BOSTON, MA - MAY 11: Hitting coach Peter Fatse of the Boston Red Sox looks on during batting practice before a game against the Washington Nationals on May 11, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was no news regarding what will happen with assistants Edwar Gonzalez and Rafael Pena but there will be a new top guy in Fatse.
Fatse started his coaching career as a hitting coordinator with the Minnesota Twins in 2019 and then went to Boston right after the season. He was eventually promoted to be the Red Sox hitting coach before the 2022 season and was in that role until a coaching staff clean out in the April of 2026 which started with Alex Cora.
From 2022-2025, the Red Sox ranked 14th in wRC+ although did not always have the best offensive players at his disposal. Tyler O’Neill put together the 2nd best season of his career under Fatse in 2023 with a .847 OPS, eventually earning a three-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles and has not been able to recapture the same form. Jarren Duran did his best hitting during that span and regressed hard in 2026. Ceddanne Rafaela has grown into a very capable offensive player.
There have also been players who did not meet expectations. Kristian Campbell has not panned out as a top prospect for the Sox. Marcello Mayer was another one who was eventually traded at the deadline for Erik Miller and a prospect. Whether the successes or failures of certain Red Sox hitters deserve to be on Peter Fatse is not clear and never will be but it’s worth pointing out both.
This may be all a coincidence but they just hired someone with a real connection to Alex Cora and who was part of the Red Sox staff cleaning in April. This storyline is just not going away.
Remember when he was in the midst of one of the most remarkable stretches we witnessed from any player last season? You know, when he averaged 37.5 points, eight rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.3 steals in March, leading the Lakers to a 15-2 record, yet he somehow fell in NBA.com’s MVP rankings at that time?
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a 3-point basket during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“The better I play, the more I go down in rankings,” Doncic said last March. “So, I don’t know what more I can do.”
Everyone turned their cheek. Why?
Maybe people are inured to his greatness. Maybe all of his complaining to officials reduced that comment to white noise, even though it was his first and only time opening up about feeling snubbed last season. Maybe he doesn’t advocate for himself enough.
Doncic’s point was stunningly driven home again.
Despite leading the league in scoring last season (33.5 points) and finishing third in assists (8.3), none of the NBA’s general managers believe Dončić will win MVP this season.
In their preseason poll released October 15, Victor Wembanyama received 77% of the vote for projected MVP, followed by Nikola Jokic (10%) and Anthony Edwards (7%). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum also received votes.
Doncic?
Zero. Nil. Nada.
What were the league’s general managers thinking? Why is he being overlooked? What’s going on here?
Those questions have been thrust to the forefront of our minds after Doncic finished with 52 points on 56.7% shooting, eight rebounds and 10 assists on Sunday, helping the Lakers storm back from an 18-point deficit to beat the Jazz, 132-123.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw during a game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
It was a masterpiece.
Since the Mavericks traded Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025, he has had more 40-point performances (19) than LeBron James (18), who spent eight seasons in Los Angeles.
It was Doncic’s 10th 50-point performance of his career. Since he was drafted by the Mavericks as the third overall pick in 2018, only James Harden (16) and Damian Lillard (11) have had more 50-point perforances than Doncic. It was the first time this season that anyone has scored 50 points.
Doncic is a once-in-a-generation player. Why isn’t he getting more consideration for the league’s most prestigious individual honor?
Doncic has never won MVP despite leading the league in scoring twice and carrying the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024.
Warriors star Draymond Green has a theory.
“I still wholeheartedly believe he never wins an MVP because he’s in year nine and the people who vote, they’ve already moved on,” Green said on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show. “…Voters get fatigued with seeing you being great over and over again, and if you haven’t jumped that threshold of the MVP great, then they move on. And they’ve moved on.”
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles while talking to the media during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
It’s a shame for Doncic.
The Lakers are now his team after LeBron James left in free agency for the 76ers in July. Doncic is taking that responsibility very seriously. He had a major say in the roster moves last offseason, including the Lakers acquiring Walker Kessler. And for the first time in his career, he hosted a mini camp in Slovenia in August so the team could build chemistry.
“It would definitely mean a lot,” Dončić told the newspaper. “Obviously a championship, that’s what you play for every game. That’s what you train for everyday. But obviously it would be nice to win the MVP also. Not everybody can say they have an MVP, so obviously that would be nice.
“But that comes with the team first. If you don’t play good, you’re never going to win championships or MVP. So, we’ve got to play good. I’m very excited to go to war with these people. I think we had a great training camp and we’re ready to go.”
For Doncic, who’s notably shy, that was him putting himself out there.
He badly wants this. He’s never going to advocate for himself the way Victor Wembanyama did last season. He’s the best offensive player in the NBA, but the team-first European isn’t going to toot his own horn.
But he shouldn’t have to. Voters shouldn’t need convincing. General managers are paid to know players’ games better than anyone.
So, what’s happening here for Doncic, who finished fourth in MVP voting last season despite earning the scoring title and carrying the Lakers to a fourth-place finish in the West before suffering a strained hamstring in April that sidelined him all postseason?
As Doncic asked last season: What more does he have to do?
Luka Doncic, Jake LaRavia of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Jaxson Hayes of the Utah Jazz hug after a game on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. NBAE via Getty Images
Let’s go through the arguments against him.
