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Dylan Larkin plays and scores in his first game for the Red Wings since asking for a trade

Dylan Larkin

Oct 6, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) handles the puck during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

Brian Bradshaw Sevald/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

DETROIT — Dylan Larkin played for the Detroit Red Wings for the first time since asking for a trade, scored 13 minutes in, had an assist, and was named the first star of the game for his role in beating Ottawa.

Larkin was cheered by the same crowd that booed him when he touched the puck on his first shift of the game. Larkin was slow to get back defensively, and Ottawa’s Tim Stützle scored off the rush.

He made up for it by putting the puck in to give the Red Wings the lead later in the first period and set up Viktor Arvidsson’s goal early in the second.

More applause followed when he was announced as the first star afterward, with the polar-opposite reactions creating a fitting new chapter in one of the most bizarre ongoing stories in hockey.

“I’m trying to be a man and face it,” Larkin said. “I’m going to try to show up with my play.”

Larkin remains in limbo several months after his trade request became public and Detroit’s longtime general manager, Steve Yzerman, abruptly was moved out of that role in mid-July. He was stripped of the captaincy, reported to training camp despite being injured, missed the start of the season because of injury, and received a frosty reaction from home fans during introductions prior to their first game.

Coach Todd McLellan said following the morning skate that Larkin would play against the unbeaten Senators as long as the 30-year-old center was cleared by doctors. Larkin was activated off injured reserve prior to taking the ice for pregame warmups.

Larkin is a Michigan native who has played his entire NHL career with Detroit, which last made the playoffs in his rookie season a decade ago. That is the longest active drought of any of the league’s 32 teams.

Fans at the home opener taped over Larkin’s name with such things as “Loser,” “Traitor” and “Leavin” and at times chanted, “Sell the team.”

Larkin initially last spring gave the Red Wings only three destinations he’d accept a trade to — Florida, Minnesota and Vegas — before reportedly adding more possibilities in recent weeks. He said he was conscious of not over-celebrating his goal knowing the situation.

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Freddie Freeman finds his power after sluggish second half

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run in the fourth inning during Game Three of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Freddie Freeman endured his worst offensive season since first putting on a Dodgers uniform, defined by a dramatic power outage where he hit just one home run over his final 66 games.

Freeman never finished any season hitting 21 home runs over his first four seasons as a Dodger. This included a two-month stretch in 2025 where he hit just two home runs over a two-month frame, but he still finished with 24 overall.

His final home run of the first half this year came on July 4 against the San Diego Padres, finishing the first half of the season with 15 home runs while slashing .290/.375/.487. Freeman still managed to maintain his pure contact ability at an elite level entering the second half, hitting .338 over his first 39 games, but he had just nine extra-base hits over that time, all of them doubles.

Freeman snapped his 47-game home run drought with a three-run shot against left-hander Brycen Mautz of the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 2. While the team posted a 13-5 record over the final 18 games with him in the lineup, Freeman limped his way to the tune of a .167/.208/.167 slash line with zero extra-base hits.

The first-round bye gave the Dodgers a much-needed week of rest, with guys like Freeman and Shohei Ohtani having dealt with lingering issues that crippled their second-half production. The culprit behind Freeman’s drop-off was a case of patellar tendonitis in his right knee. Although Freeman took a stumble into the visitor’s dugout against the Kansas City Royals on Aug. 12, he noted that the issue didn’t stem from that play.

“I was having trouble moving [on defense]. I didn’t have a front side anymore [in my swing],” Freeman said of the way the injury had initially impacted him. “It just got to the point where it wasn’t giving me the best opportunity to play like I want to.”

Freeman experienced a similar fate two years ago when he suffered a sprained ankle during the Dodgers’ final regular season series. His production took a sharp nosedive over the team’s first two postseason series, but he ultimately managed to hit four home runs in a World Series MVP-winning five game clash with the Yankees.

So far this postseason, Freeman has managed to quickly turn the page on a woeful end to the regular season. His first big moment came against Grant Holmes on Sunday, smashing a solo home run that put the Dodgers on the board. The ultimate test for the NLDS came on Tuesday against left-hander Chris Sale, the only pitcher to toss a complete game shutout against the Dodgers in the regular season. After Kiké Hernández started the scoring with a two-run home run in the fourth inning, Freeman followed suit with his second blast in as many games, totaling his postseason home run total from last year’s title run.

Freeman’s adjustment this time around didn’t pertain to his knee issues, as he remarked that all he needed to do was open up his shoulders a couple inches to get better swings on the ball.

“The first couple days of the bye week, you’re just trying to figure out when looking at video what’s worked in the past, what it looks like in set-up, and we found something where my shoulders were a little too turned. All I really did was just open my shoulders a couple inches. Baseball is a game of inches.”

In the same stadium that Freeman called home for his final five years as a member of the Atlanta Braves, the Dodgers now go up against right-hander Tyler Mahle with the hopes of advancing to their third consecutive NLCS.

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2026 Royals season in review: The best home runs

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 08: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday, August 8, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tanner Gatlin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Royals hit 170 home runs in 2026, tied for the second-most in club history and eleven more than last year. There were plenty of impressive and memorable blasts along the way, from towering shots to clutch home runs in big moments. Here are the best of the bunch.

