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US Open: Home hopes hit as Madison Keys makes 89 unforced errors in first-round loss

  • Australian Open champion beaten by Renata Zarazúa

  • World No 6 suffers string of errors in loss

One of the main home hopes at the US Open has suffered an early exit from the tournament after Madison Keys lost in the first round on Monday.

There were early signs the world No 6, who won the Australian Open in January, faced a tough match against Mexico’s Renata Zarazúa. The American won the first set, but only after taking a marathon tiebreak 12-10. Zarazúa won the second set on another tiebreak (7-3) before closing out the match by taking the final set 7-5.

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Can Matt Dumba Have A Bounceback Year In 2025-26?

Dec 8, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Matt Dumba (3) before the game between the Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

If one thing is for certain when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins, it’s that their team defense has failed them in the three years since they’ve made the playoffs.

In a lot of ways, the entire backend needs to be reenvisioned and reinvented. General manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas swung big in the summer of 2023 to acquire Erik Karlsson - which has come with mixed results - and with an aging Kris Letang and a whole lot of question marks in every other defensive slot, the Penguins need to both give younger guys opportunities and take chances on some blueliners in need of a change.

One of those blueliners is defenseman Matt Dumba, who the Penguins acquired from the Dallas Stars on Jul. 10. In 63 games with the Stars last season, Dumba put up one goal and 10 points and ended up a minus-5 while largely playing bottom-pair minutes. 

It wasn’t all that long ago that Dumba, 31, was playing solid hockey with the Minnesota Wild, but the last few seasons have been somewhat disastrous.

Last season, Dumba had a minus-7.3 defensive rating according to HockeyStatCards, which is - to put it quite bluntly - not ideal. In fact, it was the 11th-worst defensive rating among NHL defensemen last season. He also didn’t do much at all to contribute offensively, but that is a bit more understandable since he was playing largely bottom-pair minutes against the third and fourth lines of opposing teams.

Five Storylines To Watch For The Penguins In 2025-26Five Storylines To Watch For The Penguins In 2025-26NHL fans have been counting down the days to the 2025-26 season ever since the Florida Panthers raised the Stanley Cup for a second consecutive season back in June.

So, is the veteran capable of having somewhat of a bounceback season for the Penguins?

The reality is that there are a lot of elements factoring into it. Of course, the largest one is that Dumba will be playing in a vastly different setting with very different expectations, as Dallas is one of the league’s premiere cup-contending teams, while Pittsburgh is in the midst of a rebuild. Naturally, that drops some of the stakes and gives him a bit more wiggle room in terms of the pressure to perform. Perhaps playing a bit looser and with less of a chip on his shoulder would benefit Dumba.

There’s also the fact that Dumba was a large topic of discussion within the trade picture last season, something that can certainly affect player performance. Now that a trade is over and done with, he shouldn’t have to worry about that until at least around deadline time, at which point he is probably hoping to perform well enough to be dealt back to a contender in the final year of his two-year, $7 million contract.

Do The Carolina Hurricanes Make Sense For Erik Karlsson?Do The Carolina Hurricanes Make Sense For Erik Karlsson?With only a few days remaining in July, all three of Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson are still on the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster. 

Also, Dumba’s deployment with the Penguins will largely depend on whether or not a Karlsson trade happens at some point, which is something that has been swirling in and out of the rumor mill. If Karlsson sticks around for the entirety of the season - and even for most of it - Dumba won’t have much room to redeem himself in a bigger role because the Penguins’ right side will be blocked with Karlsson and Letang. 

The Penguins also have an even bigger logjam on the right side, as they acquired Connor Clifton from the Buffalo Sabres on draft day this year and have younger guys like Jack St. Ivany and Harrison Brunicke in the mix during training camp, too. So it’s not just the two bigger names ahead of Dumba that he’ll have to worry about. In fact, with Karlsson in the picture, he'll likely find himself jockeying for playing time.

But even when considering his competition on the right side, his numbers - comparatively - don’t look all that terrible. For example - according to 2024-25 data from Natural Stat Trick - Dumba’s Corsi (51.44 percent), expected goals share (49.24 percent), and high-danger chances share (52.86 percent) were all higher than those of Letang’s (49.11, 46.87, and 48.29 percent, respectively). 

Granted, Dumba played against lesser competition on a better, deeper team, which certainly counts for something. But his metrics are close to pretty much every other Penguins’ defenseman but Karlsson, who has skewed-positive offensive metrics.

