Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, left, and general manager Brandon Gomes look on during their team's ring ceremony last March at Dodger Stadium. (Luke Hales / Getty Images)
Major League Baseball’s general managers meetings are an important event on the offseason calendar every year. But the impending lockout puts extra emphasis this year on the three days baseball’s operations leaders will spend in Las Vegas this week.
GM meetings are generally the precursor to the more widely-attended winter meetings in December, but this year’s winter meetings are expected to be canceled in the face of a lockout. And if anxiety over a possible salary cap doesn’t put the free agent and trade markets on ice, the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement on Dec. 1 could spur early action.
The Dodgers are poised to make news one way or another, with an opening on the coaching staff to fill, a finalist for a major award, and the belle of the 2026-27 free agent class testing the market.
Here are four story lines to follow as GM meetings get underway:
The Dodgers parted ways with co-hitting coach Aaron Bates last week. So, expect president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes to field questions about their plans to fill the position, from qualities they’re seeking in a replacement to a timeline for the hire or promotion.
The rest of manager Dave Roberts’ coaching staff, including co-hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc are expected to return.
Tarik Skubal’s free agency
Tarik Skubal, whom the Dodgers acquired from the Tigers at the trade deadline this year, is the top free agent in a fraught offseason and will be a fascinating litmus test for the market.
The last time MLB was counting down to a lockout, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Javy Báez all signed nine-figure contracts before it went into effect at the end of the day on Dec. 1. Like Seager and Semien, Skubal is represented by agent Scott Boras.
Whether the Dodgers will make an early aggressive play to bring back the two-time Cy Young winner remains to be seen.
“I can’t say enough good things about the impact that he made in such a short period of time,” Friedman said in his end of season news conference last month. “We have a tremendous amount of respect for him on and off the field, and for us, he’s put himself in this position to go out and be a free agent. And for us, it’s, continue to talk to Scott. But he and his family have to make a choice over where they want to spend the next X number of years, and obviously we wish him nothing but the best.”
Comparison to 2021
Just how similar will this November be to 2021, when teams committed $1.9 billion to free agents before the lockout? The short answer is: it’s hard to say with any certainty.
“I never have any feel for how a market’s going to play out,” Friedman said. “We’ve kidded ourselves in the past that, like, ‘Hey, we think this is going to happen,’ and it just takes on its own life form. So for us, it’s just about being as prepared as we possibly can be, and pouncing on opportunities.”
Though the expectation of a lockout remains the same, the owners and players are fighting over a potential overhaul of the system this time around. MLB’s push for a salary cap in their early proposals — even though their latest pushed back implementation to 2028 — could affect teams’ behavior.
Manager of the year awards will be revealed Tuesday, Cy Young and reliever of the year on Wednesday, and finally MVP on Thursday.
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is a finalist for National League MVP. But Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is the favorite to win it, which would end Ohtani’s three-year MVP streak. Ohtani has won four MVP awards in all, two in the AL and two in the NL.
On Wednesday, MLB will also hold its own awards show, announcing All-MLB teams, and awards such as the Hank Aaron Award, the comeback players of the year, the Mariano Rivera & Trevor Hoffman Relievers of the Year, the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter of the Year and the MLB executive of the year.
Bob Boone, one of the pillars on which the Phillies’ 1980 World Series Championship team was built, has died at age 78.
The former catcher was a member of the Phillies Wall of Fame and part of the first three-generation family in baseball history.
His father, Ray, was an infielder who played 13 seasons in the majors and was a two-time All-Star with the Detroit Tigers. Ray Boone then went on to become a legendary scout with the Boston Red Sox. Bob’s sons, Bret and Aaron, both had long playing careers in the majors. Aaron currently manages the New York Yankees. Bret and Aaron spent parts of their youth in the Philadelphia area. Aaron, in fact, remains a staunch Eagles fan.
Bob Boone played 19 seasons in the majors, 10 with the Phillies, seven with the California Angels and two with the Kansas City Royals. He later managed the Royals and Cincinnati Reds.
Though he played in the National League at a time when Cincinnati’s Johnny Bench dominated the catching position, Boone held his own against the eventual Hall of Famer. He won two Gold Gloves with the Phillies and five more with the Angels in the American League. He was a three-time All-Star with the Phillies. He caught 2,225 games in his career, third-most ever behind Hall of Famers Ivan Rodriguez and Carlton Fisk.
Boone’s ascension to elite status as a catcher came after he converted to the position as a minor-leaguer in the Phillies system. He had been a third baseman when the Phillies selected him in the sixth round of the 1969 draft out of Stanford University. Andy Seminick, the catcher for the Phillies’ 1950 Whiz Kids NL pennant-winning team, tutored Boone as he converted to catcher. The move ultimately cleared the way for Mike Schmidt to take over at third base. Schmidt, who went on to make the Hall of Fame, had been a shortstop at Ohio University when the Phillies selected him in the second round of the 1971 draft.