April 26 vs. the Angels – Jac ties it up, Lane Thomas walks it off

Okay, technically this is two home runs. The Royals got down 6-0 early on against the Angels on a nationally televised broadcast, but clawed their way back amid a 90 minute rain delay. They still trailed by three in the ninth inning when Vinnie Pasquantino tripled (more unlikely than any home run!) and Salvador Perez singled. Jac Caglianone launched a ball 409 feet right down the right field line to tie things up and give the Royals new life.

The Royals bullpen coughed up the lead again in the tenth (shocker!) With two outs, Maikel Garcia walked to put two runners on for lefty-killer Lane Thomas to face southpaw Joey Lucchesi. Thomas put one in the seats to send everyone home, wet and happy.

May 9 vs. the Tigers – Bobby hits an inside-the-parker

Fans were still settling into their seats in the first inning of a May game against the Tigers when Bobby decided to start the show. He laced a liner up the right-field line that Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter misplayed. Bobby decided to touch ‘em all. With a sprint speed of 30.4 feet per second, Bobby went from home to third in 10.91 seconds for an inside-the-park home run.

July 2 vs. the Rays – Carter Jensen leads off with the longest home run of the season

Matt Quatraro moved Carter Jensen into the leadoff spot in late May, and it seemed to help get him going. He hit .249/.332/.529 as a leadoff hitter, and only seven teams hit more home runs out of the leadoff spot.

Jensen showed off that leadoff power in a July game against the Rays, when he crushed a first inning pitch from lefty Ian Seymour 449 feet, the longest home run of the season by any Royals hitter.

July 13 – Jac Caglianone goes third deck in the Home Run Derby

By midsummer, the baseball world was beginning to recognize that the Royals had a prodigious power hitter in their lineup in Jac Caglianone. He wasn’t selected as an All-Star, but he was invited to All-Star Weekend to participate in the Home Run Derby, becoming just the fifth Royals hitter ever invited to the event. With his father, Jeff, pitching to him, Caglianone put on a show, launching eight home runs before being eliminated in the first round. He may not have advanced, but he gave us some memorable blasts, including this triple-decker in Philadelphia.

July 25 vs. the Tigers – Salvy breaks the club home run record

Salvy has hit a lot of home runs in a Royals uniform. And now, he has more than anyone in team history.

In a July game in Detroit, Salvy hit career home run #318, passing George Brett for most by a Royals hitter.

Salvy would end the season with 324 career home runs, tying Gary Carter and Lance parrish for fifth-most all-time by a catcher. He also hit 21 home runs for the year, making him just the fifth catcher ever with ten 20+ home run seasons, joining Mike Piazza, Johnny Bench, Brian McCann, and Yogi Berra.

August 8 vs. the Cubs – Cags goes very deep twice

Jac Caglianone was on fire in August, hitting .411 for the month. In an August game against the Cubs, he set off first inning fireworks with a 448-foot blast off Clay Holmes.

Not content with one dinger, he got greedy with another home run, this time off Colin Rea.

The blast gave him his first 20-home run season and helped earn him American League Player of the Month honors for August.

Did I miss one? What was your favorite Royals home run of the year?

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Ausar’s improved handle could elevate Pistons to contender status

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 5: Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In the spirit of overreacting to one preseason game, everyone is overreacting to Detroit’s preseason opening win against the Phoenix Suns. I am just as guilty as everyone else, but I think people are misdiagnosing the thing worth getting most excited about.

Ausar Thompson, fresh off of signing a new five-year, $155 million deal to become a core member of Detroit’s contending future showed out in his limited minutes against the Suns. The defensive forward scored 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go with three steals, a couple rebounds, and a couple of assists. Nothing eye-popping, to be sure. So what has everyone excited? The shooting stroke looked clean and the 12-footers were going down. The vision was sharp. The passes were crisp. People walked away thinking he suddenly developed a jump shot or a distributor. That’s true, in a sense, but he’s had those short jumpers in his bag for a while and his vision has always been good.

The true revelation, and the thing that could unlock his game and the Pistons’ potential, is his handle. He looked so much more confident in running the offense and navigating multiple defenders and reads because the handle was tight, and he was in total control of the ball. He could better execute what he’s always seen and processed. In previous years, the handle was so loose that he was dangerously turnover-prone and might be a step or two late with his passes. Not against the Suns. It was peak efficiency (for a non-shooter).

More specifically, it’s the kind of execution that turns Thompson from a total offensive liability that could be schemed against and played off the floor during the playoffs, and suddenly becomes a weapon that allows you to play as many minutes as your endurance and the situation dictate.

Everyone, including the Pistons, knew Thompson’s perimeter shot was lightyears away if it ever comes at all. If he is ever going to be a plus offensive player, it was always going to be because he has the ball in his hands with the ability to use his athleticism and his processing to find opportunities for himself and for teammates closer to the rim. The Pistons wanted to develop those talents last season, but it barely lasted 10 games. They were forced to pivot because it became clear his handle was so janky that it was effectively self-destructive.

At Pistons media day, Ausar talked a lot about being open to being more selfish, which really meant being more aggressive with the ball in his hands.