What Will Kris Letang’s Role Be In 2025-26?What Will Kris Letang’s Role Be In 2025-26?Pittsburgh Penguins’ defenseman Kris Letang has enjoyed a Hall of Fame-worthy career up to this point, and it’s no secret that his time in the National Hockey League has been met with his fair share of challenges.

Finally, there’s the coaching aspect. The Penguins have an overwhelmingly new coaching staff heading into 2025-26, and some of them - including new head coach Dan Muse and defensive coach Mike Stothers - specialize on the defensive side of the puck. 

Although it remains to be seen how much the new staff will change the team’s current system, perhaps the Penguins’ coaches will be able to get more out of Dumba this season or, at least, identify and target some problem areas of his game. The same can be said for the entirety of the Penguins’ defensive corps, which can benefit from a new set of eyes.

At the end of the day, the Dumba trade was mostly about Pittsburgh taking on his salary for one season in order to receive a 2028 second-round draft pick in return. But, if he gets the right opportunity and finds some version of his older self, he can be a decent short-term addition to their right side - and a potential deadline trade chip - this season.

Join the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins Community to follow and chime in on the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!       

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London Knights Using Their Status In Signing Frenzy; Ex-NCAA Forward Leaves School To Play In The OHL

The London Knights arguably are the most coveted and highly sought-after organization in not just the OHL but the entire CHL. Young players hope to hear their name called every draft by the organization that has recently won back-to-back OHL Championships and the 2025 Memorial Cup. And now with the new NCAA rules in play, Americans are beginning to flock to the London powerhouse. 

The Knights’ training camp is officially underway, and there are a ton of new faces. The new members aren’t just the young buds from the 2025 draft class, like first-rounder Alex Campeau. The Hunter brothers have been active in recruiting players who bring experience playing at the junior level. They are successfully leveraging their organization's reputation as one of the best teams for player development in junior hockey.

London has made four notable signings of late, which include a couple of towering Russians and two older American forwards. 

Colorado Avalanche Prospect Signs With London KnightsColorado Avalanche Prospect Signs With London KnightsThe retooling of the London Knights roster has been in full throttle throughout August. GM Mark Hunter has been actively signing free agents with valuable junior-level experience. Additionally, through the import draft, the team has acquired a large right-shot defenseman who was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in this past June's draft.

As camp opened up, the Knights organization announced the signing of American forward Braiden Clark to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. He is another overage free agent signing, just like Kaeden Hawkins was. They both played and developed in the USHL, but one difference between the two, Clark is coming from the NCAA. 

Clark, 20, played at Providence College last season. It wasn’t the freshman campaign he would’ve hoped for, playing only 16 games and registering three points (1 goal, 2 assists). The forward from Ohio was slated to return to Providence, but has made the tough decision to leave the NCAA in hopes that playing as an overage forward in London will be more beneficial for his development. 

London’s overage core for the 2025-26 season now consists of three forwards: Braiden Clark, Kaeden Hawkins, and returnee Noah Aboflan. 

The additional American free agent signing came just under a week ago. The Knights recruited forward Ben Wilmott away from the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede to join their brigade for the upcoming season before he leaves for Ohio State University. 

Wilmott, 18, is one year younger than Clark and brings 101 games of USHL experience. He started with the Chicago Steel organization in the 2023-24 season and was traded to the Stampede at the onset of last year. In Sioux Falls, he recorded 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 50 games during the 2024-25 season.   

It was reported earlier in the month by Puck Preps writer Ryan Sikes that Wilmott was expected to sign with London. The depth the Knights have brought in to their forward corps will mask a bit of the blow of losing their all-stars — Easton Cowan, Denver Barkey, and Kasper Halttunen — from the past two seasons. 

Fun fact, Wilmott and Knights defenseman Henry Brzustewicz were minor hockey teammates with the North Jersey Avalanche. 

London Knights Bolster Lineup With Latest Two SigningsLondon Knights Bolster Lineup With Latest Two SigningsThere’s one thing that the London Knights don’t do: rebuild. Fresh off back-to-back OHL Championships, and several of their star players leaving the team due to graduating to the professional level or aging out of the league, don’t expect the Hunter brothers to stay quiet.

Another massive, pun intended, signing the Knights recently made was of 6-foot-8 defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii. The Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan, native signed his OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement back on Aug. 20. He is committed to the University of Maine. 

Sokolovskii, 17, was drafted 119th overall in the second round of the 2025 CHL import Draft. He came over from Russia last season to play for the Atlantic Coast Academy 16U AAA team, where he excelled, scoring 84 points (34 goals, 50 assists) in 65 games. The towering blueliner led all defensemen in points in the entire 16U AAA circuit in the USA.