Along with Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Larry Bowa, Greg Luzinski, Garry Maddox, Tug McGraw and others, Boone went on to become part of the core that won the Phillies’ first World Series title in 1980.
In that series, Boone was involved in one of the most memorable plays in franchise history. In the ninth inning of the clinching Game 6 win over Kansas City at raucous Veterans Stadium, he dropped a Frank White pop-up in front of the Phillies’ dugout. First baseman Pete Rose, who had also converged on the ball, was there to snatch the loose ball out of the air for the second out. In later years, Boone consistently defended himself, saying the ball should have been Rose’s all the way. He claimed Rose had gotten to the ball late, forcing him into a difficult play far from his position.
In the end, the ball stayed in Boone’s glove. He recorded the final putout when McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end the game and clinch the title.
Boone was a strong postseason performer. He played in 36 postseason games in his career and hit .311 with two homers and 13 RBIs. In the 1980 World Series, he hit .412 (7 for 17) with four RBIs. As a 38-year-old with the Angles in 1986, he went 10 for 22 (.455) with a homer and two RBIs against Boston in the American League Championship Series.
The NBA is fueled by drama the way New Englanders are fueled by Dunkin. So the hype surrounding Jaylen Brown’s first game against his former team was always going to be largely over-caffeinated. His comments in the ramp up to Tuesday’s showdown in Philadelphia only added a shot of espresso to the order.
But the last thing this drama needs is another food reference. Lamb chops, gravy, coffee or otherwise.
The speculation and intrigue surrounding Brown’s relationship with former teammate Jayson Tatum isn’t new but got a jolt in the fallout from the jaw-dropping summer swap. It’s probably best the two have to share the same 94 feet of hardwood for a couple hours on Tuesday night in Philadelphia.
Celtics-Sixers will undeniably be must-see TV. But sure to be overshadowed by the breathless takes about Tatum and Brown’s working relationship — nearly a full decade of winning, mind you, that included two Finals appearance and one championship banner — and all their interactions — of maybe lack thereof — on Tuesday night will cloud the bigger question here.
Did the Celtics make the right decision in moving on from Brown?
That answer could take years to be truly revealed. And in this social-media era of bite-sized content consumption, we don’t have that sort of patience. The Celtics clearly believed that moving on from Brown offered the best pathway back to building a sustained title contender. Complicating matters, Brown’s new team became overstocked with the sort of top-end talent that immediately made the Sixers legitimate title contenders if they could handle all the personalities.
So far they’ve done just that.
Tuesday night delivers an early season matchup between, to this point, the two top teams in the Eastern Conference. And yet maybe it’s merely a checkpoint in a bigger race between two rivals chasing the same lofty goal.
Tatum and Brown, of course, are inextricably intertwined, especially now playing for rival franchises. Their legacies are unlikely to be altered by a single Tuesday in November, though certainly those 48 minutes of basketball will provide an elevated entertainment experience.
Bragging rights will ultimately fall to the player who proves they can win without the other.
Early returns: A win for both sides
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 04: Paul George of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at TD Garden on Nov. 4, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
We yearn to firmly declare winners and losers from the very moment a Shams alert reaches our phones. Back in July, the Celtics lost, decidedly, in the court of public opinion when the world learned that Boston traded Brown to the Sixers for a package highlighted by 36-year-old Paul George and a pair of future first-round draft picks.
It’s still way too early to make any wholesale declarations, but both sides should feel pretty good about where they stand through 10 games of the 2026-27 season.
George has been better than most could have anticipated after two injury riddled seasons with the Sixers. He immediately declared this was Tatum’s team and suggested that he was here to maximize his talents. George has thrived on both sides of the court, looking like an All-Defense candidate while lingering among the league-leaders in deflections and steals. He’s even turned back the clock and showcased the offensive talents that made him a nine-time All-Star. His usage rate is lofty (27.4), but Tatum (35.6) is the clear-cut focal point when he’s on the court.
The Celtics lead the league in net rating (+11.6), aided by a softer schedule out of the gates. Boston needs to prove it can hang with the best teams in the league — fumbling away a big lead on opening night in Detroit and running in mud on the second night of a back-to-back in a loss to Houston. The Celtics might not be quite the 65-win team their point differential suggests, but their depth gives them a chance to stack regular-season wins.
