CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 9: James Harden #1 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 9, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers, in desperate need of a get-right game, put together one of their worst performances in recent (regular season) memory by getting blown out by the Charlotte Hornets 124-112 on Monday night. The Cavs fall a game under .500 before heading to New York on Wednesday to play the defending champion Knicks on national television.
Instead of using tonight’s game as a momentum builder, the Cavs were laughed out of the arena by the woeful Hornets. Cleveland trailed by as many as 33 points against the NBA’s worst offense in Charlotte, a team that was already missing several key players. Grayson Allen (27 points on 8-of-14 shooting) and Naz Reid (25 points, 13 rebounds) thoroughly outplayed Cleveland’s starters, resulting in a 16-point deficit at the half. That ballooned to 27 points at the end of the third quarter, leading to none of the Cavs’ starters returning to the game after that.
Jarrett Allen returned to the starting lineup, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden had 11 points each and combined to shoot 7-20 from the floor. Harden in particular was disastrous and had some of the worst defensive possessions you will ever see from an NBA player. Evan Mobley had an exceptionally ineffective game, too, with nine points and four turnovers. Harden and Mobley had a combined +/- of -46 tonight, which passes the eye test.
Not only did Charlotte’s starters outplay the Cavs, but Cleveland’s backups did too. Craig Porter Jr., Thomas Bryant, Thomas, and Norchad Omier brought the Cavs within eight points late in the fourth quarter before running out of steam. But the reserves showed a lot of heart, and considerably more effort and energy than Cleveland’s starters.
The Cavs were out-rebounded 49-32 overall, but didn’t get their first offensive rebound until the third quarter, losing that battle 17-3. Cleveland actually ended up with fewer turnovers and shot better from the field than Charlotte, but the final score didn’t reflect that.
This is the type of loss that reverberates through an organization, especially one that is expensive and on a fixed timeline like the Cavs. There is a heightened sense of urgency to right the ship, but Cleveland remains exceptionally inconsistent and underwhelming. Despite quality wins against Minnesota and Philadelphia, the Cavs feel like a team teetering on the edge of the abyss. Losses like tonight’s are what push things over.
Doncic had 32 points and 10 assists in a 124-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks as the Lakers relied on their depth to secure their sixth consecutive win and stay atop the Western Conference despite a short, tired bench.
One night after sitting out with low back tightness, Doncic struggled with his shot, but he reached double-digit assists for the third time this season. He also had eight rebounds and five steals. Lakers center Walker Kessler had 21 points with 10 rebounds, his sixth double-double in the past seven games, and forward Sandro Mamukelashvili had what Lakers coach JJ Redick called “his best game as a Laker” with 23 points and eight rebounds off the bench to help overcome the absences of Reaves and Quentin Grimes.
Reaves, who scored 43 points in a thrilling win over Detroit on Sunday, didn’t play because of illness. Grimes suffered a sprained finger on his right hand against Detroit, although Redick doesn’t anticipate the injury keeping the guard sidelined for long. X-rays were negative, Redick said, and Grimes could return as soon as Wednesday in Milwaukee.
The Lakers (10-2) didn’t look like a team playing on consecutive nights. They blitzed the Hawks (7-5) with 13 unanswered points at the end of the first quarter and ran up the lead to 20 midway in the second quarter. Kessler and guard Collin Sexton connected on back-to-back alley-oops during the second quarter to inject life into a shorthanded second unit.
“It’s building resiliency,” Kessler said. “JJ talks about it, going through adversity and understanding that to be a championship team, you’ve got to respond to that kind of stuff.”
Reaves’ absence was compounded by Grimes’ injury, decimating the team’s ballhandling unit. Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka had worked to stock the roster with guards to ward off the possibility of leaving too much on-ball responsibility to Doncic. On Monday, it all fell to Doncic and Sexton.
Lakers star Luka Doncic drives between Atlanta's Dyson Daniels, right, and Luguentz Dort in the first quarter Monday. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
Doncic, who came in averaging a league-high 40.1 points per game, leaned on teammates early with five assists in the first quarter. Sexton got going in the second quarter with eight points and three assists, all on lobs to Kessler, his former teammate with the Utah Jazz and fellow Atlanta native.
The 6-foot-1 guard signed with the Lakers during free agency when the team wanted to stock the bench with play-making, shooting and defensive intensity. Sexton, playing on his fourth team in three seasons, has delivered on every mark.
“He just checks a lot of boxes,” Redick said. “For us, it was easy. He expressed interest, and obviously we wanted him, and it’s worked out.”
Sexton went to high school 15 miles away from State Farm Arena. He estimated he had 400 to 500 people in the stands rooting for him. He stayed on the court for more than an hour after the game taking photos with the hundreds who waited.
In front of his city, Sexton wanted to deliver a win, no matter what his role would be within the Lakers’ shorthanded rotation.
“Whenever those guys are in or out, I have to adjust,” said Sexton, who had 18 points and six assists. “And I feel like adjusting is something I’ve been doing my entire career.”
