The five siblings of longtime Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss filed an opposition Wednesday, Oct. 7 to her attempt to block selling their shares of the team, according to ESPN.
The opposition was filed on behalf of the siblings seeking to sell their shares of the team to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who agreed to buy the team from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion.
ESPN's Shams Charania published a statement on X from the siblings, which read, “Jimmy, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss, the five of six siblings who voted to sell the Trust’s shares in the Lakers, today filed their formal opposition, demonstrating that Jeanie Buss’s petition is legally and factually baseless.
"While discussions among the siblings continue, their focus remains on facilitating the proposed transaction and the Trust’s participation in it, while ensuring that all beneficiaries, including Jeanie, are treated equally. Today’s filing is a necessary step to protect those interests and ensure the transaction proceeds on schedule."
Jeanie Buss needs her siblings to retain at least 15% of the team for her to continue to serve as governor and controlling owner.
Kushner and Iger agreed to the purchase in mid-August.
USA TODAY Sports could not immediately obtain the court filing.
The Dodgers' Andy Pages reacts after hitting a tiebreaking, two-run single against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning Wednesday. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
The Dodgers punched their ticket to the National League Championship Series with a 4-1 win in Game 4 of the division series on Wednesday at Truist Park.
The Dodgers got a tiebreaking, two-run single from Andy Pages in the seventh, Max Muncy’s third homer in four games and a shutdown effort by the bullpen.
It’s the ninth time in the last 14 seasons that the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS, and they will be seeking their sixth World Series in 10 seasons starting Sunday against either the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres.
Dodger right-hander Tyler Glasnow limited the Braves to one hit and one run in 4-2/3 innings. But walks prevented him from pitching deeper into the game.
His five walks were tied for the second-most he’s given up in a postseason game. The only time he topped that was in Game 1 of the 2020 World Series, when he pitched for Tampa Bay and issued six walks to the Dodgers.
The lone run he gave up was made possible by Braves leadoff hitter Michael Harris II’s speed. He got on top of Glasnow’s first pitch, a fastball up and out of the strike zone, to shoot a single through the right side.
Harris then stole second and failed to capitalize on catcher Will Smith’s off-target throw, which got past second baseman Kiké Hernández and bounced into the outfield. But no matter. Harris advanced to third on Matt Olson’s groundout.
Then, in an 0-and-2 count to Ozzie Albies, Glasnow spiked a curveball in front of the plate. Smith managed to block the ball, despite the high bounce, but it rolled back toward the mound, giving Harris time to dash home.
Glasnow didn’t have another runner get past first until the fifth when, when he issued his second walk of the inning with two outs. That spelled the end of his start.
The Dodgers’ offense followed up their two-homer performance against Braves ace Chris Sale the night before with an anticlimactic effort against Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle.
They hadn’t faced Mahle since April, when he was with the San Francisco Giants and racking up a 5.13 ERA. But he’d been lights out since the Braves acquired him, authoring a 1.99 ERA. In his postseason debut, he limited the Philadelphia Phillies to one run in seven innings.
The Dodgers faced that new and improved version of Mahle on Wednesday.
“He’s on a nice run here,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “We’re certainly not going to take him lightly. We’ve got our work cut out.”
The one run the Dodgers scored against Mahle was something of a fluke.
In the second inning, Shohei Ohtani, who moved up to the cleanup spot after hitting fifth the day before, drew a five-pitch walk without taking a swing. He then stole second base, drawing an errant throw that allowed him to advance to third. So, he was in position to score the tying run when Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubón, who robbed Freddie Freeman of a home run as the left fielder the day before, dropped a popup in shallow left.
The Dodgers recorded only three hits against Mahle in 6 ⅓ innings. So, the game would come down to the bullpens.
Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández had a scary moment in the sixth inning. He crashed into the wall in an all-out effort to nab Albies’ double off left-hander Alex Vesia. Hernández was slow to get up and put his hand on his head as he talked to an athletic trainer but stayed the game.
Then in the top of the seventh inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases with a single from Teoscar Hernández, a walk from pinch-hitting rookie Josue De Paula, and a five-pitch walk from Kyle Tucker.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 07: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after a strike out against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A strong bullpen and stellar defense have been calling cards for the Atlanta Braves all year. But slip ups on both fronts, combined with the consistently-inconsistent offense, doomed the Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS. By a final score of 4-1, the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the Braves at home and will advance to the NLCS.
As the only Braves player with an offensive pulse this entire postseason, Michael Harris II was already doing more than his fair share. But he was determined to put this team on his back once more. After Tyler Mahle set down the Dodgers in a 1-2-3 top of the first, Harris single-handedly created a run. He laced the first pitch he saw for a single, stole second base, moved over to third base on a Matt Olson groundout, and scored on a wild pitch to get the Braves on the board 1-0. Mahle and Michael set the tone for a promising start.