Brown’s stat line with Philly looks very similar to Tatum’s last fully healthy season in Boston. Brown is averaging 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game in 10 appearances. His turnovers (2.1 per game) are at a career-best level since his All-Star ascension in 2021. He has topped the Sixers in scoring in each of their last three outings. Philadelphia has utilized its new collection of experienced talent to thrive in late-game situations, posting an 8-0 record in clutch games (score within 5 points, final 5 minutes).
Is success sustainable for both sides? If George stays healthy, he’s been a rather ideal runningmate for Tatum. The Celtics have a +11.1 net rating in 162 minutes together this season, but the team’s net rating spikes to +24.7 in George’s 109 minutes without Tatum. The Sixers have stiff-armed any thoughts that they might endure growing pains with so much talent, though their season will ultimately be judged on postseason success given the amount of talent.
What’s the pathway back to title contention for Boston?
“Optionality” became a Boston buzzword after Stevens championed it in the aftermath of the team’s decision to trade Brown. Fans stung by Brown’s departure have gone so far as to wear jerseys with “Optionality” on the nameplate around TD Garden.
Stevens knows that even the goodwill built by delivering a title team in 2024 can erode quickly unless the Celtics use their newfound optionality to offer hope of securing Banner 19.
It’s not an overstatement to suggest that Stevens must really hit with the two picks acquired in the Brown swap, including a 2028 first-round pick via the Clippers and a 2031 first-round pick via the Sixers. With Tatum and Brown, the Celtics were always in the contention conversation. Stevens must set up the next iteration of a contender with what was acquired for Brown. Because Boston’s status right now is a bit murkier.
The most likely scenario is Boston using those picks as trade assets while increasing the talent around Tatum in what is essentially the prime of his career. If the Celtics stay below the tax this season, they will reset pesky repeater penalties, which would allow the team to spend ambitiously next summer. It might not be the full-throttle splurge like the summer of 2023 that delivered Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and set into motion the quest for Banner 18 — but it could certainly increase Boston’s talent pool and decrease the margin for error that currently exists.
George could be part of that future, maybe at a reduced rate if he were to opt out and extend this summer. Boston could also consider using his salary in any big swing. Again, the theme here is multiple options and pathways.
It seems fair to suggest that, as currently constituted this season, the Celtics are longshots to contend for a title this year. A healthy Tatum, closer to the peak of his powers and further removed from the Achilles injury that sapped much of last season, could elevate that ceiling but the talent and depth across the best teams in the NBA might demand a bit more tinkering around him.
Green may run deep, but patience in these parts does not, and Stevens is well aware of the accelerator that fans will demand he press in the quest for the next banner.
Tough decisions still exist. What does the core of this team look like in that next iteration? Is Derrick White able to overcome the poor shooting of last season and thrive at age 32 and beyond? Can Payton Pritchard, fresh off inking his new big extension, find even a bit more consistency against the best teams? Which of the younger players are surefire pieces of the future roster?
That’s why the 2026-27 season still feels important in the information-gathering and development process. Stevens must evaluate his roster in the post-Brown era and decide how best to restock around Tatum.
Was the Jays’ split inevitable?
Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Feb 28, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) high fives forward Jayson Tatum (0) after the Cleveland Cavaliers called a timeout during the first quarter at TD Garden.
From the very moment Jaylen Brown inked a 5-year, $304 million supermax extension, the biggest contract in NBA history to that point, and with Tatum set to sign his own 5-year, $314 million deal a year later, it felt inevitable the Celtics were heading towards a bit of a reckoning. The apron era ensured it.
Boston got ahead of things and produced Banner 18. They’ve paid what we’ll call the parade tax with painful roster decisions the past two summers while getting their finances in order.
The decision to trade Brown thrust his relationship with Tatum under a harsher microscope. Surely, there must be more than meets the eye, most wondered. It’s hardly a secret that they were two very different people but they undeniably motivated and pushed each other as teammates. No one can diminish the success they had, particularly after winning a title. You don’t have to be best friends with your co-workers.
Two players making 35% of the cap is simply a tough situation to navigate, at least without sacrificing talent among depth pieces. Two players commanding 35% of possessions might be even more difficult. Tatum’s injury added a layer to the decision-making, in part because Brown thrived in the solo role and might understandably yearn to be regarded as equals. Even the possession-maxing Celtics didn’t have enough shots and touches for two mega stars.
The Celtics ultimately decided that the best pathway back to competing at the highest level was Tatum using the majority of possessions and figuring out the rest around him. It’s fascinating to wonder, if Tatum never gets hurt and Brown never gets the season in the spotlight, would the Celtics have rode out the Jays era a bit longer, trying to squeeze every last drop from the pairing?
Everyone wants a smoking gun, a single moment that changed the relationship and can explain why the Celtics moved on from Brown when they did. The fact that it was Philly on the other end of the trade, and for a package that felt initially underwhelming, added even more layers of complexity for fans to digest.
