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Welcome toClubhouse Eats, where we celebrate the game’s most delectable food and drink. Hope you brought your appetite.

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I tend to be picky when it comes to cookies. They’re often too crunchy for my taste, so I usually steer clear of them in favor of other treats like brownies or cake.

But I simply couldn’t resist the enticing platter of cookies that greeted my late-September arrival to Pine Canyon, a luxury master-planned community and private club located just minutes outside of downtown Flagstaff in Arizona. There were several varieties to choose from, artfully arranged. So on a whim, I decided to sample one. Wow. It was perfect, with a light crunch, toothsome chewiness, and an excellent chocolate chip ratio.

As someone who has botched my fair share of cookie batches while baking with my kids, I was intrigued. How exactly did Pine Canyon’s chefs achieve this exemplary result? Luckily for me (and you!), they’ve graciously shared the keys.

According to Pine Canyon pastry chef Sierra Proctor, the club’s cookies are a signature offering that have been served since the club’s opening more than two decades ago.

This luxe Arizona golf club offers the ultimate high-roller amenity: private flight service

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Jessica Marksbury

“After a round of golf or a midday workout, members have come to expect this sweet bit of comfort that feels like home,” she said.

And what is it exactly that sets the cookies apart? According to Proctor, it’s both an ingredient and a preparation method.

“What makes the cookies special is twofold,” she said. “The use of brown butter, which adds a deep, nutty flavor, and the technique of chilling the dough overnight, which keeps the cookies thick and chewy.”

Making brown butter is a simple process:

First, Proctor said, melt the butter slowly in a light-colored pan. Watch for it to foam and the milk solids to turn a golden brown. (As a bonus, your kitchen will be filled with a rich, nutty aroma.)

Next, pour all of the butter, including the browned bits, into a bowl to cool. At that point, you can combine it with the rest of the cookie ingredients. Check out the full Pine Canyon cookie recipe below.

Pine Canyon’s Signature Brown Butter Cookies

Ingredients

-6 oz butter, browned, cooled, and softened
-4 oz granulated sugar
-4 oz brown sugar
-1 whole egg + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
-0.5 tsp vanilla bean paste
-8.5 oz bread flour
-0.5 tsp salt
-0.5 tsp baking soda
-8 oz mix-ins of choice (chocolate chips, nuts, etc.)

Directions:

Cream together brown butter and sugars until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.

Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter mixture.

Fold in chocolate chips or other mix-ins by hand.

Roll the dough into balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them 4 inches apart.

Chill overnight.

Bake at 325°F for 5 minutes, then rotate the pan and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until golden with crisp edges and a gooey center.

Joe Root insisted England worked as hard as they could to be ready for the day-night Ashes Test, despite missing five chances on the second day at the Gabba.

The tourists face an uphill task to stay in the match and the series after Australia closed on 378-6 – 44 runs ahead.

Four of the chances England missed came in the night session under the floodlights in Brisbane.

England rarely play pink-ball Tests – this is their eighth, compared to Australia’s 15th. Whereas Australia annually include a day-night Test in their schedule, England have played only one since their last visit to this country four years ago.

After losing the first Test inside two days, England opted not to send any of their XI from Perth to a day-night England Lions game against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.

Ben Stokes’ side instead had five training session in Brisbane, two of which were under floodlights.

“We worked as hard as we could,” said England batter Root. “We did a huge amount of catching and making sure we utilised those two sessions under lights well.

“Sometimes the catches just don’t stick. You’ve got to keep applying yourself and wanting the ball so you’re ready when that next opportunity comes. That’s one of the nuances of the game and this pink-ball Test match.”

However, former England captain Michael Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast no amount of fielding drills can replicate match practice.

“I would have done things completely differently,” said Vaughan, who led England to victory in the 2005 Ashes. “What I saw today was a team that looked jaded.

“These fielding drills – they’re fantastic, but you know the ball is coming to you. In a game, you have no clue when it is coming to you and it is completely different.