Unfortunately, a leadoff walk to Shohei Ohtani to start the second immediately became consequential. An attempted strike’em out, throw ‘em out was botched on the back half, allowing Ohtani to get to third and giving Sean Murphy a throwing error. Mauricio Dubón earned an error of his own when he was unable to catch a pop up, allowing LA to tie it 1-1 and allowing Max Muncy to get to first. A double play erased both runners, but that was a blow to the burgeoning Atlanta momentum.
The Tyler-off then began in earnest. They traded off scoreless innings until their departures, and a batter never got further than first base until Glasnow walked two batters in the bottom of the fifth. Mahle only allowed singles to Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, and Teoscar Hernández the rest of his outing.
Glasnow issued five free passes, and the Braves couldn’t cash in any of them for runs. The biggest opportunity was the aforementioned fifth, where Austin Riley led off with a walk before a Murphy lineout and Harris strikeout looking. Ronald Acuña Jr. worked a four-pitch walk, which prompted Dave Roberts to take Glasnow out of the game at 73 pitches. He summoned the lefty Alex Vesia to face Olson. Tension built… and immediately dissipated when Olson hit the first pitch he saw hard (107.8 miles per hour), but into the ground to end the frame.
Ozzie Albies hit a double off Vesia to start the home half of the sixth that would’ve been a home run in 29/30 ballparks. Yes, that’s correct, the only place it would not have been a homer is home sweet home, Truist Park. Baldwin lined out before Walt Weiss deployed Lane Thomas in Mike Yastrzemski’s spot. To counter, the Dodgers put in reliever Edgardo Henriquez, who got Thomas to ground out and Dubón to line out to strand Ozzie at second.
Mahle came back out for the top of the seventh and retired Ohtani. But a single by Teoscar Hernández would end his evening. Didier Fuentes entered with a runner on first and got Muncy to ground out. Struggling to find the zone, he issued walks to rookie Josue De Paula (pinch-hitting in place of Kiké Hernández) and Kyle Tucker to load the bases. Robert Suarez entered in a tough spot and on a 3-2 count, allowed a two-run single to nine-hole hitter Andy Pages. He got Mookie Betts to ground out on two pitches after, but the deadlock was broken and damage was done to make it 3-1 Los Angeles.
Harris, again, doing everything he can, hit a two-out double off Henriquez in the bottom of the seventh. But another first-pitch groundout, this one off the bat of Acuña Jr., quickly sent us to the eighth. Frustrated Braves Country fans at the park erupted in rare boos.
The Pages single was ballgame, but we played out the rest anyway. Max Muncy had a ninth-inning homer off Raisel Iglesias to get us to the final score. Rowdy Tellez got an AB in the bottom of the ninth and struck out. Dubón added to the tally of first-pitch outs. And finally, Austin Riley’s fly out was gloved by Kyle Tucker to seal this for the Dodgers. They will now celebrate that they have more baseball to play in our visiting clubhouse while we face an uncertain 2027. At least there will be plenty of time to reflect on what went wrong.
It’s been a pleasure and an honor, Braves Country. Back to being NL East champions, but of course we wanted more. We hope to see you in the spring.
The phrasing, in the middle of a preseason broadcast interview, was notable from Tye Kartye.
It would’ve been understandable if he wanted to prove the Kraken wrong, and publicly stated as such, after the organization who inked him to an entry-level deal as an undrafted forward — and then watched him get named the AHL’s top rookie and climb his way to the NHL — dumped him on waivers in February.
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But, Kartye said that night during the intermission interview, he wanted to prove the Rangers right for taking a chance on him instead of proving Seattle wrong.
Head coach Mike Sullivan called him a “dog on a bone on the puck,” and Kartye’s ability to win possession — something shaping his game since juniors — has allowed him to seamlessly mesh with Pavel Dorofeyev, their $77 million offseason splash, and J.T. Miller.
“When it happened,” Kartye told The Post on Monday of getting waived, “I kinda move from the last team that I was on and I focus on the team that I’m on now — and doing everything that I can to be successful here and help the team win here.”
He opened training camp last month on the fourth line, producing a goal in multiple training camp scrimmages and flashing his offensive instincts again in the final exhibition — when he sent a shot past the Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov.
Then, during the win in Detroit last week, Sullivan swapped Kartye and Oliver Bjorkstrand, attempting to ignite his second line with the speed and tenacity of Kartye.
Tye Kartye skates up ice during the Rangers’ win over the Islanders on Oct. 6, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
They’ve become the Rangers’ top forward combination in terms of expected goals for percentage (69.79), according to Evolving-Hockey, and sit 10th leaguewide among forward lines with at least 20 minutes together. Kartye doesn’t want to change his identity, either.
He’s relied on it since his first year in juniors with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, when he went from not making the team to trying to carve out a role — with his goal totals climbing from four to 25 and then 45 in his three seasons there.
The Greyhounds worked to enhance his shot, Jamie Tardif, a former Greyhounds assistant and an assistant with AHL Hartford from 2022 through last season, told The Post.
They helped it become one that could thrive in tight and high-danger areas of the ice. And along the way, Kartye developed the type of game that “can move up and down your lineup,” Tardif said.
