ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Sal Frelick #10 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after hitting an RBI Double during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game three of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field on October 26, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Do you hear that sound? It’s the sound of every Wisconsinite getting out their decorative beer mugs in preparation for a win tonight and their first World Series championship…ever.
The Brewers are up 3-0 on the Rays, and the chances that Milwaukee gets the series eventually are very, very high. Still, I’m a little surprised they aren’t turning to Jacob Misiorowski here. Yes, it’s on short rest, but he is very clearly their best pitcher. Him pitching today means that he’d also be available in Game 7 a la He Who Shall Not Be Named from the 2014 World Series.
Instead, Dustin May and his 5.64 ERA with Milwaukee this year will be pitching. If there was a chance for Tampa to eke out a win (or start a comeback), it seems like today would be the day.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with referee Courtney Kirkland #61 during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Rocket Arena on October 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers clawed their way back from a 15-point first-half deficit to defeat the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves127-125 in an overtime thriller on Monday evening. However, they may have gotten some help from the referees in completing the comeback. Based on the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report, the Cavs were the beneficiaries of two missed calls at the end of regulation and overtime that assisted in the victory.
The first incorrect call came at the end of regulation. The league says that Anthony Edwards should’ve been awarded free throws on a drive to the basket in the final seconds of regulation.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. The above shirt can be bought at the link HERE. Homage’s entire Ohio State collection can be found HERE.
It’s difficult to see any foul on this particular angle. Harden helped from the corner and certainly reached in. Maybe a different angle would give you a clearer view of the alleged foul. Edwards did throw his palms up in frustration when he saw a foul wasn’t called, suggesting that there was some contact there.
If this was called according to the report, the Cavs would’ve likely needed to make a basket to tie or win the game in the final 4.2 seconds of regulation.
The second missed call came at another important moment. LaMelo Ball shouldn’t have been charged with a foul on a late tie-up with Donovan Mitchell at the end of regulation.
This is a much more obvious missed call than the first one. Here, Mitchell does seem to just dribble into Ball’s foot and lose the ball. Any contact that occurred was after Mitchell just dribbled straight into Ball. The whistle shouldn’t have blown, and play should’ve been allowed to continue. The closing seconds could’ve played out differently if this wasn’t called a foul.
The Cavs earned a hard-fought victory on Monday. These two missed calls don’t take away from that, but Cleveland is fortunate that these decisions went in their favor.
A day after Anthony Edwards dropped 47 points during the Minnesota Timberwolves first loss of the season, ESPN’s Shams Charania hit us with some devastating news.
Just in: Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his ailing right knee and miss up to two months, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/HenrAY2APs
There were murmurs about the health of Anthony Edwards’ knees heading into this season. After developing “runner’s knee” in his right knee last season, he had to miss a handful of games with the ailment. The All-NBA guard went into the postseason hurting, but then brutally hyperextended his left knee in the postseason against the Denver Nuggets. He worked his butt off to get back on the court in time for the second round matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, despite operating at suboptimal health.
Edwards was listed as questionable leading up to tip-off on Monday, but ultimately exploded for a season-high in points. However, he had already been seen wincing in pain and grabbing at his knee throughout the previous contests. He’s even missed postgame media availability all season due to getting treatment on that very knee. Ant is notorious for playing through injury, but despite averaging a career-best 33.3 points per game this season, the Wolves award-winning medical staff decided this was the best route to go. A more long-term fix instead of season-long management.
Still, this sucks.
The Wolves were one of the most exciting and fun stories early in this season. Their 3-1 start and blossoming chemistry on and off the court was the talk of many shows and podcasts. This is a stark reality check that things can be snatched away in an instant. No one knows that more than the 2025 NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who recently lost two starters in Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to even more brutal and long-term injuries. There appeared to be a window for another Western Conference team to burst through.
That can still be the Timberwolves!
Luckily for Minnesota, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has built this iteration of the team to be deep at the guard position. Ayo Dosunmu, fresh off signing a new five-year contract, has been nothing short of awesome for the Wolves. He’ll likely get first dibs at starting for the next few months. Terrence Shannon Jr. has found his footing this season, providing a steady offensive punch that his team will desperately need. There are decent peripheral options to backfill the bench guard positions between Jaylen Clark and Bones Hyland.
Obviously no one can fill the big shoes of Edwards alone. The team’s chemistry will truly be tested now. If it wasn’t for his Herculean effort against Cleveland yesterday, Minnesota would have likely been throttled in regulation. LaMelo Ball and Jaden McDaniels will have to step up as leaders on the court.