The Lakers relied on their two youngest players for support. Second-year forward Adou Thiero, who only made his season debut two games ago after struggling with left knee swelling, had two points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Rookie Cameron Carr earned his first rotation minutes and even started the fourth quarter. Carr, whose father Chris played in the NBA and famously lost the 1997 dunk contest to Kobe Bryant, scored his first NBA points, appropriately, on a dunk. Doncic snatched a pass away from the Hawks and hit Carr on an outlet pass. The 21-year-old rookie gathered for an emphatic, two-handed dunk.
The first-round pick had two points and three rebounds. After the game, Doncic made sure to grab the game ball as a memento for the rookie.
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 9: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 9, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Charlotte Hornets 124-112 in a game that trailed by as much as 30 points.
This is, without a doubt, one of the most alarming and concerning games the Cavs have played in the last five seasons.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Player of the game
Meleek Thomas
18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Thomas and the Cavs’ youth were responsible for some of the only inspiring basketball that was played tonight.
They weren’t perfect, but Thomas led the way with an energetic half that showed most of the team’s issues are centered on not trying hard enough.
Thomas shot 7-12 from the floor. His effort and shot-making allowed the Cavs reserves to cut the deficit to within single digits.
Grade: A
Grades
Donovan Mitchell
11 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
Mitchell has cleaned up his offensive process in recent games to strike a solid balance between playmaking and scoring. His approach offensively wasn’t the issue tonight. It was his defensive effort, and the fact that this team has lost all semblance of an identity around him.
Grade: F
Jarrett Allen
12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Allen was awesome in the first quarter of this game. He made his return with a bang, detonating on a lob pass for the first play of the game. He finished the opening quarter with 9 points and 4 rebounds on a perfect 4-4 shooting. He even drilled a three-pointer.
It’s not Allen’s fault that everything went down the drain.
Mobley is expected to be capable of transcending all of this. I can’t give him a pass for fading into the background when the team is spiraling out of control. He’s one of the players who is supposed to stabilize things. This wasn’t it.
Grade: F
James Harden
11 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 4 turnovers
It’s time to be concerned.
Harden has not looked good this season. Far from it. He’s hit a new low defensively, and he’s nowhere near good enough on offense right now to justify his minutes. This is a DEFCON 1 situation that can’t be ignored.
The Cavs traded for Harden, and then extended him, understanding that the league has been rapidly moving away from his style of play. His slow-paced, heliocentric offense could only carry you so far even in his prime. At 37, Harden isn’t showing that he’ll be able to adapt his game to no longer being a one-man wrecking crew.
Grade: F
Peyton Watson
13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assists
Watson has not been able to find his niche yet. Most of his scoring comes outside of the team’s system — and he is not providing enough defensively to tip the scales.
Grade: D+
Mario Hezonja
10 points, 3 rebounds
Hezonja is hitting some speed bumps recently but is still someone who I’d feel comfortable giving more minutes to. He plays hard, and he probably has more offensive production in the tank if Cleveland can figure out where he fits.
Grade: D+
Thomas Bryant
11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
I’ve given the Cavs flak for signing Bryant as soon as free agency began last summer. That’s only because I think it was worth doing your due diligence and searching for a potential upgrade. It is not to disrespect or invalidate Bryant as a stone-cold veteran who plays every possession like it’s life or death.
Bryant plays with a sense of urgency and is a fine role model for the younger players on this team.
Grade: D+
Tyrese Proctor
6 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound
Proctor was part of the inspiring group that brought this game back into reach. Effort and energy matter. Looking like you care about basketball matters. The intention that Proctor plays with on each possession was enough to string together stops and scores. Aka, winning basketball.
Grade: C+
Riley Minix
2 points, 2 rebounds
What a turn of events it’s been for Minix. This wasn’t a barn burner by any means; he shot just 1-of-4, but Minix deserves a ton of credit for brushing off the fact that this team waived him last week and only brought him back due to necessity. He’s played hard and was a positive tonight, given the circumstances.
Grade: C+
Norchad Omier
0 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Omier is another two-way prospect who had a chance to get some run tonight. He made his impact through hustle, and as is the theme, that was enough to make him a positive in stark contrast to the starters.
Grade: C+
Craig Porter Jr.
9 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
Porter showed signs of life after a fairly troubling start to the season. He got downhill and looked effective as a ball-handler again. The Cavs would love it if he could get back to being a plus defender and creator.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis (6), center, is sandwiched by Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33), left, and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) resulting in a foul during a game between the Washington Wizards and the Indiana Pacers at the Capital One Arena on February 11, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors would like to trade Kristaps Porzingis by December 15. However, they’re not about to sacrifice draft capital to do it for a long-term contract.
There’s not a ton of pressure on the Warriors to trade Porzingis, who isn’t being paid as he decides to “step away” from basketball, which he allegedly loves. He and the NBA Players Association aren’t planning to challenge to Warriors taking him off the payroll, which saves Joe Lacob about $250K per game. He may not play this season, for the Warriors or anyone else, but that doesn’t mean his contract is an albatross.
