Browsing: Player

Jake Weatherald – 6

Debutant was unlucky to be exposed to Jofra Archer in the first innings, then played his part in the sensational run chase.

Usman Khawaja – 3

A bizarre Test. Did not look fit and spent time off the field. Held on to a couple of key catches at slip, but also looked immobile in the cordon. Gets a mark for the injury that allowed Travis Head to open.

Marnus Labuschagne – 7

A successful return to the team. Absorbed England’s pressure better than most in the first innings, then supported Head in the second.

Steve Smith – 5

Looked out of sorts in the first innings. Needless pre-match attack on Monty Panesar.

Travis Head – 9

Possibly churlish not to get the full 10, but he played a pretty ropey shot in the first innings. His second-innings hundred was an all-time great.

Cameron Green – 5

Took the crucial wicket of Ollie Pope in the first innings. Rattled by a Mark Wood bouncer when he batted. Barely needed in the second half of the match.

Alex Carey – 5

Attempted a counter-attack against England’s bowlers on the first evening. Tidy behind the stumps.

Mitchell Starc – 9

Carried the weight of the attack without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood with the first Australian Ashes 10-wicket haul in 20 years.

Scott Boland – 6

Short of his best in the first innings. Improved in the second to spark the England collapse.

Brendan Doggett – 6

Solid debut. More than capable stand-in for Cummins and Hazlewood.

Nathan Lyon – 2

Virtually a spectator in a match dominated by pace. Possibly picked up an injury when struck by Mark Wood.

Source link

Alex Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer earlier this year. He continued to make history on Thursday.

In an 8-4 blowout win over the Montreal Canadiens, the Washington Capitals legend scored the 33rd hat trick of his NHL career. Those goals also represent the 905th, 906th and 907th goals of his career.

Advertisement

With those three goals, Ovechkin became the sixth player in NHL history to score a hat trick in his 40s, joining Jaromir Jagr, Gordie Howe (three times), Johnny Bucyk (twice), Teemu Selanne and Nicklas Lidstrom. At 40 years and 64 days old, he represents the ninth oldest player to accomplish the feat.

Ovechkin’s 33 hat trick also ties him with Brett Hull for the fourth-most all-time, behind Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy.

Alex Ovechkin is moving further and further into the 900-goal club. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Ovechkin began his season in a small slump, with only two goals in his first 12 games. It’s been a different story recently, with seven goals and three assists in his past six games, a span of time in which the Capitals are 4-1-1.

Advertisement

It’s unclear how much time Ovechkin has to further enter uncharted territory in the record books. He has declined to say if the 2025-26 season will be his last in the NHL, but his contract is up next summer and there has long been speculation he wants to play his final years in his native Russia. He’s already done plenty in his 21 seasons with the Capitals, and Thursday was simply a continuation of that.

Source link

Each day, Manchester United’s players drive down Birch Road, occasionally stopping for the horses from the Carrington Riding Centre or a cyclist, and turn into the club’s training ground. When the autograph seekers are satisfied and the entry barriers are lifted, they turn in front of the red neon “Manchester United” sign and head toward the first team parking lot behind the main building.

With their sports cars and luxury SUVs locked and their travel bags under their arms, they walk inside.

Once in the area known as the “players’ corridor,” an office behind glass panels is immediately on the left side, with a large desk in the middle and chairs on either side. On the back wall is a large flat-screen TV, and there are telephones and laptops in the room. The door is always open.

But it’s not an office for manager Ruben Amorim, CEO Omar Berrada or director of football Jason Wilcox. Instead, this room is reserved for the player care team. It’s the department that works to ensure each squad member has everything they need off the pitch so they can perform on it.

Player care departments aren’t unique to United. Across the Premier League, clubs are investing more to make sure their players have everything they need to perform at their optimum level. At United’s training ground, these services are front and centre for a reason.

The goal? Players leaving their problems at the door, feeling better and heading into training with a clear mind, ready to focus on football.

What is player care?

If the manager’s job is to oversee what happens at the training ground, it’s the responsibility of the player care department to look after the rest. Anything and everything a player might encounter can land on their desk, most of it not football-related.