Several other top European performers from that circuit have also signed with OHL clubs this summer: Andrei Gudin (Barrie), Vladimir Provorov (Sudbury), and Beksultan Makysh (Windsor). 

Sokolovskii is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, and seeing the trend of how NHL teams are coveting size on the blueline again, scouts will be following the mammoth rearguard, whether he suits up primarily in London for the 2025-26 season or not. 

London Knights Rene Van Bommel Commits To NCAA Lake Superior State University London Knights Rene Van Bommel Commits To NCAA Lake Superior State University London Knights forward Rene Van Bommel has committed to Lake Superior State University in the NCAA, where he will report following the completion of his junior career in the OHL. 

Lastly, the Knights organization signed Russian forward Mikhail Zakharov to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. The Tomsk, Russia, native grew up playing minor hockey in Russia, but has been playing hockey in Ontario since the 2023-24 season, when he suited up for the Toronto Red Wings U18 AAA team. 

Zakharov, 18, is another player who brings size to the lineup. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 176 pounds, his presence down the middle of the ice provides London depth that they need. He played in the OJHL for the King Rebellion last season, recording 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists), and added five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in five playoff games. 

Although he was just recently drafted 103rd overall in the fifth round of the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, Zakharov is two years older than the majority of his 2009-born class. 

London understands they have an advantage in player recruitment, being who they are. Specifically, with the Americans they have signed this summer, an easy pitch is this: you will have more NHL scouts' eyes on you playing for our organization than you would anywhere else, even in the NCAA for a school like Providence. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Latest OHL News:

Why Brady Martin's Decision To Avoid The NCAA Is Justified For His DevelopmentWhy Brady Martin's Decision To Avoid The NCAA Is Justified For His DevelopmentBrady Martin’s choice to sign his entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators, foregoing his eligibility to play in the NCAA, is a decision that was maybe a bit unexpected, considering the evolving landscape. While other 2025 first-round draft picks, like Porter Martone and Roger McQueen, have opted to continue their development in the NCAA, leaving the CHL, Martin's decision to stay put in the OHL for the 2025-26 season is justified and the right call for his growth.  Top NHL Draft Prospect Adam Valentini Not To Honor OHL Commitment With KitchenerTop NHL Draft Prospect Adam Valentini Not To Honor OHL Commitment With KitchenerSour news hit the Kitchener Rangers organization, losing a high-end player just before training camp starts.  Brantford Bulldogs Ink Several Blueliners, Including 2025 First-Round Draft Pick David BuchmanBrantford Bulldogs Ink Several Blueliners, Including 2025 First-Round Draft Pick David BuchmanThursday, August 21, 2025, the day of signings: that’s what we’re going to call it. 
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Aaron Nola happy to feel ‘back to normal'

Aaron Nola happy to feel ‘back to normal' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK – As he sat at his locker at Citi Field, his practice jersey soaked with sweat and the moisture dripping down his face, Aaron Nola could only smile. That’s how good life is for him right now as he has finally made it back from two injuries that took away almost three months of his season.

His first start back, on August 17th didn’t go quite as planned for the veteran right-hander, as he allowed seven hits and six earned runs in just 2 1/3 inning of work in Washington. Facing the same Nationals team six days later, Nola was more himself as he held the Nationals to five hits and two earned runs in his six innings of a 6-4 Phillies win. He’ll be back on the mound Thursday at Citizens Bank Park when the Phillies host the Atlanta Braves.

“I feel good. Normal soreness,” Nola said. “It’s good to get to the routine or throwing and running and working out a little bit. Throwing bullpens again, normally. Overall, it went pretty smooth. It took a little while, but, yeah, back to normal.

“Being on the injured list is obviously tough. It was longer than I thought it was going to be. The ankle started feeling good then the rib came up so it was kind of a 2-on-1 bang right there. Something I’ve never had with the rib. Never had anything in that section, rib or lat or anything right there. It was new and different. It took me a little bit to get loose once I started throwing. I had to learn to throw soft out in the outfield when I started throwing. That’s something that I hadn’t done in a while cause usually, I feel pretty good and I can just fire it right off the bat and get into throwing pretty easily. But it was tough sitting around and watching. But the guys played awesome. I loved watching. They were playing really good baseball. Pitchers were dominating. It was fun watching our starting rotation go out and dominate.”