“I feel like the way I was working on it was stepping out of my comfort zone. You know, being even extra aggressive. Sometimes, you know, I make a lot of the right reads, so sometimes you know, just be a little selfish,” Thompson said.

A Thompson with a tight handle can certainly be more aggressive and, yes, selfish. He will more effectively use his burst to get to the free-throw line, dish out to open teammates when defenders collapse on him, and navigate pick-and-rolls or hedging defenders.

It also allows him to get to his own spots where he will have a more confident and smoother transition into his jumper, even if the range of said jumper is limited to about 16 feet out. Space is space, and a Thompson with an improved handle can create space and take advantage of the space created by his teammates.

That doesn’t mean that Ausar is suddenly destined to score 18 points a game or average seven assists tonight. But it does mean he would have an offensive role on the floor as a primary or secondary ball handler, in high-leverage situations. More importantly, it keeps his All-NBA defense on the floor as much as possible.

It is the kind of thing the Pistons need to be contenders. Ausar showed the promise of the offseason in Game 1 of preseason. React accordingly.

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ALDS Game 3 Preview: Max Fried vs. Nick Martinez

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Despite the impending birth of his firstborn child, Max Fried is starting Game 3 as the Yankees look to avoid elimination from the ALDS.

During his last outing against the Red Sox in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, Fried held steadfast through six innings, striking out six and giving up a home run (a solo shot). With an offense that isn’t offering much support outside of Ben Rice, the Yankees can’t afford any mistakes from Fried tonight as they anticipate continuing their postseason run with a win at home. There’s no doubt that the roars from the Bronx crowd in an elimination game can be intimidating, but Fried must block out the noise to stay focused on shutting down the Rays’ offense.

It’s possible that home-field advantage could help the Yankees’ offense and hopefully fuel some fire as they fight through every at-bat. They’ll need as much ammunition as they can get to face Rays righty Nick Martinez, who has a 2.25 ERA through 12 innings in the Bronx this season with 14 hits and three earned runs allowed.

Yankees skipper Aaron Boone is expected to shuffle around the lineup heading into the do-or-die scenario, and it would be reassuring to give a few guys on the bench, including José Caballero and Anthony Volpe, a shot at making the start. Errors from Game 1 and Game 2 starters Ryan McMahon and Jazz Chisholm Jr. have frustrated fans, to say the least, and it would be reassuring to give Caballero and Volpe a shot at keeping the Yankees’ postseason run going for another day. Boone was reportedly considering starting Volpe at third over McMahon for Game 2, but was quoted as saying he wanted to “prioritize the defense.”

Volpe made his last postseason start in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series and got a hit off Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle. Caballero, on the other hand, has yet to make his postseason debut at the plate this year. He does, however, have decent numbers against righties this season, batting .233 with .295 OBP and .666 OPS.

The Yankees have their work cut out for them as they strive to stay alive against Tampa Bay, and hopefully we’ll see some changes to the starting nine that can instill some feelings of confidence.

ALDS Game 3 Info

Teams: No. 4 seed Yankees vs. No. 1 seed Rays

Series: Rays ahead 2-0

Ballpark: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Start time: 8:00 p.m.

TV: TBS/truTV

Streaming: HBO Max

National radio: ESPN Radio (Mike Couzens, Eduardo Pérez, Tim Kurkjian)

Local English radio: WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM

Local Spanish radio: WADO 1280 AM

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NBA MVP Predictions 2026-27: Can anyone keep Victor Wembanyama from first MVP?

No NBA award generates near the level of passion and debate as Most Valuable Player. Stalking this race starts early — by the end of the first week of the season, there will be people on podcasts talking about how "Player X is off to a fast start, he's making his MVP case."\

Will there be much debate this season? Not according to the team at NBCSports.com — everyone is picking the same guy, Victor Wembanyama. Here are our picks, but first the odds
for the top five, via our partners at DraftKings:

Victor Wembanyama +210
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +350
Nikola Jokic +500
Luka Doncic +550
Giannis Antetokounmpo +1200

Most Valuable Player prediction

Kurt Helin, NBC lead NBA writer:

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

I spent way too much time trying to find a reason — other than health — to pick anyone other than Victor Wembanyama to win this award. I couldn't do it. There are other players I can legitimately make a case for: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the last two MVPs and is in his prime on a team that is going to win a lot of games; Nikola Jokic has averaged a triple-double two straight years and may have won it last year if a knee injury hadn't slowed him near the end of the season; Luka Doncic is in his prime and has a team around him now better built to take advantage of his skill set. Still, it comes back to Wembanyama, in part because he'll also have a massive defensive impact that can't be overlooked, and at age 22 his offense is improving each year. If Wemby's healthy, he's going to be very tough to beat.

Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst:

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Wembanyama's first postseason should have put to rest the idea that elite players have to deal with multiple failures before reaching the mountaintop. With the 7-foot-5 phenom leading the way, the Spurs reached the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade. Of course, San Antonio didn't win the title, and that should motivate Wembanyama. This pick isn't so much about it being his "turn" as it is about the feeling that Wemby is ready to take his individual dominance to another level. He'll be the MVP this season.