He complains too much to the refs. Yeah, so? Since when is that a metric that counts? Or a metric at all?
He doesn’t play enough defense. That didn’t stop Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic or James Harden from winning MVPs.
He can’t win unless his team finishes No. 1 in the West. Russell Westbrook won MVP in 2017 even though the Thunder finished sixth in the West. Jokic won the award in 2021 even though the Nuggets finished third in the conference.
Let’s stop the excuses.
Doncic has a point. Green has a point.
The GMs? They missed the point.
Let’s not punish Doncic because we’re so used to his stunning box scores that we’re no longer impressed by them. Let’s not fall into the lazy trope of only celebrating greatness from players who have already won the award — or looking at up-and-comers.
Dončić has deserved to be at the top of the MVP conversation for a while now.
And considering the stakes he’s playing for now as the face of a 17-time championship franchise, this might be his best season yet.
Everyone needs to have their eyes wide open.
Greatness fatigue can’t be a euphemism for blindness.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 14: LaMelo Ball #1 interacts with Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during a preseason game against the Detroit Pistons at Target Center on October 14, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Pistons defeated the Timberwolves 128-106. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves are playing some of the best basketball in the league right now. They’ve dismantled their first three opponents by an average margin of victory of over 23 points. However, they may not have one of their star players in Monday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Minnesota added Anthony Edwards to the injury report on Monday afternoon with the designation of right knee injury management. Edwards may have tweaked that knee at the end of the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Toronto Raptors. You can see him grimace slightly in the clip below after finishing the fast-break dunk.
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Edwards played just 28 minutes in the Timberwolves’ 117-94 win over the Raptors on Sunday evening. He finished the night scoring 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Through three games, Edwards is averaging 28.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game on 44.3% shooting.
Minnesota will still be a tough test for Cleveland even if Edwards can’t go. The addition of LaMelo Ball has helped elevate their offense. This is part of the reason why the Timberwolves have posted a 122.1 offensive rating (4th in the league) through three games. And they still have a world-class defense with a front line that includes Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.
The rest of Minnesota’s regular starters will be available for Monday. They will, however, still be without Donte DiVincenzo, who is recovering from a right Achilles tendon injury.
The Cavs will be mostly healthy for this game. Nae’Qwan Tomlin remains out with a back injury. The Cavs are still waiting for Khalifa Diop to make his debut. He’s been dealing with a left knee injury.
Three years ago, the smart money said the West belonged to Denver for the rest of the decade. Nikola Jokić was a two-time MVP with a fresh Finals MVP to match, Jamal Murray had turned into a playoff flamethrower, and the Nuggets had just bulldozed through the 2023 postseason like the whole thing was a formality.
They were the first champion after the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 ring, the fourth of the Stephen Curry era. And per The Ringer, when Denver climbed the mountain the word “dynasty” got tossed around Ball Arena like free T-shirts at a timeout:
“Fresh off a summer of victory cigars, champagne toasts, and celebratory dances, the Denver Nuggets are not just preparing to hang their first championship banner in 47 years—they’re eyeing a dynasty.
Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth was candid about his franchise’s goals when we met for lunch in Denver this offseason. “Our guys are tired. It’s going to be hard to repeat,” Booth said. “But if everything is optimized, we should win three or four [titles].”
Nikola Jokic really didn’t know where his NBA Finals MVP trophy ended up 😅
Damn, three or four huh? Then the rest of the league showed up looking for their turn. To be fair to Denver, winning a title is brutally hard. The Nuggets have been in the mix everywhere, they played Game 7s in back-to-back years, and plenty of franchises would kill for that kind of “failure.” They’re absolutely relevant to the title picture out West and they’re a major problem in the conference.
But look at how those runs ended. In 2024, Denver coughed up a 20-point lead in Game 7 at home against Minnesota. In 2025, Oklahoma City dragged them to seven and sent them home. Somewhere in between, the front office fired the head coach and the GM.
And then this past April, it got worse. A Minnesota team missing Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu and Kyle Anderson knocked Denver out in the first round, 110-98 in Game 6 at Target Center. Jaden McDaniels dropped 32 and talked trash the entire series, and he backed every word of it. The Denver Gazette pointed out that this was the first year Denver went out without either Jokić or Murray hurt in a playoff series, and the Nuggets were the No. 3 seed and the favorite.
Nikola Jokic has to HATE the Minnesota Timberwolves 😭
2017: Lost Playoff tie-breaker to Minnesota 2023: Beat Minnesota in 5 games 2024: Lost to Minnesota in 2nd Round 2026: Lost to Minnesota in 1st Round
Jokić’s own assessment afterward was that a first-round exit put them a long way from contention. When the three-time MVP is letting you know the team isn’t good enough, that’s pretty telling. So the charge against Denver isn’t that they only won one ring. It’s that they were set up to contend for years, with the best player in the world locked in, and kept letting the opportunity slip through their fingers one spring at a time.
Jokić is 31. He put up 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game last season like it was a casual Tuesday. The problem has never been the big Serbian man. The problem is everything around him. Yahoo’s preseason preview noted that over the last five regular seasons, Denver was 18.3 points per 100 possessions worse with Jokić on the bench, and called the backup options lackluster again. Some of that gap is just how ridiculous Jokić is, and any team would fall off a cliff without him. But you can trace the rest of it to actual decisions.