The business of basketball often forces executives to make uncomfortable decisions. The best general managers are the ones that don’t wait too long to rip the Band-Aid and keep their eye on the larger prize, without worrying about the court of public opinion.
You don’t need to rewind too far in Celtics history to find the last reunion game that had a little extra drama to it. Kevin Garnett ignoring Ray Allen during Boston’s visit to Miami in the 2012 season opener was a rather surreal moment. It took another decade for things to get fully patched up between that Big Three.
Maybe it’ll take that long for the Jays to move past whatever feelings exist now. As Brown bluntly told reporters on Sunday: “He’s on his side; I’m on my side … Just check the ball up.”
Being under the same roof and forced to at least co-exist on the same 94 feet of hardwood might force the two to acknowledge each other. Maybe it starts the healing process, for fans and players alike.
But, ultimately, this is all going to take some time. Eventually everyone will sit back and remember the Jays era for all the winning, including Banner 18. Numbers 0 and 7 might eventually hang in the TD Garden rafters together. Forever.
Tuesday night will be fun. There’s a long way to go to sort out the rest.
A 72-hour TV blizzard was a test of sofa stamina as Ireland and England shone while South Africa looked ominous
By Sunday night one question swamped all else. When does a diet of endless televised rugby become too much of a good thing? People are well used to three consecutive Six Nations games on “Super Saturday” but the weekend was on a whole new level. It must have ranked among the most relentless 72-hour blizzards of rugby broadcasting in the game’s history.
The Breakdown, naturally, was keen to get among it. Friday night’s Ireland v Argentina game on ITV had its moments, happily, although not as many as England A v Argentina on YouTube. On Saturday, with South Africa 45-0 up against Italy by half-time, there was a case for covering the screen with a Turin shroud. Either way it was time for the haka in Murrayfield before Scotland v New Zealand, subsequently interspersed with an absorbing Champ game between Cornish Pirates and Richmond on Clubber TV.
Tampa Bay Lightning (11-4-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (8-6-3, in the Atlantic Division)
Buffalo, New York; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Buffalo Sabres after Pontus Holmberg's two-goal game against the Winnipeg Jets in the Lightning's 4-3 loss.
Buffalo has an 8-6-3 record overall and a 2-1-2 record in Atlantic Division play. The Sabres have a -6 scoring differential, with 50 total goals scored and 56 given up.
Tampa Bay has a 1-0-0 record in Atlantic Division games and an 11-4-2 record overall. The Lightning are 6-2-0 in games they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponents.
The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting this season between the two clubs.
TOP PERFORMERS: Noah Ostlund has scored four goals with six assists for the Sabres. Jack Quinn has seven goals and five assists over the last 10 games.
Jake Guentzel has 10 goals and eight assists for the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov has four goals and 10 assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 5-3-2, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.3 penalties and 10 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.
Lightning: 6-2-2, averaging 4.2 goals, 6.5 assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.
INJURIES: Sabres: Matt Grzelcyk: out (lower-body), Konsta Helenius: out (upper-body), Justin Danforth: out (upper-body), Alex Lyon: out (upper-body).
Lightning: Brayden Point: day to day (undisclosed).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Utah Mammoth (10-7-1, in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (12-5-2, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Utah Mammoth after Tomas Hertl's two-goal game against the Buffalo Sabres in the Golden Knights' 4-1 win.
Vegas has a 12-5-2 record overall and a 6-3-0 record in home games. The Golden Knights have gone 6-3-0 when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent.
Utah has gone 6-5-1 in road games and 10-7-1 overall. The Mammoth have an even scoring differential this season, scoring and allowing 63 goals.
The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Stone has 10 goals and nine assists for the Golden Knights. Hertl has five goals and two assists over the past 10 games.
Logan Cooley has 11 goals and 10 assists for the Mammoth. Dmitriy Simashev has scored three goals over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 5-3-2, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.4 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
Mammoth: 4-5-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.5 assists, four penalties and 9.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.9 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: Parker Wotherspoon: out (upper body).
Mammoth: Maveric Lamoureux: out (shoulder), Nate Schmidt: out (upper body), Kailer Yamamoto: out (upper-body), John Marino: out (upper body).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg’s hot start to his NBA career puts him in Hall-of-Fame-level company.
Lendeborg ranks third in scoring among rookies through their first 11 games in Warriors franchise history with 235 points. Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry scored 395 and 237 points, respectively, through their first 11 career games with the franchise.
Of the other nine players on the top 10 list, seven of those former Warriors are in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Golden State desperately needed a secondary scorer behind Steph Curry while Jimmy Butler recovers from injury, and Lendeborg has answered the call. The Warriors’ lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft ranks second on the team in scoring with 21.4 points per game.
