Kalen DeBoer coached at Indiana. Curt Cignetti spent four years at Alabama. Now, the two bring their respective teams to face each other in Rose Bowl.
J.J. Redick calls out Lakers effort after loss, 'It comes down to just making the choice'
The Lakers trailed the Suns by 10 at halftime Tuesday night. When asked what happened that turned a game they were into a blowout Phoenix win, JJ Redick was blunt.
"They scored on the first 13 possessions of the second half," the Lakers coach said of the Suns.
The Lakers went on to lose consecutive games for the first time this season, getting blown out by the Suns 132-108. Los Angeles was without Luka Doncic, but the Lakers have a respectable 116.2 offensive rating when Doncic is off the court this season (which would rank 11th in the league overall). What Redick called out is the Lakers' defense — which is bottom 10 in the league whether Doncic is on the court or not — and particularly the effort on that end of the floor.
"The theme with our team, these young teams that move, we just can't move. It's like we're stuck in mud," Redick said.
When asked if the Lakers had enough players who are inherently good defenders and give a full effort on that end, Redick was blunt.
"No."
He laid the blame for the defensive effort at the players' feet.
"It comes down to just making the choice. It's making the choice," Redick said. "There are shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort or you can sprint back or you can't. It's just a choice. And there's a million choices in a game, and you're very likely not going to make every choice correctly. But can you make the vast majority of them correctly? It gives you a chance to win."
Los Angeles' defense will be tested by another young team that can move on Christmas Day when the Lakers host the Rockets. It's a game in the national spotlight because of LeBron James and Kevin Durant, but the winner will come down to which team can defend (the Rockets have struggled on that end of late).
Yankees 'checked in on' LF Austin Hays: report
The Yankees are among the teams to check in on Austin Hays. The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Wednesday that the free-agent left fielder "becomes more realistic for them if" the Yankees cannot keep their top target at the position, Cody Bellinger, as they navigate the market.
Heyman's reporting this week has also linked the Mets and Kansas City Royals to the 30-year-old Hays.
In 103 games for the Cincinnati Reds this past season, Hays slashed ./266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs and 64 RBI.
The Reds signed Hays to a one-year, $5 million contract this past January with a $12 million mutual option for the 2026 season and entered free agency in November after Cincinnati declined to pick up his tender. As a result, he received a $1 million buyout.
Hays split 2024 between the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies, who swapped him before the season's trade deadline that July. In 85 games across the two teams, he slashed .255/.303/.396 with five home runs and 20 RBI.
A kidney infection limited Hays to 22 games with the Phillies before they non-tendered him that November, beginning his free agency.
Hays was an All-Star for the Orioles in 2023 when he slashed .275/.325/.444 with 16 home runs and 67 RBI. He made his MLB debut Sept. 7, 2017, in the Orioles' 9-1 loss to the Yankees and logged 74 games from 2017-20. In 420 games from 2021-23, Hays slashed .261/.313/.439 with 54 home runs and 198 RBI.
The Orioles selected Hays from Jacksonville University with the No. 91 overall pick in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
Klay Thompson back in Bay for Warriors game, takes Megan Thee Stallion on boat
Klay Thompson back in Bay for Warriors game, takes Megan Thee Stallion on boat originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Klay Thompson is back in the Bay Area, and on Wednesday, the former Warriors guard did one of his favorite activities.
Thompson posted two videos on his Instagram stories showing him driving his boat around the San Francisco Bay.
And the current Dallas Mavericks guard had two special guests: His girlfriend, Megan Thee Stallion, and her dog, Foe Thee Frenchie.
Thompson and the Mavericks are in the Bay Area to take on Steph Curry and the Warriors on Christmas Day at Chase Center.
After 13 years and 11 full seasons with the Warriors, Thompson is in his second campaign with the Mavericks, who are 12-19 and floundering after trading superstar Luka Dončić last season.
The 35-year-old Thompson is putting up some of the worst numbers of his career, as his role with the Mavericks has fluctuated.
After starting the first seven games of the season, he has come off the bench in 20 of 21 games he has played in since. In 28 total contests, Thompson is averaging a career low 11.1 points on 36.9 percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range.
But none of that will matter on Thursday when Thompson takes on his former team in front of Dub Nation, which adores him.