The 2023 title team let Bruce Brown walk that summer, then watched Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leave for Orlando a year later, and never really replaced either one. Denver opened this season with an ugly 96-84 loss in Oklahoma City where Jokić went 5-of-19 for 13 points, then needed overtime and a 35-15-10 triple-double from him to get past New Orleans, with the home crowd booing along the way. Do dynasties get booed??
The Pelicans are blowing out the Nuggets in Denver
As the last true dynasty, Dub Nation can now look inward for their own woes.
Golden State walks into Denver at 0-3 after losses to the Lakers (127-105), Memphis (111-108) and Phoenix (131-122). Steph is 38 and Jimmy Butler is still working back from that torn ACL, with a possible return sometime between January and February. Meanwhile Moses Moody is out, and Kristaps Porziņģis isn’t even with the team. Warriors are in no position to be throwing stones. Unless they are stones encrusted into the championship rings from the past decade, then in that case please do.
But that’s how it goes in the Wild Wild West; where fate hands you the keys to the kingdom for a season and immediately starts looking for a new tenant. The difference is the Warriors got four of them before the landlord came knocking. Denver got one, and it’s watching the clock on Jokić’s prime tick louder every spring.
Which brings it all back home. Curry’s window isn’t infinite either, and every game like tonight is a question about whether the Warriors are spending his late years better than Denver is spending Jokić’s prime.
In 2025–26, the Vancouver Canucks tied their franchise’s third-longest winless streak when they hit 11 consecutive games without a win. This streak began on December 30 when the team suffered a 6–3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and finally ended after they recorded their first win of the calendar year on January 21 against the Washington Capitals.
While outside expectations for the Canucks weren’t substantial heading into the 2026–27 season, things haven’t exactly been smooth sailing to start the year. Vancouver is already inching dangerously close to a winless streak like last season’s less than a year after. After registering their 10th consecutive game without a win on Sunday against the Minnesota Wild, the Canucks are only one game away from tying last year’s team for the winless-streak record.
To specify: an NHL winless streak consists of games that have seen a team not register a win, including overtime or shootout losses. The NHL defines a losing streak as a stretch of games in which a team has not even registered a point — thus negating losses that go past regulation.
Vancouver’s last win came against the Calgary Flames on October 3 nearly a month ago. The last time they went past regulation was in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on October 15, putting their current losing streak at four.
Towards the start of this winless streak, the Canucks arguably played with enough effort to produce at least one win, though the results didn’t end in their favour. Most of Vancouver’s best efforts have been on a period-by-period basis.
Any loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday will tie this year’s Canucks team with last year’s (as well as the 1979–80 team) for the third-longest winless streak in club history. The franchise’s longest winless streak is currently held by the 1973–74 team, which went 13 consecutive games without registering a win.
Oct 22, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Detroit Red Wings defenseman William Wallinder (54) celebrates his goal with defenseman Justin Faulk (72) in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 5: Tyon Grant-Foster #34 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the California Classic Game on July 5, 2026 at Chase Center 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Wing Tyon Grant-Foster has dealt with serious health turmoil throughout his life, and now he’s one step closer to fulfilling his dream of playing in the NBA. He was taken with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2026 NBA G League Draft by the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami Heat’s affiliate.
The 6-7 defensive impactor spent his summer with the San Antonio Spurs organization after going undrafted. Through four games with San Antonio, Grant-Foster averaged just 1.0 points in 3.8 minutes per contest.
In his last and only college basketball campaign with the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Grant-Foster averaged 11.1 points on a shooting split of 47.5 field goal percentage, 26.2 three-point percentage, and 61.1 free throw percentage in 35 games played. Grant-Foster made his impact for coach Mark Few with his overall aggressiveness and will-do attitude on the defensive side of the ball, chipping in 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game for the Zags.
There are four other Gonzaga alums who will be spending some time at the NBA’s developmental level on a two-way contract.
Phoenix Suns power forward/center Drew Timme (Valley Suns)
Golden State Warriors forward/center Graham Ike (Santa Cruz Warriors)
Denver Nuggets guard Ryan Nembhard (Grand Rapids Gold)
Toronto Raptors shooting guard Malachi Smith (Raptors 905)
Timme, undersized for his position at the NBA level, comes in late after just recently joining the Phoenix organization on Oct. 19. He was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks at the conclusion of the preseason on Oct. 18.
"Personally, that's probably what I'm best, reading and reacting based off what the defense presents. Did that a bunch in high school and then at Gonzaga, Coach (Mark) Few trusts, especially his bigs, to make plays and reads and stuff. I feel really comfortable with that." Suns… pic.twitter.com/OS71TQZiZh
Ike has been blessed with an opportunity to immediately try to make an impact for a Golden State organization that is looking to ship off an unhealthy center, Kristaps Porzingis, who is contemplating retirement.
The former big man on campus always did the dirty work and received his first double-double during the second start of his NBA career. Ike ended up with 12 points on 5-for-13 field goals and 10 rebounds in the 131-122 loss against Timme’s Suns.
Nembhard has only appeared in one NBA game with Denver, recording five points, one rebound, and one steal in a 96-84 loss at the Oklahoma City Thunder. Smith has yet to make his debut with Toronto, most likely beginning his 2026-27 campaign in the G League. The season officially begins on Nov. 6.