His scoring has been consistent, with the rookie recording at least 12 points in all but one game. Lendeborg has scored at least 23 points in six of his 11 career games, highlighted by a 37-point performance in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Those points have come in big moments as well, particularly in Saturday’s overtime win over the Orlando Magic, in which Lendeborg led all scorers in the extra period with seven points.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr has been impressed with the rookie’s poise so early into his career.
“He’s learning something new every game – probably multiple things a game,” Kerr told reporters Saturday after the overtime win. “He’s picking it up with such poise and grace. He gets frustrated, but he moves on and just plays.
“The way he closed the game in the fourth quarter and overtime looked like someone who has been around for a while – not a guy who has played 10 NBA games.”
Lendeborg is a key reason for the Warriors’ eight-game winning streak, the team’s longest since the 2021-22 championship season. Golden State and its rookie scoring machine will look to extend its streak on the road Wednesday against the Houston Rockets.
Marnus Labuschagne has found himself in Test cricket exile — but a pair of legends believe the talented batsmen will “succeed” at the domestic level before returning to selection equations.
Marnus Labuschagne has found himself in Test cricket exile — but a pair of legends believe the talented batsmen will “succeed” at the domestic level before returning to selection equations.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point shot in the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Chase Center on November 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well that was fun. The Golden State Warriors made NBA history on Monday night, by becoming the first team to start 0-3 and follow it up with an eight-game winning streak. And they certainly did it in emphatic style, as they positively crushed the New Orleans Pelicans, ending their home-stand with a 138-87 victory that was every bit as lopsided as the score would suggest.
Needless to say, the grades are going to be good for this one. As always, my grades are based on my personal expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing that player’s average performance.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Monday’s games, league-average TS was 57.1%.
You gotta love Gui. Even in a game where the Warriors were pouring in points faster than a bartender pours shots, Santos was content to just help out doing the little things. He attacked the glass and did a swell job of keeping the ball moving. He repeatedly found the open man and ended up with four dimes and zero turnovers. He was a big part of the strong defensive performance.
He just does all the little things, and even though it doesn’t always come with offense, you can happily live with that on this team.
Yeah. I think we have a star on our hands, friends. I don’t think Lendeborg is good, or even really good, or even has the potential to be a star. I think he is a star, point blank. It’s only been 11 games but that’s abundantly clear.
There was some Steph Curry in Yax’s game on Monday, in that he seemed to relish the opportunity to rip a team’s soul out. So often you see rookies get sloppy when playing in a blowout. At best they hog the ball and put on their own show; at worst, they check out because the outcome is determined.
But stars like Curry lock in. They want the win to be as lopsided as possible. They want to crush the other team’s spirit and make it clear that they’re not in the same league (except, you know … in the literal sense). And they want to make sure that they’re the one who does the damage.
Lendeborg, it seems, has that gene. He didn’t try to do to much, even when the Dubs led by 20, or 30, or 40, or 50. There were no reckless heat checks or audacious dunk attempts. Instead, he just locked in like it was a tied game, and went after the Pelicans in every part of the game.
Shot check! Green is up to 27 field goal attempts in nine games. There was some offseason chatter that Steve Kerr wanted Green to shoot more (specifically threes), and then it turned out the Warriors offense was good enough that Dray could be super selective, and focus on the three things he does brilliantly on that end of the court: passing the ball, setting screens, and making sure that everything runs through Curry.
Green has really been an offensive asset this year, which is a testament to his patience and playmaking, but also to the players around him. Having four shooters on the court at almost all times certainly helps there as well.
Defensively, Dray played well, though we were robbed of getting to see him defend Zion Williamson, as the Pelicans’ star got the night off. Oh well; they’ll meet again in a week.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists.
Lest you get too caught up in the Yaxel hype, Podziemski is here to remind you that there’s more than one early-20s Warrior with a fun European name who just might be a star. This was Podz at his very best. He was all over the court in a blur of chaos, on both ends of the court. He attacked on offense, while also popping out time and time again, and hiding behind screens, to show off his jumper … which looks a lot better this year (he’s 25-for-62 from deep so far this year).
In a fast and frantic game in which Podziemski seemed to have the ball in his hands a lot, he went a whole game with nary a turnover nor a foul.
It really feels like his offense is far more in control this year. He’s always had creativity and unique explosiveness, but this year he’s harnessed it far better than in year’s past. Can you remember a single shot he’s taken this season that has made you scratch your head or yell at the TV (except in a positive way)? I can’t. He’s just unbelievably in control, and fully coming into his own.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in points; best plus/minus on the team.