“The art of taking chances is concentration. If you’re not out there on a regular basis practising for many hours, when that chance comes you have to be concentrating to take that opportunity. The only way you get good at that is by training the brain to do it.”

When this point was raised with Root, he countered: “It’s never going to be perfect. All you can do is give yourself the best possible chance and I think we’ve done that.

“In the lead-up to this game we’ve got used to conditions, we’ve got used to the heat, we got used to the surfaces. We’ve caught under lights, we’ve caught in daylight and tried to catch in twilight as well.

“We’re not perfect, we’re all human and we’re going to make mistakes.”

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“Itâ€s tough, itâ€s stressful, itâ€s completely draining … but I absolutely love what I do,†says Scott Davies, sitting in an empty dressing room waiting for his players to arrive for training. Since 2022, Davies has been the player-manager of Slough Town who, in third from bottom in National League South, are the lowest ranked team left in this seasonâ€s FA Cup.

Some players are stuck in traffic; training was moved forward to teatime to accommodate a local teamâ€s match on the Arbour Park pitch. When the session gets under way in the bucketing rain, the sixth-tier side are sharing the 3G surface with a junior team. “I always thought Iâ€d love to be a manager of a non-league football club and have a job on the side,†says Davies. The 37-year-old has opted out of training himself, instead watching the session from inside, with a tactics board propped up in front of him.

The day before, he is at Aylesbury grammar school to work his other job. Over the course of 45 minutes, he quietens a lecture theatre of sixth-formers with a sobering talk on how a gambling addiction derailed his career as a professional footballer, put a strain on his relationships with friends and family and took him to the verge of ending his own life.

‘I always thought Iâ€d love to be a manager of a non-league football club and have a job on the side.†Scott Davies has been player-manager of Slough since 2022. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian

After going into rehab 10 years ago, Davies has not placed a bet since and is now an educator on the dangers of gambling for Epic Risk Management. He talks to the all-boys school of how, when he scored a free-kick against Chelseaâ€s Petr Cech in a pre-season friendly for Reading in 2009, he thought he had made it. But by then, at 21 years old, his betting was out of control.

The talented midfielder, then playing Championship football, was sneaking out of training at the first opportunity to head to the bookmakers, often making up excuses to leave – one day saying that he had a dentist appointment. When asked by his manager, Brendan Rodgers, to call the dentist to prove it, Davies could not and he was not picked by Reading again.

While on loan at Wycombe in League One, Davies thought he was on his way to Leeds. When he saw on Sky Sports News they had signed someone else, he went to the bookmakers and lost £7,000 in one day. When he was at Crawley in League Two, he started gambling on his own matches and would sneak off into a toilet cubicle at half-time to place bets. Then at Oxford United, he would stay up all night to place bets.

Scott Davies attempts to evade the challenge of Mikel John Obi during Readingâ€s 2009 pre-season friendly against Chelsea, in which Davies scored a free-kick. Photograph: Colorsport/Shutterstock

By the age of 26, Daviesâ€s career was in freefall. He dropped three divisions to play for Dunstable Town. His first game was away at Bideford, with the team bus driving past Readingâ€s stadium. “That was a moment of realisation,†Davies says. “I remember looking at the ground as I went past it and thinking: ‘What has happened?†Iâ€m never going to forget that moment.â€

His coach at Dunstable, Tony Fontenelle, is now Daviesâ€s assistant at Slough and the pair have created an environment where their players can talk to them about anything, breaking down the barriers of macho culture that existed when Davies first came through and was afraid to talk to anyone at his club about his addiction.

“We always stress the importance that weâ€re not just managers: weâ€re life coaches, weâ€re counsellors, weâ€re father figures,†he says. “Weâ€ve had lads in this changing room stood here crying, with our arms wrapped around them, having heart-to-hearts, where theyâ€ve been going through something outside of football.â€

While every case is individual, Davies believes young footballers are susceptible to becoming problem gamblers. The money, the spare time, the competitive nature of it, the perceived insider knowledge when it comes to sports betting were all factors that contributed to his addiction. “When you put all of those things together, youâ€ve pretty much got the perfect customer for a bookmaker.â€

In the week leading up to Sundayâ€s second-round tie at home to Macclesfield, Davies is speaking to Ipswich and Aston Villaâ€s under-21 teams. “I do feel like weâ€ve got a duty of care to protect the younger generation, the ones that are coming through, and thatâ€s why I do the job that I do,†he says.