“It’s based around the person rather than the player,” player care expert Hugo Scheckter told ESPN. “A very vague way of putting it is that it’s everything that affects a player that’s not football or medical. For three or four hours a day, players are at the training ground. Everything outside of that can be covered by player care.

“It could be personal-developmental stuff, giving them the life skills to improve themselves, welfare stuff like signposting to mental health provisions, or operational things like relocations and problem-solving. We’re trying to be that resource where they can remove the stress away from life to focus on football.”

– Ian Darke’s PL stars so far: Haaland, Caicedo, more
– If the World Cup started today, who will win it?
– Connelly: Lessons learned after 10 games in top leagues

Scheckter has worked for Premier League clubs, including West Ham and Brentford, and in 2020, he set up the Player Care Group. He has years of experience helping players find houses, pick schools for their children, tax cars and sort match tickets.

Other times, it means dealing with emergencies such as a car accident or home break-in. Occasionally, the problem is more unusual.

“I had one player who asked me to hunt a bird that was scaring his girlfriend. He wanted it shot, and I had to say, ‘We don’t do that in England,'” Scheckter said.

“My solution was to get an ultrasonic bird that basically scared it away, but his first thought was can we [kill it]? Ultimately, they wanted a problem solved, and I can understand that. The bird was tapping on the window all the time, and his girlfriend was scared of birds. So we got a little £10 thing on Amazon to scare it away.

“It can seem a small thing, but then on the other hand, if he’s awake all night or always getting complaints from his girlfriend, it can affect performance. It sounds silly, but it can be quite important as well.”

Man United forward Benjamin Sesko arrives at Carrington for training. Player care reps are the first things players see when they arrive, meaning they can get issues addressed promptly before heading out to practice. Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

‘The canaries in the coal mine’

In the search for marginal gains and a competitive edge, clubs are increasingly taking player care more seriously. Foster and Partners, the London-based architectural firm responsible for the £50m revamp of Manchester United’s Carrington training ground, purposely put the player care office toward the front of the players’ entrance to the building.

It’s a similar story at clubs all over the world.

“The player care team are like the canaries in the coal mine,” one high-level source at a Premier League club told ESPN. “Often, they’re the ones who can spot the first sign of trouble.

“Coaches and medical staff will know everything about a player’s performance, but the player care or player support team know far more about their non-football lives than a manager or coach. And the two things are intertwined. One impacts the other.”

Scheckter adds: “I think it used to be a very reactive service where a player would bring a problem in, and they would try and solve it. Now, I think you’re seeing more and more clubs who are trying to get ahead of those problems, so they don’t even appear at all. Or if they do, that they’re well-managed, and there’s a process in place.”

All of ESPN. All in one place.

Watch your favorite events in the newly enhanced ESPN App. Learn more about what plan is right for you. Sign Up Now

Investment in player care varies from club to club. Player care teams can range from one or two employees to five or more. Most Premier League clubs have separate departments for their men’s, women’s and academy sides.

Most of the time, however, the department’s effectiveness depends on how seriously it’s taken by the first-team manager and his staff. Some coaches can be quite dismissive of anything that goes on outside the training ground, but others are keen to take a more holistic approach.

“A lot of time, it’s club culture-dependent,” Scheckter said. “I’ve had managers who are not negative towards it, but kind of apathetic. It depends from manager to manager. With some, you just stay out of the way, and with others, you’re really involved at the top table in management meetings every day. That’s really exciting as well.”

There are clear benefits to including the player care team in performance meetings that include other key heads of department.

“You’ve got the nutritionist there, you’ve got the fitness coaches there, you’ve got the coaching staff there, the manager there. And the conversation can be about a player who has lost three kilos in the last month,” Scheckter said.

“I can be like, ‘Oh well, that’s because his girlfriend is away and he doesn’t cook.’ So next time his girlfriend goes away, we need to make sure he’s getting food delivered or we get a chef in, or whatever it is. The nutritionist in isolation might be thinking he’s unwell or he’s skipping meals. It’s good to have that joined-up approach.

“I’ve gone to managers before and said privately, ‘Look, his mother died a year ago on this day, just so you are aware,’ and they’ll go, ‘OK, thank you. That’s why he was off today in training.'”

