It was a historic night at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, as Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna scored his first NHL point and goal against the Nashville Predators.
The crowd completely erupted when his name was called on the PA for both goals that he contributed to and, of course, when his goal itself was scored.
"Definitely feeling the love from the fans," McKenna said after Toronto's 5-4 overtime win against Nashville. "That one obviously feels good, and (I) love this fan base. So to hear that, it was pretty special."
The fans were happy, but McKenna's teammates and coaches were thrilled for the 18-year-old, in a moment he called "a big monkey off the back," even if this was only his fourth NHL game.
Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who had the primary assist on McKenna's goal, was asked about the moment, and his face lit up.
"It was great," Matthews said. "I mean, he's been playing great, and it can be tough when you don't score for a little bit. But, I mean, you saw he made a nice play in the D zone there. Johnny goes down and scores. And, I think it just kind of gives you a little boost. He scores the goal and gives you another little boost. He's got all the confidence in the world in himself in the best way possible. But, obviously, when you find the back of the net, it obviously helps. And it was great to see him and get that moment, and enjoy that. It's very well deserved."
Auston Matthews on Gavin McKenna: “I think you’re going to see him go on a tear now with the weight lifted off his shoulders.”
Also, for someone who has made a living of catch-and-release finishes, Matthews was impressed with McKenna's shot, labelling it as "beautiful."
"That was awesome," William Nylander said of his goal. "I mean, I was so happy for him. That moment is just something you never forget. It was a bullet, top shelf, so I'd be very happy for that one."
Also impressed with the goal was Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller."That goal was a goal-scorer's goal," he said post-game. "We know he's a playmaker, I guess. That's kind of by trade, he's a playmaker. But that was a goal-scorer's goal. Got his feet around it on the strong side, and he had some zip on it."
What Hiller liked most about McKenna's first NHL goal was how important it was for the team, and how he came through in a big moment. The rookie's goal brought the Leafs within one goal of the Preds, making it 4-3 for Nashville.
"It was a big goal in the hockey game," Hiller said. "So that's the one you remember. It was really important. It wasn't the first goal of the game. It was an important moment, and he came up big in an important moment. So I like that."
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3: Kelly Olynyk #8 of the San Antonio Spurs arrives to the arena before the game against the New York Knicks during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After one season with the San Antonio Spurs, big man Kelly Olynyk is heading to Italy. He joins BC Roma, a club recently founded by Donnie Nelson. Nelson spent twenty-four years with the Dallas Mavericks starting in 1998 when he served as an assistant coach to his father, Hall of Famer Don Nelson. The junior Nelson was essential to the drafting of Dirk Nowitzki and was with the franchise as an executive when they won their 2011 NBA Championship. He also was key in the acquisition of Luka Doncic and drafting Jalen Brunson in 2018, widely considered one of the best draft moves in the modern era. Luka Doncic is also involved in the development of the BC Roma franchise.
Olynyk stayed close to the Spurs this summer traveling to Europe with members to visit Victor Wembanyama in France. He was seen in photos with the Spurs sightseeing and taking in art at the Louvre.
Olynyk joins former NBA and G-League players Nico Mannion, Trentyn Flowers, Erik Stevenson, and Marko Simonović on the fledgling team. The club will compete in the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) as well as in the EuroCup.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: Jesper Bratt #63 of the New Jersey Devils controls the puck during the first period against the Utah Mammoth at Prudential Center on October 06, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Not exactly a roaring start to the season. The Mammoth went 2-for-4 on the power play and took a 5-3 game over the Devils on Tuesday. [Devils NHL]
Marty talks:
Martin Brodeur and his son Jeremy join me for a wide-ranging conversation about the Devils’ goalies, the evolution of the position, carrying the Brodeur name and passing a legendary legacy to the next generation.