Minnesota Wild Set Franchise Record Heading Into Holiday Break
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild (22-10-6) set a franchise record in a 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators (16-16-4) for its last game before the Christmas break.
Minnesota scored the first goal of the game but let up the next two goals on the power play to the Preds.
Joel Eriksson Ek was able to tie it up later and the Wild forced an overtime against the Predators. After no shots by the Wild, the Predators came into the attacking zone.
Erik Haula sauced one over the stick of Quinn Hughes and onto the tape of the trailing Steven Stamkos for the game-winning goal in overtime.
It was Stamkos' 17th career overtime goal and moved into a tie for the seventh most in NHL history. But the real history was by the Wild on Tuesday.
With the overtime loss, the Wild recorded their 50th point of the season. They are one of three teams to have 50 points, behind the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche tied the second-fewest games to 60 points in a season in NHL history.
But, it was the first time in franchise history that the Wild entered the Holiday Break with 50 points.
Minnesota has dropped its last two games but has been playing great hockey as of late. The Wild are 19-4-3 since November 1st. They rank third in the NHL in that span with 41 points. The Stars have 42 and the Avalanche have 43 points since then.
“We’re in a good spot," Filip Gustavsson said after the loss. "We just have to keep winning after the break now and we’re going to be fine.”
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Golden Knights Head Into Christmas Break After 7-2 Taming Of Sharks
LAS VEGAS -- Frolicking in the holiday spirit, with visions of Christmas-themed costumed fans inside T-Mobile Arena, the Golden Knights extended their point streak against the San Jose Sharks to 12 games with Tuesday night's 7-2 win.
Vegas took a 5-0 lead after one period and never looked back, as six different players found the back of the net before the holiday break.
It marked the first time since Feb. 27, 2025 that Vegas recorded five goals in a period and the third time the team has done it in the first period.
Mitch Marner scored twice, while captain Mark Stone, Colton Sissons, Reilly Smith, Brett Howden and former Shark Tomas Hertl also scored.
GOALS MUST BE ALWAYS 😃 pic.twitter.com/9x1cjSJp0I
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 24, 2025
Carter Hart continued his impressive start since making his debut with the Knights, stopping 21 shots to improve to 4-1-2.
The Golden Knights also extended their power-play goal streak to six games, as they now rank second in the league since Dec. 11 at 35% with a man advantage.
Vegas' five-goal barrage stretched across the opening stanza, from the 1:46 to the 18:34 marks, with Howden, Marner, Sissons, Hertl and Stone all scoring goals.
San Jose's Macklin Celebrini spoiled Hart's shutout bid midway through the second period, while Collin Graf added a score late in the third to provide the final margin.
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov made 12 saves before turning the net over to Alex Nedeljkovic, who made seven saves.
KEY MOMENT
As much as the key moment could have been the moment the Sharks stepped off the team bus, it had to be the game-winner by Sissons, who made it 3-0 a little more than 11 minutes into the first period. Brandon Saad got things started when he grabbed a loose puck in the defensive end and backhanded it down ice to Keegan Kolesar, who skated to the doorstep before sending a pass across the crease for a one-timer tap-in from Sissons.
SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/0GXsz8B5oI
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 24, 2025
KEY STAT
13 of 20 ... In taking a 5-0 lead after the first period, 13 of Vegas' 20 skaters had at least one point - the most in a single period in franchise history - for a combined 14 points. The previous high was 11, which was reached on three occasions. Dorofeyev registered two points in the period with assists on Marner and Hertl's goals.
VEGAS FIVE-0 🎰😤 pic.twitter.com/au4Jr65Zea
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 24, 2025
WHAT A KNIGHT
Marner extended his point streak to three games and now has three goals in his last two games. It was his second two-goal game since joining the Knights, the first back on Oct. 18 against Calgary.
TOUCHDOWN VGK 🥵 pic.twitter.com/jLklobxnh3
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 24, 2025
UP NEXT
The Golden Knights continue their four-game homestand by hosting the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 27.
What's still on Yankees' wish list ahead of 2026 season
When it comes to their holiday shopping, the Yankees are much more patient than, say, a kid hankering for the season’s hottest toy. While the Yanks still have much to do this winter, including retaining a key performer, they have slow-played things like a parent saying, “We’ll see” regarding a potential yuletide bauble.