The emotions of being back to normal are one thing. But the emotions Nola went through rose even more when the news of teammate Zack Wheeler’s season-ending venous thoracic outlet syndrome was released.

“It’s good to be back, man. It really is,” Nola said. “I’m blessed to be able to get on that mound again. I just took in the stadium when I was walking into the dugout from center field. I never had that long off during the season and I want to cherish every moment as I can as a Phillie.

“Not to bring up Wheeler, but that’s a tough loss for us. You never know what can pop up. He’s having one of the best seasons he’s ever had. Something crazy pops up and it knocks him out for the year. After that I kind of sat back and told myself to cherish every single moment because you never know if your season will end. It was a blessing that my injury wasn’t one that knocked me out for a real long period of time so I’m grateful for that. It’s just good to be back and be healthy and be able to pitch again.”

Nick Castellanos sits in series opener vs. Mets

The outfield for the Phillies on Monday will consist of Brandon Marsh in left, Harrison Bader in center and Max Kepler in right against right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga. Sunday, Rob Thomson had said Nick Castellanos paid him a visit to find out the game-plan for the series. It didn’t include him in Game 1.

“He just wanted to know what the plan was moving forward,” Thomson said. “I laid it out for him and he was good. He just wanted to know, that’s all.”

Bader has been hitting well of late, as he’s gone four for his last six with a couple of walks.

“That’s why I’m trying to mix and match and keep a rhythm and keep them going,” Thomson said of the outfield platooning. “It’s difficult. It’s difficult to match people up. But so far, so good. I think Bades is doing great. I really like him. I like the presence about him, a little bit of swagger. And (defensively) he gets great jumps. I mean great jumps. It’s really impressive. He may not have the speed of Rojas but I would say the jumps are as good.”

The same but different

Just like last season, the Phillies are 76-54 after 130 games. The offensive numbers across the board are almost identical. But that’s really where the likeness stops, according to Thomson.

“For the most part we’ve been pretty consistent,” he said. “There’s times where we haven’t hit or haven’t pitched well. The Houston series (back in late June) where we just didn’t hit and that’s good pitching. I think overall we’ve played really well.

“We got off to such a hot start last year, it was just kind of ridiculous, and you can’t really maintain that hot streak over 162. So, consequently after the All-Star break we went into a slide. I think overall this team this year has been more consistent than last year. Last year we were hot in the beginning and then we cooled off. I think we sort of leveled out the peaks and valleys this year a little bit better.”

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Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

Ten-man Newcastle fought back from two goals down, only to succumb to a sensational 100th-minute winner from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha

44 secs: Elanga chases down the right and wins the first corner of the game. From which …

A huge St James’ Park roar as the two teams huddle, then Liverpool get the ball rolling. Plenty of boos as they kick off. Then another roar as Burn heads clear. What an atmosphere!

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MLB relief pitcher of the year award to honor an essential role — just ask the Dodgers

Dodgers closer Eric Gagne pumps his fist during a 7-6 win, Sunday, April 18, 2004, in San Francisco.
Dodgers closer Eric Gagne pumps his fist after striking out the San Francisco Giants' Marquis Grissom to end a game in 2004. (Dino Vournas/Associated Press)

No role in baseball has undergone more of a transformation than that of a relief pitcher. What once was something a hurler became because he wasn't good enough to be a starter is now a vital role manned by a succession of the hardest throwers.

Anyone who doubts the importance of a quality bullpen hasn't been paying attention to the Dodgers lately.

Over the weekend the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America announced it has established a relief pitcher of the year award — one in each league — beginning in 2026. It will become the fifth honor doled out by the BBWAA each year, joining the most valuable player, Cy Young, rookie of the year and manager of the year awards.

(Disclaimer: I am a BBWAA member of more than 20 years and voted for creating the relief pitcher of the year awards. However, The Times doesn't allow its reporters to vote for the yearly awards or Hall of Fame election to avoid potential conflicts of interest.)

Why did the BBWAA decide to create another award? Well, as Hall of Fame baseball writer and relief pitcher award advocate Jayson Stark wrote in the Athletic, "It's about time."

Read more:Plaschke: Dodgers' inability to improve bullpen at trade deadline haunts them again

Stark pointed out that since Oakland Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley won the American League Cy Young Award and MVP in 1992 when he notched 51 saves, only one reliever has won a Cy Young and no reliever has finished even in the top three in MVP voting.