“Rutt’s Hut’s debut at Prudential Center was a hit with New Jersey Devils fans. A team source told NJ Hockey Now that the iconic Clifton, New Jersey hot dog stand — located in Section 15 — sold more than 1,200 ‘Ripper’ dogs during the Devils’ home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
“There are very few people who truly understand what it has meant to grow up as a New Jersey Devil. Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt have never had to explain it to one another. They were there for each other at the beginning, two teenagers trying to find their place in a new league, a new city and a life that suddenly looked very different from the one they had known. And they’ve been there for virtually everything since.” [Devils NHL]
“The beginning of this conversation about no-move and no-trade clauses, we do take as an attack on players’ CBA-negotiated rights. And we will treat it as such.” [The Athletic ($)]
“The past few seasons were difficult for Elias Pettersson, but these first few outings may suggest that the 27-year-old center has found his spark again. What has led to his strong start?” [The Hockey News]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
CLEARWATER, MEXICO - MARCH 14: Aidan Miller #21 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws to first during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
See what happens when teams take a patient approach to Chris Sale? Maybe the Phillies should have taken a lesson or two from teams that actually had success.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 01: Mr. Splash greets fans at the Youth Sports Day on June 1, 2025 at Orioles Park at Camden Yards. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
Yesterday was just the latest in a recent run of bad days for the Baltimore Orioles. Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner reported on Tuesday afternoon that the organization was laying off a significant number of business operations staff. He quoted one source calling it a “bloodbath” and relaying that the number of employees let go was at least in the teens.
Kostka explained on social media that they layoffs included members in business operations, brand, content, and game presentation. And according to an internal statement from Catie Griggs, the team’s President of Business Operations, that Kostka obtained for the story, the layoffs include several people with more than a decade of service to the organization.
It gets worse, as Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic provided additional details. She confirmed that the firings were actually 24 or more in total, including Mr. Splash and the person that portrays The Oriole Bird mascot, as well as the team photographer, people in ticket sales, graphic design, and food and beverage, among others.
What no one knows for sure at this point is why the Orioles made these layoffs. Attendance at Camden Yards this past season was slightly up, though modestly. The team tends to do quite well with local TV ratings, and 2026 was their first full season with an option to stream MASN locally.
There is an ongoing CBA negotiation that threatens to delay, shorten, or even cancel the 2027 season, which could factor in here. But if that were the reason, then something like a furlough would make more sense than a full on layoff, and an announcement on that would probably come closer to the actual season.
What feels like more of a possibility is that the Orioles are reallocating their resources elsewhere in the organization. Specifically, they plan to focus on the baseball front office. Mike Elias said near the end of the season that the team’s current baseball operations staff is “on the smaller side” and that he “would like to explore outside help and outside talent.” in order to “enhance the department, get bigger, get better.”
I can buy that the Orioles front office is relatively small and could use more help. What’s tougher for me to square is the reality that the on-field product was much better just a couple of years ago with this smaller staff, and that the answer to 2.5 years of disappointment is to double down on the leadership that got us to this point while another department gets gutted.
Again, that is not a confirmation of what is being done and why. But it is a logical connection of dots. More on the topic is sure to come out as either Griggs or someone else is willing to talk about it with reporters.
This, that and the other | Roch Kubatko Roch has some notes on the potential changes coming to the front office, specifically how the team thinks about analytics.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Yusniel Dìaz turns 30 today. The outfielder was the centerpiece of the trade package that sent Manny Machado to the Dodgers back in 2018. Upon joining the Orioles organization, he almost immediately started to struggle, and would end up playing in just one game for the big league squad, which came in 2022.
Alex Cobb is 39 years old. Signed to be a difference-maker in the rotation ahead of the 2018 season, Cobb was instead a big disappointment, then spent most of 2019 on the IL, before salvaging his stint a bit in 2020. The Orioles eventually traded him to the Angels for prospect Jahmai Jones.
John O’Donoghue turns 87. He spent nearly a decade in Major League Baseball, including the 1968 season in Baltimore, where he had a 6.14 ERA over 22 total innings.
The late Grady Hatton (b. 1922, d. 2013) was born on this day. His time in Baltimore came near the end of his 12-season big league career. In 1956 he played in 27 games for the O’s, providing solid defense at second and third base.
This day in O’s history
2012 – The Yankees takes Game 1 of the ALDS, beating the Orioles 7-2 in Baltimore thanks to a five-run ninth inning that sees O’s closer Jim Johnson get knocked around quite a bit. CC Sabathia tosses 8.2 innings to notch the win.
2023 – The Orioles play from behind all day long against the Rangers in Game 1 of the ALDS, eventually falling 3-2 in the series opener.
1952 – In Game 7 of the World Series, second baseman Billy Martin makes a dramatic running catch on a high infield pop with the bases loaded as the New York Yankees win their fourth consecutive World Championship by downing the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-2.