Jay Croucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst:

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Wembanyama is the favorite for a reason — he had an MVP level season last year and at 22 years old he is still ascending, on what is likely a 60+ win team. There is plenty of room for growth in his offensive game and some of that growth should materialize this season. Judging by his comments towards the end of last season, he will have no issue campaigning for himself either.

Drew Dinsick, NBC Sports betting analyst:

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Wemby is the rightful favorite to win what will likely be the first of several MVPs. We're entering an era in which his presence on the court is widely understood to be the most impactful in basketball, and he leads a Spurs team with realistic hopes of a top-two seed in the West. He took a meaningful step forward in last year's playoffs while proving his durability, which makes award eligibility less of a question mark. His three primary competitors all carry significant red flags. The league's emphasis on offensive off-arm contact will likely hurt the efficiency of both Shai and Luka, and it's highly unlikely that Jokić and the Nuggets will threaten the top of the Western Conference standings this season. In my opinion, that should create a meaningful gap between Wemby and the field.

Noah Rubin, NBC Sports fantasy basketball writer:

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

There are probably five players that have a strong chance to win MVP, and there are a few others that are talented enough to win the award if they have a breakout year and enough team success. To me, it probably comes down to Wemby and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, since I don't believe the Nuggets, Lakers or Heat will have enough success as a team to take any of their stars over Wemby or SGA. Factoring in that I don't want my preseason prediction to be taking the guy that won the last two MVPs (even if he'll have a strong case) and some voter fatigue, I'm landing on Wemby.

He's already the best defender in the league at 22 years old, and he took major strides on the offensive end last season. He adjusted his shot diet to prioritize getting buckets down low, though he's still incredible from beyond the arc at his height. It wouldn't be shocking to see him take another leap forward, but team success is going to be what really puts him in this conversation. The Spurs finished just two games behind the Thunder last season. If the records are similar again, and Wemby continues to get better (as most 22 year olds do), he'll have a strong case to take home his first MVP.

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Down 2-0 to Rays in ALDS, Yankees face prospect of 17th season without World Series title

NEW YORK — Max Fried’s words were as sharp as the break on some of his pitches.

“It’s important to have a little bit of pride and to be able to say: `That’s not us and we’re going to prove it,’” the New York Yankees pitcher said.

After making four errors in a dismal Game 2 defeat, New York’s players and staff arrived home in a 2-0 AL Division Series deficit for the second straight year, this time against the Tampa Bay Rays. The best-of-five matchup resumes in the Bronx with Fried starting for the Yankees and Nick Martinez for the Rays.

With one more loss to Tampa Bay, the World Series title drought for Major League Baseball’s winningest team would extend to a 17th season — matching the most since Babe Ruth led New York to its first championship in 1923. New York hasn’t advanced past a higher-seeded team in a postseason series since 2020.

“This group has done a really good job all year of bouncing back through a tough game, through some tough moments in the season and handled it all very well. So that’s my expectation this time. It has to be,” said manager Aaron Boone, who spoke with players individually rather than give a rah-rah speech.

Tampa Bay could party at Yankee Stadium for the second time in two weeks, after clinching the AL East on Sept 22.

Seeking their first World Series title, the Rays are nearing an American League Championship Series against the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland. They haven’t advanced that far since 2020, when they lost in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Martinez used to sit in the Yankee Stadium bleachers when he played college ball from 2009-11 at Fordham University, located about 5 miles away.

“I imagine it’s going to be an electric crowd with their season on the line,” he said.

Teams taking 2-0 leads in best-of-five postseason series have won 83 of 93 times, according to MLB. The last comeback from an 0-2 deficit was the 2017 Yankees against Cleveland.

“There’s no taking games off,” Rays outfielder Jonny DeLuca said. “Obviously taking the first two has put us in a really good spot, but it’s still the same mindset going forward.”

Errors in postseason becoming new Yankees tradition

Third baseman Ryan McMahon, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., shortstop George Lombard Jr. and catcher Austin Wells all made errors in Game 3 that led to three unearned runs in New York’s 5-2 loss.

In addition, Lombard didn’t field Chandler Simpson’s two-hopper and right fielder Spencer Jones allowed Jonathan Aranda’s liner — a ball with 65% hit probability — to fall starting the fifth, which sparked a four-run inning.

“It was just one of those things that it all kind of happened back-to-back-to back,” Lombard said.

Throwing errors by McMahon and Chisholm in the first along with a catcher’s interference call against Wells gave the Yankees their first three-error postseason inning.

“It didn’t seem like we really showed up today,” pitcher Cam Schlittler said.

Two years ago, the Yankees had two errors and a mental lapse that led to five unearned runs in a season-ending Game 5 World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tampa Bay put 31 balls in play, two shy of the high for any team in a postseason game this year. The Rays were just behind Milwaukee for the top regular-season team batting average, .2585 to .2581, and led the American League in on-base percentage.

Simpson is 12th in sprint speed and DeLuca 16th among players with at least 150 competitive runs this year, according to MLB Statcast.

“Just very contact-oriented,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Just the speed getting down the line, the urgency it forces on the infielders, really good infielders — it forces them to get out of their comfort zone and make a highlight-reel play. Those are tough to make.”