“Whether Tye’s on a top line or a fourth line, his role and his identity as a player does not change,” Tardif said. “So everyday, Tye is a very predictable hockey player. … To me, it’s no secret why he’s in that role, he’s in the top six, because he’s predictable, he’s dependable and guys want to play with him.”
Across three years with the Kraken, Kartye skated in 180 games and collected 20 goals and 41 points while also getting his first taste of postseason hockey during the 2023 playoffs.
Tye Kartye (right) battles Matthew Schaefer for the puck during the Rangers’ win over the Islanders. NHLI via Getty Images
He went from undrafted to one of the sport’s biggest stages before, less than three years after those playoff games, hitting waivers in the middle of February with his hockey career again uncertain.
Then the Rangers gave him a fresh start. As a restricted free agent in the offseason, Kartye’s opportunity to be in the top six also doubles as an audition to play his way into the future of the organization.
Kartye likely won’t recapture the 40-goal output from his final year of juniors. He might not score with the same consistency as he did in those scrimmages and exhibitions, either.
But the Blueshirts don’t need that from him. They just need the version of Kartye that prompted Sullivan’s first tweak of the top six this season in the first place. The puck pursuit. The forecheck. The under-the-radar variables that, in turn, can help unlock the rest of the line.
“Without a doubt, we always have conversations with players like that that get moved up the lineup,” Sullivan said Monday. “ ‘Don’t change your game just because you moved up the lineup. You got moved up the lineup because of the game that you’re playing. Bring that element to the line, and everything will work.’ ”
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 07: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a two-run double in the seventh inning during Game Four of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It took until the seventh inning of the fourth game of the National League Division Series for the Dodgers to get their first hit with a runner in scoring position. But Andy Pages made it count, with a two-run single to break a tie in a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night at Truist Park, clinching the NLCS to send the Dodgers to their third National League Championship Series in a row.
The winning rally started with a single by Teoscar Hernández, just minutes after crashing into the left field wall on a Braves double in the previous half-inning. That ended the night for Tyler Mahle, who continued to have the Dodgers number, once again pitching into the seventh.
In came Game 2 Braves hero Didier Fuentes, whose second batter faced was fellow 21-year-old pinch-hitter Josue De Paula, only 24 days his senior. De Paula, in just his second postseason plate appearance, walked, then was removed for pinch-runner Tommy Edman. Kyle Tucker also walked to load the bases, setting up Pages — the Dodgers RBI leader this season — to single home a pair.
After going hitless in his first two games this series, Pages had two hits in Game 3 and two more in Game 4, equaling his total for the entire postseason in 2025. The hit also snapped an 0-for-14 skid by the Dodgers with runners in scoring position to start this series.
The first of those runs snapped a string of 22 straight innings by Mahle against the Dodgers without allowing an earned run, dating all the way back to 2022.
Edgardo Henriquez, who entered with one out in the sixth inning and stranded a runner on second, followed with a scoreless seventh inning to bookend the Dodgers rally, and earned the win.
Just like in Game 3, Tanner Scott pitched a scoreless eighth and Edwin Díaz closed out the win in the ninth, giving the Dodgers the planned back end of their bullpen that hadn’t really been fully intact since early April.
Dodgers pitchers allowed eight total runs in the four-game series.
Max power
Max Muncy added some insurance with a solo home run in the ninth inning, extending his Dodgers career postseason record with now 19 home runs. Muncy also homered in Games 1 and 2 of this series, matching his most prolific postseason series with the long ball. He also hit three home runs in the 2019 NLDS against the Washington Nationals.
Sloppy start
Both teams exchanged mistakes for each other’s first run, including an errant throw into center field on a stolen base attempt from each side. Michael Harris II got a great jump from third base on a wild pitch by Tyler Glasnow that didn’t get too far from home plate in the first inning, catching the Dodgers flat-footed. In the top of the second, Shohei Ohtani walked, stole second and went to third on the bad throw, then scored when a Max Muncy popup into short left field was biffed by shortstop Mauricio Dubón.
Glasnow improved a bit as the game progressed, and didn’t allow another hit after Harris led off the game with a single. But, like Blake Snell in Game 2, Glasnow on Wednesday walked five batters, including two in the fifth inning — a leadoff free pass to Austin Riley after getting ahead 0-2, and a two-out, four-pitch walk to Ronald Acuña Jr. to end Glasnow’s night early.
The Dodgers right-hander struck out five with those five walks in his 4 2/3 innings, and like Snell limited the damage to only one run. Alex Vesia helped, inducing a groundout to second base to end the fifth inning with those two Glasnow walks left stranded on base, and the game still tied.
Glasnow threw 78 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Not so free passes
None of Glasnow’s five walks in Game 4 scored, and none of the 18 Braves who walked in the NLDS have touched home plate. But there have still been costs to that Dodgers wildness. For one, the Dodgers had to turn to its bullpen much earlier than hoped in two of the four games.