1995 – Edgar Martinez of the Seattle Mariners hits a tie-breaking grand slam in the eighth inning and drives in seven runs – the most ever in a postseason game to date – leading the Mariners past the New York Yankees, 11-8, and sending the ALDS to a decisive Game 5.
2011 – The Cardinals cause a huge upset by shutting out the Phillies, 1-0, in Game 5 of the NLDS. Chris Carpenter is the hero, tossing a three-hit complete game on the road and besting Phillies ace Roy Halladay. The Cards score the game’s only run in the 1st inning when Rafael Furcal leads off the game with a triple and Skip Schumaker follows with a double.
2017 – In Game 2 of the NLDS, Chicago has a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth, thanks to a solo homer by Willson Contreras and a two-run shot by Anthony Rizzo, both off Gio Gonzalez, but Washington explodes for five runs against Carl Edwards and Mike Montgomery to take a 6-3 win and even the series at one apiece.
1973 – Scotsman Jackie Stewart wins his third Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship despite withdrawing from the season-ending US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen; wins the title by 16 points from Emerson Fittipaldi.
1984 – Walter Payton passes Jim Brown as the NFL’s career rushing leader.
2008 – Music, podcast, and video streaming service Spotify is launched by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon.
2018 – Jodie Whittaker debuts in her first full episode as the 13th and first female Doctor Who on BBC television.
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 28: Peyton Watson #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Peyton Watson isn’t the first player that the Cleveland Cavaliers have tried to use to fill this gap.
A long list of names, from Cedi Osman and Isaac Okoro — to Dean Wade and De’Andre Hunter. This team has searched for a starting-caliber wing throughout the decade. And while Max Strus fit the build better than anyone, he was perpetually playing out of position on a team that needed size and athleticism in his place.
This is what made Watson the ideal trade target.
Trading Strus wasn’t easy. He was far and away Cleveland’s best option at small forward during this era. But Watson offers a younger, bigger, and more exciting prospect to ring the bell once and for all. If all goes to plan. Cleveland won’t have to search for another wing for a long time.
Let’s get into why that’s the case.
The Glue
The Cavs’ starting lineup features a dynamic that has led to much success.
The backcourt duo of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell makes for one of the best shot-creating backcourts in basketball. Meanwhile, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley form an elite defensive frontcourt.
Connecting those two duos with the perfect small forward has been the issue.
Allow me to oversimplify things:
Dean Wade was a versatile defender. His skills on that end made him a fantastic fit in the starting lineup. But Wade’s lack of offense ultimately made him a liability once the playoffs began. The bridge between the backcourt and frontcourt was flawed.
Max Strus, on the other hand, brought all of the offensive skills you’d want from the fifth starter. He just wasn’t tall or athletic enough to defend opposing wings.
Cleveland needed someone who could combine the skills of Wade and Strus. Someone who was better on offense than Wade, and more equipped to defend wings than Strus.
This is where Watson has a chance to succeed.
Watson has a 6’8” frame and 7’1” wingspan. He packages that length with elite mobility, placing him in the 97th percentile as a perimeter isolation defender last season — and in the 86th percentile as a screen navigator (according to BBall Index).
On paper, Watson has all of the tools needed to replicate Wade’s success in the starting lineup.
As for replacing Strus, this will be more difficult.
Watson doesn’t attempt three-pointers at nearly the same rate — but he did shoot more efficiently than Strus last season. He was automatic from the corners and should provide a valuable kick-out option to either of Cleveland’s guards.
There’s also potential for Watson to build off a career-best season shooting the ball. He could become a more dynamic perimeter threat, and has flashed some on-ball creation and three-level scoring. This makes Watson a fun player to bet on at 24 years old.
Finally, Watson is a vertical athlete who is more of a threat to get downhill and attack in transition. He can finish above the rim and has a wider catch radius for his teammates to find him on cuts. Overall, this should add a new layer to Cleveland’s offense, as they haven’t had anyone who can be shot out of a cannon like this at small forward
Things to Prove
Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson insists that the starting lineup is not solidified. Watson isn’t walking into this without earning it.
What would that take?
Watson is facing pressure to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke. His 41% three-point shooting is an outlier despite consistent growth throughout his career. He needs to sustain that leap, while also showing he can improve on it even further.