Yankees’ vanishing offense

New York’s players in the third through seventh spots of the batting order went 0 for 33 with 11 strikeouts in the first two games: Luis García Jr., Jones, Lombard, Chisholm and Trent Grisham.

Aaron Judge’s absence has been glaring.

New York was fourth in runs, 13th in batting average and second in OPS through May 31, its last game before the three-time AL MVP went on the injured list due to a fractured rib.

From June 1 through the end of the season, the Yankees were 24th in runs, 29th in batting average and 27th in OPS. Judge returned for seven games from Sept. 8-16, hitting .174 with three RBIs before a calf strain.

“I’m considering a couple things but haven’t settled on anything,” Boone said of possible lineup changes.

Fried has baby on the way

Fried’s longtime girlfriend, Reni Meyer-Whalley, is due to give birth any day.

“I’ve got a really supportive family that understands that this is my job, and it’s not going to affect what happens tomorrow,” he said.

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Lakers coach rips players for ‘unacceptable’ behavior with rarely seen decision

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to Bronny James during a game against the Golden State Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — It’s unusual for an NBA coach to willingly use their first timeout in the opening minute of a game.

But that’s exactly what Lakers coach JJ Redick did during his short-handed team’s 124-98 blowout loss to the Warriors on Tuesday night at Chase Center after an “insane” start to the game, as Redick put it.

It didn’t take long for Lakers head coach JJ Redick to call his first timeout. Getty Images

Even within the context of the Lakers being without a significant part of the roster that’s expected to be in their rotation come Opening Night against the Warriors in two weeks. 

The Lakers started Tuesday’s against the Warriors with an offensive possession that nearly used up the entire 24-second shot clock before Sandro Mamukelashvili drove into the paint and turned the ball over, sparking a Warriors fastbreak that ended with Brandin Podziemski knocking down a 3-pointer off a second-chance opportunity.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick wanted to hold his short-handed team accountable to their standards. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

By the Lakers’ next possession, Redick had already seen enough. 

After just a couple of passes after his team got the ball back, the Lakers coach got up from his seat on the team’s bence to signal for a timeout 52 seconds into the game. 

“When you draw up a first play, and then give them a second play that is a play we’ve scripted for ten days, or whatever it’s been, and they don’t run either correctly, that’s unacceptable,” Redick said. “You’re not ready to play. That got us off to a poor start.”

The Lakers’ poor start spiraled into a bad first half. 

The Warriors jumped out a 45-31 lead at the end of the opening quarter, and led 81-53 entering halftime.

“The way we started that game was insane,” Redick said. “I don’t know the reasons why, because this group has been awesome for the two months I’ve been around them. The first half was unacceptable.”

JJ Redick thought the Lakers had an “insane” start to the loss to the Warriors. Getty Images

Redick made sure his players knew his feeling during halftime. 

“I feel like being out there already, we kind of already know that we had to get in under control,” Adou Thiero said. “So coming in and being able to talk about it at halftime, JJ came in and he just let us know straight forward what it was.”

The Lakers’ early struggles against the Warriors happened while Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Collin Sexton were all on the bench in street clothes. 

“I told them at halftime: I’ve had a handful of these games as a coach where you’re missing star players and a lot of your depth – and I still expect to win,” Redick said. “I expect us to play to our standards, and that first half did not meet my expectations; and I let them know that. Austin and I joked because I’ve gone in there before and said ‘I’m not going to raise my voice’, and by the end of it I’m yelling. I regulated, but you can still hold them accountable, and I do think they responded.”

The Lakers outscored the Warriors 45-43 during the second half, but the damage was already done from the dreadful start.

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Designer behind Kobe Bryant's iconic title jacket still shapes NBA fashion

LOS ANGELES — Jeff Hamilton has become a household name for his luxurious leather jackets. He has been a part of sports history by crafting several iconic pieces, including the jacket that Kobe Bryant wore in the locker room after winning the 2001 NBA Finals. In his booth at the 10th anniversary of ComplexCon on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the designer displayed a sparkly jacket paying tribute to that moment.

Hamilton discussed how being a part of the inaugural ComplexCon in 2016 helped boost his confidence after a stint away from his work.

"When I came to the first ComplexCon in Long Beach and first and second and third, I really got really inspired," he reflected in a conversation with USA TODAY Sports while wearing a colorful jacket from his collaboration with Supreme. "It had a lot to do with me to come back out of retirement. Because I really, that's the first time that I saw where you're in direct contact with the actual culture makers and the shape makers and the public and that resonated.

"And when I walked through the aisles, people knew who I was and it was very flattering. Not from an ego standpoint, to know that I had over the years created some kind of impact that whatever I did for me, because I was passionate, not from a business standpoint, resonated with the ultimate fan."

Jeff Hamilton has been a part of several sports history moments with his luxurious leather jackets. He had a booth at the 10th anniversary of ComplexCon where he reflected on coming out of retirement.

Hamilton also shared some insight into the current state of athlete fashion, pointing out LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jordan Clarkson as sartorial leaders.

"All the guys dress very well," he said. "… At this stage, they have stylists and they have great taste, but also they have unlimited budgets."

While he declined to pick a favorite fashionable athlete, Hamilton's choice for favorite designer was easy.