The Yankees will make more additions. Of course they will. Some of their fans might be antsy since the rest of the AL East seemingly opened their gifts early. But there are plenty of targets remaining for what the Yankees need, both in the trade and free agency aisles.
If they need some guidance, we are here for them, like a personal shopper for the holiday hot stove. With that in mind, here’s our wish list for the Yankees for the rest of the offseason.
Re-sign Cody Bellinger
This is an easy one, like when your partner says, “Get me this” for a holiday gift and leads you to it on the shelves. Buy it, wrap it and hand it over on the appropriate date. Don’t overthink it.
Bellinger can play all three outfield positions, plus first base. He’s a lefty who hit very well in Yankee Stadium last year (.909 OPS at home) and looked so comfy it was like he’d been on the Yankees for years. There’s value in knowing that someone can sparkle in New York. Bellinger can.
If Ben Rice struggles defensively at first base, Bellinger can take over. If they need him to start in left or center, no problem, though Trent Grisham accepted the Yanks’ qualifying offer and seems set in center. Re-signing Bellinger also would give the Yankees trade chips in either Jasson Domínguez or slugging prospect Spencer Jones. Or both.
Bellinger is probably the tipping point to the rest of the Yankee offseason.
More pitching
Pitching is like cash gifts at the holidays. Who doesn’t want more of that? The Yanks have, on paper, a powerful rotation. But both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón won’t be ready to start the year, so they might need help beyond Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren. Because of injury last year, Gil only threw 57 innings in the regular season; Schlittler, in his first MLB experience, tossed 73.
While the Blue Jays added big in their rotation with Dylan Cease, there are plenty of pitchers remaining who could help the Yankees, including those still available in free agency, such as Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez. Both are top-of-the-market types, though.
They could investigate import Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old free agent who had a 1.92 ERA in Japan last season. Former Yankee Tyler Austin, who signed with the Cubs after six years playing in Japan, recently lauded Imai, a righty, in an appearance on MLB Network Radio. And Imai probably appeals to fans, considering he talked earlier this offseason about wanting to be part of dethroning the Dodgers.
Or the Yankees could dip into the trade market for MacKenzie Gore, the 26-year-old lefty with the Nationals, or Freddy Peralta of the Brewers.
Or maybe they just need a mid-tier stopgap type. Earlier this winter, we suggested righty Tyler Mahle, who had a 2.18 ERA over 16 starts with the Rangers. He’s only had one full season of starting, when he made 33 starts for the Reds in 2021 and delivered 180 innings. But the Yanks might not need him to pile up frames.
Relief-wise, the Yankees need a rebuild after ranking 23rd in bullpen ERA (4.37) last year and walking too many opposing hitters.
Several of their deadline acquisitions came with control, so closer David Bednar is back, as are Camilo Doval and Jake Bird. They re-signed Tim Hill, which gives them a proper lefty, and Fernando Cruz and his nasty splitter remains in their ‘pen.
But Devin Williams and Luke Weaver signed with the Mets as free agents, so there’s room for more high-leverage arms. In recent years, the Yankees have also been really good at mining relievers from unheralded stock, so it’s possible they find solid set-up help in that fashion again. Or maybe Pete Fairbanks, one of the top relief arms still available, can fit.
Pick a tune on Jazz
Jazz Chisholm Jr. enjoyed a strong 30-30 season and should be ensconced at second base for at least this year. But he’s also drawn trade interest in his final season before free agency.
Should the Yankees seek an extension with their athletic middle infielder, who brings much-needed verve and swag to the roster, to say nothing of abundant skill? They don’t do extensions often and some recent ones fizzled. Or should they flip Chisholm for a contact-oriented hitter to pair with their power?
Shortstop clarity?
This one might be far-fetched, even on a wish list, something akin to a teen who just got their driver’s license asking for a Corvette with a big bow on the roof as their primary holiday present. Anthony Volpe will not be ready for the start of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery, so anything permanent with this position is likely tabled until he’s ready to compete. José Caballero will fill in and, perhaps, make inroads on the job.
But the Yanks still believe in Volpe, regardless of fan angst over his play, or A-Rod’s cracks about their organizational hitting philosophy. Or at least say they do. They won’t commit to anything until Volpe’s healthy.
In other words, “We’ll see.”