The Cavs would also like to see Watson polish the rest of his game. He has raw potential on defense, some of which came to light last season. But it still wasn’t perfect. His overall game needs some fine-tuning. It’s one thing to feel optimistic; it’s another to have blind faith. Watson needs to show that Cleveland was correct in betting on his development.
Other areas that need buffing include his playmaking and finishing. Watson has consistently ranked high in rim frequency but has never finished above the 50th percentile in accuracy. That’s a lot of looks at the basket that aren’t being converted.
(Note: Watson shot 65% at the rim last season, placing him in the 49th percentile. For comparison, Max Strus shot 59%.)
It feels like Watson is at the tip of the iceberg in terms of his potential. Realizing that is the next step, or Cavs fans could be left feeling like they were promised more than they got.
Conclusion
Barring a disastrous performance, Watson will be the fifth starter. Atkinson would have to be a mad genius to believe otherwise.
From there, this will be Watson’s job to lose. His athletic profile makes him a no-brainer to solve Cleveland’s needs. He provides the blend of offense and defense they’ve been searching for.
Watson’s ripe potential makes him someone the Cavs could rely on long-term, possibly even into a second rebuilding era after Mitchell and Harden are gone. It’s hard to look that far ahead, but it’s something to consider. This was part of the calculation in trading for him.
In the meantime, Watson has the opportunity of a lifetime in front of him. He’s joining a team that has been begging for a player like him to arrive. The only thing left is to save the day and become the hero.
EuroLeague basketball owners have rejected a formal offer from the NBA to merge into a single European operation following a meeting in Italy, Barcelona confirmed Wednesday.
The decision not to accept the NBA’s proposal of a single Europe entity was made Tuesday in Cernobbio during a gathering of the EuroLeague’s 13 shareholder clubs. They include Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Olympiakos, Milan, Tony Parker-owned ASVEL in France and two Istanbul-based clubs.
A statement on the EuroLeague’s website said they met to “discuss and align on key strategic decisions regarding the future of their collective property,” without mentioning the NBA.
Barcelona told The Associated Press in an emailed response that a formal merger offer from the NBA had been rejected. In a statement, the club confirmed that Barcelona president Joan Laporta attended the meeting and that club owners “took several decisions regarding the future of the competition.”
“Among those decisions was the rejection of the NBA’s proposal as it currently stands. Should that proposal be amended in the future, the clubs and the EuroLeague will reconsider it,” the statement read.
It’s not clear how each club voted. The EuroLeague declined to comment and pointed to its initial statement.
The NBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 20-team EuroLeague is comprised of 13 shareholder clubs immune from relegation. The rest either qualify through their domestic leagues or through invitation.
The NBA, in partnership with FIBA, is eying a 16-team model.
French sports daily L’Equipe reported that the NBA offered each future member 400 million euros ($448 million).
At Tuesday’s EuroLeague meeting, club owners agreed to move forward with converting the current 10-year licenses into franchises for the shareholder clubs. They also agreed to continue plans to increase the number of franchises.
European ambition
France’s Victor Wembanyama, Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic are among the biggest basketball stars worldwide.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver reaffirmed in January that the league was pressing forward on plans to bring a new league to Europe.
The NBA was targeting October 2027 as a potential launch date, with franchises paying what is expected to be a substantial entry fee. Media reports indicated the NBA was looking for at least a $500 million fee.
Many European basketball teams, including some in the EuroLeague, have struggled financially. The system has often relied on wealthy owners to cover team debts each year.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 5: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during the NBA preseason on October 5, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Joseph Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We missed this on Tuesday, but Cameron Boozer had a successful debut in NBA pre-season play, helping the Memphis Grizzlies to defeat the Atlanta Hawks, 132-123.
Boozer scored 11 points, pulled down five rebounds and passed out four assists in 18 minutes. He also shot 5-9, though he missed his three three-point attempts.
Take the threes out though, and Boozer hit 5-6 from the floor, which is impressive for a rookie in his first game. It’s not that hitting threes is easy, but scoring inside against NBA veterans is no day at the beach either.
Memphis plays Orlando Wednesday night, which could be interesting. Aside from Wendell Carter and Paolo Banchero, the Magic features Franz Wagner and some other bigs who will probably give Boozer a bigger challenge than the Hawks did.