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Balancing his two jobs has not been a problem until now but, while Davies has not put all his eggs in the management basket, you can sense a desire to prove a point. When the previous managers resigned three years ago, the Slough board asked the midfielder if he wanted the job. “I was a bit bamboozled,†he says. “I did my first coaching badge when I was 16. And then I did my next badge when I was 36. I qualified with my Uefa B [licence] this year. I only did it because I became a manager almost overnight.â€

Now settled, married and the father to a 10-month-old daughter, Davies is yet to hang up his boots and is planning to start on his Uefa A licence. “Thereâ€s a lot of regret but the beauty of coming out the other side and moving on to management is that Iâ€m going to right the wrongs of my playing career with what will hopefully be a long, distinguished management career.â€

‘Weâ€re not just managers: weâ€re life coaches, weâ€re counsellors, weâ€re father figures.†Scott Davies hopes to continue breaking down the barriers of macho football culture that existed during his younger years. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian

Slough have never reached the third round of the Cup and have already made it through four rounds. Their eight second-round exits are a record for a non-league club. Such is the money involved, drawing a Premier League club in the next round could bring a windfall in seven figures for a team whose squad includes builders, personal trainers and teaching assistants.

The prospect of facing coaches such as Pep Guardiola in the third round is a curious one for Davies. “I donâ€t think there would be any tactics that go with the game. Itâ€s one of those where youâ€d be happy to lose the football match just for the experience. Itâ€s incredible to see the non-league teams that get drawn against some of these giants over the years. You see it and you think: ‘One day, can it be you?â€â€

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Tottenham boss Thomas Frank hailed a “top performance” from skipper Cristian Romero after his brace salvaged a 2-2 draw against Newcastle.

The Magpies had enjoyed a series of promising opportunities throughout the game before Bruno Guimarães sent them ahead in the 71st minute.

Romero replied seven minutes later with an excellent diving header from Mohammed Kudus’ cross, before Anthony Gordon restored Newcastle’s lead from the penalty spot.

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The Spurs skipper had the final say in a dramatic finale, scoring an overhead kick in the fifth minute of stoppage-time which bounced through the box and trickled into the bottom corner.

Speaking about Romero’s display, Frank said: “I think that was the perfect bicycle kick, hit with the shin, aiming for the bottom corner.

“Praising Cuti, I think he deserves that. A top performance defending. On the ball: coolness, calmness, duels, then get up there and score two goals.

“I think the bicycle kick will most likely get a little more praise but I think the header is more exceptional, the way he does that is better than many strikers.”

Romero’s eye-catching strike snatched a point for Spurs, who are still winless in their last five Premier League outings and sit 11th in the table, but Frank praised the “willingness” of his side following a tough run.

He said: “I really liked the character and mentality in the team and what this showed after three tough games.

“To go here to the fourth game in 10 days, the third away game at a very difficult place – go behind two times and come back shows everything about the willingness and mentality in the team.”

At 1-1, Newcastle restored their lead from the spot after Rodrigo Bentancur and Dan Burn tangled at the back post from a corner and referee Tom Bramall was called to the monitor.

He awarded a penalty, which Gordon converted, and Frank said: “The second one is very disappointing to concede because I think for me it’s never a penalty.

Cristian Romero scored his second goal of the match in the fifth minute of added time with a stunning bicycle kick. Photo by ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA/Shutterstock

“Even speaking to some from Newcastle (they) don’t think it’s a penalty and we need consistency.

“I think the referee’s call on the pitch, he nailed it, and VAR can only be if it’s clear and obvious. But, I want to speak about us and the mentality coming back.”

