the roster. There is strong support to add Brown as well. The Knicks would need to make a trade by Monday afternoon if they want to keep Brown. I think they will explore all avenues to make that happen.
“It’s logical to assume that the Knicks will move third-year wing Pacome Dadiet. But I believe New York will explore other deals — including trades involving third-year guard Tyler Kolek — this weekend and Monday.
“The Knicks will be asking teams to take on a player without sending back salary. To get a deal done, New York may need to attach its own second-round picks (New York will have at least 11 second-round picks in the next seven drafts).”
Melo: "That man up top is saying, 'Ain't no f*****g 2nd apron over here.'"
The Knicks have made it clear they will avoid the 2nd apron at all cost during contract talks with Karl-Anthony Towns. But with this situation being different than Jalen Brunson taking less money for the… pic.twitter.com/Q5NlbPczqv
On the Knicks’ handling of Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract negotiations:
“So, it was smart to dead the conversation. Now, how you deaded the conversation is the problem. I can’t find out on Twitter if that’s what happened…So if that’s the case (Towns learning from the media that the Knicks paused negotiations), then that’s a communication thing right there. [The Knicks] dropped the ball on that one for one. You don’t let that get outside. So again, I don’t know that. The only thing I’m saying is you don’t break up the family. That’s all I’m going to say. You don’t break up the family.”
Amar’e Stoudemire is trading the basketball court for a badge. The six-time NBA All-Star and newly inducted Basketball Hall of Famer has graduated from the Miami-Dade Police Academy after nearly 11 months of training and will join the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department,… pic.twitter.com/0Y7YzhpGLJ
On fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a police officer:
“It’s something I always wanted to do since I was a kid. I remember back when I was in grade school, elementary school. They asked you on career day, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ And my initial response was a police officer.”
On his family’s history in law enforcement:
“It runs in the family. My uncle was a captain. His brother was a deputy. My cousin is a captain. My sister’s in the academy. So, it’s a family tradition, basically.”
On the physical demands of police academy training compared with the NBA:
“Yeah, it was a little bit [more] challenging actually because now I’m running a lot more than I had before. Obviously, in the NBA you run short distances, right? And the police academy, you’re running more long-distance mileage.”
On his wife’s initial concerns about his decision to become a police officer:
“My wife at first was a little bit concerned because obviously being a police officer, there’s some danger to it. But if you are well-trained and you understand your policies and procedures, you’re able to somewhat have officer safety, which is very important, and that’s the goal.”
Up 2, with 11.2 seconds remaining in regulation, Pacôme Dadiet receives the inbound in the front court, rushing to the backcourt for a backcourt violation (with replays).
Mike Brown is smiling and clapping, telling him, "It's okay".
BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 8: Tyrese Maxey #0 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 8, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Sixers may have been beaten 144-106 on Saturday against the Celtics, but there were still the kinds of positives you want to see from Philly’s young guys as most of the starting five sat out.
As their preseason finale approaches on Friday evening with a rematch against the Celtics, we’ll see if they can end things on a high note as their new stars are set to make another appearance.
While we don’t know exactly how much we can expect to see the Sixers’ starting five on Friday, we should be getting a look at the new group at least until the early second half, according to Nick Nurse when he gave an update after Thursday’s practice.
Nick Nurse on his plans RE: starters for the final preseason game: "The plan is we would like to get the majority of them into the second half…Then it's probably fairly short after that." pic.twitter.com/BoNmhIXNDn
Nurse originally mentioned wanting to get the starting group to play a couple of games in the preseason, so it makes sense for LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown to return and get a final tuneup before the regular season begins. Even in a preseason setting with lower minutes, it’ll be interesting to see how fluid their cutting and passing looks, how they continue pushing in transition, how others move off the ball while LeBron initiates, and generally how their initial chemistry looks as this group gets started together.
In their brief half together against the Nets, the starters’ offense looked electric with so much firepower and range of styles to attack. Will we see more of the same against the Celtics?
The Sixers' new Big 5 — LeBron, Embiid, Brown, Maxey and Edgecombe — played (preseason) together for the first time tonight.
Here's a glimpse into the pace they played with, the offensive progression, off-ball movements and more in a highlight reel of the 5 together ⬇️🔥 pic.twitter.com/LYdWew3UNH
Pure talent alone may carry the offense as the team starts to gel, although the defense may understandably take more time as schemes and communication are polished. That could lead to another strong showing from Jayson Tatum on Friday, after he calmly dropped 23 points on Saturday, with Payton Pritchard leading the team with 25 points and doing most of his damage from range with five made triples.