Here’s a fun question: who’s enjoying the Lendeborg and Podziemski breakouts more, Curry or Kerr? Steph is clearly having the time of his life playing with these invigorating youngsters. And more importantly, you can see the relief in not having to carry the team on his shoulders night in and night out, and possession in and possession out.
The way that Curry is picking his spots is honestly a little reminiscent of when Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant were on the team. Curry knows he can step into his easier roles — playing the distributing point guard, or just using his gravity to space the defense out — and the offense will still function well. And then, when the time comes — if the team’s in trouble, or he wants to put a nail in the coffin, or he just wants to have a little fun — he goes into supersduperduperstar mode.
He’s averaging more than a point per minute with a true-shooting percentage well into the 70s. And it looks sustainable because he’s not having to kill himself out there. I should give him an A+ but i can’t justify a perfect grade for someone I know can — and will — pop off for 50.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in points.
Melton had a little bit of a slow start to the season, but new he is absolutely picking it up. He’s firing on all cylinders right now, and just making everything work. He has so much veteran savvy and poise … he plays with a little bit of that old man game where everything is slow, but then he displays these little bursts when they’re needed, to turn a rebound into a transition opportunity, or cut to the hoop, or strip a driving opponent. There’s more than a little bit of Andre Iguodala in his game, that’s for sure.
Like Curry, Melton has really been excelling at picking his spots this year, and that goes for both offense and defense. In this one, he came in with the bench unit and helped turn a solid lead into a blowout, and he never took his foot off the gas.
I’m just so happy that Horford is on this team. What a treat he is to watch. He never seems to make a poor play or be out of position, and sometimes he just goes on little flurries, such as what he did at the start of the second quarter to help ensure that this game would stay a blowout. He had five stocks in 15 minutes. He had six assists — as a center — in 15 minutes. It’s just comical how frequently he makes the right play.
I said when the Warriors signed him before last year that he was the perfect player for Kerr, and I think that dramatically undersold it.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists.
Just another quietly exceptional day at the office for Niang. He shows up, he stirs things up, he drains some threes, he makes some extra passes, he plays some defense, and he celebrates a win. Good life.
Williams was only on the court for 99 seconds, but he changed the game in that brief time with the quickness with which he got down the court and attacked the basket. Unfortunately, he aggravated his hamstring in the first quarter, and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Hopefully he won’t be sidelined for too long.
Grade: P for Please get healthy soon Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
With every passing game, Bassey makes it easier and easier to forget that Kristaps Porziņģis was supposed to be a part of this team. He only needed 18 minutes to nab a double-double and have one of the nastiest blocks you’ll see all season. We knew he had skills, but the way he’s able to fully control the paint — in terms of scoring, defending, and rebounding — is shocking.
Cryer was forced into duty early on, after Williams’ injury. And he responded quite well. He scores in a different way than Williams does, but he sure can be a lightning rod as well. His jump shot is so slick, and I love the way he works into the defense, and then retreats … it reminds me a little bit of Jameer Nelson, or honestly, even Chris Paul.
This team is deep enough that Cryer is probably only going to get opportunities in situations like this, but it was great seeing him make the most of it.
Cryer got the most minutes of the two-way players in this game due to Williams’ injury, but Ike remains the two-way contract most capable of helping the team on a nightly basis. There aren’t many minutes for him now — he was limited to extended garbage time in this game — but you can see why Kerr is so excited to get him out there, and believes he can help. He does so many good things on the court.
Grade: A- Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
Nice to see Leons get some serious run. Like Ike, he played the entire fourth quarter since the Warriors were up by 47 points going into the final frame. He did some nice things out there.
Grade: B Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
Monday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Kristaps Porziņģis, Will Richard
DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 9: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on November 9, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (7-4) won a 125-122 thriller over the Indiana Pacers (3-8) on Monday night. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg were dominant, combining for 78 points, while Caleb Martin made the defensive play of the game to seal the deal. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Mavericks found themselves trailing for much of the first half but worked their way back, determined to not have a letdown after a convincing win over the Brookly Nets just 24 hours prior. With the victory, the Mavericks extend their winning streak to three games.
Let’s get to the grades!
Kyrie Irving: 10/10
35 PTS / 0 REB / 4 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 38 MIN
We try to be discerning with a perfect grade, especially for a Hall of Famer who has plenty of exceptional games on his resume. Tonight Irving gets the bump despite no rebounds, steals or blocks. He was simply too dominant offensively not to. He connected on 11-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-10 from downtown. He hit 6-of-7 free throws while he was at it. Helping get him over the top was a game-high +29 plus/minus. Even with a few goose eggs in the stat line, Irving was playing on another level Monday night and did a lot in the fact of tough on-ball defense to keep the Mavs connected and ultimately able to pull away.