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe described the two goals conceded as “hugely disappointing” following a strong display throughout the game.

He said: “We’re hugely frustrated with ourselves really. That was a game where we had to work really hard for the first goal.

“I thought we were the dominant team, knocking on the door through the first half.

“The goal came when it came and felt then we were in a strong position having been relatively comfortable defensively to them.

“To concede the two goals in the way that we did is hugely disappointing because we pride ourselves on being better than that defensively.”

Asked about the penalty decision, Howe replied: “I’ve just seen it again, the defender doesn’t look at the ball, he’s just focused on Dan and Dan goes down, so I can see why it was given.”

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The calendar has flipped to December and we’ve played a quarter of the 2025-26 NBA season. We’re also just over three weeks away from the Christmas Day NBA slate, the best time of the year. Of course, in Yahoo’s new fantasy basketball format, High Score, the top output for a player in a given week is all that matters. So far we’ve seen plenty of superstars top out and even have a few surprising performances. Below we’ll go over the perfect lineup based off the top-six scores from November.

The top-six performances overall by position from November.

More on the top performers

Cade Cunningham, guard: The Pistons have the best record in the Eastern Conference and Cade has the best High Score of any player all season. Cunningham posted an astonishing 46-12-11 triple-double with seven stocks, good for 101 fantasy points, in an OT win over the Wizards on Nov. 10. The Pistons All-Star has had a wide range of outcomes this season, ranging from 28 fantasy points back in October in a loss to the Cavaliers to that explosion against Washington. He’ll almost always have a high floor given his assist numbers, averaging 9.4 per game on the season, second-best in the League.

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Tyrese Maxey, guard: Let’s be real, the 76ers are Maxey’s team. Unfortunately, Joel Embiid isn’t the same player and hasn’t even been able to play in half of Philly’s games so far this season. As a result, Maxey has gone full takeover and is chasing his first scoring title in the NBA, averaging 32.2 points per game, third behind Luka DonÄić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. There are few players who can fill it up like Maxey on any given night. He did just that with a career-high 54 points in an OT win over Milwaukee on Nov. 20, propelling him to 95 fantasy points. Maxey was a fringe first-round asset during draft season and is looking like he should have landed in the top five.

[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. It’s not too late to create or join a league]

Jalen Johnson, frontcourt: Perhaps the most surprising name on this list, though we should give the budding star some credit. Johnson has taken over as the No. 1 option in Atlanta in the short-term with Trae Young dealing with a knee injury. Johnson posted a 31-18-14 triple-double with seven steals for 98 fantasy points in a win over the Jazz on Nov. 13, the second-highest fantasy total in High Score on the young season. We may not see another performance like that from him the rest of the season.

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Nikola Jokić, frontcourt: Real quick, we’d have Jokić on this list multiple times but we aren’t going to repeat players. The three-time MVP has been the best player in the High Score format (and honestly fantasy basketball overall so far this season). He’s leading all players in average fantasy points per game (70). Jokić doesn’t have fewer than 55 fantasy points in a game all season and has reached 80+ on four occasions — two High Scores of 89. There’s no reason to think he won’t be the top fantasy asset the rest of the season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, frontcourt: The Greek Freak recently returned from a groin strain. While the Bucks have struggled so far this season, Giannis has still worked in a few ceiling games above 80 fantasy points. His ability to score at will and rack up plenty of rebounds, assists and stocks give him one of the best floors in High Score. He topped out with a near 41-point, 15-rebound triple-double for 86 fantasy points against Chicago, a team he generally dominates, on Nov. 7.

Luka DonÄić, utility: Of course it isn’t a High Score list without Luka on there. After starting the season injured, missing three of the first five games, DonÄić is back and producing at a high level. His gem of the season was a 35-8-13 line with seven stocks for 91 fantasy points in a two-point win over the Spurs on Nov. 5 — far from the easiest matchup. Even with LeBron James back in the lineup, this is DonÄić’s Lake Show to run.