"My GOAT is Ralph Lauren," he said. "That I can answer unequivocally because those are the things that I still look up to that I admire that he's able to have for a lifetime."

Jeff Hamilton's booth at ComplexCon celebrated his history in sports, including a sparkly jacket in the left wall paying tribute to his work with Kobe Bryant.

Hamilton currently has partnerships with Formula 1, Jordan Brand, Yohji Yamamoto and more. He is continuing his own winning legacy and designed the jacket that Karl-Anthony Towns wore in the New York Knicks championship parade. He said he is styling two players for the NBA's opening night, Jaylon Brown and Towns' teammate Miles McBride, and he also has a jacket for Knicks president Leon Rose in the works.

"We have a lot of dishes to be served pretty soon," he promised.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Designer behind Kobe Bryant's iconic title jacket still shapes NBA fashion

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Nets' Egor Demin ready to 'make a humongous jump' after strong summer: 'I’m even better right now'

In the shadows of their crosstown rival Knicks, the Nets are looking to improve on their 20-win season last year.

One of the main pieces in their rebuild is 2025 No. 8 overall pick Egor Dëmin, who showed promising flashes during his rookie year and even more signs of growth during the Summer League.

Dëmin picked up where he left off in Las Vegas on Tuesday night during Brooklyn's first preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets (124-90 win), scoring six points (2-for-3 from three) with five assists in a limited 18 minutes of action. After the win, Dëmin expressed confidence in his development and believes he's ready to take the next step in his career.

"Yeah, my goal is to translate not just a part of what I did in Summer League, but even more, right?" Dëmin told the New York Post's Brian Lewis. "Obviously I had some more time after Summer League, and I kept working on that stuff. And I think I’m even better right now than I was in Summer League."

The BYU product averaged 21.0 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in three Summer League games and 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the California Classic (two games). By comparison, Dëmin averaged just 10.3 points across 52 games during his rookie season.

Head coach Jordi Fernández said he liked what he saw from the 20-year-old on Tuesday night, noting his improved strength and comfortability on the court.

"Yeah, you see him with five assists in the first group; so he leads that group in assists, which is great," Fernández said. "Egor was good. I want him aggressive to shoot or to touch the paint, and he’s done it the whole summer. He’s worked at it, he’s stronger, and now he’s very comfortable getting there. So, it’s great. He’s got to keep doing it, got to keep finding his teammates or getting good shots."

Teammate Michael Porter Jr. added after the preseason win that he believes Dëmin can "make a humungous jump" in his sophomore season.

"I’m excited to play with Egor," Porter said. "He’s a phenomenal shooter and scorer, but also a great passer. So he can do a lot of things on the court, rebound, push the break, shoot the ball. And now that he’s getting in the paint and finishing around the rim, he’ll make a humongous jump."

When asked about his goals for the 2026-27 season, Dëmin is focused on winning.

"To win as many games as possible," Dëmin said. "Our process is oriented now on getting there each day, at least a little bit, but getting there, no matter whether it’s a game day, practice day, or an update."

Brooklyn gets its first chance at that goal when the team opens the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 21 against the Hornets.

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Where Phillies managerial search is headed after getting spurned by Alex Cora

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi at a press conference, Image 2 shows Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is seen during wild card practice at Yankee Stadium before a Wild Card game against the New York Yankees in the Bronx, New York, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, Image 3 shows Philadelphia Phillies manager Don Mattingly wearing a red cap and hoodie
Dave Dombrowski; Alex Cora; Don Mattingly

“Thanks, but no thanks” isn’t the answer the Phillies expected from fired Red Sox manager Alex Cora. 

With the Phillies scrambling to figure out who their next manager will be, general manager Dave Dombrowski must now pull together a short list of candidates to lead the franchise. 

The obvious top candidate is Don Mattingly, who led the Phillies to a playoff berth and a strong 79-55 record despite taking over a team that was 9-19. The Post’s Jon Heyman reported the club could keep their interim manager for 2027 after initially appearing like that would not be the case.

“I think I would like to do it,” Mattingly said during the summer as the Phillies were piling up wins and competing for first place. 

Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations for the Philadelphia Phillies, has a big decision to make. Getty Images

So we know Mattingly will likely take it if Dombrowski offers him the gig, but whether that happens is another question entirely. 

“I think Alex Cora is one of the finest managers in the game of baseball,” Dombrowski told reporters in April. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Hall of Fame managers like Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland. … If Alex Cora decides he’s managing, he has a chance to be in that same category. That’s how good he is.”

Mattingly was Dombrowksi’s second choice in Philadelphia in April, though, and he may be that again, though outside options are rather thin.

Don Mattingly has said that he wants to remain the Phillies manager. Mike Zarrilli/UPI/Shutterstock

Other potential hires could include Rocco Baldelli, Brad Ausmus and David Ross.

There’s no obvious link between Baldelli and Dombrowski, but he’s arguably the most credentialed of managers available. Baldelli is the third-winningest manager in Twins history, going 527-505 (.511), and won Manager of the Year in his first year after he went 101-61 in 2019.  

Dombrowski could also look at Ausmus — the Yankees’ bench coach since 2024 — who has a close relationship with Dombrowski dating back to Detroit in 2013.