According to Clutch Points, the Warriors have had trade talks regarding Porzingis with the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, and Milwaukee Bucks. They’re reportedly interested in 26-year-old center Jalen Smith of the Bulls, who is making $9.4M in the last year of his contract. It’s not clear who on the Pelicans’ roster has interested the Warriors, but with the Bucks, it’s center Myles Turner, who is signed through 2029 for $82.6M.
The Bucks want the Warriors to give them draft picks in a Turner trade, which would have to include another player (Moses Moody?) heading to Milwaukee, as the Warriors can’t take back more money than they send out. The Warriors think that taking on that much of Turner’s salary means they should be getting a draft pick, not the Bucks.
Turner is having a wretched season for the Bucks, who are in a weird rebuild limbo since trading Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. They got four players back from the Miami Heat, drafted two players in the lottery, and have veterans Tyler Herro, Kyle Kuzma, and Caris Levert on expiring deals. They’re 1-9 and since they don’t have their own first-round pick until 2031, the Bucks don’t even have incentive to avoid the lottery penalty for having one of the league’s worst records.
The 30-year-old Turner is averaging 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds this season, though he is blocking 2.5 shots per game. His effort seems to be lacking, as seen in a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics Sunday.
What Turner can provide, assuming he’s trying, is a rare combination of rim protection and outside shooting. He’s a career 36.4% three-point shooter and has blocked 2.1 shots per game for his career. Turner was the pivot man on an Indiana Pacers team that was a Tyrese Haliburton Achilles injury from winning a title. It’s easy to see how he’s a logical replacement for Porzingis, with the bonus that he’s played at least 71 games the last three seasons.
But his contract is n0t good. It’s even worse for the Bucks, since they waived-and-stretched Damian Lillard’s contract to afford the deal, and Dame Time now costs them $22.5M on the salary cap for each of the next four seasons. By contrast, Porzingis is on the books for only $3M next season, isn’t get paid anything right now, and might take a buyout on the $17M+ remaining on this year’s deal.
The key calendar date for the Warriors is Dec. 15, because of the NBA’s “reaggregation” rule. Players acquired before that date can be combined with other players/contracts until the trade deadline. This came up for the Warriors in Dec. 2024, when they traded De’Anthony Melton for Dennis Schroder just before the reaggregation deadline, then aggregated Schroder’s salary in the blockbuster trade for Jimmy Butler.
That’s why a player like Smith could be more appealing for the Warriors than Smith, as he could provide temporary help while still remaining highly moveable in a later trade. The Warriors could conceivably take back their old friend Buddy Hield in such a trade, as his salary and Smith’s are still less than Porzingis’ total money — and Hield can be waived next summer for just over $3M.
There’s a lot of possibilities for what the Warriors do with Porzingis. But giving up future draft picks to ditch him does not seem to be one of them.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 9: Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Los Angeles Lakers three point basket against the Atlanta Hawks on November 9, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the second night in a row, the Lakers picked up a tough road win while shorthanded, this time beating the Hawks 124-114 on Monday to extend their winning streak to six games.
Austin Reaves (illness) and Quentin Grimes (right finger sprain) were both out for the game, placing a heavier burden on the Lakers’ role players to step up. The response came in the form of a season-high 49 bench points.
LA scored 29 points off 20 Hawks turnovers and, again, won the points in the paint battle, 52-42.
The Hawks grabbed the lead and momentum early in the first period. Onyeka Okongwu led them with seven points. LA was 3-7 from the field. Ziaire Williams got the Lakers’ first basket in a triple. Luka Dončić made his first shot attempt, but had three of the team’s turnovers.
At the 6:53 mark, the Hawks were up eight.
Luka inched closer to his usual double figures in the first quarter, pushing his total to seven. With Austin Reaves out, Cameron Carr saw minutes in the rotation. He had two rebounds.
The first ended with back-to-back dunks from Carr and Jarred Vanderbilt, both assisted by Luka, and a triple from Sandro Mamukelashvili. LA was up by nine.
Los Angeles was cooking early in the second period with Williams and Mamu both knocking down triples. Collin Sexton also connected with Walker Kessler twice for dunks.
LA was on an extended 28-9 scoring run. Every Laker off the bench, minus Adou Theiro, had scored.
Sexton continued to give the purple and gold a huge boost. He now had nine points with four assists. He and Kessler helped give Los Angeles a 19-point lead with 6:34 left.
CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker brought some life to the Hawks, combining for 12 points to shave points off the lead. After being down by as much as 20, Atlanta crawled back on the shoulders of Jalen Johnson to cut the deficit to 11 at halftime.
Williams began the third period with the first four points. Atlanta, though, still had momentum and were still slowly chipping away at LA’s lead. They got within six, with Dyson Daniels heating up and scoring five points.
Both teams turned on the offensive jets, scoring at a ridiculous high level.
Alexander-Walker got hot for Atlanta, scoring nine points. Luka and Mamu combined for 11 points. Los Angeles was shooting 46% from the field and the Hawks were close behind with 44%
With 3:39 left, the Lakers were up 10.