Four additional Zags who aren’t on a two-way contract and will be competing in the G League are wing Jalen Warley with the Noblesville Boom, guard Nolan Hickman with the Capital City Go-Go, forward Anton Watson with the Coachella Valley Lakers, and guard David Stockton with the Valley Suns.
No word on where guard Ryan Woolridge will be spending the upcoming season.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Garrett Mitchell jogged off Tropicana Field after practicing catching fly balls ricocheting off the roof, and ran to the dugout to grab a electrolyte drink before heading back out for batting practice on Sunday night, the day before Game 3 of the World Series.
Mitchell, the Milwaukee Brewers center fielder, has Type 1 diabetes and he’s very aware of how to manage his health – even with the extra challenges in the biggest professional moments of his life: elevated stress, long-running and later games, late workout hours and interrupted routines.
“It starts with hydrating well, eating well, getting good quality sleep,” Mitchell said. “Those are the most important things.”
The week off between the NL Championship Series and the World Series was helpful, to a point, because Mitchell could catch up on a bit of rest. But he still has to make sure he takes care of himself every day, all the time.
Mitchell already had a big fan following, being from Orange, California, and being married to a well-known softball player, but he has become a big-time fan favorite within the Brewers fan base this year, too. After putting baseball injuries behind him, he’s made stunning wall-climbing grabs in the outfield and played his role perfectly on defense between Jackson Chourio to his right and Sal Frelick to his left.
There also are fans who have diabetes, or who are raising money for better treatments and hopefully a cure, who follow Mitchell as well. He already is approachable but he's also open to talking about diabetes with others.
“The community of diabetics is small – it’s still a lot of people,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know what the number is now; when I was younger it was like 16 million. I imagine that number has grown more − but that’s what I knew as a kid.
“I definitely know how special [the community] is.
“Getting the opportunity to talk to people who have it – young children, adults – I’m not thinking about Garrett the baseball player, I’m thinking about Garrett the Type 1 diabetic. So whenever I get an opportunity to have those conversations, or share a little bit of wisdom, or the things that I’ve had to go through, good and bad, and all the challenges, that’s my bread and butter. That’s what I enjoy doing. Being able to share that.”
It's not that common for pro athletes to have diabetes, and it was a bit of a discussion early in Mitchell's career with the Brewers.
“It was certainly something we felt like we had to get a handle on and understand how Garrett manages it,” then-Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a 2022 Journal Sentinel story, “what limitations if any it would put on him throughout a pro career because a pro career requires a lot more than what you’re doing in high school and college.”
But the Brewers quickly realized Mitchell was good at managing his health.
“We became comfortable with his ability to manage it,” Stearns told the Journal Sentinel, “and we also knew that this was one of the reasons why we had the ability to take him where we did – because there was this unusual aspect about his health and there’s just not been a lot of position players at the big-league level who have played with it.”
There was only one time this season when Mitchell left a game to manage blood-sugar levels. In mid-September, Mitchell played a night game and then had a quick turnaround to a day game, and manager Pat Murphy pulled him out as a precaution.
"We took him out precautionary. He had high blood sugar. It happens a lot of times from night game to day game," Murphy said in a wisportsheroics.com story. "The trainers thought it would be best precautionary to take him out."
Mitchell hasn't had any issues with managing diabetes in the playoffs.
The Brewers took the workout at the Tropicana Field seriously on Sunday night, spending a good amount of time working on fielding. The ball was launched into the air so players could react to catching it off the extra markers.
“It was good,” Mitchell said. “It was good to get some live reads, too, to see how the ball was coming off the bat. Off the machine. Yeah, not too bad.”
The St. Louis Blues have condemned what they called an antisemitic protest during a game last week at Enterprise Center.
Blues chairman and governor Tom Stillman says arena staff and law enforcement removed activists who displayed anti-Israel banners during Thursday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Activists displayed banners, including one reading “Israel Kills” with a crossed-out Star of David surrounded by red markings resembling blood. The banners appeared in at least two locations: rinkside seats and a private box overlooking Sections 111 and 112.
Other signs displayed from the private box read “Free America From Israel” and featured images of the Statue of Liberty.
On Monday, the Blues released a statement from chairman Stillman on X.
“The St. Louis Blues organization — and I personally — condemn antisemitic rhetoric in all forms,” said Stillman. “The vile messages of hate briefly displayed at our game last Thursday were unfortunate and unforgivable, and not remotely representative of our fans or our hometown. Our arena staff and local law enforcement responded immediately to confiscate the prohibited banners and eject the offending individuals. Antisemitism has no place in our community, and we will never allow it in our building.”
The Blues remain on home ice for the next two games, concluding their five-game homestand against the Boston Bruins on Thursday, Oct. 29.
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BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Matas Buzelis #14 of Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball during the game. against the Boston Celtics on February 11, 2026 at TD Garden 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Chicago Bulls (1-2) at Boston Celtics (1-1) Monday, October 26, 2026 7:30 PM ET Regular Season Game #3, Home Game #2 TV: NBCSB, CHSN, NBA-LP Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 104.3 The Score, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics play their second straight home game as they host the Chicago Bulls. This is the first of 4 games between these two teams this season. They will play again at Boston on October 30 and will play at Chicago on December 30 and March 9. The Celtics were 2-1 last season against the Bulls, winning both in Boston and losing 1 in Chicago.