Former Red Sox manager Alex Cora is seen during wild card practice at Yankee Stadium before a Wild Card game against the New York Yankees in the Bronx, New York, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

Ausmus won 90 games in his first year with the Tigers before things cratered.

It was previously reported that Mattingly would be “gracefully dismissed” by the Phillies if they could hire Cora, though it now appears that Donnie Baseball might have a chance to stick around with the team longer than anticipated.

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NHL insider gives latest update on Bruins' extension talks with Zacha

NHL insider gives latest update on Bruins' extension talks with Zacha originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins will eventually have to make a decision on Pavel Zacha’s future with the franchise.

The veteran center is in the final year of his contract and eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has publicly expressed a desire to get an extension done with Zacha, but nothing has materialized to this point.

How close are the two sides to making a deal? The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday an update on the situation.

“As far as I can tell, though, the Bruins haven’t been close in talks with his camp over the past three months on what an extension should look like,” LeBrun wrote. “I think they had some sticker shock in June when they heard what the player might be looking for. But as the summer has gone on and salaries skyrocketed around the league, I bet that number doesn’t seem as high.

“The sides have kept the dialogue going, which is good. So there’s still a chance the Bruins eventually extend Zacha. But in the meantime, teams are naturally calling about him. So few centers ever become available.”

Zacha tallied career highs of 30 goals and 65 points last season. He has yet to tally a single point through four games this season, but assuming his production doesn’t take a nosedive, he should have plenty of value around the league if the Bruins get to a point where a trade makes the most sense.

Pavel ZachaDavid Kirouac-Imagn Images
Pavel Zacha is in the final year of his current contract.

There are pros and cons to re-signing Zacha.

The Bruins need his offense. They don’t have a ton of quality goal scorers, and he’s a good bet to score 20-plus times each season if healthy. The Bruins also aren’t super deep at center. Elias Lindholm has been a massive disappointment since signing in free agency back in the summer of 2024. Fraser Minten has a lot of potential, but he’s not a traditional top-six center at this stage of his career. James Hagens could be a top-six center in a few years, but he’s still a rookie with fewer than 10 games of NHL experience.

Zacha will be 30 when his next contract begins. Giving a long-term deal and/or more than $10 million per season to a player 30-plus years old carries plenty of risk. LeBrun also noted, “I think the Bruins are worried about a long-term commitment and how it will age — perhaps sensitive to living with the Elias Lindholm contract already.”

If the Bruins haven’t worked out an extension by the time the March 1 trade deadline rolls around, and they’re not close to a playoff spot, then a trade would make the most sense. The real dilemma would be if the Bruins are in a playoff spot, or close to one, at the trade deadline and there’s no extension.

The Bruins cannot afford to let Zacha walk for nothing. Extend him or trade him. Those are the only options that make sense for the team.

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Red Wings Assistant GM Among 20-Plus Scouts Watching Wild As Danila Yurov Scores

There were plenty of eyes on the Minnesota Wild Tuesday night in Buffalo.

More than 20 scouts and NHL personnel were listed in the press box for the Wild's 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.

Among the names in attendance was one that should catch the attention of Wild fans: Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager Kris Draper.

Considering everything that surrounded Dylan Larkin and the Wild this offseason, Draper's presence is at least noteworthy.

Larkin requested a trade from Detroit following last season, something then-Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman publicly confirmed in June. Larkin, who owns a full no-trade clause, provided Detroit with a short list of teams he would be willing to join, with Minnesota reportedly among his preferred destinations.

The Wild and Red Wings were subsequently linked in trade discussions throughout the offseason, but nothing ultimately materialized.

That makes Draper's presence in Buffalo interesting and particularly interesting on a night when Danila Yurov scored his first goal of the season.

Yurov has been one of the young Wild players whose name has surfaced in speculation surrounding what Minnesota could potentially offer Detroit in a deal for Larkin.

The 22-year-old center is one of Minnesota's most valuable young assets and would make sense as a player Detroit would have interest in if trade conversations were ever revived.

With Draper watching from the press box Tuesday, Yurov gave him a pretty good look.

The former first-round pick opened the scoring at 13:53 of the second period on the power play. Jared Spurgeon found Yurov in the right circle, where he ripped a one-timer past Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis for his first goal of the season.

"I think Yurov and Shabanov are two guys that we need to step up and play well for us," Wild coach John Hynes said after the game. "I think they have."

Yurov finished the night with the goal, two shots and 14:21 of ice time. Minnesota eventually built a 2-0 lead before Buffalo scored twice in the third period and won 3-2 in overtime on Owen Power's goal with 37.4 seconds remaining.

Draper's attendance certainly doesn't mean the Red Wings were specifically scouting Yurov, nor does it mean trade talks between Minnesota and Detroit have restarted.

NHL teams routinely have scouts and executives attend games throughout the league, and Detroit was just one of many organizations represented Tuesday.

Larkin's trade request has not simply disappeared. He reported to Red Wings training camp in September, but said conversations about his future would continue once Detroit's new leadership was in place. He has five years remaining on his contract at an $8.7 million cap hit.

Minnesota was also reportedly one of the destinations Larkin was willing to waive his no-trade clause to join.