With football becoming an increasingly global game, there’s pressure on player care teams to help players new to the country settle quickly. It’s not unusual for departments to be in touch with counterparts at rival clubs, especially if they have players of the same nationality.

“If we’ve got a player from Brazil, we might get in touch with another club local to us if they also have a Brazilian player,” one Premier League source said. “It’s in our interest to do that, share intelligence, and help build a wider network for a player’s family to help them feel settled.”

play

1:12

Are Manchester United getting smarter with their transfer deals?

Mark Ogden explains why there’s optimism around Manchester United’s transfer strategy after turning down the chance to sign Chelsea’s Roméo Lavia.

In many circumstances, the role of the player care team extends beyond the players.

“The partners, especially at the Premier League level, none of them tend to work or very few of them tend to work, and so you have a situation where they’ve just sat around and so trying to provide a purpose for them and a direction for them is really important,” Scheckter said.

“We see it more and more where the player is really happy, but the partner or the family aren’t, and so we’re seeing clubs invest more and more into family programs.

“It can be hard moving to a new country. We’re definitely seeing that as a bigger issue, where players are happy, partners are not, and then that’s leading to a player either wanting to leave or talking about potentially having to leave, which is a disaster for clubs.”

Whether it’s to take on the role of wellness professional or concierge, the job of the player care team is to keep players happy. But that doesn’t mean clubs want to pamper their stars.

“There’s a balance,” one source told ESPN. “We don’t want players who are detached from everyday life. But we also don’t want players worrying about renewing a passport or a dispute with a landlord because that takes up mental space.

“There’s a growing understanding throughout sport that mental well-being is important to performance. We want to take away the burden of the stresses associated with everyday life as much as we can so players can focus on training and matches.”

‘Make sure the athletes are the best they can be’

Man United’s revamped Carrington training ground ensures that player care is the first resource seen when they arrive for training or meetings. Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

More often than not, the player care team members work in the background. On other occasions, they’re thrust into the spotlight.

After West Ham failed to win for more than two months, new manager Nuno Espirito Santo revealed that the club’s player care department sourced baby pictures of the players to decorate the dressing room to serve as motivation ahead of Newcastle’s visit to the London Stadium. It worked, and West Ham won 3-1.

“It was a surprise for everybody,” Nuno said afterward. “The player care [team] really do things really nice. They did it in a really nice way, the player care. The players didn’t know.

“It’s nice to see when we are young and had dreams. For us, it is important to go back to that feeling of being young and happy and try to enjoy things.”

Scheckter tells a story about a player he encountered at the start of his career in player care who appeared to be fine on the surface but left at the end of the season because his partner hadn’t settled.

There also have been small wins that can make all the difference.

“There was a player who was consistently late for team meetings and he was an African player, and he got dropped from a game,” Scheckter said. “The manager was basically like, ‘He’s just not professional, he’s not focused.’ So, I went and spoke to him, and he was very upset about it.

“I said to him, ‘Why are you late? He said, ‘Well, where I’m from … we don’t have reliable transport, we don’t have reliable timekeeping devices, and meeting time in my culture and my life has always been a suggestion.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, OK, I appreciate that, but in the UK or in England, if you’re not five minutes early, you’re late.

“And so I said, ‘OK, let’s work with you.’ I would go and knock on his door or go get him before everything he had to be at for a couple of weeks, and after those couple of weeks, then he kind of got it and was on time. It’s about working proactively to solve problems and make sure the athletes are the best they can be.”

In the end, the goal is always the same, whether the issue is timekeeping, staying on top of the pressures of the game, or dealing with a bird that won’t stop tapping on a window.

Source link

Nov 19, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

From early All-Star performances to disappointing starts, the 2025-26 NBA regular season has been nothing short of interesting.

Nikola Jokic is having yet another historic career start, quietly grabbing his eighth triple-double this season against the Chicago Bulls on Monday and leading the Denver Nuggets in points and assists in their past eight games.

Their Western Conference rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder, have dominated our Power Rankings this season, holding the No. 1 spot for five straight weeks. Meanwhile, their 2025 Finals rivals, the Indiana Pacers, have fluctuated at the bottom of these rankings and the conference standings, dealing with myriad injuries and losing streaks.