That one Cy Young winner? Dodgers fans can only wish for a current closer as dominant as Eric Gagne was in 2003 when his performance — admittedly illegally enhanced — resulted in 55 saves and a 1.20 earned-run average.

Otherwise, Stark notes, "voters have decided the MVP is a position player’s award, the Cy Young is a starting pitcher’s award and 'None of the Above' is a relief pitcher’s award."

Relievers were never considered superstars, but for a brief period after saves were introduced as an official statistical category in 1969, closers were routinely honored.

The Dodgers' Mike Marshall became the first relief pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in 1974 when he made a staggering 106 appearances and went 15-12 with 21 saves. Three years later, Sparky Lyle of the New York Yankees became the first American League reliever to take home the honor.

Read more:Doing away with traditional leagues could be in MLB's not-too-distant future, Rob Manfred says

The recognition didn't end there. Bruce Sutter won the NL Cy Young Award in 1979 and Rollie Fingers became the first reliever to win the Cy Young and MVP awards in 1981. Three years later, Willie Hernández of the World Series champion Detroit Tigers became the second.

Steve Bedrosian and Mark Davis also won Cy Young Awards in the 1980s, but Eckersley taking home the Cy Young and MVP in '92 marked the abrupt end of relievers winning either award. Why? The save became regarded as a flawed statistic, and the workload of a closer paled in comparison to starters, who then still regularly exceeded 200 innings a year.

Relievers were honored for 50 years beginning in 1960 by the Sporting News with what became known as the Fireman of the Year award. It coincided with the introduction of a rudimentary version of the save, created by longtime Sporting News and Chicago baseball writer Jerome Holtzman.

Before then, relievers were especially anonymous. Occasionally one made headlines for an odd accomplishment, such as Roy Face of the Pittsburgh Pirates posting an 18-1 record in 57 relief appearances in 1959. Holtzman was particularly irked that baseball writers were sufficiently impressed to elevate Face to seventh in NL MVP voting.

Read more:Hernández: Repeat champions or October duds? Dodgers identity crisis keeps everyone guessing

Years later somebody went back and determined that 10 of those wins were credited in games Face had blown the lead, with the Pirates coming back while he was the pitcher of record. When it comes to stats, it turns out, saves might be less flawed than wins.

So it's been a love-hate relationship between relievers and writers for decades. Billy Wagner was voted into the Hall of Fame this year in his 10th and last year on the ballot, the eighth pure reliever to be inducted, joining Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith, Goose Gossage, Hoyt Wilhelm, Fingers and Sutter.

Eckersley was a starter for 12 seasons before moving to the bullpen and notching 390 saves, and John Smoltz started for 12 seasons then became an exceptional closer for four years before moving back to the rotation for the last five years of his Hall of Fame career.

Without an award from the BBWAA, MLB in 2005 created the Delivery Man of the Year Award, which honored one best reliever. Nine years later MLB created an award for each league named after Rivera and Hoffman, the only two pitchers to reach 600 career saves.

The winners every year have been closers, typically the league leaders in saves. With the increasing value of setup relievers in an era when starters average only 5.3 innings, perhaps the new relief pitcher of the year awards will reward more than ninth-inning specialists.

Stark, who chaired the BBWAA committee that studied the new awards before presenting it to membership for a vote, would like to think so, rattling off the following reasons the awards are needed.

"Because the evolution of the sport has led us to this moment. Because the debates should be so much fun. Because we have the chance to do something special — and not just count up the saves but to 'get this right.'"

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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13 NBA players to watch during 2025 EuroBasket

We're still a month away from even NBA media days before training camp, let alone real basketball. Which is why if you're looking for meaningful games at the end of summer, it's time to turn your gaze toward Europe.

EuroBasket, the European championship, starts this Wednesday, Aug. 27, and will run through Sept. 14. It will feature France (the silver medal team from the Paris Olympics), Serbia (the bronze medal winners) and Germany, which won the last national European competition and finished fourth in Paris.

EuroBasket also will feature many of the NBA's biggest stars — MVPs and players shaping and changing how the game is played.

Here are 13 NBA players to watch as play tips off this week (group play will be contested in Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Poland, with Riga, Latvia, hosting the knockout rounds).

Nikola Jokic (Serbia)

The three-time MVP and consensus best player in the world leads a stacked Serbian squad that is the betting favorite to win the tourney. Jokic is coming off a Nuggets' season where he averaged a triple-double — 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists a game — while being hyper efficient, even shooting 41.7% from 3. He is at the top of his game.