As far as Ant’s recovery timeline, it’s always hard to tell with these things. History will tell you that he’ll beat the projected return date. Two months from now would be end of December and just about 30 games away. That would immediately put Edwards out of contention for regular season awards, thus a true supermax extension option would be off the table. Will this matter later?
I’ll take the blame for this one though, ya’ll. I had to ask the stupid question of what Wolves fans biggest fears was and of course, it came to fruition. My bad.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Chandler Simpson #14 and Richie Palacios #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays look on from the dugout during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field on October 26, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I don’t want the Rays to win the World Series. I didn’t want them to win before Game 1, and I ESPECIALLY don’t want them to win it now that they’re down three games to none, because I don’t want any team other than the 2004 Red Sox to ever win after being down three games to none ever again. This is very important to me.
Having said that, my God, Rays, please win tonight. There are few more depressing days than the first few days after the baseball season ends, when the rhythm that has dictated your life since late March suddenly disappears. You don’t notice its absence on the first day after the series. Maybe you don’t notice it on the second day, either. But that third day is brutal. The third day brings that realization that the foreseeable future is dark and cold and has nothing for you at 7:10 PM on a Tuesday night.
Moreover, it’s been a lackluster postseason and we deserve a good series. Griffin Jax will take the mound at 8 on FOX for the Rays to try to give us one. He’ll be opposed by … wait, really? This isn’t a typo or some kind of Mandela Effect thing going on? Really? REALLY?Okay, sure, whatever. Life is mysterious and unknowable, I guess… Dustin May.
As if Senators fans needed another reason to dislike Brady Tkachuk, Sens owner Michael Andlauer just gave them one.
During an appearance on the Coming in Hot podcast on Tuesday morning, Andlauer discussed Tkachuk's return to Ottawa and dropped a nugget that's sure to irritate Sens fans even further.
Travis Green looks ahead to Tuesday's game against Vegas after Saturday's win over the New York Rangers (Senators YouTube).
When Tkachuk faced the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre last Wednesday, this time as a member of the Florida Panthers, he was booed relentlessly from the pregame warmup until he left the game with a double minor penalty late in the third period.
We knew the fans would be furious with Tkachuk, but even the players seemed extra ticked off. He was their captain, the guy who talked about winning Cups here someday and went around scolding people for daring to question his commitment to Ottawa.
Then he asked for a trade with two years still remaining on his contract.
The hostility surrounding Tkachuk's return was greater on the ice than most people expected. And now we may have another reason why.
According to Andlauer, when Tkachuk opened the scoring in the first period, he had the nerve to skate past the Senators' bench, chirping the teammates he'd left behind and bragging about his scoring prowess.
"Some things never change, eh boys?"
That's what Andlauer says Tkachuk told the Senators' bench.
If Tkachuk ever had any respect for his former teammates, he'd go into this game feeling some remorse about the way he ended things, which doesn't mean playing the game any differently than he normally does. But after you've let your teammates down so profoundly, trying to dunk in their face in your first game back is as about as tone-deaf as it gets.
As we know now, the Senators had the last laugh. Hell, they're still laughing a week later. They trampled Tkachuk's new team and no returning player has ever had a rougher welcome home.
"I don't think that (comment) motivated our players much," Andlauer said sarcastically, with a smile.
The Senators scored five unanswered goals to win 5-1.
In fairness, Tkachuk's comment wasn't totally off-base. He was still out there taking undisciplined penalties while grotesquely gnawing away at his mouthguard like a dog with a chew toy.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 19: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 19, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As their two days of rest ends, the Sixers released a pretty clean injury report for their nationally televised bout against the Indiana Pacers. VJ Edgecombe, who was a late scratch from Philadelphia’s previous game vs. Detroit with an abdominal contusion, is not listed at all. Neither is Joel Embiid for that matter, who missed the second part of that back-to-back with plantar fasciitis management, so the whole starting five will be good to go in Indy.
Indiana’s injury report is far more lengthy after falling to the Milwaukee Bucks two days prior. Ivica Zubac has already been ruled with an ankle sprain, and Tyrese Haliburton is questionable with left hamstring tightness. Haliburton has played in all four of the Pacers’ games so far since returning from his torn achilles.
Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith are at least probable. Andrew Nembhard is questionable after missing that Bucks loss with neck soreness. They have three more reserves already ruled out including former Sixer T.J. McConnell.