Speaking of streaks, the Detroit Pistons are dominating the East and riding an 11-game win streak — their longest since 2008. The last time the Pistons got off to this hot a start, they reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2008.

In addition to our rankings, our NBA insiders picked the most important role player on each team. Which sixth man is making the biggest impact? Who can step up in place of injured superstars? Let’s break down where all 30 teams land in this week’s Power Rankings.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Kevin Pelton, Michael C. Wright, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and Zach Kram) think teams belong this season.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 29 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 12

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

Role player: Isaiah Hartenstein

Two players in the NBA have scored at least 30 points and grabbed at least 19 rebounds in the same game this season: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Hartenstein. The Thunder’s perpetually under-the-radar center is performing even better in his second season with the franchise, averaging career highs in points (12.9), rebounds (10.9) and steals (1.5). His 62 makes within five feet are the seventh most in the league. His 84.9% conversion rate is higher than the six players above him. Hartenstein has appeared in all 15 games of the Thunder’s 14-1 start. He has a $28.5 million player option next season and has shown to be plenty worth it. — Anthony Slater

• 2025-26 record: 10-3

• Previous ranking: 2

• Next games: @ NO (Nov. 19), @ HOU (Nov. 21), vs. SAC (Nov. 22), @ MEM (Nov. 24)

Role player: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Hardaway has made the biggest impact among the veterans added by the Nuggets in the offseason to boost their bench. Hardaway, who signed a one-year deal for the veteran minimum, is averaging 11.4 points in 22.8 minutes per game while shooting 47.1% from 3-point range. He has quickly formed a chemistry with Nikola Jokic, who has assisted on 18 of Hardaway’s 49 buckets. The Nuggets are scoring 129.6 points per 100 possessions when those two are on the court together. — Tim MacMahon

Role player:Ausar Thompson

Thompson doesn’t yet lead the league in steals (seventh), but when he cracks the 30-minute mark, it seems like he will be destined to top that list. For now, he’ll have to settle for being second in the league in deflections per 36 minutes, trailing only Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson. Why’s that important? Because for everything glorious about the Pistons’ 13-2 start, they’re doing it despite being near the bottom in 3-point attempts, and shoot right around 35%. Which means there will be a premium on getting out on the break to facilitate easy opportunities, and Thompson generates that as well as anyone in the league (and he’s a great off-ball cutter). Given that the Pistons like to use him as a backup point guard and secondary ball handler even when Cade Cunningham is on the floor, he’s going to be unsung but vital to whatever long-term success Detroit will have this season. — Vincent Goodwill

Role player: Reed Sheppard

The Rockets continue to roll, winning their fourth consecutive contest Sunday, powered by a 35-point night from Kevin Durant, who might be on the way to membership in the 50-40-90 club for the third time in his career. But keep an eye on sharpshooting reserve guard Sheppard, who is shooting 47.8% from deep this season and averaging 15.7 points over his past six games. Sheppard struggles on defense, but he’ll improve with more experience. Houston believes that, too, considering his minutes have increased. He has played 24 minutes or more in each of his past five appearances.– Michael C. Wright

• 2025-26 record: 10-5

• Previous ranking: 4

• Next games: vs. HOU (Nov. 19), vs. IND (Nov. 21), vs. LAL (Nov. 23), @ TOR (Nov. 24)

Role player: Lonzo Ball

Take the Cavs’ win over Milwaukee on Monday night as a snapshot of Ball’s potential impact. He didn’t shoot the ball well, going 2 of 8 from the field and 1 of 6 from 3, but he was everywhere on the court, collecting five assists, two steals and five rebounds. The Cavs were plus-11 in his 23 minutes. Cleveland needs Ball to help initiate offense at guard with Darius Garland still sidelined after a setback with his toe injury, but Ball can also provide a different dynamic to the Cavs’ rotation in the playoffs by helping the offense operate more in transition while also being a disruptor on defense. — Jamal Collier