CHENGDU, CHINA - JUNE 27: American professional basketball player Kyrie Irving poses for a photo with young players in a fan meeting during his China tour on June 27, 2026 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China. (Photo by You Fang/VCG via Getty Images) | VCG via Getty Images
Remember last year? When the sunshine pumpers swore up and down that Kyrie Irving would be back on the court for the Dallas Mavericks by the New Year? Well, as it turns out, it was always going to be closer to March, which would have given the 33-year-old at the time the standard full-year recovery window after he tore his left ACL on March 3, 2025, in a game against the Sacramento Kings. But then, much to the compounding chagrin of an already scorned fanbase, when March rolled around, the Mavericks were in such rough shape that it made no sense to risk any sort of re-aggravation of Irving’s knee.
So, 2025-26 was a maddening punt. Irving had no age-33 season at all, and the Mavericks slogged through a 26-56 disaster in Cooper Flagg’s rookie campaign. The team couldn’t even lose enough to net another top-five draft pick for its considerable trouble.
But here we are. We’ve come out the other side, sans Nico Harrison, sans Jason Kidd, sans Anthony Davis — with a young roster surrounding a healthy Irving, now 34, who’s been itching to get back to work. He said during the team’s media day on Sept. 26 that he’s moving, working out and playing with no restriction of movement.
“I’m ready to go out there and kick some butt,” Irving said during his media day press conference, the first time that he has addressed reporters since crumpling to the ground with his latest knee injury. “I know that naysayers or some of the questions around where I’m going to be are going to be inevitable. But for me, I have the confidence of a champion. … This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately type of league, and everybody wants to see it up close. So I’m looking forward to being able to lace up my shoes and being on the court with my teammates and show everybody what I’ve got again. It’s just like riding a bike.”
Each new workout video this offseason has gifted Mavs fans with one more talking point — one more piece of leading testimony toward our own confirmation bias. Because we all — even those of us who try to remain measured in our expectations — want to see Irving torch young whipper-snappers the league over for 25 a night as soon as the clock strikes 7:30 CST on Oct. 21, when the Mavs’ season tips off at the Houston Rockets.
Dusty May gives a Kyrie Irving injury update:
“I have no reference point of seeing him practice before but I can’t imagine that this is a ls close to 100% as he can be. He played well. He was engaged.” pic.twitter.com/zNQETNzb9K
Which brings us to the biggest, most glaring compound question facing Irving as the 2026-27 season looms. Can Old Man River return to form to start the season, and to that end, what kind of minute load will he be in line for in the first game of the season?
There are so many considerations. Irving is all of 34, firmly in the age range where the on-court returns can start to become not only diminishing but rapidly diminishing. Yes, there’s that, but, his body at 34 has also missed a significant portion of wear and tear along the way. Irving has famously missed more than 300 games so far in his career due to injury, rest and personal and/or team protocol reasons. Will that essentially allow him to play younger this year, having most recently Rip van Winkled his way through 2025-26? Or, does the overall body of injury over the course of his career so far make his body older than the average 34-year-old baller’s?
Will first-year head coach Dusty May limit Irving’s minutes in an attempt not to break him? Or will May let go of the reins after what essentially ballooned into a 19-month recovery window after Irving’s ACL tear?
I have a feeling we will know the answers to most of these questions within the first couple of weeks of the season, and those answers will go a long way to feed the next inevitable quandary that comes along with a star player who doesn’t fit the rest of the roster’s timeline. Will Irving be in Dallas past the 2027 NBA Trade Deadline, or will he be moved so the Mavericks can finally lean into the youth movement in earnest?
The market for Irving appears to have remained healthy, even as the season approaches. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that both the Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets could be potential trade destinations for Irving, as recently as Sept. 29.
Best-case scenario
The Kyrie Irving dream season probably includes minimal drop-off from Irving’s production in 2024-25, when he averaged 24.7 points per game on 3-point shooting just north of 40%, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest. If Dallas gets anything close to 23 points on 39% 3-point shooting, four assists and four rebounds per game from Irving this season over 60 games, pinch yourself. You may be in a fever dream.