Injury Report for tomorrow's game against the 76ers:
Aaron Nesmith – Probable (left hamstring strain) Obi Toppin – Probable (left hand sprain) Tyrese Haliburton – Questionable (left hamstring tightness) Andrew Nembhard – Questionable (neck soreness) Ben Sheppard – Out (left… pic.twitter.com/Kdok5dcrkG
If the Pacers are down this many players, it lines up for plenty of opportunity for Kelly Oubre Jr. in his first game against the Sixers after spending the last three seasons in Philadelphia.
Per ESPN, the 25-year-old is having an “arthroscopic procedure” on his right knee.
Edwards had yet to miss any games for the 3-1 Timberwolves, averaging 33.3 points in 33.8 minutes per game. He was the early league leader in field goals made and attempted. On Monday, Oct. 26, he scored 47 points in 41 minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was his second game with at least 45 points this season.
He was on the NBA's latest injury report, listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Now, though, he seemingly could be out until the calendar flips to 2027.
The Timberwolves took big swings this offseason, trading away Julius Randle and Naz Reid while bringing in LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga. The early returns were promising, but now Minnesota must navigate a tough Western Conference without its best player.
Edwards is a perennial All-Star and the best pure shooting guard in the NBA. Through four games, he's avweraging 33.3 points per game, and he is a three-tier scorer, who is just as lethal from 3-point range as he is slashing to the basket and getting to the cup. He is one of the premier offensive forces in the world, and his competitive spirit sets the standard for the Timberwolves. He'll be sorely missed.
Yet, Minnesota's offseason acquisition of LaMelo Ball and its investment in backup guard Ayo Dosunmu does provide some relief for the Timberwolves to try to weather this stretch without Edwards. Ball has been solid for Minnesota so far this season. He's a player who can initiate offense and create his own shot. To be clear: spacing and defensive attention will be trickier with Edwards out, but Ball is equipped to take on more scoring responsibility.
Dosunmu should be elevated into a starting role. He's also a talented scorer and wields dynamic speed and athleticism. He also showed last postseason — when both Edwards and guard Donte DiVincenzo were knocked out with injuries — that he could carry the Timberwolves, at least in a spot basis; in Game 4 of Minnesota's first round series against the Nuggets, Dosunmu dropped 43 points in a victory in which the Timberwolves were massively shorthanded.
Minnesota's Anthony Edwards will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his ailing right knee and could miss up to two months, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. However, Edwards could return sooner than eight weeks, depending on what the doctors find during the surgery.
This is a proactive move by the Timberwolves, who look at how they have played and the landscape of the West early in the season and think they can be in the mix to come out of the conference. By having the surgery now, Edwards will be back around Christmas at the latest, and the team will have plenty of time to ensure a high seed and get its chemistry right before the playoffs.
While it's just four games, Edwards has played at an MVP level to start the season and has led the Timberwolves to a strong 3-1 record. He's averaging 33.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 40% from 3-point range.
More scoring and shot-creation load will now fall on LaMelo Ball and Jaden McDaniels.
On Tuesday, Williams was asked about the league’s ruling and said that if he had to do it again, he’d do it.
“Do I agree with it? Not necessarily, but it’s the league’s rule,” Williams told Khobi Price of the California Post. “I paid my fine. If I gotta flop again to get a win, then that’s what I’ll do.”
Ziaire Williams on the NBA fining him $2K for flopping late in Sunday's win over the Jazz.
Said he doesn't necessarily agree with the league's ruling ("I thought it was a good defensive play) and is hoping to appeal the fine. Added: "if I gotta flop again to get a win, then… https://t.co/oFY6KESqeGpic.twitter.com/etqpUqo0PH
Lakers forward Ziaire Williams opens up about being fined $2,000 for flopping. NBAE via Getty Images
Williams added that he asked his agent, Aaron Mintz of CAA Sports, to look into appealing it.
“I thought it was a good defensive play,” Williams said. “… I sent it to my agent; hopefully we can appeal it, but if not, it is what it is.”
Williams was asked if the money has already been pulled from his bank account. “Oh, I’m pretty sure they did. I don’t know where that money is going, but they [took] it out of that account real quick.”
Williams’ flop happened at the 4:44 mark of the fourth quarter after he exaggerated contact when Jazz guard Keyonte George drove to the basket.
George’s attempted play was a midrange shot that would’ve put Utah up by three points. Instead, he was called for an offensive foul — resulting in Los Angeles gaining possession of the ball.