Role player: Mikal Bridges

Is Bridges a primary scorer or someone to fill in the blanks when attention is elsewhere? Is he a lockdown defender or a good one given the right scheme and matchup? He has had a bunch of roles in Phoenix (overqualified role player) and Brooklyn (not a fit as the No. 1 option), but with this Knicks team he could be perfectly nestled as a facilitator in Mike Brown’s new-look offense. His shots per game are his lowest since 2021-22 with Phoenix, but his .421 3-point percentage is right on track for his career high. And averaging nearly five assists a night is a welcome development. With Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby battling injuries, more will be placed on Bridges’ shoulders to keep the Knicks upright in a surprisingly competitive Eastern Conference. — Goodwill

The Knicks bench scored 75 points against the Heat on Friday, the most points off the bench for New York since 2019. ESPN

Role player: Jake LaRavia

As one of only two Lakers players to play in every one of their first 15 games, and with eight of those appearances coming off the bench, the nod for L.A.’s super substitute goes to LaRavia. Signed to a two-year, $12 million contract during free agency, the 24-year-old forward has flourished so far, averaging 10.2 points on a career-best 47.7%, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals. “He just knows how to play basketball,” JJ Redick said earlier this season. — Dave McMenamin

Role player: Rob Dillingham

Minnesota traded up to draft Dillingham to be their point guard of the future in 2024, but so far it’s been a struggle for him — and the team continues to have a long-term hole at the position. He’s shooting 39% overall, 23% from 3 and Minnesota is getting outscored by 14 points per 100 possessions in his limited minutes this season. — Tim Bontemps

• 2025-26 record: 9-6

• Previous ranking: 16

• Next games: @ SA (Nov. 20), @ NO (Nov. 22), vs. CHA (Nov. 23), @ WAS (Nov. 25)

Role player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker

When the Hawks acquired Alexander-Walker, they felt they were adding much-needed two-way versatility and an exceptional role player. They’ve gotten that and more so far. Since Trae Young went down with an MCL injury, Alexander-Walker has been big for coach Quin Snyder. He can play point and shooting guard and attacks on the drive to put pressure on defenses. Alexander-Walker missed a couple of games because of injury but has scored in double figures in each game he has played. Since Young was injured on Oct. 29, Alexander-Walker is averaging 19.4 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds. — Ohm Youngmisuk

Role player: Moses Moody

Moody hit seven 3s in a hot first-quarter performance in New Orleans this past weekend. It was only the 22nd time in NBA history that a player has made seven 3s in a single quarter, and the first time it’s been done this season. Moody finished the night 8 of 12 on 3s and is now up to a career-best 45.3% from deep on 6.6 attempts per game. Moody tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb late last regular season and said it impacted his jumper in the playoffs. He made only 33% of his 3s in 12 playoff games and then underwent offseason surgery. He and his thumb are healthy again, and it is showing in his conversion rate. — Slater

Role player: Luke Kornet

The Spurs snapped a two-game skid at Frost Bank Center on Sunday, defeating the Kings without Victor Wembanyama (calf). San Antonio sought reserve center Kornet over the offseason specifically to prevent the Spurs from falling off a cliff on both ends during the minutes Wembanyama isn’t on the floor. So far, so good for Kornet, who missed seven games earlier this season because of an ankle injury. Kornet has missed only two of his last 20 shots over the past five games. But most importantly, he’s providing elite rim protection. — Wright

• 2025-26 record: 9-5

• Previous ranking: 17

• Next games: @ PHI (Nov. 19), vs. WAS (Nov. 21), vs. BKN (Nov. 23), vs. CLE (Nov. 24)

Role player: Sandro Mamukelashvili

In his first season in Toronto, Mamukelashvili has emerged as one of the league’s top backup centers. Mamukelashvili is a capable stretch big, sinking 45% of his 3-point tries, and the Raptors have a plus-13.8 net rating when he’s on the floor. That’s the second-best margin on the team, behind only the plus-17.3 net rating for fellow reserve Gradey Dick. — Zach Kram

• 2025-26 record: 8-5

• Previous ranking: 13

• Next games: vs. TOR (Nov. 19), @ MIL (Nov. 20), vs. MIA (Nov. 23), vs. ORL (Nov. 25)

Role player: Quentin Grimes

Grimes is not only the most important bench player on the 76ers, but he’s a strong candidate, through the first month of the season, to win the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Grimes has picked up right where he left off after coming over from the Mavericks at last season’s trade deadline, averaging 16.8 points and hitting 40% of his 3s while attempting upward of six per game. — Bontemps