This is the first of 16 back to back sets for the Celtics this season. They will host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday to complete the back to back set. The Celtics were good in back to back games last season and hopefully, with their depth, it will carry through to this season. The Celtics are 139-111 overall, all time against the Bulls and they are 80-40 in games played at home.
The Bulls have had a lot of change since last season. They replaced Billy Donovan with Tiago Splitter at head coach. They traded for Nic Claxton and Buddy Hield. They signed free agent Norman Powell and 2-way players Tobe Awaka and Jaylin Sellers. They signed Caleb Wilson (4th pick) and Dailyn Swain (15th pick). They lost Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, Nick Richards, Yuki Kawamura, MacMcClung, Guerschon Yabusele and Rob Dillingham.
The Celtics went 4-0 in the preseason, winning with both starters in 2 games and reserves and Exhibit 10 players in 2 others. They beat Cleveland, Charlotte and Philadelphia twice. The Bulls went 3-2 in the preseason, beating Minnesota and Milwaukee and Phoenix and losing to Denver and Memphis.
After this game, the Celtics will play home against Brooklyn and Chicago again. They will then play at Orlando and Houston and then home against Milwaukee before a road tripp takes them through Charlotte, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Toronto. They play Dallas and Orlando at home before a West coast trip that takes them through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington.
Next for the Bulls, they will host New York before a 3 game road trip through Boston, Philadelphia and New York. They then host Philadelphia, San Antonio and Atlanta before playing at Minnesota, Cleveland, and Brooklyn. They then host Washington, Denver and Cleveland before one road game at Charlotte and a 6 game home stand hosting Indiana, New York, Cleveland, Houston, Miami and Utah.
The Celtics started Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Mitchell Robinson in the first 2 games and I have once again listed the same starters for this game. It’s also possible that Joe may change this up for this game. I’ve listed the Bulls starters from their last game, which are Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and Jalen Smith.
The Celtics still have just Devin Carter on the injury report due to illness. After missing the final 3 games of the preseason, Carter was diagnosed with mononucleosis and is without a timetable for a return. The Bulls list starting center Nic Claxton out due to a hamstring injury. Patrick Williams (groin) and Noa Essengue (head) both missed Saturday’s game and are questionable for this game.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Josh Giddey
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesJosh Giddey | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Jordan Walsh vs Norman Powell
Jordan Walsh | NBAE via Getty ImagesNorman Powell | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Paul George vs Matas Buzelis
Paul George | NBAE via Getty ImagesMatas Buzelis | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Caleb Wilson
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesCaleb Wilson | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Mitchell Robinson vs Jalen Smith
Mitchell Robinson | NBAE via Getty ImagesJalen Smith | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley, Jr Luka Garza Hugo Gonzalez Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Payton Pritchard Neemias Queta Baylor Scheierman
Two Way Players Devin Carter Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams Injuries/Out Devin Carter (illness) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla Bulls Reserves Zach Collins Buddy Hield Tre Jones Leonard Miller Isaac Okoro Dailyn Swain Two-Way Players Tobe Awaka Jordan Hawkins Jaylin Sellers
Injuries/Out Nic Claxton (hamstring) out Noa Essengue (head) questionable Patrick Williams (groin) questionable
Head Coach Tiago Splitter
Key Matchups Jayson Tatum vs Caleb Wilson Wilson was the 4th pick in the draft for the Bulls and is playing very well so far. He is averaging 22.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 40.7% from the field and 17.4% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need another big game from Jayson Tatum on both ends of the court.
Jordan Walsh vs Norman Powell Powell is averaging 19.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.0 steals. He is shooting 34.1% from the field and 28% from beyond the arc. Over his career against the Celtics, he averaged 10.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. Walsh’s defense made a difference against the Knicks and he will need to continue to make a difference on that end of the court in this game.
Honorable Mention Paul George vs Matas Buzelis Buzelis is the only player left from the Bulls starters in their last game against the Celtics. He is averaging 15.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 36.7% from the field and 13.3% from beyond the arc. Over his career against the Celtics, he averaged 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. We will see how many minutes PG will play in back to back games. Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is the key to winning this, and every, game. In the preseason, the Celtics were tops in the league with a defensive rating of 98.6. In the second half of their first game, the Celtics allowed the Pistons to score 78 points. The biggest problem in the Celtics collapse against the Pistons was their failure on the defensive end. Likewise, one of the biggest factors in their win over the Knicks was their They held New York to just 103 points and also forced 18 turnovers, leading to 19 points off turnovers. The Celtics need to continue to make defense their priority.
Rebound – As with defense, rebounding will always be a key to winning. The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team and go after every rebound. In the preseason, the Celtics were 1st with 55 rebounds per game and 3rd with 16.8 offensive rebounds per game. So far in the regular season, they are last in rebounding with just 38 rebounds per game. The Bulls are 9th with 48.3 rebounds per game. Robinson and Queta are 2 of the best rebounders in the league and they need to be aggressive on the boards. The Celtics need to get back to what they do best and win the rebounding battle against the Bulls.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics need to move the ball to get the best shots. The Celtics are much better when they move the ball and don’t lapse into iso ball. Hopefully this season we will see much less iso ball than in the past. But, they have to be careful with the ball and avoid turnovers. They need to make the extra pass to find the best shot but they also need to stay focused and make careful passes. The Bulls are averaging 17.3 points off turnovers per game.