Knicks Mailbag: Is there any truth to NY's reported interest in Donte DiVincenzo?
It's another edition of Knicks' Mailbag with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the team. Let's get started...
@Kameel888 -- I am wondering, was there any truth to the Knicks being interested in Donte DiVincenzo? Has there been any movement in that regard? Thank you, Ian!
Hey Kameel, I’m sure the Knicks would love to have Donte DiVincenzo on the team. They hated losing him in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, and he was part of the fabric of the 2023-24 team. With regards to any movement, I’ve checked around on this for the past few days and haven’t heard about any significant movement. People on all sides of a potential trade see it as highly unlikely. I’m not questioning the ClutchPoints report on DiVincenzo and the Knicks, but I don’t think there is anything happening there.
The Knicks would have to trade either Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinson to make a deal work. They aren’t trading Hart. I don’t see how they can trade Robinson; if they did trade him, it wouldn’t make sense to get a non-big in return.
@tru_zoom -- When will Shamet and McBride get reevaluated again?
I think we’ll have an update on Landry Shamet by the end of the month. At the time of the shoulder injury, there was a strong belief/optimism that Shamet could avoid surgery. I believe that is still the case. Shamet continues to rehab the injury but hasn’t needed a surgical procedure. That’s a good sign for a Knick team that leaned on Shamet before he got hurt.
With regards to Miles McBride, he has been working vigorously on the court with Knicks coaches. I don’t know if he is fully sprinting yet, but he has been cleared for contact; he just hasn’t had the chance to take contact in a scrimmage setting because the Knicks haven’t practiced (NBA teams rarely practice during the heart of the regular season). But based on the available information, I would guess that McBride is back before the end of the calendar year.
@AndrewA59778512 -- Ian, for Jalen Brunson, is it more rest for him?
@DylanBackerESM -- Do you think OG’s injury is anything serious, or are they mainly just resting him? Seems like they’re just resting Brunson.
Six games in 10 days for the Knicks, going back to the NBA Cup Final in Las Vegas, plus the early start on Christmas Day. I think this is all in the name of resting Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. I assume this was all about giving Brunson and Anunoby a night off (Tuesday at Minnesota) amid a tough stretch of the season.
What's still on Mets' wish list ahead of 2026 MLB season
The holidays are a mega-busy time, of course, and you don’t have to be Kris Kringle himself to have lots to do.
Take David Stearns, for example.
The Mets’ baseball boss is reshaping the roster this winter, having already waved goodbye to blue-and-orange stalwarts from Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo to Edwin Díaz and Jeff McNeil.
He’s added Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, among others -- but there’s more to do.
So, David, bundle up and head out to the stores -- no, wait, that’s us last-minute holiday shoppers. Stearns does need to make some moves, though, even if it’s without the frenzy of Fifth Avenue or a bedecked mall.
That’s where we come in, as helpful elves. We offer a wish list for the Mets to complete over the rest of the baseball hot stove season. Check it twice, if you like.
An ace
The Mets have a lot of rotation inventory right now, don’t they?
Nolan McLean seems assured of a spot, since he was one of the best pitchers in baseball over his eight starts last season. Clay Holmes was really good in his first season in the rotation, finishing ninth in the NL in ERA, and is a lock, too. David Peterson had a wobble or two, but also was terrific for a long stretch. Can Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea rebound? We’ll see. And then there’s Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat, two very promising prospects.
But there’s no top-of-the-rotation monster.
Yes, we know McLean could become that. But pitching is such a precious commodity and generally needed in such bulk during the slog that is 162 games that it makes sense for the Mets to pursue a No. 1. That could come in free agency or trade.
They’ll be involved if Tarik Skubal or Freddy Peralta become available. Should they explore Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez, both free agents? Maybe their appetite is only whetted if either will sign a short-term deal.
Whatever happens (or doesn’t), it sure feels like the Mets need an ace as a holiday home run. The same way a certain generation of kids needed the original Xbox, right?
A CF fix
There are numerous ways the Mets could cover center field this year, but it’s tricky because of highly-regarded prospect Carson Benge. Benge, who turns 23 next month, is the center fielder of the future, isn’t he? Stearns even said early in the offseason that Benge could push to break spring camp with the Mets in ‘26.