Role player: Collin Gillespie

A third-year vet, Gillespie has come into his own this season as a reliable backup point guard for first-year coach Jordan Ott. Gillespie is averaging career-best numbers across the board with 9.9 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. And he played in all 14 games during the Suns’ surprising 9-6 start. — McMenamin

• 2025-26 record: 8-6

• Previous ranking: 10

• Next games: vs. GS (Nov. 19), @ CHI (Nov. 21), @ PHI (Nov. 23), vs. DAL (Nov. 24)

Role player: Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Like the Heat’s big turnaround from a massively disappointing year last season, Jaquez has rebounded in a big way and is thriving in the Heat’s new up-tempo offense. Last season, Jaquez averaged 8.6 points, down from the 11.9 points he averaged as a rookie. In 14 games off the bench this season, Jaquez is playing his downhill game, averaging 17.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 52.8% shooting. He’s an early candidate for Sixth Man of the Year and has given the Heat a big lift with Tyler Herro out. — Youngmisuk

Breaking News from Shams Charania

Download the ESPN app and enable Shams Charania’s news alerts to receive push notifications for the latest updates first. Opt in by tapping the alerts bell in the top right corner. For more information, click here.

Role player: Kyle Kuzma

Kuzma’s role with the Bucks got even more critical with Giannis Antetokounmpo due to miss one or two weeks after leaving Monday’s game with a left groin injury. After a rocky start to his Bucks career after the trade deadline last season, Kuzma has been better this year, mostly as a reserve. He’s shooting 49.6% from the field, cutting down on 3s and punishing opponents inside the arc (60% on 2s) as the Bucks space the floor with 3-point threats. But with Antetokounmpo sidelined, Milwaukee will be searching for answers on how to generate offense, which likely means more opportunities for Kuzma. — Collier

• 2025-26 record: 8-7

• Previous ranking: 20

• Next games: vs. LAL (Nov. 20), vs. NYK (Nov. 22), @ BOS (Nov. 23), @ PHI (Nov. 25)

Role player: Anthony Black

Black’s stats may not always jump off the sheet, but his play on both sides of the ball is valuable to the Magic. When Black is active and defending, he can help swing a game, like when he had 13 points, four assists, four rebounds and four steals in a 123-110 win over Boston on Nov. 7, and a season-high 21 points Tuesday against the Warriors. His versatility is a big plus for Jamahl Mosley, especially when Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero were out because of groin injuries and Black stepped in and started in the overtime loss to Houston, finishing with 18 points, four assists, three rebounds, a block and a steal in 36 minutes. Black’s minutes might fluctuate, but Orlando needs his versatility and defensive energy to compete this season. — Youngmisuk

Role player: Neemias Queta

He’s not exactly a household name, but the numbers say Queta has had a massive impact on the Celtics this season, with Boston boasting an elite defensive rating of 99.7 points per 100 possessions when he’s on and 122 points per 100 possessions when he’s off. Part of that, though, is math: Teams are shooting 32% from 3 when Queta is on the court, and 38% when he’s off. — Bontemps

• 2025-26 record: 7-6

• Previous ranking: 12

• Next games: @ POR (Nov. 19), vs. MIA (Nov. 21), vs. WAS (Nov. 22), @ NO (Nov. 24)

Role player: Ayo Dosunmu

The Bulls snapped a five-game losing streak Monday with an upset over the Denver Nuggets thanks to an impressive 66-point performance from their bench, led by Dosunmu’s 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting and five assists. Chicago has come back to earth after its red-hot start, but its bench has emerged as one of the team’s strengths. Bulls reserves lead the NBA with 48.1 points per game, and Dosunmu leads the way with a career-best 15.7 points per game on 55% shooting and 46.5% from 3. — Collier

• 2025-26 record: 6-8

• Previous ranking: 15

• Next games: vs. CHI (Nov. 19), @ GS (Nov. 21), @ OKC (Nov. 23), @ MIL (Nov. 24)