The Lakers let Atlanta gain steam again as they knocked down three triples. They got to within three, but Luka converted on a midrange jumper, giving LA a five-point lead at the end of the third.
Third quarter: Lakers 95, Hawks 90
Atlanta outscored LA 33-27 in the third. Luka scored 14 points and is up to 28 points on 9-for-19 shooting, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals, 1 block, and 6 turnovers. Walker Kessler has 18 points and 8 rebounds. LA needs to shore up its…
Mamu continued his stellar play by knocking down a 3-pointer to start the final frame. He had an impressive 19 points off the bench. The Hawks cut the deficit all the way down to two thanks to Aaron Wiggins scoring five points.
Los Angeles answered immediately with four straight points to take a six-point lead with 8:22 left.
The three ball was proving to be important for both teams as the Lakers saw Sexton make another, but Aaron Wiggins and McCollum drained two for the Hawks, getting the team to within four with 4:29 left.
Los Angeles erupted for a wonderful 9-2 scoring run on the shoulders of Mamu, Luka, Williams, LaRavia and Matisse Thybulle, putting the finishing touches on a great performance.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 32 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and five steals. Kessler ended with 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Sexton had 18 points and six assists off the bench.
Mamu logged 23 points with eight rebounds and three assists. Williams pitched in with 12 points. Thybulle had six points, all of which came at moments the team needed big shots.
Carr ended with two points and three rebounds. Thiero had two rebounds, an assist and a steal.
The Lakers’ next game will be against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at 4:00 PM PT.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 30: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans greets Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors after the game on October 30, 2024 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are looking to win their eighth straight game — and sweep the home stand — when they take on old friend Jordan Poole and the New Orleans Pelicans tonight at the Chase Center. Both teams will have their depth chart tested, as the list of ailments is long and notable.
Here’s the full injury report for both teams.
Warriors
Out — Will Richard (left thumb UCL tear)
Really tough news for Richard on Sunday. The second-year guard, who had a brilliant week of play and is really settling into his own, was revealed to have a UCL tear in his non-shooting thumb, which could cost him a few weeks or even a few months.
Out — Gary Payton II (left knee inflammation)
With both Richard and Payton out, the Warriors perimeter defense is going to be severely compromised tonight. Fortunately, they’re facing a below-average Pelicans offense which is also missing some key players.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL repair surgery) Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon repair surgery) Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(not with team)
The standard trio. Butler is progressing nicely, but these three will likely be a staple of this section of the injury report until Porziņģis is traded.
Available — Gui Santos (left knee tendinitis)
Hey, some good news! Santos is still dealing with some knee pain, but thankfully is able to play.
Pelicans
Out — Zion Williamson (rest)
Williamson has battled health issues his entire career, so it’s not surprising to see him get a rest day, especially since the Pelicans played (and traveled) last night. It’s great seeing him healthy, though, as he’s appeared in all 10 games prior to this one, and is averaging 33 minutes per night.
Out — Trey Murphy III (bilateral patellar tendinopathy)
We know the Warriors have had their sights set on a Murphy trade for a while. Unfortunately for their scouts — but fortunately for their prospects of winning tonight — they won’t get to see him in this game.
Out — Yves Missi (left knee contusion/bone bruise)
The Dubs have also been linked to Missi, as a potential target to replace the retiring Porziņģis. The third-year center was injured in the second game of the season, and hasn’t played since.
Out — Trendon Watford (right ankle sprain)
Watford has been a solid bench contributor in his first season in the bayou, so NOLA’s bench will be shortened by his absence tonight.
Enjoy the game, Dub Nation. It tips off at 7:00 p.m. PT on NBA TV and NBC Sports Bay Area.
SAN FRANCISCO — Second-year Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard has a torn ligament in his left thumb that will sideline him for an undetermined stretch.
The Warriors listed Richard on the injury report Sunday with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and he was out for Monday’s game against New Orleans at Chase Center as the team concludes a six-game homestand. Golden State didn’t have practice or media availability Sunday, so there wasn’t an immediate timetable for Richard’s recovery or a known treatment plan.
Richard has been providing key minutes as both a starter and a reserve as Golden State has won seven straight games since an 0-3 start. He made two starts this past week, against Phoenix and Miami.
Stephen Curry has credited the Warriors figuring out their roles to grab some momentum after dropping the first three games.
“Everybody having an impact, throw Will Richard in there, too, he’s had three straight games really where he’s turned up the energy defensively for us,” Curry said after a 116-113 win over the Suns on Monday. “Defensively he’s just been a pest out there.”
The 23-year-old guard was a second-round draft pick last year out of Florida after he led the Gators to a national championship.
Richard is averaging 5.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 47.5% from the floor and 42.9% from 3-point range.
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray dealt with the same injury early last season, underwent surgery and missed the first 15 games.
The Montreal Canadiens have many promising young players, both on their NHL roster and in their prospect pool.
Among them is forward Owen Beck. The 22-year-old has the potential to be a solid NHL forward, and he has been showing that early on this season for Montreal.