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John Cena gave his two cents on his way out to a female athlete who could potentially break the Never Seen 17’s World Title record in WWE someday.

This year was a lesson in more ways than one for 14-time World Champion Charlotte Flair (real name: Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr). She went from a triumphant return at the Royal Rumble to getting rejected by the fans. Despite documenting her struggles during recovery the year prior, and the news of her divorce with Andrade El Idolo, The Queen was dejected when the lights shone bright.

A significant part of this fumble may have been due to WWE’s creative, but it is the same team that allowed Flair to win tag team gold after she was paired with Alexa Bliss out of left field. The two women organically got over, winning the Women’s Tag Team Championship.

The fans started to enjoy Charlotte’s work again, which was never in question, as the main problem was the company’s urge to constantly plunge her into the World Title picture. Flair herself began to enjoy the ride, as she acknowledged Bliss for rejuvenating her.

This past Saturday, The Queen teamed up with Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, and AJ Lee in a winning effort inside the WarGames cage.

What John Cena Told The WWE Star After WrestleMania 41 Debacle

One of Charlotte Flair’s low points in 2025 was her showdown with Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania 41. Many fans voiced their displeasure about the lackluster buildup and an overall underwhelming showing on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

Such a reaction is not typically associated with Flair, who often steals the show with her impeccable performances. To make matters worse, Stratton called Flair out on her divorces during the lead-up to their bout. After their eventual clash did not meet expectations, both women went their separate ways. Ultimately, The Queen bounced back with Alexa Bliss in the summer.

On Survivor Recapafter the Thanksgiving event, Charlotte Flair reflected on John Cena’s valuable advice, one that helped her relax after a tough year.

Cena pulled me aside after WrestleMania [41] and said, ‘You don’t have to be perfect all the time,’” Charlotte Flair began.

“For so long, I felt this pressure all the time to always have to be perfect, and wanting to be perfect. But I truly realized that after everything that I’ve been through, in front of the audience, I felt I had to be indestructible, when really, getting to know my flaws and insecurities, and who Ashley is as a person, allowed me to connect with [the fans].”

The Kabuki Warriors dethroned Flair and Bliss during the buildup to Survivor Series: WarGames. Now that the latter duo prevailed on Saturday, perhaps another shot at the title is not out of question. This gives both women something to work with as the division gears up for the Royal Rumble in 2026.

If you use quotes from this article, please credit WWE and give a H/T to ITR Wrestling for the transcription.

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Nov 26, 2025, 06:01 PM ET

LONDON — Arsenal hammered out a warning to Europe’s top teams by extending their perfect start to the UEFA Champions League’s league phase with a 3-1 win against Bayern Munich, which confirms their status as favorites to win the competition.

Goals by Jurriën Timber, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli sent Bayern crashing to their first defeat in all competitions this season and sent the Gunners three points clear of the chasing pack at the top of the table.

Lennart Karl‘s first-half equalizer had given Bayern hope of maintaining their unbeaten record, but Arsenal proved too strong in the second half, and Mikel Arteta’s substitutes — Madueke and Martinelli both coming off the bench — made match-winning contributions.

In a fiery game, both Arteta and Bayern coach Vincent Kompany were yellow-carded for touchline protests, but it was Arsenal who held their nerve to claim a significant victory. — Mark Ogden

– Champions League recap: Arsenal-Bayern, PSG-Tottenham
– Why Kompany is well placed to succeed Guardiola at Man City
– Eze haunts Spurs as Arsenal make statement of title intent

Arsenal win the battle of perfection

Both sides went into this game with perfect Champions League records this season, but it is Arsenal who end Wednesday with theirs intact after a powerful second-half display at Emirates Stadium.

They had to work hard for this. After a slow start, Bayern gradually began to control the opening 45 minutes, restricting Arsenal to just 37.4% possession. That was Arsenal’s lowest first-half figure since losing to Liverpool in January 2022. Arteta has spoken about trying to appear calmer on the touchline, but there was little evidence of that here as Bayern posed a major test to his in-form side.