Of course, Benge has only 103 plate appearances as high as Triple-A -- he started last season in Brooklyn and ascended.
If he’s almost ready, they only need a stopgap and maybe they can start Tyrone Taylor for a month or so while Benge gets more seasoning. Or, if they go for a big splash, they could sign Cody Bellinger, use him in center until Benge is ready and then put Bellinger in left. Or use Bellinger at first base. The one drawback is that Bellinger is likely to command a long-term, pricey deal. Stearns has been trimming commitments this winter, at least so far.
But Benge batted .178 with a .583 OPS in Triple-A, so he may need a longer stage of development in the minors. In that case, Bellinger fits nicely in center, maybe for all of 2026. If not him, Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, appears available in trade.
Or perhaps someone like Harrison Bader would serve well, especially with Bader coming off his best bat season (.796 OPS, 17 homers). Bader, as Mets fans doubtless remember, is a sensational defensive outfielder. Run prevention, anyone?
More relief
Not to get Grinchy about this, but the Mets bullpen, even with the work already done, needs more.
Williams will close, Weaver will be the top setup man and the Mets seem to have lefties covered with Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter. Maybe Sproat can morph into a multi-inning relief weapon, the Athletic reported the Mets are examining that idea.
The Mets were 27th in starter innings last season, so their relievers got a lot of work. They had the third-most relief innings in MLB. They were 15th in bullpen ERA -- better than both World Series teams, incidentally -- and had the sixth-highest bullpen WAR, according to FanGraphs. Maybe they were riding on Díaz’s coattails, no? He had a tremendous season.
In any case, another high-leverage arm, whether by trade or free agency, would do more to comfort the Met fan than a fresh egg nog in front of a warm fireplace this time of year.
A second at first?
Polanco figures to play a lot of first, a role he said he began preparing for last season while with the Mariners.
As a former middle infielder, he surely has the hands to make the transition, right? Of course, the Mets have charged a guy with one pitch of game experience at the position with helping them boost their run prevention. There’s risk involved.
So perhaps they’ll look to add at the position.
Paul Goldschmidt, a free agent with a great glove who bats right handed, is available. Yes, that’s yet another former Yankee crossing over, but maybe he fits this niche need.
Here’s another idea: Eugenio Suarez on a short deal would fit their need for righty thump and give them another option at third base. Since they are moving players to first base this winter, perhaps Suarez can get reps there, too. He played there three times last year, which is more than Polanco did.
GameAbove Sports Bowl: NFL Draft Prospects to Watch
Caleb Tiernan is the top draft prospect in this game. The 6-7, 329 pound left tackle could solidify his second round status with a big game here.
College basketball panic meter: Which teams should be concerned?
The start of the season hasn't been ideal for some teams, and the high preseason expectations have turned into doubt.
Steve Kerr acknowledges the Warriors' grim reality as a ‘fading dynasty'
Steve Kerr acknowledges the Warriors' grim reality as a ‘fading dynasty' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Steve Kerr on Wednesday acknowledged the obvious but unspoken truth within the Warriors.
The golden days of yore are over. And they’re not coming back, because that’s not how the aging process works.
“We are no longer the ‘17 Warriors, dominating the league,” Kerr said. “We are a fading dynasty.
“We know that. Everybody knows that.”
The 2016-17 Warriors were an all-time great squad featuring four All-Stars: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. That team posted a 67-15 record in the regular season and went 16-1 in the postseason.
Those Warriors took a 27-4 record into a Christmas Day game against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The current Warriors have been a middling bunch, with Curry as the only certain All-Star. Taking a 15-15 record into their Christmas Day game against the Dallas Mavericks, they’re aiming for a third consecutive victory – which would tie their longest streak of the season.
Moreover, they’re two days removed from a win over the Orlando Magic that was blighted by a heated public squabble between Kerr and Green.
“We have issues, just like every other team has issues,” conceded Kerr, who said he and Green apologized to each other and that each apologized to the team. “But we have to work through them. And I believe that this was a major step in that happening. And I feel really good about where our team is on the floor, about where we’re heading. I see the potential to do exactly what we did last year, to really go on run and give ourselves a chance and where we are as a team, as an organization.
“The most important thing for me is for guys to recognize that there’s beauty in the struggle. There’s beauty in what we’re trying to accomplish right now.”