The Lakers’ Ziaire Williams opens up about being fined $2,000 for flopping on Sunday. NBAE via Getty Images
While the Lakers went on to win the game, Williams said his play isn’t the worst flopping play the NBA has seen and is curious to see what happens the rest of the season.
“I’m not mad about [it] or anything, and it’s not going to affect the way I play defense. I’m always going to do what it takes to win,” Williams said.
The Lakers’ Ziaire Williams attempts to block Jaren Jackson during the Lakers’ comeback victory Sunday. Getty Images
The Chicago Blackhawks are off to a lousy start in 2026-27. They came in with the expectation that young players would take a step forward and that they'd be playing more meaningful games in March.
They weren't unrealistic and saying it's playoffs or bust, but they wanted to stay much closer to the playoff line as the season moved along.
That isn't trending to be the case for the Blackhawks after about a month of the season. They are already well below .500 and are more points out of the playoffs than they are in the standings. That's never a good sign, even early.
When that is the case, teams start to look ahead to the upcoming draft. The Blackhawks would never admit it, but they are trending towards having another top pick. In 2022, they picked 7th. In 2023, they picked 1st. In 2024, they picked 2nd. In 2025, they picked 3rd. In 2026, they had the 4th overall pick but traded it. There have also been other first-round picks sprinkled in there from trades.
On Monday, NHL Central Scouting revealed its preliminary rankings for the 2027 NHL Draft. If the season continues on its current path, the Blackhawks will make it a 5th straight year with a top-5 pick.
You can see the prospect ranking from NHL Central Scouting here. The most notable name here that you will see as many people's projected number one is Michigan defenseman Landon Dupont. If the Blackhawks were to win the 2027 NHL Draft Lottery, they would absolutely consider him.
Highly anticipated prospect Landon DuPont was among players to earn an A rating on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list for the 2027 #NHLDraft.
Other prospects include Nazar Privalov, Alexis Joseph, Sergei Skvortsov, and Carter Meyer, among others. All of them have an A grade, which means that they are receiving a first-round grade. B grades are for second and third-round grades; C grades are for fourth and fifth-round grades, and W grades for for sixth and seventh round grades. LV means "limited viewing", which means that the league's scouts would like to view the player before giving him a grade.
Of the A-grade players, 21 are forwards, 5 are defensemen, and 1 is a goalie. That is a drastic difference from the preliminary ranking of the 2026 class, which had 15 forwards, 10 defensemen, and no goalies.
The goaltender is Vilmer Salen Forsberg, who currently plays for the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs. It is unlikely that the Blackhawks will draft a goalie high due to having Spencer Knight and Drew Commesso in the mix, but they do have some recent ties to Brantford when it comes to drafting.
Only time will tell how these projections play out as the season goes along. For the Blackhawks, they would prefer to not be thinking about the draft so soon, but their performance isn't doing them any favors. At some point, the losing will force the reality that one of these top prospects will be a possibility.
With NHL Central Scouting releasing its preliminary list of players to watch from the 2027 draft class, @theTonyFerrari breaks down some of the noteworthy names and where they currently stand among this crop of talent: https://t.co/ougXG50TMi
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Anthony Edwards was among the NBA’s leading scorers through the first week of the season, and he was helping make the Minnesota Timberwolves the most exciting team in the league. Now the 25-year-old superstar is set to miss the next two months as he’s set to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Edwards’ knee had been bothering him during preseason, but he fought through it to drop 45 points in the season opener, and then 47 points in an overtime loss to the Cavs on Monday night. One day later, the team decided its best for Edwards to take care of his knee now so he can be healthy for the most important games of the season. This injury seemingly ends Edwards’ MVP case — candidates must play at least 65 games — and will probably put a big dent in Minnesota’s regular season record.
There have been so many injuries already early in the season. The Oklahoma City Thunder likely lost Jalen Williams for the year to a nasty dislocated ankle, then lost Cason Wallace for several months to a torn labrum. The Pistons are already down Jalen Duren to a hamstring strain, and the Utah Jazz are now without Jaren Jackson Jr. for two months after a torn MCL. The Orlando Magic have already seen Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs go down. That’s just the start of it.
Injuries impact every season, and they’re coming for this one early. Here’s hoping Edwards can get right again for the games that really matter.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 26: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at TD Garden on October 26, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rough start might be an understatement for the Brooklyn Nets. The worst part? Opponents aren’t getting any easier.
Brooklyn dropped its third straight game Sunday, falling 136-109 to the Indiana Pacers on the backend of a back-to-back. Now, the Nets head to Boston to face a Celtics team that dealt with its fair share of drama this offseason, but continues to push as a championship threat on the back of Jayson Tatum.