Serbia as a team looks ready, they went 7-0 in tune-up games including a 106–72 thumping of a dangerous Slovenian team. This is a team deep with talent and guys who know how to play the international game, allowing Jokic to play to his strengths — look for him to dominate games with his playmaking more than scoring.

Luka Doncic (Slovenia)

Doncic will be the player with the most eyes on him heading into EuroBasket because people want the answer to this question: "How good does 'skinny' Doncic look?" In tune-up games for the tournament, he has looked elite, with one of his teammates telling the European media that this is the most athletic they have seen Doncic in an international tournament.

A scare shot through Lakers' nation after a teammate fell into Doncic's knee during one of the exhibition games leading up to EuroBasket.

Fortunately, he was diagnosed with simply a knee contusion and was back practicing and playing with the Slovenian team in the following days. He is good to go for EuroBasket and will be in the mix for tournament MVP if Slovenia has a strong showing.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)

Antetokounmpo thrives in international basketball — he was the leading scorer at the Paris Olympics last summer, averaging 25.8 points along with 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists across four games. He was the leading scorer at the 2022 EuroBasket, averaging 29.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists a game.

Last summer, Antetokounmpo and Greece advanced out of group play at the Paris Olympics but were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the knockout round by Germany. Their goals for this tournament are higher.

Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia)

Porzingis is a prototypical European stretch five, a player who can protect the rim on defense but on offense can space the floor and force other team's bigs out of the paint. When healthy he is a force. He was a critical part of Boston's title run in 2024 and even last season averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds a game shooting 41.2% from beyond the arc for the Celtics, but health limited him to 42 games.

Porzingis is at the heart of a remaking of the Hawks roster for this season, they will need him on the court. Which means Atlanta fans will be watching and hoping Porzingis comes out of EuroBasket unscathed.

Alperen Sengun (Turkiye)

Sengun was an NBA All-Star last season who averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists a game. That said, he didn't seem to catch the eye of casual fans — something that may be about to change. Sengun is poised for a breakout season as the hub of a Houston Rockets attack featuring Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson. That breakout could start at EuroBasket, especially if Sengun keeps playing like he did in tune-up games.

Lauri Markkanen (Finland)

The Utah forward — who likes it in Salt Lake and isn't looking to be traded, even if teams are calling about him and Danny Ainge is listening — had a couple of very impressive seasons for the Jazz before seeing his efficiency drop off last season on a rebuilding squad. He still averaged 19 points and 5.9 rebounds a game, but his true shooting percentage of .571 was about the league average, and well below his previous two seasons, and that was indicative of all his efficiency stats. Will we see a healthy and rejuvenated Markkanen at EuroBasket, and will that mean his efficiency bounces back?

Franz Wagner (Germany)

Brothers Franz and Mo Wagner — Orlando Magic teammates — will both suit up for Germany in this tournament, but Franz is the one ready for a breakout. He averaged 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists a game last season for the Magic, but missed out on the All-Star Game and postseason awards due to an oblique injury sidelining him for a chunk of the season. This season, as one of the offensive engines for a Magic team poised to break into the top four in the East and make a lot of noise (they are a great candidate for an Indiana-style postseason run), Franz is going to get a lot of shine. That could start at EuroBasket with a German team that is the No. 2 betting favorite to win the entire tournament.

Dennis Schroder, Germany

While the Wagner brothers may get the headlines, the rock-solid point guard play of Dennis Schroder on both ends of the court is what makes Germany so dangerous. He is going to get them in the right positions to make plays (and he may find it easier to do that with this German team than with the oddly built Sacramento Kings next season). Last season in the NBA, Schroder bounced between Brooklyn, Golden State and Detroit, and while starting for the Nets he averaged 18.4 points and 6.6 assists a game (with the Warriors he was playing behind Stephen Curry, and with the Pistons he was behind Cade Cunningham, so the roles were very different than with the Nets — his role with Germany is closer to Brooklyn).

Deni Avdija (Israel)

Not a lot of fans noticed the leap Deni Avdija made last season because not a lot of fans outside the Pacific Northwest were watching the Portland Trail Blazers. That said, he thrived in a larger role after being traded out of Washington and posted career highs in points at 16.9, rebounds (7.3) and assists (3.9). He had an impressive true shooting percentage of 60.5. Avdija has had some big games in youth international tournaments, we'll see if he can step up on this larger stage for Israel.

Guerschon Yabusele, France

France is a little thin along the frontline for this tournament, with Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert both out for a team that won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics a year ago.