The Warriors have 52 games to pull themselves together and rise from eighth place in the Western Conference into at least the top six; they’re 3.5 games behind sixth-place Houston. Their preseason goal was to finish among the top four, and they are five games behind the fourth-place Lakers.
“What is up to us? How do we carry ourselves, night to night? How connected are we? And can we give ourselves another swing at the plate?” Kerr said. “We did that last year. I was really proud of the team last year, despite the loss against Minnesota. (Without) the injury to Steph, who knows how far we would have gone?
“But we gave ourselves a chance, and that’s the goal here. We know where we are. We’ve got to know who we are. We got to know what’s possible, and we have to take pride in the struggle, because this is part of life.”
Draymond Green open to coming off Warriors bench; Steve Kerr not interested
Draymond Green open to coming off Warriors bench; Steve Kerr not interested originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – There is a growing sentiment that Warriors coach Steve Kerr might consider asking Draymond Green to take the path once tread by Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson.
Leave the starting lineup and come off the bench.
Green, according to Kerr, would not oppose such a move.
“He’s told me,” Kerr said Wednesday after practice. “He told me, this year, ‘I’ll go to the bench if you need me to.’ I know what Draymond is about. He’s about winning.”
The thought of such a move is based mostly on the dynamic between Jimmy Butler III and Green. Each is most valuable with the ball in his hands and, naturally, each is diminished when playing off the ball. When both are on the floor with Stephen Curry, ball distribution sometimes gets stifled.
Another factor that makes it conceivable to bring Draymond off the bench is that neither he nor Butler is a spot-up shooter. Butler is an opportunistic shooter, and Green is a pass-first ballhandler who sometimes is a reluctant shooter.
But Kerr is not ready to make any such change.
“That’s not even a consideration for me right now,” he said, “Because I’m really excited about this starting lineup: Steph, Draymond, Moses (Moody), (Quinten Post), Jimmy, I think it’s a great starting lineup for us, because we get the size and shooting of Quentin next to Dray, which takes the pressure off of him. And Dre is at his best next to Steph. He should play most of his minutes with Steph. Those two guys are incredible together.
“So, the idea of bringing him off the bench, I understand it in theory, like, well, maybe we can get this or get that. That’s all we do as a staff is think about this stuff. All day long. And we’ve had every discussion about how to make our team the best. I’m convinced it’s with what we’re doing right now.”
Kerr persuaded Iguodala to come off the bench in 2015-16 because his two-way versatility and intellect were better suited for the second unit than Harrison Barnes. Iguodala made only 25 starts over his final seven seasons, with two teams.
Kerr’s decision to have Thompson come off the bench, much to Klay’s chagrin, was in hopes of finding a game-changing scorer with the second unit. That lasted only 14 games.
Though Kerr acknowledges that Green has spent more time working on his 3-point shooting from the corners – a reliable threat from the corners would an ideal asset for lineups featuring Curry and Butler – he’s not ready to make any adjustments.
Golden State’s current starting lineup is 2-1 and will play its fourth game on Thursday, Christmas Day, against the Dallas Mavericks.
Canadiens: Sending Dobes Down Would Cause Trouble
Earlier this week, on 98,5 Sports, former Montreal Canadiens goalie coach Stephane Waite suggested that it would cause no harm if goaltender Jakub Dobes were sent down to the Laval Rocket.
He’s waiver exempt, so assigning him to the Rocket wouldn’t mean risking losing him, but I disagree that it would cause no harm. I understand that Dobes doesn’t have the “goaltender of the future” label that Jacob Fowler has, but that doesn’t mean that he should pay for Samuel Montembeault’s current issues.
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If you recall, Dobes was off to an excellent start to the season and was even in the conversation for the Calder Trophy early on. But then, despite Montembeault’s poor form, he kept getting starts over Dobes, who, based on performance, would have deserved to be between the pipes. It’s only after Martin St-Louis kept going back to his starter despite his struggles that Dobes appeared to be shaken up.
Sending him down to Laval would once again shake him. He doesn’t deserve to go down to the AHL. He hasn’t had the same issues Montembeault has had, and therefore, he should not go down. Doing that would only achieve one thing: shake him up once more and mess with his head.