Also, two of Snell’s walks in the first inning of Game 2, pushing Acuña to third base, which allowed him to score on an infield single. In Game 3, the pinch-hit walk by Rowdy Tellez pushed Dubón to third base, which allowed him to score on a groundout. So the walks have been costly, even if not as much as perhaps they should have been.
The Dodgers move on to a third consecutive National League Championship Series, and eighth in the last 11 years, beginning Sunday night (time TBD, Fox Sports) either in Milwaukee against the Brewers or at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles against the Padres.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 13: A detail shot of the 2025 logo on the hat of a Dodgers player during Game One of the National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, October 13, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS on Wednesday, and are back in the National League Championship Series for a third season in a row and the eighth time in 11 years with manager Dave Roberts at the helm in Los Angeles.
Either the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres will be the Dodgers’ opponent this time around. Milwaukee leads San Diego two games to one in their NLDS, with Game 4 on Wednesday night at Petco Park in San Diego. If the Dodgers play the Brewers, it’s a rematch of last year’s NLCS (and 2018).
If the Dodgers play the Padres in the NLCS, it would be their fourth postseason matchup in the last seven years — every even year: 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026 — and just the second time two NL West teams battle in the NLCS, along with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies battling during Rocktober in 2007.
The Dodgers in the NLCS would have home-field advantage over the Padres, but would start on the road if they play the Brewers.
The NLCS begins on Sunday night, and will be televised by Fox Sports, with Joe Davis — if his voice allows, after missing Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS — and John Smoltz on the call, plus reporters Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci, and Tom Rinaldi as part of the broadcasts as well.
Start times and Fox Sports telecast plans haven’t yet been revealed.
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson releases his letter “Dear Ducks Fans.” NHLI via Getty Images
Three days before the Ducks had their season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights, Carlsson released a letter to the Anaheim fans, titled “Dear Ducks Fans,” to let them know why he accepted the offer.
But also informed them that his heart was in Anaheim.
“The contract negotiations over the summer were a lot to deal with for everybody, but when all is said and done, Anaheim is ultimately where I want to be for the rest of my life,” Carlsson wrote in the letter. “That to me was always a no-brainer. This was a unique situation, but I of course always wanted to be here.”
Carlsson went on to say that he loves the restaurants, the people, the weather and the environment that is Orange County.
“I don’t think it’s going to be anything crazy, to be honest. That’s just what I think,” Carlsson said to Stephens. “Obviously, a couple of my chirps here and there probably. And then I just have to show it with my game as well. See how it is.”
While it’s only two games into the season, Carlsson already has five points on the year, and had a goal in their home opener against the Florida Panthers.
Leo Carlsson receives a loud roar of applause from Anaheim Ducks fans during their home opener. AP Photo/Kyusung Gong
Ducks fans have appeared to have put what happened in the summer in the past, as Carlsson received a roaring round of applause from the Anaheim fans when his name was called during pregame introductions.
“We have great fans here,” Carlsson said to Stephens. “It feels great every time that happens. You know, you feel like you’re doing something good. I love the fans. Hopefully they love me as well, so it’s fun.”
Anaheim Ducks’ center Leo Carlsson calls out any doubters he has after signing extension to make him the highest paid player in the NHL. NHLI via Getty Images
With Carlsson and the Ducks getting his lengthy stall of contract negotiations behind them, he currently has the highest cap hit of any player in the NHL ($18 million), as Macklin Celebrini (18.8 million AAV) and Cale Makar ($20.4 million AAV), who both signed contract extensions, will surpass Carlsson starting next season.
“[It’s] the organization and me having the idea to just really show everybody that I really want to be here if there’s still any doubters out there,” Carlsson said to Stephens. “Got a great response from it as well. Happy I did it.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Xander Bogaerts #2 and Samad Taylor #0 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after Bogaerts scored a run in the sixth 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
Milwaukee Brewers (2-1) at San Diego Padres (1-2), October 7, 2026, 7:00 p.m. PST
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The trio was playing a game called “Wildcard,” in which the person holding a card to their forehead has to guess whose name is on it. That’s when Hathaway pulled Anunoby’s name.
Dakota Johnson didn’t know who OG Anunoby was — or that he was even a real person. TikTok/@batghouls
Not Dakota Johnson thinking OG Anunoby wasn’t a real person I love Anne Hathaway pic.twitter.com/q2sThEHX1A
Both Hartnett and Johnson were dumbfounded by the name when Johnson blurted out, “That’s not real,” in a hilarious moment before jokingly accusing the crew of putting in a fake name to stump them.
Hartnett was able to give Hathaway a clue, and she figured out it was the Knicks star before explaining to the pair who Anunoby is.
“That’s a real person?” Johnson then asked the people off camera, to the shock of her co-star.
After the shock left Hathaway, she launched right into an excited explanation of Anunoby.
“Game 4 of the NBA championship, one of the greatest baskets ever scored by a player is OG Anunoby, and you just have to watch it,” she said, explaining his heroic tip-in basket that helped the Knicks win that game.