Yet they found the second-half solutions to wrestle back the advantage and secure another win, which promotes their Champions League credentials.

Top of the league at home and in Europe, the Gunners are right where they want to be. Win at Chelsea on Sunday and they will come through their toughest week of the season yet looking unstoppable. — James Olley

Arsenal continue their perfect record in the Champions League. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Kane’s no-show becomes worry for Bayern

Harry Kane had an off night for Bayern at the Emirates and that will have stung the England captain pretty badly, considering his connection to Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal’s bitter North London rivals.

The 32-year-old struggled against Arsenal’s robust center backs William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera and his lack of impact up front might explain why he spent so much time dropping deep to go in search of the ball.

There can be no doubt that Kane is enjoying a remarkable season for Bayern, with 24 goals in 18 games before this Champions League clash. But in Bayern’s biggest, or certainly toughest, games of the season, he has failed to score, blanking against Paris Saint-Germain and now Arsenal.

So is Kane still one of the world’s most fearsome strikers, or is he beginning to fall short against the best teams and defenders? That’s a question that will nag at Bayern as they look ahead to the second half of the season and the knockout stages, where they will have to overcome the best teams in Europe to win the Champions League.

Bayern need Kane scoring in the biggest games, so he has to sharpen up against the top sides. — Ogden

In his return to the Emirates, Harry Kane was unable to make an impact for Bayern. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Tough night for Lewis-Skelly

Arsenal made only two changes to the lineup that thrashed Tottenham 4-1 on Sunday, with one of those Myles Lewis-Skelly‘s introduction at left back for Riccardo Calafiori. It didn’t work. Lewis-Skelly was repeatedly targeted by Bayern, and the brilliant diagonal ball for Karl’s equalizing goal took advantage of poor positioning from the 19-year-old, allowing Serge Gnabry to drift in behind him.

Karl and then Michael Olise beat Lewis-Skelly far too easily midway through the second half, and Arteta reacted by substituting him moments later. To make matters worse for Lewis-Skelly, Calafiori had a positive impact seconds after coming on, powering down the left to cross for Madueke’s winning goal.

All of this took place in front of England manager Thomas Tuchel, watching in the stands just a few weeks after dropping Lewis-Skelly from his squad amid a lack of game time. The teenager is a fine talent, but a response is required. — Olley

Timber and Rice show their worth

It was noticeable that while Arteta was willing to alter his defense, he kept Timber in the lineup despite Ben White sitting patiently as his highly experienced replacement.

Jurriën Timber is undoubtedly an excellent defender, but with Gabriel Magalhães sidelined through injury, the Dutchman’s ability from set pieces is even more important to the cause. Arsenal’s opening goal was a reminder, with Timber making that familiar run from far post to near and glancing a finish past Manuel Neuer. Bayern boss Kompany wanted a foul, but the truth is Neuer wasn’t strong enough.

A key reason Arsenal turned the second half in their favor was Declan Rice‘s all-action midfield display. He helped drive Arsenal forward and, aided by two substitutes scoring — or “finishers” as Arteta calls them — Bayern were overpowered. Nobody had more touches of the ball for Arsenal than Rice’s 66, and only Saliba had more defensive interventions for the home side. — Olley

These two giants will only get stronger in the competition

Arsenal and Bayern will be among the favorites to win the Champions League final in Budapest next May because they have dominated the league stage so far.

And the bad news for the other clubs vying to win it is that both sides will only get stronger in the second half of the campaign. Arsenal have been without Kai Havertz for much of the season, and Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel are also sidelined right now with injuries.

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But all three should be back and ready to have an impact when the knockout stages begin, and the same applies to Bayern’s missing players. Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala are due back soon following long-term injuries, while the suspended Luis Díaz will also return for the key knockout games.

So if you want to back a team to win the Champions League, don’t look beyond Arsenal and Bayern. — Ogden

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We’re over a month into the 2025-26 NBA season and while the Western Conference standings appear to be chalk so far, that hasn’t been the case in the Eastern Conference. The Detroit Pistons, currently on a 12-game winning streak, sit atop the East with a surprising Toronto Raptors squad right behind them.