Boston is coming off a 134-99 win over the Chicago Bulls. That sounds like bad news for the Nets who can’t find answers on the defensive end. As Erik Slater noted, the Nets are giving up 23.3 wide-open threes per game (6+ feet of space) and opponents are shooting 50% on those looks. Combine that with poor rim protection and you’re looking at an unconvincing 0-3 start.
Head coach Jordi Fernández didn’t mince words after Sunday’s loss.
“The performance that we put on after the first quarter was just unacceptable. 112 points in three quarters — you’re not winning basketball games.”
The Nets will get some help with Mikel Brown Jr. expected back after sitting out Sunday’s game for injury management. Brooklyn needs to find a response before this early-season skid grows into something they can’t salvage.
Game Info & How to Watch
Matchup: Brooklyn Nets (0-3) at Boston Celtics (2-1)
Time: 7:30 PM EDT
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV/Streaming: YES Network and DAZN
Nets-Celtics Injury Report
Brooklyn Nets
Joshua Jefferson: OUT (G League assignment)
Drake Powell: OUT (G League assignment)
Ben Saraf: OUT (G League assignment)
Tyler Bilodeau: OUT (G League assignment, two-way)
Grant Nelson: OUT (G League assignment, two-way)
Boston Celtics
Injury report: TBD
Game Preview
“[Mikel Brown Jr.] will be one of several guards chasing Payton Pritchard around tonight. Pritchard hit for 28 points and seven three-pointers last night as he had the Bulls in a blender. PP has been one of the best reserve guards in recent years and is someone Mazzulla and the team can count on to deliver no matter what the role is on a given night. His ascension allows for more flexibility and makes things easier across the board for his teammates. For Brown Jr, Pritchard offers a great test against on the defensive side of the ball, while playing against elite competition overall. It should be fun to see how he shapes out against one of the most prepared teams in the NBA.” – Brian Fleurantin
💬 Discussion
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversations. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 7: Head Coach Jordan Ott of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 7, 2026 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Fall is settling into the Valley of the Sun, and the nights are finally becoming crisp. I think nothing of it when my wife gets up in the middle of the night to turn off the ceiling fan. Unfortunately for me, the ceiling fan switch sits next to two other switches, one of which controls the outlet on my side of the bed. How I became the lucky bastard who inherited the switched outlet is one of life’s great mysteries, but here we are.
So when I woke up this morning and discovered that my phone hadn’t charged all night, I quickly pieced together what had happened. While stumbling around in the darkness, the Mrs. had initially missed the ceiling fan switch and inadvertently turned off the outlet powering my charger. And as I stood there staring at my lifeless phone, the first thought that entered my basketball-obsessed brain was, “Well, crap. I’ve been disconnected. Much like the Phoenix Suns defense.”
I landed that plane, didn’t I?
After surrendering 143 points in the season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, your instinct was to chalk it up as a variance game. “Shit happens,” as Forrest Gump says, and with all the emotion Portland was riding into its season opener surrounding the return of Damian Lillard, you could rationalize the Suns being unprepared to match that energy.
But since then, they’ve surrendered 122 points to the Santa Cruz version of the Golden State Warriors and another 125 to an extremely banged-up Oklahoma City Thunder team. It’s beginning to look less like that season opener was a fluke and more like the defensive identity of the Phoenix Suns, much like a lonely iPhone in the night, is disconnected.
Watching their collective performance has been a shock to the system for a team that built its reputation on that side of the ball a season ago. And the only thing more disappointing than watching it unfold is opening up the stats section on NBA.com to assess the damage. Because yes, it is damaging.
The Suns are allowing 123.7 points per game, which shockingly is only the fifth-most in the NBA. But their 124.5 defensive rating? Yeah, that’s the worst in the league. Their rebounding percentage sits dead last at 42.9%, and they’re tied for allowing the most second-chance points at 23.0 per night.
This team reminds me of the one we watched during the back half of last season. You know the one. The team that went 14–16 over its final 30 games. But there was justification for that team being as discombobulated as it was, right? Injuries were the culprit, not the system. You could point to the fact that over those final 30 games, Devin Booker missed 10, Dillon Brooks missed 20, and Mark Williams missed 10. The stability Phoenix had experienced for most of the season had disappeared, and the results reflected it.