OG Anunoby’s tip-in leads the Knicks in a Game 4 comeback of the NBA Finals. ESPNNew York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) makes a game-winning tip shot against San Antonio Spurs guards Dylan Harper (2) and Devin Vassell (24) during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“It’s poetry in motion. It’s divine.”
Hathaway, “The Odyssey” star, is a New York native and a lifelong Knicks fan, and has talked about her fandom on numerous occasions.
She was recently gifted a signed jersey from Anunoby, she revealed while on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Hathaway said she would rather have a second Knicks title over a second Oscar.
Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor, and OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks are seen on a float during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade. Getty Images
During the “First We Feast” episode, Hathaway said she always asks for courtside seats to a Knicks game for her birthday.
“It’s like one of those things where when I was a kid, I would go to games, I would be in the nosebleeds, and I would always wonder who was lucky enough to sit courtside,” she said before retelling the story of when Anunoby spilled her son’s popcorn during a game in 2024.
Kenny Albert already has the next chapter for his memoirs.
The NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA broadcaster found himself in a fluid situation this week when Fox Sports had to put Albert on standby with Joe Davis, who was scheduled to call Game 3 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Braves, under the weather and having lost his voice.
The problem? When Fox asked Albert to be on standby, he was in the middle of prepping for a colonoscopy, he revealed to Front Office Sports.
As part of preparation for the procedure, an individual has to take several doses of medication to clean out their colon.
Fox Sports announcer Kenny Albert is seen before a college basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the UConn Huskies at Madison Square Garden in New York, Nov. 28, 2025. Getty Images
Fox Sports reached out to the TV voice of the Rangers at 6 p.m. on Monday to put him on standby, and when he hadn’t heard any update by 9 p.m., Albert went ahead and took his first dose of the medication and simultaneously started baseball preparation just in case.
It was roughly midnight, he told FOS, when Fox told him it wanted Albert to get to Atlanta in case he was needed.
Albert skipped the second dose of the medicine in the morning and hopped on a flight to Atlanta on Tuesday morning, and he did, in fact, call the game between the Braves and Dodgers.
“The colonoscopy wrinkle? That’s certainly another chapter for my next book,” Albert joked.
Albert also said that it was “baseball prep instead of the other kind of prep” that he ended up having to do.
Joe Davis and John Smoltz are seen during the 2026 MLB All-Star Game broadcast at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. FOX Sports via Getty Images
He also praised the help that he received from the Fox Sports broadcast team.
“So basically, the whole morning, the whole flight, the whole afternoon, I crammed. I hadn’t seen either of the first two games because it was a football weekend,” he said. “I was in Dallas. So I had to catch up. Do a lot of reading. Luckily, I had the same exact matchup, same teams, same pitchers, in a regular season game on Aug. 27. So I was able to pull out my stuff for that game. That saved a lot of time. It was very helpful. Everyone on the crew, and John [Smoltz] and Joe, couldn’t have been more helpful as far as sharing information and just making sure I got down there.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 6 : Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket under pressure from Jamal Marray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half of their preseason game at the Delta Center on October 6, 2026 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. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
Granny always cautioned me: if you go on enough rides with the devil, eventually he’s going to drive. That’s what happened the second time Denver took Utah’s hand and led her to the dance floor.
The final leg of Utah’s double-date with the Denver Nuggets was much less friendly as the Western Conference contenders wrestled away the series lead in the Delta Center from the rising Jazz. Yes, Utah’s starters took an early lead once again in the rematch — even without the services of Lauri Markkanen or Jusuf Nurkic — but a dominant second quarter gave way to a double-digit lead Denver maintained through each layer of the depth chart.
But this is still the preseason. Win or lose, we really shouldn’t take too much stock of what we see on the court before the results matter.
Unless, of course, what we see on the court makes us clasp our hands together and shout: “Let ‘em know, DP!” without a living soul in earshot. In that case, shout your observations from the rooftops.
Here I sit upon my digital shingles. Notebook in hand, illegible scribbles lining the pages, I’ve got some takeaways from Utah’s first two preseason appearances. For once and only once, I’m sharing a private diary entry for anyone with internet access to read.
This had better not come back to haunt me.
4 notes from the Utah Jazz’s first 2 preseason games
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – OCTOBER 6: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz works the ball against Cam Johnson #23 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half of their preseason game at the Delta Center on October 6, 2026 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. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
Peterson is assembling the shelf
We’ve all been there. Handiwork to complete, grown adult human in the home, just finished googling the difference between a socket and an Allen wrench. Before you sits the box of disassembled parts that Ikea sold to you at a premium. Free labor; free money. Now the onus is on you; you possess the wherewithal to construct your home’s furniture. You, the competent human person who can read and understand an instruction manual and does not need to pester the YouTube search bar to complete this elementary task.
Before assembling an Ikea shelf, you’ve got to take a second to assess the situation — take a quick scan, gather your temporary tools, and focus on getting the simple steps completed first. Just like when you built the 9,000-piece LEGO Death Star, you’ve got to start brick by brick.