Cooper Flagg: 10/10
43 PTS / 10 REB / 6 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK – 39 MIN
Little needs to be said when the box score reads as it does. Flagg hit 16-of-25 shots in a 40-point double-double and was absolutely huge down the stretch, hitting big shots in the fourth quarter in a refuse-to-lose performance. Just dominant while leaving a couple rough shooting nights as a distant memory.
Caleb Martin: 6/10
0 PTS / 3 REB / 5 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 19 MIN
The conundrum of Martin persists. A starter with limited minutes and little tangible production makes the defensive play of the night to seal the victory. We’ve yet to determine how best to grade him, but suffice it to say tipping the inbounds pass away from Paskal Siakam to prevent the Pacers from even attempting a shot on the final possession gives his grade a boost.
P.J. Washington: 5/10
13 PTS / 9 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK – 35 MIN
Washington gets the “5” based on some intangibles. His 4-of-12 shooting left a bit to be desired (though one of his two made three-pointers came at a critical time) and he was only 3-of-6 from the charity stripe. Of the three misses, two of them came in the waning moments where even one make would have effectively ended the game. Worse still, he probably could have gotten the ball to Irving before he was fouled, allowing the better free throw shooter to get the opportunity at the line. He rebounded well and had a few defensive efforts that don’t hit the box score and the fact the outcome was a win finds us giving him a bit of a bump on his grade.
Daniel Gafford: 5/10
8 PTS / 2 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 20 MIN
Gafford was foul-happy, playing himself off the court early on. He showed better control during the latter part of the game, but having him on the floor consistently to match up with Ivica Zubac would have helped along the way. He was solid in the limited minutes and managed to show some passing ability but it was a somewhat mundane night.
Santi Aldama: 7/10
10 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 19 MIN
Aldama was 4-of-9 from the floor, but only 1-of-5 from downtown. Even with the longball not falling, he did a nice job maximizing his limited minutes. He had a soft touch around the rim and put himself in the right spots – especially impressive given he just returned from injury had had no prior reps with his teammates before just a couple games ago.
Final Thoughts
This was a hard-fought game that came down to the final possession. Dallas was on the second night of a back-to-back, yet got incredible offensive performances from both Flagg and Irving. The team plays together and fights hard on every possession. That isn’t to say every possession is pretty, but Dallas continues to stay disciplined and tied together. On Monday night, that cohesion resulted in a great clutch win.
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New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown directs his team against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
At this stage in the season, winning isn’t enough for the Knicks.
The champions care more about how they win.
“Obviously, we want to play well, we want to win, but we also want to continue to grow as a team and try not to plateau,” Jalen Brunson said after practice Monday. “I think the way we do that is to continue to try to see how we can win games differently.”
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown directs his team against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. AP Photo/Phil Long
That sentiment trickles down from head coach Mike Brown. Constant experimentation is a core staple to his philosophy. It feels like there’s a surprise in the box score every game.
His players believe that brings the best out of them.
“It’s kind of a freeing thing, playing that way, knowing that you don’t have to really be looking over your shoulder or thinking that one thing is gonna ruin whatever,” Landry Shamet said Monday. “And I think that he knows that we have that makeup as a group, too, that we’re all on the same page in wanting the best for each other — the next man up kind of mentality. It’s from top to bottom, and it’s a good environment to have.”
Brown used an 11-man rotation for Saturday’s 109-97 win in Cleveland. That wasn’t the result of garbage-time minutes, as all 11 saw the court in the first half. It was clear Brown wanted to get guys involved who are usually out of the rotation, such as Mohamed Diawara and Dalton Knecht.
It represents the biggest difference between Brown and predecessor Tom Thibodeau, who established a rotation and stuck strictly to it unless forced to change. Thibodeau prioritized maximizing his chances of winning every single night. Brown looks at the regular season more like a canvas to try new lineups, rotations and systems so that, by the end of the year, he has more available in his toolkit.
That process might be ugly at times, but it’s designed to deliver long-term results.
Brown credits it as a big reason for their championship last season. The likes of Shamet and Jordan Clarkson spent time in and out of the rotation all year but stepped up in the postseason when their number was called. The shift to an offense built around Karl-Anthony Towns as a hub was only possible because they toyed with it during the regular season.
Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks dribbles against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. NBAE via Getty Images
“It builds trust,” Brown said Monday, “because it’s like, ‘Hey, they trust me to go out there and play right now, even though I might not have played in two or three games.’ It helps with connectivity because guys feel more part of it, because they’re getting an opportunity. It helps with everybody’s readiness because the reality of it is, if a guy is sitting on the bench and he’s been there game after game after game, which happens sometimes — I’m not saying that will never happen because it’s gonna happen sometimes — then he may lose a little interest and relax a little bit because it’s like, ‘Hey, I’m not going in.’ But then, if you call their number every once in a while, throw them in a game, now they know, ‘Oh, I gotta be ready.’ ”
Even Jaden Akins, signed to a two-way deal like Knecht, has seen a little action beyond garbage time.