What we witnessed at the end of last season looks an awful lot like what we’re seeing at the beginning of this one. Opposing teams are manipulating the Suns’ defense in ways that are both predictable and unacceptable. Guards are slicing into the lane unimpeded, getting to the rim for layups that are weakly contested because the rotating big man arrives late. And why is he late? Because he’s busy guarding his own guy. You can’t have catastrophic defensive collapses where nobody stops the ball and then expect your center to magically erase the mistake at the rim.
When perimeter defenders are continually beaten, and penetration occurs, the defense collapses to compensate. And when that happens, wide-open three-pointers become available. The Suns currently rank 29th in perimeter defense, with opponents shooting 40.7% from beyond the arc through the first three games.
Oh, and the rebounding? Per Basketball University, the Suns are permitting their opponents to grab 43.3% of their own misses. If Phoenix does somehow stop the opposition on a possession, odds are they’ll get another crack at it.
Phoenix is currently allowing opponents to grab 43.3% (!) of their own misses. Impossible to produce good defense when you have to defend 1.5x more possessions than you should have to.
Part of me is beginning to wonder whether we were too quick to blame injuries for the way Phoenix struggled down the stretch last season. Because what we’re witnessing at the front end of this year looks remarkably similar to what we saw at the back end of last year. Is it the same issue? Is unfamiliarity the primary culprit? Because if it is, that problem was never fixed last season.
And when I look at teams like the Warriors and Thunder, who have been limping through games against Phoenix over the past two contests, they still appear connected defensively. They have guys out there I’ve never heard of (I’ve got a vanilla iced protein latte for Josh Dix here), yet somehow, strategically and schematically, they’re finding ways to defend as a cohesive unit. Hell, the Thunder were throwing a 2-3 zone at the Suns, and Phoenix couldn’t figure out how to crack it.
Yes, my friends, the Suns look disconnected. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult to determine whether the problem is the personnel or the scheme.
Three games is a small sample, but the similarities to last season’s collapse are becoming difficult to ignore. At some point, Jordan Ott and his staff have to determine whether the system is putting players in positions to succeed or exposing their deficiencies. And the players have to execute their responsibilities within it. There’s accountability on both sides. Because right now, the Suns are playing defense like five individuals sharing a court rather than five teammates sharing a purpose. Somebody needs to find the damn light switch.
Milwaukee Brewers fans cheer for their team before Game 4 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The 2026 World Series shifted to Tampa Bay for Game 3 on Monday night, but the change in scenery failed to slow the Milwaukee Brewers. The National League champions won 10-1 to move within one victory of their first World Series title. After scoring two runs in the third inning, the Brew Crew erupted for eight runs with two outs in the fifth. Left-hander Robert Gasser was unfazed by the hostile road environment, allowing one hit over six scoreless innings.
The Rays are fighting history, as no team has ever overcome an 0-3 deficit in the World Series. Tampa Bay must win Game 4 tonight to keep its season alive and force a Game 5 on Wednesday. However, the Brewers are looking to finish the series in four games and join the 1976 Cincinnati Reds as the only teams to sweep both the NLCS and the World Series.
The only teams to sweep the NLCS and World Series…
Through three games, the Brewers have simply been the better team. Milwaukee’s offense has delivered more clutch hits, while its starters and relievers have outperformed their Rays counterparts. Both teams feature strong bullpens, but Tampa Bay’s relief corps faltered at the worst possible time. If the Rays hope to begin a comeback, they must generate more offense and eliminate defensive and base running errors.
The Rays will turn to right-hander Griffin Jax for the biggest start of his career. Jax has struggled this postseason, allowing four earned runs in six innings over two appearances. Earlier this year, the Brewers scored five runs against him in an outing in which he recorded just three outs. Facing elimination, Rays manager Kevin Cash will keep Jax on a short leash and pull him early if he runs into trouble.
Here’s how the Rays stack up for this must-win Game 4:
The Brewers will counter with right-hander Dustin May. He has made four appearances this postseason, but only one was a start, in which he lasted three innings. Given that, May likely will serve as the opener, pitching two or three innings before handing the ball to left-hander Shane Drohan or another Brewers pitcher.
If the Brewers take Game 4, it will not only be the first title in their history, but also the first World Series sweep since 2012, when the Giants swept the Tigers.
I’d like to see the Rays win tonight if for no other reasons than this: More baseball is always good, and we don’t know when MLB players will next take the field after this World Series due to the looming owners’ lockout.
7 p.m. CT: Brewers at Rays (Brewers lead series 3-1)
TV: Fox-TV, Fox One (streaming). Announcers: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci.