3 Point Shooting – If the Bulls have one weakness, it is their 3 point shooting. As a team, they are shooting 41.3 threes per game to 40.5 threes per game for the Celtics. However, the Celtics are shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc (7th) while the Bulls are shooting just 22.6% from beyond the arc (30th). The Celtics need to defend the perimeter and not allow them to get hot shooting the 3.
X-Factors Home Game – The Celtics need to take advantage of home court and the boost their fans can give them. The Bulls will face a hostile crowd and an unfamiliar arena along with travel which will hopefully give the Celtics the edge. The Celtics need to play hard and protect home court and use the advantages it gives to get a win.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. The Celtics also have to be aware of the new points of emphasis for this season and try to avoid flopping, off‑arm push‑offs, reckless closeouts, delays before free throws, and illegal screens. Paul George was already fined for a flop in the first game.
The Jaylen Brown trade saga has taken another unexpected turn.
After Brown and ex-Boston Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum addressed a potential “beef” between them — or “lamb chops and gravy,” as Brown put it — NBC Sports Boston analyst Brian Scalabrine added another layer to the story on Monday. Scal insinuated that Brown requested a trade out of Boston, and the C’s obliged by shipping him to the Philadelphia 76ers.
“My understanding is that Jaylen Brown went to the organization and had a list of demands, and it was like, ‘You either do this, or you trade me.’ And he was rooting to get traded to Milwaukee, including calling some other teammates about, ‘Hey, man, what do you think of Milwaukee? We should go there.’”
That contradicts what Brown said immediately following the trade. On his Twitch stream, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP vented about the “amount of respect” he was shown during the trade process and said he “wasn’t thrilled” with how Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens “facilitated some of the conversations.” He seemed genuinely blindsided by Boston’s decision to move on, stating that there’s “no loyalty in the NBA.”
Predictably, Scalabrine’s remarks caused quite a stir in the NBA world. He added more context to his comments before Monday’s Celtics-Bulls matchup at TD Garden.
“Technically, [Brown] didn’t demand to be traded,” Scal said on Celtics Pregame Live. “I just summed it all up. I summed up the entire word salad and kept it simple, but I think that’s what kind of got me in trouble there.
“I have no idea [what the demand was]. I don’t know what the ultimatum was or the demands or whatever it was. So technically, he did not demand to be traded. It was, ‘Do these things right here, or else.’ And one of them might have been, ‘Give me the $140 million extension.’ I haven’t gotten to the bottom of all that. I didn’t even know this was going to be a thing. It’s one of those things that lived in my mind for months. I finally used it because we were talking about the weirdest stuff, and now it’s out there.”
So according to Scalabrine, Brown didn’t demand a trade. Rather, he approached Boston’s front office with a “list of demands,” and the front office didn’t acquiesce.
“I might be wrong. I’m not going to stand up here and be defensive about that, but the path looked a little bit more challenging, with 70 percent of our cap and such a high percent of our usage tied into two players,” he said at the time.
If nothing else, the latest Jaylen Brown drama has made the upcoming showdown between the C’s and Sixers even more interesting. Brown and Tatum’s first official game against one another is scheduled for Nov. 10 in Philly.
PHOENIX, AZ - CIRCA 1970's: First baseman Willie McCovey #44 of the San Francisco Giants standing at the batting cage waiting his turn to hit circa mid 1970's in spring training in Phoenix, Arizona. McCovey played for the Giants from 1959-80. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s that time of year again, friends! The 2026 San Francisco Giants season may have been one of the worst in recent memory — or ever, for that matter — but at least we have a treat waiting to start the offseason: the return of the Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List, in which we will, as a group, rank the top 44 prospects in the Giants system.
Last year’s CPL was so much fun. After years of a middling farm system, it really felt like things were headed up going into the 2026 Minor League Baseball season, and the 44 names (which didn’t even include Jonah Cox, Scott Bandura, Turner Hill, or César Perdomo!) reflected that. And, looking back on the list, we were right to be excited.
And yet, even though last year’s No. 1 prospect (Bryce Eldridge) graduated, it still feels like this year’s list is going to be even more exciting.
So today we embark on a community journey that will last for a few months. Hopefully by the time we wrap things up, there will be preseason baseball to keep us occupied, though the impending lockout could keep that from happening.
For the uninitiated — or just those who would like a refresher — here are the rules for the CPL, copy, pasted, and updated from a year ago:
CPL’s will be every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I may not follow that strictly, especially with the holidays, but it will be close. Voting will remain open until the next CPL.
I have given up on trying to evade the bots with polls, and so all voting will take place in the comment system through the “rec” feature. You will need to be logged in to participate.
We’ll start with seven nominees to choose from. When we are down to voting on four prospects we will nominate new players, and add them to the next list so we’re back at seven.
When it’s nomination day (such as today), use the comments to nominate new players. I’ll leave a top comment that you can respond to with prospect names, and you can recommend any comment that has a player you think should be added. If someone else has already nominated a player, please do not comment nominating that player, but instead cast your vote by hitting the “rec” button. You can also rec your own nomination, which I suggest doing. The four players with the most recs will get added to the next CPL.