Beck has been demonstrating plenty of promise as of late for the Canadiens. He has a goal and two assists over his last four games for the Canadiens, which is a nice step in the right direction. This is especially so when noting that he recorded a point in three straight appearances from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3, before Montreal's last game.
Seeing Beck starting to produce some offense for Montreal is definitely encouraging. The young center is already known for his smart defensive play and faceoff ability, but it would great to see him continue to tap into his offensive potential more in the process for Montreal.
Ultimately, whether Beck stays on the Canadiens' NHL roster or is sent back down to the AHL's Laval Rocket once Montreal is fully healthy, he is a big player to watch as this campaign rolls on. It should only be a matter of time before he cements himself as a full-time NHL player, as he is showing clear signs of improvement this campaign.
Despite some more third-period stress, the Flyers found a way to nail down a game they couldn’t afford to give up.
They beat the Canucks, 3-1, Monday night at Rogers Arena.
Michael Bunting, Travis Konecny and Travis Sanheim scored the Flyers’ goals.
Christian Dvorak collected two assists.
The Flyers (5-10-5) took advantage of a golden opportunity to pick up a win they desperately needed. They had lost six of their previous seven games (1-4-2).
Rick Tocchet’s club improved to 1-1-1 on its five-game road trip. In each of the two losses, the Flyers coughed up a third-period lead. This time, the Flyers had another dicey third period, but they survived it.
Sanheim iced the game with an empty-netter. Vancouver outshot the Flyers 13-2 in the third period.
The Canucks (3-16-1) have the NHL’s fewest points. The Flyers see them again Nov. 27 for a Black Friday matchup at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
• Joseph Woll was strong with 18 saves on 19 shots.
He didn’t see a ton of action until the third period. The Flyers outshot Vancouver 15-6 through the first and second periods.
But the Flyers were on their heels in the third period. They committed three penalties and gave up a power play goal to Jonathan Lekkerimäki with 7:16 minutes left.
In the opening 30 seconds of the period, Tyson Foerster had a goal wiped away after a coach’s challenge by the Canucks showed the play was offside. After that, the Flyers had to really fend off Vancouver.
Woll had a timely save on Brendan Gallagher with 3:15 minutes remaining in the second period to keep the Flyers’ lead at 2-0.
Canucks netminder Leevi Merilainen stopped 14 of the 16 shots he faced.
• Konecny extended the Flyers’ lead to 2-0 with a power play goal in the second period. It was the Flyers’ ninth goal on the power play over the last 11 games.
Matvei Michkov made a nice read behind the net to find Konecny. Michkov has recorded at least a point in nine of the Flyers’ last 12 games. In that stretch, he has eight goals and four assists.
During a second-period stoppage, the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast feed caught what appeared to be a heated moment between Michkov and Nick Seeler by the Flyers’ bench.
There was no word on the details of the exchange. But the Flyers were able to move past it and win the game.
There appeared to be a heated moment on the Flyers bench involving Matvei Michkov. pic.twitter.com/fXNF1IdYYY
• Bunting quickly made his presence felt in his return to the lineup.
After going 12 days without playing, Bunting gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead just 2:03 minutes into the action. It was the veteran forward’s first goal with the Flyers. He entered the lineup for rookie Cole Knuble.
On the back end, David Jiricek came into the lineup for Simon Benoit. Jiricek had gone almost three weeks without a game.
• The Flyers are back in action Wednesday when they visit Connor McDavid and the Oilers (9 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
For all the criticism the Edmonton Oilers have received, just in general, they are amoung the best of Canadas NHL teams.
Edmonton is 12-3-3 through 18 games, first in the Pacific Division, and fourth in the NHL, making them the highest-ranked Canadian team with 27 points and a .750 points percentage.
The Montreal Canadiens are the closest Canadian team, at 11-3-3 with 25 points, followed by the Ottawa Senators at 11-6-1 with 23.
After that, things get pretty ugly.
Toronto is 8-9-2, Calgary is 8-9-1, Winnipeg is 7-8-3, and Vancouver is at the bottom of the entire NHL with just three wins in 19 games.
Edmonton is averaging 4.17 goals per game and leading the seven Canadian teams in scoring.
Connor McDavid has 47 points through 18 games, while Leon Draisaitl has 16 goals. Those two have been primarily responsible for Edmonton's offence, although Mike Babcock has been getting some encouraging performances from players further down the lineup.
The Oilers have managed all of this while dealing with injuries to their goaltenders, a bottom six that has occasionally struggled to contribute, and a few defensive performances that deserved their fair share of criticism.
The Maple Leafs came into Rogers Place and completely outworked Edmonton, giving Babcock plenty to criticize afterward. Toronto has since struggled to put together much of anything, sitting seventh in the Atlantic Division with 18 points.
A win against Edmonton obviously hasn't solved Toronto's problems.
Montreal, meanwhile, has been one of the most exciting teams in the league.
The Canadiens are 8-0-2 over their last 10 games, and their .735 points percentage puts them just behind Edmonton among Canadian clubs, while playing some pretty good hockey at even strength with a 52.8 per cent of shot attempts at five-on-five.