But a dream season isn’t just about production for Irving on this team. Part of his best-case scenario has to be cohesion with Flagg. Irving did a great job of this while playing with another young stud for his first two-plus years in Dallas. Can Irving’s gravity with the ball in his hands give Flagg a little room to see some open 3-pointers begin to fall in year two? Can his immaculate handle relieve Flagg of the need to always be the on-ball man with the plan? Can Irving impart some of that crunchy brand of NBA wisdom he’s become known for over the last few years?
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 11: Kyrie Irving #11 and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks pose for a picture during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to grow with [Flagg],” Irving said at Mavericks media day. “High-level basketball players, no matter the age — you put us out there, we’re going to win some ballgames.”
“Having somebody like that out there on the court with you at all times is going to be amazing,” Flagg added. “The time that we’ve been able to spend in the summer on the court together has been good for both of us to kind of build that connection. I’m really excited. I think it’s going to be really fun to share the court.”
If he can do most of these things, the Mavs could flirt with 40 wins and a play-in spot. More importantly, if he can do most of these things, he’ll make himself too valuable to lose at the trade deadline for what other teams will want to offer for a player about to turn 35.
Worst-case scenario
The worst of all outcomes would be a re-aggravation of the left knee injury early in the season. The Mavericks were deliberate in hanging onto Irving in the midst of an otherwise straightforward youth movement this offseason. They could have gotten something nice for Irving before the 2026 NBA Draft or even in a draft-day trade this summer.
If the Mavs have another aging albatross hanging around their neck for a second consecutive trade deadline, it could have the effect of further stalling the rebuild around Flagg.
Season goal
The goal is clear this year for Irving. Be a part of something. I’ll stop short of saying “something special.” Ultimately, the overarching team goal this year is geared toward building something that Irving will not have a part in. But that doesn’t mean Irving doesn’t have a meaningful part to play in Dallas this season.
Hope needs to be restored in Dallas. The concept of fun, watchable basketball needs to be restored in Dallas. Even simpler, the Mavs need an effective point guard. Irving can and should play an outsized role in those goals. He can rally the locker room toward a common vision of something north of mediocrity. And if he can do those things for 50 or more games this season, you’d have to consider that a successful year, regardless of play-in or playoff positioning.
Overall
A word of caution. It’s going to be a smoother ride for you this season if you can divorce your excitement for watching Irving’s return to form from your expectations for short-term team postseason results. The Mavericks are likely not a playoff team this year, with or without Irving at the point.
But that’s not going to stop fans from being excited to see him hit the floor once more.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 14: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics and Anthony Gill #16 of the Washington Wizards reach for a loose ball during the second quarter at the TD Garden on April 14, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heading into the 2026-2027 season, the NBA Competition Committee identified four areas of focus: off-arm push offs by offensive players, push-offs from screeners, hand-checking off-ball offensive players, and impeding straight line drives. There should be an increased freedom of movement for offenses coming from those points of emphasis which the Celtics have hinted at throughout training camp and we’ll see tomorrow in Cleveland how that side of the ball looks in action.
Defense might be where we see some differences in how the Celtics play. Mazzulla noted on Monday that over the last couple of years, the team focused on offensive rebounding and backcourt pressure, all things meant to win the possession battle in the margins. He said that the coaching staff won’t really know what’s working and what they can lean into until 10-15 games into the regular season, but considering the additions to the roster, so much is more available to Mazzulla, particularly on defense.
Mitchell Robinson’s offensive rebounding has become his calling card, but those 4.2 extra possessions per game isn’t why Boston signed him to a three-year, $47.4 million deal this summer. As CelticsBlog’s Nik Land points out, the defense is the thing:
Robinson is simply a high-impact defender. When he isn’t blocking shots at the rim, he is deterring attempts altogether, forcing rushed kick-outs, using his size to hold his own in the post and displaying excellent timing as a help defender. His +2.7 Defensive DPM last season ranked in the 99th percentile, while his 23.2% defensive rebound rate allowed him to consistently finish possessions on the glass.
And there’s domino effect on the rest of the defense. Having an anchor like that patrolling the paint means that the perimeter defenders can take a few more liberties — that could mean putting more pressure on ball handlers, taking risks in passing lanes, and switching more.
But there’s that pesky POE promoting freedom of movement. Defenders won’t be able to lock arms with off-ball players like offensive linemen blocking for their running back. Also, if a player has a straight-line drive at the rim, they’ll have to shade them with limited contact and avoid bumping them off their path.