The Pistons have been an interesting case study for High Score fantasy basketball. Cade Cunningham will always be an elite play among the top scorers week-to-week. Injuries had opened up opportunities for players like Paul Reed, Daniss Jenkins and Isaiah Stewart. But Detroit is getting healthy again and Jaden Ivey just returned to make his season debut. The Pistons are dominating opponents and have one of the deeper rosters in the NBA. While Cade and big man Jalen Duren will be High Score staples all season, it could be difficult to trust anyone else on the roster to consistently get us there.

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[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. It’s not too late to create or join a league]

You know who is going to consistently get us there all season? MVP favorite Nikola Jokić, who had 71+ High Score fantasy points in three of four games this week. He’s among the top-six performers in High Score for Week 5. Let’s take a look at the perfect lineup.

The top-six performances overall by position from Week 5.

(Taylar Sievert)

More on the top performers

Tyrese Maxey: Arguably the best draft pick relative to ADP so far, Maxey is chasing his first scoring title this season. With Joel Embiid out last Thursday, the former Kentucky guard took the game over, dropping 54 points in an OT win over the Bucks. He also added 5 boards, 9 dimes, and 6 stocks (a pretty high total for him). Maxey is very easily among the top-five players in High Score this season, averaging 61.4 fantasy points per game.

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James Harden: Charlotte is going to get picked on by superstars this season and Harden’s back to getting elite usage with Kawhi Leonard still sidelined. The Beard dropped 55 points, the 25th time in his career he’s had over 50 points in a game. Harden shot 17-26 from the floor and 10-16 from distance. He also added seven assists but took care most of the scoring in a Clippers blowout win. Harden finished among the top producers in High Score on the week at 62.5 fantasy points per game.

Nikola Jokić: While Maxey is a top-five asset, Jokić is the top asset. He’s your leader in fantasy points per game at a whopping 72.2 on the season. He’s the perfect combination of floor and ceiling, and there’s really no reason Joker doesn’t finish the year as the best player in fantasy. To start a four-game week, the Nuggets dropped a rare game at home to the Bulls. However, Jokić dominated with a 36-18-13 triple-double with three stocks. That was good for just shy of 90 fantasy points, the fourth time the big man has broken the 80-point threshold this season. It’s going to be difficult to lose with Jokić in your lineup.

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Deni Avdija: The Bulls got rung up by a few stars on this list this week. Chicago allowed a huge game to Jokic and also Avdija a few days later. The young wing is finally putting it all together in his sixth season, averaging north of 25 points per game. He dropped a 32-11-11 triple-double in a buzzer-beating defeat at the hands of Chicago on Wednesday. Avdija has been a bit volatile but has the type of ceiling you’re looking for in High Score.

Jalen Johnson: With Trae Young out, Johnson has been doing a lot of the ball-handling for the Hawks. He’s averaging 7.6 assists per game this month and has at least eight dimes in eight straight games. That has elevated Johnson’s ceiling and we saw said ceiling last week when he threw up 98 fantasy points, one of the highest scores of the season. Johnson needed 25 points, 8 boards, 9 assists and 4 stocks to crack this lineup again in Week 5.

Luka DonÄić: The Lakers star had a chance to jump into one of the guard slots for the perfect lineup but fell short at just 69 points on Sunday night. Still, DonÄić did enough earlier in the week to make it as the utility spot. It was the tale of two games against the Jazz — one was a track meet and the other a slogfest. The track meet is where DonÄić was able to post his high score for the week of 74 on 37 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds, plus 4 steals. It’s only a matter of time before we see DonÄić break the system; he’s notched only one triple-double all season. Perhaps he goes off in a revenge spot at home vs. the Mavericks on Friday.

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SAN JOSE, CA — When the Los Angeles Kings acquired Andrei Kuzmenko at last seasonâ€s deadline, he helped transform an offensively barren roster into one of the leagueâ€s most dangerous even-strength teams down the stretch and the most lethal power play in the postseason.