Montembeault’s situation is delicate, there’s no denying that, but the NHL is a results business. If the netminder cannot handle internal competition, he won’t last much longer in the league. Granted, a trio of goaltenders is far from ideal, especially when two of them are rookies who need to play. But for me, Fowler is the one who should go down if the Canadiens feel that someone must.
Probably not surprising but hearing that some teams have checked in on Marc-Andre Fleury to see if there’s any chance at all he would consider playing again. Again not surprised teams with goalie needs would want to check on it.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 23, 2025
Waiving Montembeault would mean losing him. Struggles or not, a team would pick him up, hoping that a fresh start would sort him out. According to Pierre LeBrun, GMs are calling Marc-Andre Fleury to ask if he’d consider coming out of retirement; that shows how thin the goalie market is.
As good as Fowler has been so far, he’s still a bit green; this is his first professional season. The 21-year-old needs plenty of ice time, and there is no point in rushing him. No matter how he performs, the Canadiens won’t win the Stanley Cup this season. Leaving him to mature in the AHL only makes sense.
Finish the season with two goalies, and if Montembeault doesn’t find his game, consider moving on from him this summer. That would pave the way for Fowler to see enough action in the NHL. For now, though, let Dobes be; he shouldn’t have to pick up the tab, so to speak.
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Warriors' Steve Kerr shoulders blame for heated Draymond Green bench incident
Warriors' Steve Kerr shoulders blame for heated Draymond Green bench incident originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The incident between Draymond Green and Steve Kerr is water under the bridge.
A video surfaced online during the Warriors’ 120-97 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday that showed a heated discussion between Green and Kerr on the team’s bench in the third quarter that concluded with the veteran forward walking off into the locker room.
Both Green and Kerr addressed the incident after the game, admitting that tempers boiled over, but expressed confidence that they would be able to move past it.
It appears they have.
Kerr spoke to local reporters on Wednesday, and shared where things stand between him and Green while shouldering the blame for the incident.
“We talked today, we had a great chat,” Kerr said. “Frankly… Monday night was not my finest hour. That was a time I needed to be calm in the huddle. So I regret my actions in that exchange. I apologized to Dray, he apologized to me, we both apologized to the team. These things, they happen. Especially when you get two incredibly competitive people like Dray and me. Over the 12 years we’ve been together, this has happened occasionally. I’m not proud of it. We had a great chat.
“I care so much about Draymond. And the relationship we have is like family. And like family, you go through ups and downs. My number one goal, honestly, is for him to finish his career as a Warrior, with us, fighting — metaphorically, not literally — and competing together. Until we’re both done. And I believe that’s going to happen. Because I believe in Draymond and I believe in myself, and I believe in everything we’ve built for the last 12 years.” (h/t The San Francisco Standard’s Danny Emerman)
Kerr revealed that both he and Green also discussed the incident with the team and apologized for it and said he expects “the very best” from Green in Thursday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center.
“I do,” Kerr said when asked if he thought the air within the team was clear now. “I think there’s always going to be dynamics within a team, any team, that exist all season long. And it’s the coach’s job and the leaders of the team’s job to help guys through those circumstances. We have issues just like every other team has issues. But we have to work through them.
“I believe this was a major step in that happening. I feel really good about where our team is on the floor, about where we’re heading. I see the potential to do exactly what we did last year. To really go on a run and give ourselves a chance.”
There has been plenty of outside speculation surrounding Green’s future with the Warriors, especially since Monday night’s incident. However, Kerr believes it’s clear that Green wants to finish his illustrious NBA career with one team and one team only: The Warriors.
“Oh yeah. One of the things I love about Draymond is his loyalty … He’s loyal to the Warriors. Loyal to me. Loyal to Steph [Curry]. He wants to be here his whole career. I want nothing more than that. I love Draymond, love everything he’s meant to me, to the organization, to the Bay. He’s a complicated guy.
“He’d be the first to admit that. He’s very complex. But he’s undyingly loyal and passionate and I will go to bat for him as long as I’m coaching him here. Honestly, I’d go to bat for him 20 years from now when we haven’t been together. That’s how strongly I feel about him. And that’s how I want this thing to end with us, whenever that is.”
With the incident now behind them, Green, Kerr and the Warriors will re-focus and look to extend Golden State’s current winning streak to three games on Christmas Day against former Warriors guard Klay Thompson and the Mavericks.