That puts a lot on Yabusele, who broke out at the Paris Olympics — 14 points and 3.3 rebounds a game — which got him back in the NBA with a contract in Philadelphia (this coming season, he will have a key bench role for New York). If you're questioning how much Yabusele can lift the French team, just remember what he did to LeBron James in Paris.

Nikola Vucevic, Montenegro

The veteran NBA center is the kind of floor-spacing five who thrives in international basketball, he shot 40.2% from beyond the deeper NBA 3-point line last season. He averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds a game for Chicago last season and is going to put up numbers for Montenegro as their best and go-to player.

Santi Aldama, Spain

There is pressure on the Spanish side, which is the defending EuroBasket champions and has won four of the last six of these tournaments, but now is in a generational transition and may not have the talent to compete at the highest levels. A lot of that pressure falls on Aldama, one of the best players of the generation coming up (with brothers Willy and Juancho Hernangomez as the other big names). The Grizzlies' stretch big averaged 12.5 points and 6.4 rebounds a game in the NBA last season.

Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia

It is the veteran wing Bogdanovic, not Jokic, who is the Serbian captain, which speaks to the level of respect for the sharpshooter. In the Paris Olympics last summer, Bogdanovic averaged 17.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, helping lead Serbia to the bronze medal (and almost upsetting the USA in the medal round). He sets the tone for a Serbian team thinking gold this summer.

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Sabres Prospect Profile – Topias Leinonen

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#18 - Topias Leinonen – Goaltender (Mora IK - Allsvenskan-SWE)

The Sabres selected Leinonen in the second round after picking three centers (Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund, and Jiri Kulich) in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal. Similar to his countryman and fellow second-rounder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the 6’4″, 214 lb. Leinonen is the physical package that NHL clubs are looking for in a goaltender. 

After putting up excellent numbers in Junior (2.28 GAA and .916 save percentage), he played internationally for Finland at the World Junior Under-18’s in 2022, but the next two seasons at the junior, second-level pro Mestis, and pro-level SM-Liiga, Leinonen was plagued by injury and the results have been mixed at best.

Leinonen shifted to Sweden to play for Mora IK last season, and the 21-year-old seemed to find his stride with a 2.31 GAA and .910 save percentage in 25 games. After being signed to an ELC in March, the Sabres will be looking for him to put together a consistent season in North America,  but the question is whether it will be in Rochester or ECHL Cincinnati with Devon Levi, and 2023 draftee Scott Ratzlaff battling for playing time with the Amerks. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Angela Mortimer-Barrett, 1961 Wimbledon champion, dies aged 93

  • Mortimer-Barrett won three grand slam singles titles

  • All England Club says it is ‘deeply saddened’

The former Wimbledon champion Angela Mortimer-Barrett has died at the age of 93. Mortimer-Barrett defeated fellow Briton Christine Truman to win the 1961 ladies’ singles title, three years after losing her first final against Althea Gibson.

Mortimer-Barrett won three grand slam singles titles, including the 1955 French Championships and the Australian Championships three years later. She also won the Wimbledon ladies’ doubles title in 1955, teaming up with Anne Shilcock to clinch an all-British final against Shirley Bloomer and Pat Ward.

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Top 10 Left Defensemen Revealed In NHL 26

EA SPORTS NHL has revealed the 10 highest rated left defensemen in NHL 26.

NHL 25 cover star Quinn Hughes tops the list at 95 overall, followed by four 92 overall defenders. 

The top 10 are:

  1. Quinn Hughes - 95 overall
  2. Zach Werenski - 92 overall
  3. Roman Josi - 92 overall
  4. Victor Hedman - 92 overall
  5. Rasmus Dahlin - 92 overall
  6. Miro Heiskanen - 91 overall
  7. Jaccob Slavin - 90 overall
  8. Josh Morrissey - 90 overall
  9. Jake Sanderson - 89 overall
  10. Gustav Forsling - 89 overall

Hughes is the fifth-highest rated player in NHL 26 and is three overall points higher than Werenski, Josi, Hedman, and Dahlin, the next closest left handed defenders. 

The Canucks defender also tops this list with 96 speed, 95 deking, and 97 passing. 

This is a solid list and is representative of the top 10 left defensemen. It is good to see defensive oriented players like Slavin and Forsling receive high ratings. 

Notable 'snubs' include Lane Hutson, Shea Theodore, Mikhail Sergachev, Thomas Harley, and Jakob Chychrun. 

The full list of the 20 highest rated defensemen in NHL 26 and their attributes can be seen here. 