Darryn Peterson spent his first preseason game reading the room. Scanning, deliberating, he wasn’t especially aggressive in his first 19 minutes, scoring 3 points on 5 shots, but that was the recon mission — game 2 was the real deal. For Peterson, assembling the shelf begins via searching for rhythm in the midrange first, and letting the ink bleed into the corners of his stat sheet.
And there ain’t nothing broken about his midrange jumper, that’s for certain. The midrange is making a comeback despite the 3-point revolution’s bloodlust to demolish an institution in the game of basketball. Though these player comparisons are still very premature, Peterson hunts midrange jumpers much like the great shooting guards of old (MJ, Kobe, etc.), and he had his way with the Denver defense there.
He still needs to see more three-pointers fall through the cylinder (he’s 1-8 from 3 through two preseason games), but Darryn Peterson is already acclimating to the cadence of the NBA game. And while his rim pressure leaves some room for improvement, Peterson’s shot-making gift is translating gloriously to the Utah Jazz. He finds and reaches his spots with ease, gingerly flicking his wrist and floating the ball through the nylon irrespective of any contesting hands in the vicinity.
23 points on 10-for-18 shooting is stunning for a player with Peterson’s shot diet, and even more so when considering he was just 1-for-6 from distance. His three-point shooting will recover — most misses seem to be more of a mental block, as he’s still visibly thinking about each attempt as he loads up — I’m confident he’ll recapture his mojo from beyond the arc. He appeared very comfortable knocking through his first successful attempt behind the arc after opening the game 0-5 from distance.
Keep it clean, Key
Keyonte George has gotten even better over the offseason, which is a massive development for those keeping stock in his All-Star candidacy. Confident, steady, mature, Keyonte didn’t force the issue in either of his first two games against Denver and shot the ball with trademark confidence, hitting 3 of his 5 looks from beyond the arc.
Keyonte’s extension was a sign of confidence that the Jazz believed their young point guard would be a foundational piece of their future, and he’s reaffirming their belief. It’s a beautiful thing.
And he’s clearly putting much more attention into evolving as a defender. He addressed his own shortcomings during Media Day, and it’s obvious that he values being an asset, not a liability.
But more effort on the defensive end has created a new problem: foul magnetism.
George collected 4 fouls in 21 minutes in Boulder.
Then 5 fouls in just 13 minutes in the Delta Center.
Utah’s budding star is no good to the team if he’s bound to the bench with foul trouble, and I’m certain Utah’s staff is addressing this issue as we speak.
Ace to the hole
Ace Bailey is primed to make a leap in his second season, thanks in no small part to his effort as a defender. The intangibles and non-stat-stuffing aspects of his game drew immense praise from Will Hardy, who insisted that the first game against Denver was Bailey’s best in a Jazz uniform.
Will Hardy said Sundays preseason game against the Nuggets was Ace Bailey’s best game as a member of the Jazz.#TakeNote | @kslsports
Agree to disagree, with his 37-point eruption in mind, but I understand what his coach is getting at. Praise players for doing the little things, because they pay hefty dividends.
Bailey put on some muscle over the offseason and is playing with immense confidence as the team’s 6th man.
Have we ever seen a player so poorly evaluated in the pre-draft period as Ace Bailey? He dropped from the projected 2nd pick and was projected to plummet even further than 5, where the Jazz picked him up. The reasons for his fall? Selfishness, ego, stubbornness, poor shot selection, and that’s just scratching the surface. Misled media cycles perpetuated the notion that Bailey did not want to play in Utah, and the narrative quickly became that he could never be happy with the Jazz.
They couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Blame his representation, which he’s since severed ties with, because the Jazz and Ace have been a match made in heaven, and I’m very optimistic about his developmental trajectory.
Hayes fever
Jaxson Hayes has been more than serviceable at the center spot. As a rim protector, he’s been exceptional.
He’s blocked four shots through two games — a big need for this team in the vacuum left by Kessler — and has been poised and confident in his role with a new team. Some chemistry wrinkles still need to be ironed out when it comes to timing in the pick-and-roll with his guards, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see how well he’s played through two games.
And he’ll see plenty more minutes in the early season.
Will Hardy has made it fairly clear through his lineup constructions that he views JJJ as a power forward, not a center. Now with Jusuf Nurkic out with a toe injury for the next month or so, that means Hayes will see plenty of reps as the starting 5, with apologies to my Mo Bamba truthers out there (Mo Bamba, no problems).
NEWS: Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkić will be sidelined for at least 4 weeks after suffering a partial plantar plate tear of second toe in right foot, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/4OGln9UHfl
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
Ozzie Albies lined a fastball from Alex Vesia and pulled it deep to left field, where Teoscar Hernández attempted to jump for it at the wall, only to miss the ball and crash hard into the padding as Albies cruised to a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth.
Ozzie Albies has leadoff double for the Braves in the 6th 👀
Hernández stayed down on the ground, taking a few extra moments to gather himself. Andy Pages came over to check on his teammate, and a Dodgers trainer followed soon after as Hernández stayed on the grass and grabbed at the left side of his head.