For the most part, those hand checking rules won’t affect the Celtics too much. They were 9th in fouls committed last season and didn’t give up a ton of free throws either (4th at 21.2 trips to the line). Instead, with Robinson in tow (not to mention Neemias Queta), what you might see more of is anticipation and jumping passing lanes.
Enjoy the Celtics’ Instagram story of practice highlights in full, but more specifically 50 seconds in, you’ll see Hugo Gonzalez jump a Paul George pass for an easy transition layup. That’s where Boston could make a big change this season. Last year, they were 25th in deflections (15.2 per game) and naturally 25th in points off turnovers (15.8 per game).
As former CelticsBlogger Jack Simone points out, Robinson averaged 5.5 deflections per 100 possessions, ranking him in the 96th percentile. Adding the rangy George to a wings group with Jayson Tatum (6’11 wingspan), Jordan Walsh (7’3), Ron Harper Jr. (7’1), and Gonzalez (6’11) gives the Celtics enough length to cover sideline to sideline.
Boston’s fourth ranked defense last year did not rely on steals (28th) or generating turnovers (29th). Instead, they bent and didn’t break, keeping teams out of the restricted area and around the rim, and forcing them to shoot mid-range and long-2s. All those principles should still stay mostly intact, but for the margin-obsessed Mazzulla, squeezing a few more points out of their transition game by turning defense into easy offense might be an internal point of emphasis for the Celtics.
Following Monday’s announcement that this would be Alex Ovechkin’s final NHL season, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals fans likely peeked at the schedule to see how many more times the two generation-defining rivals would face off. Luckily for us, tonight is the first of four final regular season matchups between Ovechkin and Crosby. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. in the nation’s capital. [NHL]
With that introduction out of the way…
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…
The Penguins made some changes to their forward lines at Tuesday’s practice following Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, with Hendrix Lapierre moving up to Sidney Crosby’s line and Nick Robertson dropping to the fourth line. [PensBurgh]
Forward Bryan Rust appears close to returning from an upper-body injury after participating fully in Tuesday’s practice in a regular-contact jersey. Rust, who has missed Pittsburgh’s first three games, skated on a line with Ben Kindel and Ville Koivunen. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
The NHL has ended its “Hot for Hockey” marketing campaign less than a week after launching the series of short, romance novel-style audio stories featuring real NHL players. The league said the campaign was intended as a one-week promotion tied to the start of the season, and the seven episodes released on Spotify have since been removed, with no new installments planned. [CBC]
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov made his first NHL start in nearly two years Tuesday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The 38-year-old returned after undergoing partial replacements on both knees and last played Nov. 29, 2024, before missing the following season. [NHL]
Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NHL draft, scored his first career goal on Tuesday night, getting one past Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros in the second period of his fourth professional game. [TSN]
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is set to miss six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury. Barkov, who missed all of last season because of a right knee injury, was hurt in his second game back and will not require surgery. [The Associated Press via Sportsnet]
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: George Lombard Jr. #96 of the New York Yankees looks on from the on deck circle 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
The first two games of the American League Division Series were an utter disaster for the Yankees, from nearly getting no-hit to idiotic baserunning decisions and heinous errors in the field. They very much deserve their 0-2 hole. They ran it back with the 2025 team, and perhaps it’s fitting that they would also stare down a possible ALDS sweep against the surprising rival that beat them out for the division title. Those Yanks managed to force a Game 4 thanks to some Aaron Judge heroics before meeting their ultimate fate. Can’t get a shot at a you-never-know Game 5 without winning Game 3, right? Look, I’m not terribly optimistic, but let’s see if we can’t get some Masahiro Tanaka/Greg Bird-esque Game 3 magic, if not only to jab a finger in the Rays’ eye.
Today on the site, Josh will rue the Yankees’ self-inflicted mistakes that may have already ruined the season, Matt will run through the NLDS action from yesterday during toe ALDS offday, Nick will celebrate the 94th birthday of a somewhat-recently departed 1960s champion, and Dani will set us up for the do-or-die Game 3 tonight.
Today’s Matchup:
American League Division Series Game 3
New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: TBS/HBO Max, TruTV, Univision
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. Simple enough: Do the Yankees force a Game 4 tomorrow? And if yes, do you think they’ll bring the series back to the Trop for Game 5?