So when a high-ranking Red Wings executive shows up to a Wild game, and one of Minnesota's most intriguing young trade assets happens to score, it's difficult not to take notice.

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Dodgers fan’s brutal response when entire stadium demanded he hand foul ball to young Braves fan

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A child wearing an Atlanta Braves jersey who was trying to receive a ball from a Los Angeles Dodgers fan at the NLDS. (TikTok/@the_hammyshow), Image 2 shows A Los Angeles Dodgers fan refusing to give a ball he caught at the NLDS to a little kid. (TikTok/@the_hammyshow)

Game 3 NLDS Bragging rights wasn’t all that the Los Angeles Dodgers took from the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.

A Dodgers fan wearing a Yoshinobu Yamamoto jersey caught a foul ball during Tuesday night’s game. A spectator seated nearby was taking a video of his excited reaction then said, “Give it to the kid! Give it to the kid!”

The fan then looked at the camera, shrugged, and said, “I’m sorry, I can’t! I’m not giving it to the kid! I feel bad, but I’m not giving it to the kid!”

A Los Angeles Dodgers fan refusing to give a ball he caught at the NLDS to a little kid. (TikTok/@the_hammyshow).
A child wearing an Atlanta Braves jersey who was trying to receive a ball from a Los Angeles Dodgers fan at the NLDS. (TikTok/@the_hammyshow).

The video then panned to the kid in question, who was wearing a Braves jersey and had a disappointed look on his face.

The camera then panned back to the Dodgers fan, who was gloating over his ball then posed for a photo with it.

The video has gone viral, with one X user who reposted it getting over 2.6 million views on about 12 hours. The original TikTok video also has nearly a million views.

It has sparked a debate about whether adult fans are obliged to give little kids balls that they catch at baseball games. Some believe an adult fan who caught a ball fair and square should not be shamed if they want to keep it, while others feel like an adult fan should be entitled to give their catch away to a fan.

This Dodgers fan was clearly in the former group.

Fans, from left, Ethan Cho, Victor Rivas and Charlie Kahanlarian gather before Game 1 of the NLDS, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post
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Padres pitchers step up after star closer Mason Miller goes on paternity list before Game 3 of NLDS

SAN DIEGO — Mason Miller probably will want to come up with something a little better than cigars for his San Diego Padres teammates when he returns to the club as a first-time father.

Not only did the Padres cover splendidly for their top reliever in their gritty playoff victory in Game 3, they kept San Diego’s season going likely long enough for Miller to pitch again.

The Padres announced their All-Star closer was on the paternity list and would miss Game 3 of the NL Division Series only about 45 minutes before they faced the Milwaukee Brewers with their season on the line. San Diego did not announce that setup man Adrian Morejon also was unavailable because of discomfort in his shoulder.

The Padres had to face the MLB-best Brewers without the top two relievers in their vaunted bullpen — but that didn’t deter a team that fought through a midseason malaise and streaked into the postseason with a sensational September.

“It was a chance for the other guys to pick those two up,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “We relied on them and got a lot of wins because they pitched so well this season. All the other guys stepped up and did their job today.”

After starter Nick Pivetta faltered in the fifth, three relievers fought to get eight outs against the Brewers’ relentless lineup before Game 2 starter Michael King took care of the final two innings in a 4-3 victory for his first save since 2023.

After the Padres survived this desperate day, pitching coach Ruben Niebla said they expect Miller to return to the team for Game 4. King said Morejon also could be available.

San Diego’s bullpen was taxed in Game 3 but held on thanks to King, who stepped up on one day of rest and delivered. He yielded a base hit in the eighth and then two walks in the ninth before Christian Yelich smacked a 107 mph line drive up the middle. But veteran shortstop Xander Bogaerts stopped it on a short hop and turned a game-ending double play, finishing King’s emergency outing at 40 pitches.

“I know that I have bullets in my arm that I don’t want to save,” King said. “I felt like it needed to be the right time. I think that it all aligned with Mason going on paternity. Even if he was available, I was still going to be up and ready to go in whatever situation that presented itself. If you’re in an elimination game, you want everybody to be all in on it, and I feel like not just me included, we have a bunch of dogs down there that are all in.”

King pitched seven innings a week ago against the Chicago Cubs and five more on Sunday against the Brewers, throwing 169 total pitches. But he was ready for more immediately after leaving the mound in Milwaukee.

“He said it as soon as he came out of the game the other day: ‘I’m going to be ready for Game 3 and 4,’” Padres slugger Manny Machado said. “I kind of told him, ‘Why? Get ready for Game 5.’ But he wanted the ball, man. He definitely showed up today for us and closed it out. It wasn’t easy. They’re a hard ballclub over there. They didn’t make it easy for us.”

Miller was one of the best closers in the majors this season. With a fastball that regularly touches 104 mph, he converted 38 of his 41 save opportunities and went 5-2 with a 0.90 WHIP and 129 strikeouts over 70 innings.

But the right-hander also blew a save in the ninth inning of the Padres’ 4-3 loss in Milwaukee, putting San Diego in an 0-2 hole in the best-of-five series. While attempting to finish a two-inning save, Miller issued three walks before Jackson Chourio delivered a two-out, two-strike, two-run single to win it on Miller’s 40th pitch.