Edmonton is at 47.3 per cent, which ranks 26th in the league.
The Oilers have been winning plenty of games, although their results haven't always reflected how much time they've spent defending.
Ottawa is also off to a reasonable start, sitting fourth in the Atlantic with 23 points and an 11-6-1 record.
The Senators have won five of their last 10 games and are currently occupying a playoff position, giving Canada three teams with an early claim to being among the league's better clubs.
As for the remaining four, there's quite a bit of work to be done.
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New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge celebrates his solo home run with teammates in the dugout during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Queens, New York, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
LAS VEGAS — Carson Benge’s impressive debut season ranked among the best in Mets history but left him short of MLB’s top rookie prize.
Sal Stewart was named National League Rookie of the Year on Monday by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, with Benge second in the voting, ahead of JJ Wetherholt. Benge’s Mets teammate, Nolan McLean — who wasn’t named among the finalists last week — finished fourth in the voting.
Stewart received 20 of the first-place votes. Benge received seven first-place votes and Wetherholt got three.
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Benge, 23, thrust himself into contention for the award with a strong August and September, but ultimately couldn’t overcome Stewart’s offensive production. Stewart, the Reds first baseman, posted a .263/.330/.457 slash line with 32 homers and 112 RBIs.
Benge’s candidacy hinged largely on his 20-20 season (homers and stolen bases) along with his outfield defense. Most notably, Benge led NL right fielders with 10 assists.
His arm was on full display in August when he threw out two runners at the plate in the same inning.
Overall, Benge produced a .282/.346/.430 slash line with 20 homers, 65 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.
“I think I deserve it,” Benge told The Post in late September, when asked about the NL Rookie of the Year award. “I think I showed in the whole season, doing all facets of the game that I did a pretty good job of showcasing my talent.”
New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge celebrates his solo home run with teammates in the dugout during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Queens, New York, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
Benge had a .498 OPS on May 2 before beginning his offensive surge. He posted an .878 OPS over the season’s final two months.
“Going into [the season] I really had no clue what to expect,” Benge said on MLB Network. “I knew that anyone I was going to be playing against was a lot better than anything I have ever been a part of before, but I always had that confidence in myself and knowing and staying true to myself that I can hang with just about anyone is a big part of my game.”
Tom Seaver, Jon Matlack, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Jacob deGrom and Pete Alonso are the Mets players who have won NL Rookie of the Year.
Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle won the award in the AL after a stellar all-around season that sets him up to be a franchise cornerstone for the next decade.
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean reacts on the field during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field in New York, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. Jason Szenes for New York Post
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Bryce Eldridge #8 of the San Francisco Giants standing on first base reacts after hitting an RBI single scoring Jonah Cox #53 against the San Diego Padres in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park on September 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A pretty straightforward headline, but I was curious to see how many votes Bryce Eldridge would actually receive after the announcement that he wasn’t a finalist. It turns out he received two (2) of the thirty (30) votes and both were for 5th place — not enough to land him that spot. The top 5 vote-getters:
Sal Stewart, Reds — 170 points
Carson Benge, Mets — 107
JJ Wetherholt, Cards — 99
Nolan McLean, Mets — 70
TJ Rumfield, Rockies – 49
And he actually had fewer votes than #6 on the list, Logan Henderson. He tied with Atlanta pitcher Didier Fuentes, and both had one more vote than another Mets rookie: outfielder A.J. Ewing.
Now, if you want to know why Stewart got it, the answer is simple: 32 home runs and 112 RBI. Otherwise, his 112 wRC+ was just 6th. Eldridge led the NL rookie pack at 131. By fWAR, his 1.8 was outside the top 6th, but Stewart’s was just 2.0 thanks to -8.8 Defensive Runs Above Average. What could have been, had Eldridge’s season not been cut short by a doorway… right?
By straight WAR, the vote would’ve gone Wetherholt (4.6), Benge (4.3), Rumfield (2.6), Miami’s Joe Mack (2.2), and the Stewart. Benge had 20 homers, trailing Stewart by a wide margin, but what if Eldridge had avoided that doorway and gotten to 20 or 21 himself? It might’ve been an interesting discussion.
As it stands, Eno Sarris’s bet has paid off in year one.
Cincinnati will receive the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) draft pick because they put Stewart on their Opening Day roster. The Giants didn’t want to do that, but as the #4 most important story of the season, there’s a certain what could’ve been quality to his season. The kid showed he could hang in the big leagues and adjust back against the league’s adjustments to him. This happened to one of the other finalists.
Carson Benge was hitting .204 through his first 36 games but then .301/.362/.454 (.817 OPS) over the rest of the season with 17 homers and 54 RBI, along with superlative defense. Eldridge was down to .248/.342/.426 (.768) after 76 games, but in his final 31 (138 PA) he slashed .319/.413/.543 (.956 OPS) with 6 homers and 29 RBI. Wetherhold faded down the stretch (along with missing time due to injury) and hit .213/.310/.276 over his final 34 games (145 PA). Sal Stewart hovered around a .720 OPS over the final weeks of the season but, rather crucially, he played in all 162 games. But, to be clear, and to take off the fan hat: this is some serious competition. This was a very tough field. Eldridge would’ve had to get much closer to those counting stats to make up for the lack of defensive pizzaz and to overcome the games played disparity with Stewart.