But the NHL is an unforgiving ecosystem, and few players have felt that turbulence more than Kuzmenko. In his short time in North America, he has already been cycled through multiple systems, coaches, and lineup roles. What once looked like an instant fit in Los Angeles has quickly shifted into uncertainty.

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Last yearâ€s chemistry with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe was undeniable in that 20 game burst, but it has completely evaporated to start 2025–26. After seven points in his first 13 games as a plus three, Kuzmenkoâ€s momentum stalled. His usage cratered with a 7:32 showing in Montreal and a 7:50 game in Pittsburgh, followed by three straight scratches. He has not registered a point in five games and now sits at seven points in 18 games as a minus one.

When Kuzmenko is rolling, he is a surplus scorer who can flirt with 30 goals. When he is not, he becomes a liability for a team that is desperate for middle-six production. That volatility is precisely why the Kings offered only a one-year extension. The risk and reward are written directly into his stat line.

To be a true top six forward in the modern NHL, players must contribute on both sides of the puck. Kuzmenkoâ€s defensive game remains the gap in his profile, much like fellow countryman Ilya Kovalchuk. KHL imports tend to arrive as finished products. This is who he is. The question is whether that “finished product†aligns with a forechecking, pressure driven, board play oriented Kings identity. Right now, it often does not.

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To his credit, Kuzmenko had strong moments against a resurgent Sharks team, especially on the power play where his scoring instincts still flash. At five on five, he logged the eighth most minutes among forwards, reflecting that “just outside the mark†tweener status. Not quite top six at even strength, but elevated into that tier through special teams usage. His underlying numbers were respectable with chances even at four to four and shots seven to six against, but not truly impactful.

And that is the story. Kuzmenko is noticeable and polarizing almost entirely because of the power play. If not for an outstanding performance by Yaroslav Askarov, the Kings likely would have converted on one of their man advantages, with Kuzmenko heavily involved. But this league does not reward hypotheticals. Production is king, and this King needs to produce.

His one year, 4.3 million dollar contract looks more and more like a temporary solution. Either he finds his touch again or he becomes a natural trade piece if Los Angeles looks to add another forward. The front office will not hesitate to exchange volatility for reliability.

There is still a useful player inside Kuzmenko. Maybe he becomes a specialty weapon. Maybe a sheltered offensive winger who boosts the power play. But just like any professional looking for the next pay grade, the output must match the price.

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So far, it has not. And unless his scoring returns, this may be his final season in Los Angeles.

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Orange Cassidy isnâ€t interested in letting labels define him—especially when it comes to the term “comedy wrestler.†Despite his laid-back persona and quirky in-ring style, Cassidy has racked up serious accomplishments in AEW, from headlining pay-per-views to being featured in video games and even a DC comic book.

In a recent interview on Unlikely, Cassidy was asked whether being called a “comedy wrestler†ever bothered him. His reaction was exactly what youâ€d expect from someone whoâ€s made a career out of defying convention.

“Nah, I donâ€t care. Call me whatever you want, right? As long as youâ€re reacting to something.â€

Cassidyâ€s approach is simple—if youâ€re paying attention to what heâ€s doing, then itâ€s working. His philosophy reflects a deeper understanding of wrestling as a form of entertainment, where reaction matters more than categorization. Instead of fighting labels, Cassidy embraces the power of fan engagement, no matter how itâ€s labeled.

Heâ€s not out to prove people wrong with fiery promos or social media rants. He lets his body of work speak for itself—whether it involves stabbing Wheeler Yuta with sunglasses or putting on show-stealing matches with the likes of Jon Moxley and PAC.

Cassidyâ€s laid-back but effective outlook continues to make him one of AEWâ€s most unpredictable and unique stars, and he has no intention of changing that.

What do you think about Orange Cassidyâ€s take on the “comedy wrestler†label? Do you agree with his laid-back philosophy, or should he be taking it more seriously? Let us know in the comments.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.

November 19, 2025 8:04 am

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