2. Which non-Ben Rice hitter do you feel best about at the moment?
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman reacts after the final out of a 3-1 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS on Tuesday. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
Left untweeted, but understood: Thank you. Thank you so much.
Like all of the booing Braves fans rooting against Freddie Freeman in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory Tuesday in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, their counterparts in L.A. also remember well that Freeman became a Dodger in 2022 only after his painful split with the Braves.
If those contract talks with Atlanta hadn’t stalled, Freeman, the so-so-clutch 37-year-old with the 1950s flat top, wouldn’t have provided Angelenos with so much joy and so many incredible postseason moments — including Tuesday’s solo home run off Atlanta ace Chris Sale.
If the Braves hadn’t pulled their offer and abruptly pivoted away from their fan favorite, the guy they drafted in the second round in 2007 out of El Modena High School in Orange, the Dodgers don’t even have an opening to invite him back to Southern California, or to sign him to a six-year, $162 million deal.
If the Braves don’t trade instead for Matt Olson, the Dodgers don’t have a hobbled Freeman hitting his walk-off, 10th-inning grand slam against the New York Yankees in the World Series.
And they don’t have him hitting his fifth career postseason home run at Truist Park — this one the first against the Braves instead of for them.
Boo your front office too, Braves fans, for not wanting to play ball with Freeman.
Tuesday’s 399-foot solo shot off of Sale’s sinker pushed the lead to 3-0 — a margin that no team has yet overcome against Dodgers’ ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
And for whoever is studying for the history test later, it also gave Freeman the most lefty-on-lefty home runs in MLB playoff history (eight). It was his 18th career postseason home run — nine of them with the Dodgers, thank the Braves very much — which nudged him back ahead of teammate Kiké Hernández, whose two-run home run two batters earlier was the 17th of his playoff career.
It also was Freeman’s second home run in three NLDS games — after he hit only one in the final 66 regular-season games he played in.
The man wasn’t kidding when he told us he’d figured something out.
“Yeah, the first couple of days of the bye week, you’re just trying to figure out and looking at the video what’s worked in the past, what it looks like in setup,” Freeman said after Tuesday’s victory. “We found something where my shoulders were a little too turned. All I really did was open my shoulders a couple inches.
“Baseball,” he reminded us, “is a game of inches.”
Ain’t that the truth; Freeman would’ve had two home runs Tuesday if Braves left fielder Mauricio Dubón hadn’t robbed him of one in the third inning with a sprinting, leaping catch at the wall.
“Dubón made a great play on the one at-bat,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “ … but (Freeman) just takes great at-bats.
“And no moment’s going to be too big for him.”
The Dodgers can count on Freeman to come through big at the plate; his home run in Sunday’s Game 2 loss wasn’t enough in the end, but the solo home run off Braves reliever Grant Holmes tied the score 1-1 and gave a subdued Dodger Stadium crowd a much-needed jolt.
The Dodgers also count on Freeman in the field.
Smooth and sure-handed, Freeman has the third-best fielding percentage among active first basemen (.997). On Tuesday, he finished off the game with a nifty pick, securing the squirrely throw from shortstop Mookie Betts to get Mike Yastrzemski for the final out, stranding Ozzie Albies at third.
“He does whatever it takes to win,” Roberts said. “That was a tough play. Yaz runs decent … you never know, I might have had to make a pitching change. You get (Austin) Riley who has come up with big hits. Just to be able to make that play was big.”
As for his reception, less welcoming than usual from the Atlanta faithful?
Freeman said he didn’t even hear the boos: “To be honest, I don’t really hear much out there. It’s just noise because it’s so loud.”
And hearing about them didn’t leave him boo-hooing.
“I’ve got a gray uniform on, I expect boos. It’s OK,” he said, flashing that bright smile. “Like I’ve always said, I’ve enjoyed my 12 years in this organization. … I’ve had wonderful experiences with the white uniform on here, and I loved every second of it. I get it. This is a game. We’re trying to win the game. They want to win it for their team…
“It’s all love. I still love everybody here.”
But it’s baseball. There’s a thin line — just inches — between love and boos.
'In Toronto Media, You Hear About It': Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna Eyes First NHL Point Still searching for his first NHL point through three games, Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna is already learning that in Toronto’s relentless media spotlight, “you hear about it”