Teoscar Hernández is slow to get up after running into the wall trying to make a catch. pic.twitter.com/zo3dCsfi9d
He stayed in the game, at least for now, however, and was able to make the catch on a Drake Baldwin liner in the next at-bat. Albies was ultimately stranded on second after Lane Thomas grounded out to first and Mauricio Dubón lined out to Kyle Tucker in right field to keep it a 1-1 game heading into the seventh inning. Hernández made his next plate appearance and singled in the next frame.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 07: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians steals third base against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on October 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just like we drew it up!
Ok, deep exhale Guardian fans! After an extremely disappointing first two games of the series, the Guardians go to Chicago, facing elimination, and take Game 3 over the White Sox by a score of 9-3. Cleveland would have more hits in game 3 (11) than they did the first two games combined (7), and the run total was more than three times as much (9-3). In this offensive explosion, Cleveland walloped 4(!) hits with runners in scoring position, their first 4 of the series. It wasn’t all easy today, as the White Sox were on Cleveland’s heels for 7 innings before the Guards pulled away late, but we saw the team that ran down the division, fighting and clawing and using their heads to scrape across everything they could rather than the team who looked like they never played baseball before, let alone any business winning the division.
There are a lot of Heroes of today’s game, and I’d like to highlight all of them considering it was their first playoff win (and a tough one at that, facing elimination) AND since this could be my last game recap for the year, and, maybe ever(?). Thanks to the impending lockout and the unfair governing fist that rules Covering The Corner, always trying to silence me and your favorite writers alike, to keep this town in the past where no one writes with flare or pizzaz and dancing is outlawed, well guess what Dad I just want to DANCE and I’m going to DANCE!!!… Ok that second one was just Footloose, I am actually quite fond of our CTC OverLords.
Anyway. The 5 Heroes that kept the Guardians alive for at least one more day…
5- Foster Griffin
Coming into the ALDS, we knew the Guardians would have one major pitching decision; Game 3. Because of all the days off, Cleveland would be able to pitch Messick and Williams, or Williams and Messick, in games 1 & 2 and then again in games 4 & 5 without having to battle short rest. So for the past month or so, the question was simple: who would pitch Game 3? The choice to many was clear: Joey Cantillo had been outstanding in his new found bulk Reliever role, throwing 15 scoreless innings in a row coming into the Playoffs. Now, to open the game, was a bit more of a mystery, as our darling Daniel Espino had been up and down in that role. But I saw the vision. Get 1-2 good innings from Espino, then roll with JC.
Well, Espino was all over the place. While he did have 2 strikeouts, he also had a 5 pitch walk and gave up 2 hits, allowing a run before being pulled for… Foster Griffin?
And Griffin was NASTY. Without the help of a high decibel level giving away his pitches, Foster was able to strikeout 7(!) in just 2.2 IP. We were desperate for a stabilizing presence to get us a few innings and he absolutely answered the bell.
4- Jo Adell
Speaking of Trade Deadline Acquisitions who would save our butts in the Playoffs, how about The Jo Show?! Jo would provide the only highlight from our lineup thru the first 2 games with a 108 MPH Rocket, 413 foot dead centerfield Triple (which on any summer night is out of the ballpark), and he continued that today with a Walk and 2 hits including a series rejuvenating bases clearing Triple to help Cleveland take an early 4-1 lead in the 3rd inning.
Obviously 3 runs on one swing is going to hype up any team, but boy did these guys need that. A huge sigh of relief came over the team even if there were 6+ innings to go.
3- Tim Herrin
OH HOW ABOUT BIG TIME TIMMY JIM?!
I have not been the biggest Herrin fan over the past few seasons, but he absolutely delivered today. After a very subpar Gaddis outing to finish the 6th, Cleveland only lead 5-3 going into the 7th. Herrin would come on and we needed a clean outing, knowing that we already burned most of the bullpen.
And Herrin delivered one of his best outings of the season, striking out the side on 18 pitches. He was absolutely nasty and made Murakami, Teel and Meidrith look like the White Sox of old and not the White Sox looking to go to the ALCS.
Of all the things that has hurt this team this season, one has been missing that has been undeniable. And that’s classic Jose.
His struggles this year have been well documented. Slow start, hammate bone broken, comes back struggling, playing thru an injury like a Warrior. I especially loved hearing Talking Heads who never talk baseball finally give this team some attention by saying he shouldn’t be playing. But guess what- sitting him isn’t the answer, because it’s admitting our Leader can’t cut it. We have to ride it out with him and give him the chance to rally the troops.
Today, he did just that.
Jose put together 3 huge highlights today, showing all the facets of his game. The first was in the 5th inning with a sharp double he ripped down the line, following it up by stealing 3rd and then somehow, someway, with the infield in and a hot hard-hit groundball right to the defender and a decent throw home, he STILL scores. I know Jo Adell brought in 3 runs, but Jose showing the team he alone can add insurance runs with hustle and determination? THAT is what kept this team alive.