It’s not the ideal outcome for such a promising season, but this has the chance to be a quaint footnote in his professional story. He made a big impression at age 21 but didn’t even sniff the Rookie of the Year Award, but went on to become a perennial All-Star and a notable slugger in Giants history. I mean, that’s the hope, right?
The real shocker in this is how the Bay Area writers stayed away. Eldridge’s two votes came from David Venn of MLB.com from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Arizona chapter and The Athletic’s Charlotte Varnes from the Philadelphia chapter. Eldridge didn’t even face the Phillies this season and in Arizona he hit just .286/.286/.333 in 21 PA (5 games); though, overall: .311/.367/.467 with a homer and 8 RBI in 49 PA (12 total games).
The SF chapter votes were from Jaeho Kim (MK Sports) and Shayna Rubin (The Chronicle). Rubin’s 5 were the top 5 (slight difference in order) and Kim’s ballot omitted Benge in favor of Didier Fuentes.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 8: Brice Sensabaugh #28 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 8, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Pain. Anguish, even. Torment, if you will. These are but a sample of the emotional petri dish that I’ve consumed while witnessing what was supposed to be a new beginning for the Utah Jazz. A beginning of hope. Of competitive basketball. Of winning.
Yet here we are, 10 games into the regular season, with only a single Jazz victory to account for: a one-point Delta Center victory against a subpar New Orleans Pelicans team.
Their 1-9 record is tied for dead last across the entire NBA, matched only by the worst Sacramento Kings team in years (an accomplishment that is borderline impressive, in all honesty) and the alpha release of the Giannis-less Milwaukee Bucks.
Casual observers may be unsurprised by the Jazz’s slow start. They’ve won an average of under 27 games in the last four years and have become the face of professional basketball’s tanking epidemic — few have mastered the modern art of losing quite like Utah. But the NBA enacted substantial anti-tank measures to dissuade teams from intentional losing. In turn, Utah added a multiple-time All-Star forward and a highly touted rookie point guard to their coagulating pre-existing core.
The Jazz are not losing intentionally; they’re actually this bad.
Keeping in mind the small sample size of just 10 games, Utah isn’t the victim of a string of close losses. They’re a victim of the second-worst offense in basketball, scoring just 106.2 points per game. That average lands ahead of just one team: the shockingly horrific Charlotte Hornets and their 96.3 points per game.
The Jazz offense has been ineffective and stale, but much of that can be attributed to the harsh hand of injury misfortune.
First fell Jusuf Nurkic, the projected starting center who serves a Diet Jokic role as an offensive hub in Will Hardy’s offense. Nurkic appeared in Utah’s first preseason game but has been glued to the bench, modeling this year’s autumn catalog from his courtside seat. Without Walker Kessler (who has been predictably awesome in Los Angeles), Nurkic is essential personnel, as odd as that feels to say. 1-9 is the resut in his absence.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has been out since Utah’s fourth game of the season against Memphis, and will spend at least another month or two recovering from an injured MCL.
Markkanen has been off and on with an injured shooting wrist, and playing below his standard while on the court.
But the Jazz’s issues aren’t exclusive to their frontcourt, the lack of depth at the guard line has really hurt Utah. It’s no secret that George and Collier, two ball-dominant point guards, don’t share the floor well. But besides the rookie Darryn Peterson, who else on the roster can Will Hardy trust to bring the ball down the floor?
Svi Mykhailiuk is off to a nightmare start. Scoring 3.3 points on 27% from the field, Mykhailiuk hs been borderline unplayable. Brice Sensabaugh isn’t a ball-handler either, and is hardly seeing the floor anyway. Newly-acquired Kobe Bufkin was nearly out of the NBA when the Jazz signed him to a two-way deal — he’s not going to drive the bus.
Injuries are compounding a pre-existing depth issue. Under a magnifying glass, the Jazz are a deeply flawed team that needs much more time to coalesce.
It wouldn’t be honest to blame strength of schedule, either. Despite some tough competition, the Jazz have put themselves in winning position. They took early overtime leads agaisnt San Antonio and New Orleans before dissolving like sugar cubes, giving up two separate 12-0 runs and consequently picking up a pair of L’s.
There are no excuses, but that doesn’t mean there is no hope.
Darryn Peterson is finally finding his cadence, posting career-highs of 21 and 26 in back-to-back appearances. Keyonte George has played exceptionally well to back up the team’s $157 million faith in his future. Ace Bailey is maximizing his defensive upside, making it impossible for Will Hardy to keep him off the floor even as he struggles offensively. Newcomers Josh Green and Mo Bamba have flourished in their increased floor time, and have proved to be excellent offseason additions early.