To honor McCovey, we will rank 44 prospects, which includes all Giants who are still rookie eligible, with the exception of MLB-ready international free agents (the “Jung Hoo Lee exception”). If there is a tie, the next CPL will be a runoff post, with the loser of the runoff also getting added to the list.
If the Giants acquire a prospect during the CPL, through trade or international signing, and it seems as though they belong somewhere that the voting is already past, we’ll do a special post to vote on/debate their placement.
Use the comments to stump for players, argue, share knowledge, etc. This is always really fun, because of the energy, passion, and smartness that you all bring to it. The real CPL is the invigorating conversations we have along the way!
All players in the organization who still have their prospect status are eligible, even if they’re on the 40-man roster and/or expected to be on the active roster when the season begins.
Players who graduated this season and are no longer eligible: Victor Bericoto, Drew Cavanaugh, Jonah Cox, Bryce Eldridge, Trent Harris, Turner Hill, Trevor McDonald, Jesús Rodríguez, Carson Seymour, Dylan Smith, Daniel Susac, Blade Tidwell, and Carson Whisenhunt.
I know there is always a hot debate as to what constitutes a prospect, and many in our lovely community feel strongly that players who have made MLB debuts should not be included on prospect lists. I certainly understand that sentiment, and can’t control who anyone votes for, but I strongly encourage people to vote based on who is included on this list, not on their personal ones, as that will more accurately reflect the purpose of the project. Protest votes have their time and place, but I don’t think this is either.
And with that, let’s head to the comment section and nominate some players for Wednesday’s opening chapter! As always, a special thank you to all of the McCovey Chronicles writers who have handled this project in the past, with a special shoutout to Roger Munter, who not only remains an active participant in the CPL discussions, but a vital resource to all of us.
It appears the Kevin Long reunion some Mets fans had been hoping for won't be happening.
According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, there wasn't a match when the two sides met last week to discuss a potential role in the club's hitting department.
Long is reportedly no longer in consideration for the opening.
The 59-year-old seemed like a potentially good fit to return due to his strong stint previously in the organization and his connection with superstar Juan Soto from their days together with the Nationals.
Long has a pair of World Series rings on his resume, and his offenses have consistently posted some of the best numbers in baseball throughout his 20-year big-league coaching career.
Instead of bringing him back, though, the Mets will have to look elsewhere to help their offense next season.
New York reportedly promoted Mariano Duncan to the big-league staff to fill an unknown role on Monday, and they previously expressed interest in meeting with Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 13: Jaden Akins #14 of the New York Knicks looks to pass the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 13, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Westchester Knicks have announced their 2026–27 training camp roster, with 16 players competing for an opportunity to make their mark in the Knicks’ developmental pipeline. The group includes three players designated as two-way players: guard Jaden Akins and forwards Dalton Knecht and Tyler Nickel.
Those three will be worth watching as camp gets underway. For players on two-way contracts, Westchester offers a chance to get consistent minutes, sharpen their games, and build a case for opportunities at Madison Square Garden.
The full camp roster, with positions as listed in Ian Begley’s tweet:
Guards: Jaden Akins, Tre Dinkins III, Mitchell Mascari, Dink Pate, Amir “Primo” Spears, and Paul Zilinskas.
Forwards: Tahj-Malik Campbell, David Dixon, Nicholas Jourdain, Dalton Knecht, Oleksandr Kobzystyi, Igor Miličić, Tyler Nickel, and Toby Okani.
Forward/center: N’Faly Dante.
Center: Liam Robbins.
For those of you hoping there’d be a center here to save the big league club . . . probably not. Still, this crew should make Westchester an interesting watch. Nickel, Knecht, and Pate are sure to treat the crowd to some orange and blue fireworks!
The next step for these players is to turn that training camp invitation into a role. Attention now shifts to which players will distinguish themselves and who head coach DeSagana Diop will carry into the season. The season starts on Friday, November 6, with a road game in Maine.
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 10: Chris Boucher #25 of the Toronto Raptors looks on ahead of playing the Washington Wizards in their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on March 10, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Chris Boucher played seven seasons in a Toronto Raptors jersey, and fans seem to be clamouring for him to have one more after the debacle that was Sunday night’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Losses are to be expected in the NBA, especially to teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have one of the most dangerous backcourt duos in Anthony Edwards and Lonzo Ball, paired with a 4-time Defensive Player of the Year in rim protector Rudy Gobert. This threesome looks built to be Raptor kryptonite, and indeed, beat the Raps badly, 94-117. However, what was shocking about the loss wasn’t the severity, but it was who became instrumental in the team’s collapse.
Two of the Raptors’ five starters scored zero points throughout the entire contest. Both Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes went scoreless last night, which, in the latter’s case, is absolutely shocking. However, while Poeltl is the Raptors’ starting big man, he has a documented injury history that is potentially still limiting his abilities on the court. For that reason, some Raptors fans are ready for a change at centre, with Boucher seemingly throwing his hat in the ring with a very simple Tweet last night.
“GAIN SOME WEIGHT, AND WORK ON REBOUNDING, AND YOU’D HAVE A JOB FAM.” @coach5611 came in, providing some clear instructions for what he’d like to see from Boucher.