Apart from seeing the starting group, there’s VJ Edgecombe to focus on who stood out yet again in the Sixers’ last game. He scored a team-high 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting with a pair of threes, plus three rebounds, four assists and four steals. Energetic, impactful and disruptive as always, Edgecombe played exactly how the team would hope.
Jabari Walker continued his strong preseason on Saturday, too. He added 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting with six rebounds and a pair of assists. Walker stepping up comes at a good time as well, what with Ariel Hukporti’s injury shortening the Sixers’ center rotation. As Nurse inevitably experiments with different looks and mixes in more smaller lineups, especially when Embiid misses time, Walker is starting to make his case to be in the mix for more minutes.
We have to keep a close eye on Labaron Philon as well. On Saturday against Boston, he flashed his silky jumper both off the catch and when creating off the bounce, tallied seven assists to only two turnovers with crisp passing, and finished with 14 points (albeit on modest 5-of-13 shooting) and a 4-of-8 mark from three. Even with how stacked their starting lineup is and how they can stagger stars, the Sixers need spark-plug ball-handling, shooting and playmaking off their bench. Philon has such clear upside to be a factor there.
Basically, from the starting five chemistry to young guys like Philon, there’s plenty to monitor in the Sixers’ preseason finale.
Whatever happens with Friday’s result, though, the main thing that matters is we’re only four days away from the start of real Sixers basketball. On Oct. 20, when they open the regular season against the Knicks, we’ll get our first look at LeBron and Co. playing real NBA action.
It’s going to be quite the season.
Game Details
When: Friday, October 15, 7:00 p.m. ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia+, NBA TV Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 21: J.T. Ginn #35 of the Athletics reacts after the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on August 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning A’s fans!
Yesterday, the American League Championship Series resumed with Game 3 after both teams had Tuesday off. Playing in front of their passionate fan base, the Cleveland Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams recorded nine strikeouts over five innings of two-run ball, while center fielder Petey Halpin hit the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Brewers en route to a second consecutive World Series title. This year, the Brewers got revenge, sweeping the Dodgers to return to the World Series for the first time since 1982. It seemed like there would be a Game 5 after Shohei Ohtani’s three-run home run put the Dodgers up 4-0. The relentless Brewersresponded with six unanswered runs before holding on for the pennant-clinching victory.
A small-market team will win the World Series this year for the first time since the Kansas City Royals did in 2015. That shows a well-coached, low-payroll team can perform just as well as a high-payroll team featuring multiple players with expensive contracts.
The Athletics, who popularized the “Moneyball approach”, have much to learn from these three clubs that have all better adapted to the new era. Off the field, the A’s need to invest more in their baseball operations and analytics department. Those staffers play a major role in Milwaukee, Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Los Angeles’ annual success.
The Brewers are in MLB's smallest market and rank 19th in payroll, but have one of the sport's biggest baseball ops and data teams.
Additionally, the Green and Gold must improve their major league pitching staff and organizational pitching development, especially after they posted the worst ERA in the AL this season.
Homegrown aces Gavin Williams (Guardians), Drew Rasmussen (Rays) and Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers) have all led their teams’ rotations this October. Meanwhile, the A’s have not developed a homegrown ace since Sonny Gray. Can J.T. Ginn, Gage Jump or Jamie Arnold take that mantle next season, or will the team keep relying on a rotation full of middle-and back-end starters?
What is your favorite moment in Athletics history?
Dallas Braden lost his mom to melanoma when he was in high school, and his grandmother Peggy Lindsey helped raise him in Stockton. For a long time he wanted nothing to do with Mother's Day.
On Mother's Day 2010 he threw a perfect game against the Rays. Twenty seven up, twenty… pic.twitter.com/uyTOReccwW
— Baseball’s Greatest Moments (@BBGreatMoments) October 14, 2026
Should the A’s acquire Andre Pallante from the St. Louis Cardinals to bolster their starting rotation?
This is the type of pitcher the A's should be targeting this winter. https://t.co/Ad03b7lvDK
The Athletics last made the ALCS 20 years ago. Will the drought end next year, or will it last until the franchise’s Las Vegas era begins?
Game 4 of the 2006 ALCS! The A’s were down 3-0 to Detroit…Yet started out hot, banging in 2 runs during the 1st, showing hope to keep the season alive! 🔥
After a thrilling game, Detroit took the sweep when Ordóñez hit a walkoff 3-run bomb in the 9th inning with two outs…💔…