The path toward playoff berth may have to be re-routed through the Play-In this year, but perhaps higher expectations weren’t realistic to begin with.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk and a Utah Jazz columnist for the Standard-Examiner. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently writes from his desk in Japan.
The New Jersey Devils called up Riley Tufte from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, on Nov. 9 ahead of the game against the Winnipeg Jets. The move comes following the Anthony Mantha injury, which occurred when he took a stick to the throat during the Nov. 7 game against the New York Islanders.
After playing on Sunday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, the Devils have a replacement. Tufte’s call-up is long overdue, as the veteran AHLer has waited years for this call and finally has a chance to prove he belongs in the NHL.
Tufte Deserves The Call Up
Tufte has traveled around in his hockey career, with the Devils being his fourth team since he debuted in the 2019-20 season with the Texas Stars. While Tufte has played 28 games at the NHL level, he’s never established himself as a full-time forward. It's left him on the roller coaster between the AHL and NHL, where he'll get the call-up for a few games and then get sent down shortly thereafter.
However, he’s been a standout at the AHL level. Last season, he scored 32 goals for the Providence Bruins, playing a pivotal role in their successful season where they finished the season with the league’s best record. Tufte also scored 21 goals with the Bruins' AHL team in 2024-25 and had 23 with the Colorado Eagles in 2023-24, proving he's a consistent scorer at the AHL level.
Moreover, the 28-year-old forward has leaned into the leadership role in recent years. In the AHL, he was one of the older skaters on the team and a guiding presence for top prospects. The Comets benefited early on this season as he mentored some of the young players in the Devils' pipeline and helped the team get off to an 8-2 start.
While Tufte hasn’t had the same impact this season on the offensive end as he has in the past, he’s worthy of the call-up. Likewise, he checks off a lot of the boxes to replace Mantha, with many overlapping skill sets.
Tufte Plays A Similar Role As Mantha
Mantha was a pivotal part of the forward unit as he gave the Devils a physical element and a scoring presence on the wing. At 240 pounds, he’s the power forward who can get to the net and make the most of scoring chances.
It’s how Mantha scored 33 goals last season for the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s allowed him to have a strong start to this season, with five goals and five assists in 17 games. Interestingly, when Mantha scored 33 goals in the NHL, Tufte had 32 in the AHL.
Tufte also adds a physical aspect to the forward unit, even if he’s playing on the top line, as was the case with the Bruins' AHL team. He weighs 233 pounds and plays a heavy checking game.
It allows Tufte to play on the fourth line at the NHL level when given the chance, not just for the Devils but for any NHL team. Likewise, Tufte can play the same role as Mantha, giving the Devils a checking presence who can add a few goals as well.
Does That Mean He’ll Play On The Rodrigues Line?
It makes sense for Tufte to play alongside Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist. It’s where Mantha played and took the Devils' line to another level. Tufte can slide right in, and there won’t be a significant drop.
The Devils have also found chemistry on the Cody Glass line with Amadeus Lombardi and Connor Brown on the wings. Along with their forecheck and defensive play, the trio has also added a scoring touch, with Brown and Glass combining for five goals while Lombardi has added four assists. It makes sense to keep that line together.
That said, it’s a wait-and-see situation. Sheldon Keefe will see how Tufte looks in the forward unit and whether he can play alongside Rodrigues and manage the ice time that comes with it. It makes Tuesday morning’s skate a pivotal one for Tufte and the rest of the Devils as they prepare for a Jets team that’s won three games in a row and wants to make a statement.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 23: World Series Correspondent Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox poses for a photo during Game One of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday, October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Zoe Davis/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Payton Tolle was not named the American League Rookie of the Year for 2026 tonight. This was expected.
Tolle was great, of course. He was the first Red Sox pitcher under the age of 24 since Dennis Eckersley to make at least 4 starts of at least 6 innings without allowing a single run. He was also the only rookie in baseball history to post a strikeout rate above 28% and a walk rate below 7% while throwing at least 140 innings. And while both of those stats are a little too niche to be taken seriously by most people who would read them, they both point to an undeniable truth: Payton Tolle is really young and really good.
Unfortunately for him, Kevin McGonigle is also really young and really good. He’s even younger than Tolle, in fact, and yet he led the entire American League in bWAR, his 7.1 besting Yordan Alvarez and Bobby Witt, Jr. to round out the top-three. When a rookie is arguably the most valuable player in the entire league, the Rookie of the Year voting is reduced to a mere formality. McGonigle ran roughshod over the league and was justly rewarded.
But let the record show: the Red Sox tried their damndest to get Tolle the award, by which I mean the Red Sox pitching staff completely dominated McGonigle this year. In 5 games against the Sox, McGonigle slashed just .238/.273/.286. That was the third-lowest OPS he put up against any team. Moreover, McGonigle ducked when he had a chance to do damage against Tolle himself, sitting out the first game of an early May series when Tolle was on the bump. Was he merely being platooned against a tough lefty, as left-handed rookies often are, or is he a coward?!?!
Probably the former, but hopefully we get a chance to see a Tolle-McGonigle matchup at some point next season.