NHL 26 is set to release Sept. 12, those who pre-order the deluxe edition get access Sept. 5. 

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.  

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Rangers Prospect Malcolm Spence's Speed Is ‘A Weapon’

GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The New York Rangers may have gotten a steal during the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

With the 43rd overall pick, the Rangers selected explosive forward Malcolm Spence, who many projected would be a first-round pick. 

Serving as the assistant captain for the Erie Otters of The Ontario Hockey League this past season, Spence lit up the stat sheet as he recorded 32 goals, 41 assists, and 73 points in 65 games. 

It’s his speed and strong skating abilities that intrigued the Rangers about Spence, leading to them ultimately drafting him. 

"His speed is a weapon," Rangers director of player development Jed Ortmeyer said via NHL.com. "His skating ability too. He's tenacious with the puck. He's been able to produce at the junior level. I think it'll be a good spot for him to develop."

This upcoming season, the 18-year-old forward is set to play at the University of Michigan, one of the most prestigious hockey programs in the NCAA.

“I know to play in the NHL, you have to be physically ready,” Spence said. “Maybe there are parts of my game skill-wise that may be ready, but physically I’m not. I know going to Michigan is going to give me more runway time. For me to jump in as an impact player, that’s what I want to do.”

Igor Shesterkin Took A Positive Step Last Season, But It Wasn't On The Ice Igor Shesterkin Took A Positive Step Last Season, But It Wasn't On The Ice Throughout the entirety of the 2024-25 season, there was a lot of noise surrounding Igor Shesterkin, but he remained quiet. 

It will likely take about one-two years before we see Spence playing in the NHL. Regardless of when it happens, Spence is ready to represent the Blueshirts with pride and is already thinking about that special opportunity. 

“I'm really excited that they took a chance on me and believed in me when a lot of the other people didn't,” Spence said. “So I'm really excited to get to New York City and get to work.”

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Royals at White Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 25

It's Monday, August 25 and the Royals (67-64) are in Chicago to take on the White Sox (47-83). Noah Cameron is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Shane Smith for Chicago.

Following Kansas City's five-game winning streak, the Royals have gone 2-3 since with six and 10 runs needed for the wins. The Royals are coming off a 10-8 win over the Tigers, while the White Sox have won back-to-back games despite being 3-7 in the last 10 games.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Royals at White Sox

  • Date: Monday, August 25, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, CHSN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Royals at the White Sox

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (-138), White Sox (+116)
  • Spread:  Royals -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at White Sox

  • Pitching matchup for August 25, 2025: Noah Cameron vs. Shane Smith
    • Royals: Noah Cameron, (7-5, 2.53 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.86 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • White Sox: Shane Smith, (3-7, 4.12 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.00 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at White Sox

  • Kansas City is 8-2 versus Chicago this season
  • Chicago is 3-7 in the last 10 games and 0-2 in the last 2
  • Chicago is 5-14 in the last 19 games
  • Kansas City is 2-3 in the last 5 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Royals and the White Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Royals and the White Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Diamondbacks at Brewers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, stats for August 25

It's Monday, August 25 and the Diamondbacks (64-67) are in Milwaukee to take on the Brewers (81-50). Eduardo Rodriguez is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Brandon Woodruff for Milwaukee.

Milwaukee is 2-5 over the past seven games and 3-6 since going on their MLB-best 14-game winning streak. The Brewers have lost back-to-back series entering this contest, while the Diamondbacks have won two straight series. Arizona is 4-1 over the last five games, so these squads are trending in different directions ahead of their second meeting (Arizona 2-1).

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Diamondbacks at Brewers

  • Date: Monday, August 25, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: American Family Field
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: ARID, FDSNWI

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Diamondbacks at the Brewers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks (+150), Brewers (-181)
  • Spread:  Brewers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Diamondbacks at Brewers

  • Pitching matchup for August 25, 2025: Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Brandon Woodruff
    • Diamondbacks: Eduardo Rodriguez, (5-7, 5.40 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.40 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Brewers: Brandon Woodruff, (4-1, 2.47 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.23 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Diamondbacks at Brewers

  • Arizona is 2-1 versus Milwaukee this season
  • Milwaukee is 3-6 in the last 9 games
  • Arizona is 4-1 in the last 5 games
  • This season the Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff has an ERA of 2.50
  • The Diamondbacks have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight road games
  • Betting the Brewers on the Money Line is up 2.11 units with Brandon Woodruff as the home opener

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Brewers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Brewers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Arizona Diamondbacks at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)