“If he can go in the game during some real moments,” Brown said, “anybody can.”
It’s different from Thibodeau’s final season, when he inserted Shamet and Delon Wright into the rotation out of desperation in the Eastern Conference final, having hardly used them previously.
Under Brown, there is a track record on which to fall back for everyone on the team, even if they go long stretches out of the rotation.
“It builds a lot, when you’re talking about building a team,” Brown said. “And then at the end of the day, your guys get used to it, so come playoff time, if you try something new or different when it comes to the lineups, it’s not like, ‘Oh my God, what’s going on? We’ve never done this.’ Nah, we’ve done it.”
There is the flip side, though. Playing time and roles constantly are changing. Jose Alvarado started the year as the backup point guard but now finds himself behind Tyler Kolek in the pecking order after missing time due to an ankle injury. There is constant fluctuation with the bench players in how much time each plays. That could cause problems.
Not with these Knicks.
“That’s just kind of the makeup of our group, and that’s special,” Shamet said. “Typically, you go to a lot of NBA locker rooms, there’s some ulterior motives and personal agendas — which is part of why we’re all here, is some ego, of course. Everybody is a good player at this level and is striving to get to something or be somewhere. But very rarely does that take a backseat to just truly buying into one another, wanting the best because, ultimately, good things come from that for everyone. It’s special. It’s really special.”
Alberts Smits #12 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, in New York.
EDMONTON, Alberta — Alberts Smits is considered week to week with an upper-body injury, the Rangers announced Monday.
The rookie defenseman had appeared in all 17 games for the Rangers before he was a last-minute scratch for the win over Seattle on Saturday. Despite taking warmups against the Kraken, Smits ultimately didn’t dress and watched from the press box with the other scratches for the first time this season.
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“I don’t know exactly when it happened,” head coach Mike Sullivan said before the Rangers fell 3-1 to the Oilers at Rogers Place on Monday. “It wasn’t during warmup, but yes, obviously, he was dealing with it. I don’t know the exact time.”
Smits is the second Rangers defenseman to go down with an injury this season, after the Rangers put Sean Durzi on injured reserve with a lower-body injury last week. Durzi participated in an optional morning skate Monday in a red noncontact jersey, which indicates the 28-year-old blueliner is progressing toward a return after missing his fifth straight game.
Since his injury is retroactive to Oct. 26, however, Durzi can be activated and slot back into the Rangers lineup at any time.
Their pair has been a bit of a weak spot for the Rangers this season, but Smits continues to adjust to the NHL game.
Alberts Smits #12 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, in New York. NHLI via Getty Images
Among the 46 defense pairs who have logged at least 140 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, Braden Schneider and Smits’ 3.63 expected goals against per 60 is the second highest, per Natural Stat Trick.
The only duo with a higher rate is the Sharks’ Michael Kesselring and Darnell Nurse (3.82 xGA/60).
“I think Smitty’s learning curve has been steep,” Sullivan said. “I think he’s getting better and better with every game he’s played. I’ve said to you guys all along, I think No. 1, playing defense in this league is the hardest position to play for so many reasons. That’s a huge challenge for an 18-year-old kid to step into the NHL and play that position. I think he’s done an admirable job. He’s big, he’s strong, he has a good stick, he has mobility, he closes on people, he has a quiet confidence about him. He’s learning on the job, so to speak. We think he’s getting better and better. We’re excited about potentially where his game will eventually grow to.”
With Smits and Durzi both unavailable again, defensemen Scott Morrow and Matthew Robertson both remained in the lineup.
After he was scratched the last time the Blueshirts were in Edmonton, Robertson played in front of his home crowd for the first time. “It’d be super, super meaningful,” he said. “Be a really cool experience getting to play in front of your hometown, family and friends in the building. It’s a game I’ve really wanted to play for a long time. It’s something you dream of growing up, playing in front of your hometown.”
Luke Glendening returned to the Rangers lineup Monday night after serving as a healthy scratch the past three games.
As a result, Matt Rempe was the odd man out for the 14th time this season.
Bobby Sheehan, who played a notable role in the Rangers’ run to the 1979 Stanley Cup Final, died Saturday at his Massachusetts home, the Canadiens announced.
He was 77 years old. A cause of death was not revealed.
“We join the hockey community in mourning the loss of Bobby Sheehan, who played an integral role in helping the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 1979,” the Rangers said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with Bobby’s family, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time.”
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