His second highlight came from his defense, when in the bottom of the 6th and Hunter Gaddis unraveling, he dove to his left and caught/dropped a liner, spun around and threw out Miguel Vargas with the bases loaded and no one out, keeping the lead.
And then finally, with the game still up in the air and two outs in the 8th, he tripled in 2 runs and gave us some very necessary and anxiety inducing breathing room.
He might not be 100% healthy, but the GOAT was back tonight and it may just be enough to give this team the wake up call they need.
1- Cade Smith
I mean, do I really have to say it? Facing elimination we all knew he was throwing AT LEAST the 8th and 9th innings and possibly more. After a clean 7th from Herrin and some insurance runs from Jose in the Top half of the 8th, Cade stepped in with an 8 pitch 8th, striking out 2, and then striking out the side in the 9th, putting this game on ice and taking Game 3.
Game 4 will be Thursday with the Time still TBD based on Rays/Yankees Game 3. Parker Messick will start for Cleveland and I’m sure Chicago will be throwing the kitchen sink yet again. Buckle up Guards fans, it’s gonna be another stressful commute home!!!
Five of the siblings that make up the Buss Family Trust — Johnny (69), Jim (66), Janie (62), Joey (41) and Jesse (37) — are filing a case against their sister, who’s attempting to block her siblings from selling the remainder of the family’s ownership shares of the Lakers.
Jeanie Buss is looking to stop her siblings from selling the family’s ownership shares of the Lakers. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
“Jimmy, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss, the five of six siblings who voted to sell the Trust’s shares in the Lakers, [on Wednesday] filed their formal opposition, demonstrating that Jeanie Buss’s petition is legally and factually baseless,” the siblings said in a statement issued to ESPN. “While discussions among the siblings continue, their focus remains on facilitating the proposed transaction and the [Buss family] trust’s participation in it, while ensuring that all beneficiaries, including Jeanie, are treated equally.
“[Wednesday’s] filing is a necessary step to protect those interests and ensure the transaction proceeds on schedule.”
Jim Buss and four of his siblings are looking to sell the Buss family’s ownership shares of the Lakers. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Jeanie Buss originally filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court in late August to block her siblings’ attempted sale of their minority ownership stake of the franchise.
Jeanie, the third-oldest child of the late Dr. Jerry Buss, first made it clear she opposed her siblings’ vote to sell the family’s share of the Lakers, according to a letter from her lawyer, Adam Streisand, that was obtained by The Post, arguing her siblings can’t legally execute a sale without her approval and that any vote of the Buss family selling would be “void.”
Joey and Jesse Buss (in black hat) have branched out since the Buss family sold the majority ownership of the Lakers to Mark Walter last summer. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
To remain the Lakers governor, Jeanie or the Buss family would need to maintain control of at least 15% of the franchise, per NBA rules.
Jeanie has been the team’s governor since 2013 after Jerry’s death. When Walter purchased the majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family, the league announced that Buss would remain the team’s governor for at least five years (through 2030).
Streisand filed a continuation (postponement) in Jeanie’s petition in Los Angeles Superior Court after the hearing was initially scheduled for Nov. 5. The continuation request was granted, with the hearing being rescheduled for Dec. 8.
While Edwin Diaz’s debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t get off to the start that both sides would have liked, getting the save on Tuesday night had to have felt good.
Diaz’s longtime friend, Kiké Hernández, spoke about his save in Tuesday night’s NLDS Game 3 matchup and how proud he is of him.
Kiké Hernández opens up on his friendship with Edwin Diaz and seeing him get the save for the Dodgers last night:
“I haven’t had the chance to play with too many Puerto Rican guys… there’s so few of us in the league. I’ve known Sugar since before he got drafted.”
Kiké Hernández fields a ground ball hit his way during Game 3 of the NLDS. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“This year, it was a very difficult year,” Hernández said. “It’s very easy to put the year aside, and he worked his a— off to get to this point.”
His save came after Los Angeles only had one inning of run support when Hernández and his regular postseason hero teammate, Freddie Freeman, both homered in the third.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz collects his first save since August in Game 3 of the NLDS. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Los Angeles held on to the lead for the rest of the night, and Diaz was assigned to closing duties.
At first, things didn’t get off to a great start, as he gave up a leadoff double to Ozzie Albies. But then, he settled in and got the next three batters to hit out.
For Diaz, it was his first save since August.
During the offseason, Diaz signed a three-year $69 million deal with the Dodgers to become the anchor of the bullpen.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and Edwin Diaz walking off the field following Game 3 of the NLDS. Getty Images
Since then, it hasn’t gone as they had both hoped, as Diaz has struggled to stay healthy and finished the regular season with an 8.68 ERA, converting seven of eleven save opportunities.
After his most recent injury stint concluded between August and September, Diaz adjusted his pitching mechanics — resulting in him making five appearances out of the bullpen, giving up only one hit, zero runs, and striking out nine batters.
“For him, it was one slight mechanical adjustment that he needed to do, that he didn’t realize,” Hernández said.
I love Anne Hathaway 
(@batghouls) 