The man who some fans called the “Block Quebecois” most recently played for the Boston Celtics, averaging two points and two rebounds across nine games, a far cry from his 10 points per game a year before for the Toronto Raptors.
Boucher would have some difficulties fitting into the current Raptors’ current needs as a result of his slender frame and height of 6’8”, of which the Raptors have plenty of such players already. Boucher’s last start came in the 2021-22 season for the Raptors, meaning that if he rejoined the team, he would undoubtedly remain a bench piece.
While it would be fantastic for team and fan morale to have Boucher back in a limited role, fans’ reactions are likely mired in nostalgia and frustration for Toronto’s current centre situation as opposed to clearheaded suggestions. Nevertheless, last night demonstrated that Boucher still has a contingent of loyal fans amongst Raptors supporters, who would be glad to see their fellow Canadian back in Raptors red and black.
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 27: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball while defended by Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the game during Round One Game Four on April 27, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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
Who: Phoenix Suns (1-1) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0)
When: 5:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
Phoenix got in the win column Saturday night against a depleted Warriors team, behind a vintage Devin Booker 43-point, 7-rebound, 7-assist game. Most of the reaction has been in the “concerned” category, and rightly so. The Suns have started games slowly, shown a lack of cohesiveness, failed to box out rebounders, at times losing focus, and have not consistently provided the level of effort needed for this roster to succeed.
In September, Bright Side of the Sun’s staff chimed in on the biggest questions facing the Suns in their first 10 games. I said, “My main question is in the intangibles category. Last year, the Suns were gritty more often than not. They dove for loose balls, scrapped on defense, and crashed the offensive glass. With new parts added and several high-effort players signing new contracts, will the effort dip?”
This remains the overriding thing to monitor, transcending individual player performances. Will the players self-correct and reach the required level? Jordan Ott was rated in the GM survey as having good offensive and defensive schemes. Can he show the coaching “goods” in the other skills like motivation, culture sustainment, and accountability?
Perhaps a game against a championship-caliber Thunder team will help Phoenix raise the bar on its play, even if it doesn’t result in a win. After a win on Sunday, OKC enters the game 3-0. They also swept the Suns in last year’s playoffs. This game is not about revenge for that series; it’s about closing a large gap in “how” the two teams play and getting this season on the right path.
Late-breaking news as I prepared this article: Uber-talented star Jalen Williams was carted off the home floor during the fourth quarter of Oklahoma City’s victory Sunday night over the Clippers. With the culture in OKC, expect the rest of their talented team to respond. Devastating news for a player who has only been stopped by injury in a promising career thus far. The Thunder suffered several other rotation player injuries in that contest as well.
Tale of the Tape
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Oso Ighodaro — Doubtful (Right Oblique Strain)
Mark Williams — Out (Left Shoulder Surgery)
Thunder
Jalen Williams — Out (Lower-leg/ankle injury)
Cason Wallace — Out (Left shoulder soreness)
Chet Holmgren — Out (Right Patellar Tendinitis)
What to Watch For
This is a tough matchup for the Suns. Outcomes are what count in the standings, but “process” is what will ultimately count for this team’s season. Look for signs of improvement. Is awareness of defense improving? Do loose balls find their way into the hands of Phoenix players?
After two games, the purple & orange are 26th in the league in defensive rebounding. This has to improve the limit second chance points should the Thunder hit a cold streak in shooting. That is quite literally a tall task with OKC, who include three 7-foot-plus players in the rotation: Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and rookie Aday Mara.
Watch for ways that make us feel better about the way we’re playing. It’s a long season, but bad habits can become the norm if not corrected.
Keys to a Suns Win
Upsets in the NBA are often tied to two factors: three-point shooting (volume and accuracy) and the absence of key players on the favored team, due to injury or rest. As covered above, the unfortunate three injuries OKC incurred Sunday night, check one of those boxes.
To get good looks from long range, better ball movement would go a long way. As of Sunday, Phoenix ranks last in the NBA in passes made per game (230, compared to a league median of 294), per NBA.com.
Luke Kennard showed that elite sharpshooter talent in his first appearance Saturday. The ball needs to find its way to him, and last year’s team three-point recorder holder Collin Gillespie frequently. While we’re at it, it would be a big lift if Booker provided one of his occasional six 3-pointer games. His shot was “on” versus the Warriors, but almost exclusively inside the arc. Other potential contributors to a hot night from downtown could be Jalen Green, Miles Bridges, Dillon Brooks, or Jordan Goodwin — all of whom have had streaky, good long-distance games in the past.
The flip side of this: limiting threes for the Thunder. Jared McCain is a dangerous combination of high volume and accuracy, so the Suns need to be aware of him at all times. It feels like Alex Curoso often gets hot versus Phoenix, and checking this shows a career 40% mark. The bottom line is that the higher levels of effort and awareness mentioned in “what to watch for” have to show up as quick, alert defensive rotations. Make OKC, playing the second game of a back-to-back and with a suddenly thinned rotation, work hard for those open shots and hope the weary legs lead to a low three-point percentage.
Then PLEASE box out and go after those rebounds to limit second chances.
Prediction
The Suns take steps in the right direction, but not quite enough to get the W against this powerhouse team at home.