Role player: Jerami Grant

Before this season, Grant last came off the bench for the Nuggets in the bubble more than five years ago. After buying into a reserve role, Grant is making a run at the Sixth Man award. His 17.7 PPG off the bench led all players with at least five appearances. Grant continued to produce with 26 points in his first start of the season Sunday in place of the injured Jrue Holiday, but he was missed with the second unit. Portland’s remaining reserves combined for just 15 points in a loss that capped a 1-4 road trip. — Kevin Pelton

Role player: Isaiah Collier

Collier, a second-year guard whose season debut was delayed by a strained hamstring, is making a significant impact in a sixth-man role. Collier, who started the second half of his rookie year, averaged 11.3 points and 8.3 assists while shooting 63.6% from the floor in his first four games off the bench this season. Collier has limitations due to a shaky jumper, but he’s a dynamic athlete with a knack for playmaking, breaking John Stockton’s franchise record for assists by a rookie last season (446). — MacMahon

• 2025-26 record: 4-10

• Previous ranking: 22

• Next games: @ ORL (Nov. 20), @ CHA (Nov. 22), @ CLE (Nov. 23), @ LAL (Nov. 25)

Role player: Kobe Sanders

John Collins has been the Clippers’ best bench player, averaging 12.0 points and 4.6 rebounds, but their most surprising reserve has been Sanders. The big 6-foot-8 rookie guard, drafted No. 50 in the second round out of Nevada, is averaging 7.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists and is trending in the right direction with back-to-back double-digit scoring games after the Clippers lost Bradley Beal for the season. — McMenamin

• 2025-26 record: 4-11

• Previous ranking: 25

• Next games: vs. NYK (Nov. 19), vs. NO (Nov. 21), vs. MEM (Nov. 22), @ MIA (Nov. 24)

Role player: Klay Thompson

Thompson was recruited to Dallas with the promise of a starting job, but he has taken his shift to a bench role in stride after a slow start. He has also performed better in a reserve role, averaging 10.7 points on 34.4% 3-point shooting in seven games off the bench, compared with 8.1 points on just 26.2% from long range in seven games as a starter. “My head is [focused on] just being the best version of myself. Starting or not starting, I know I’m going to play, and I know I’m still capable of great things,” Thompson said. — MacMahon

Role player: Collin Sexton

Because of injuries, Sexton has started nine of his 13 games, but LaMelo Ball’s return has pushed Sexton back to the sixth man role the Hornets envisioned when they added him over the summer. Sexton has supplied efficient offense, averaging 15.5 points per game while shooting 42% on 3s. That has helped boost Charlotte’s offense when Ball is out of the game. Last season, the Hornets’ offense without Ball ranked in the third percentile leaguewide, according to Cleaning the Glass. That’s up to the 18th percentile this year, as they’ve won two of the six games Ball has missed. — Pelton

Watch the NBA on ESPN

Wednesday, Nov. 19
Rockets at Cavaliers, 7 p.m.
Knicks at Mavericks, 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 26
Pistons at Celtics, 5 p.m.
Timberwolves at Thunder, 7:30 p.m.
Rockets at Warriors, 10 p.m.

All times Eastern

Role player: Cedric Coward

Mired in a five-game losing streak, Memphis received more bad news Monday when it was announced that guard Ja Morant will miss at least the next two weeks after suffering a Grade 1 calf strain in a loss Saturday to Cleveland. Still, the franchise has been most excited about the strides made by Coward, the 11th pick of the 2025 draft. Coward came off the bench in his first 13 games before starting against the Cavaliers. The brass in Memphis envisions a starting lineup at some point this season that includes both Coward and Morant. — Wright

• 2025-26 record: 3-11

• Previous ranking: 24

• Next games: @ OKC (Nov. 19), @ MEM (Nov. 20), @ DEN (Nov. 22), vs. MIN (Nov. 24)

Role player: Keon Ellis

There’s not much positivity emanating from Sacramento currently. The Kings have lost six straight games by these final margins: 31, 27, 14, 33, 14 and 13. Within those deep struggles, Doug Christie is beginning to retool his rotation. That includes a recent uptick in playing time for Ellis, with fans pleading for him with a “We want Keon” chant during the last homestand. Ellis at least provides some defensive resistance on the perimeter, as should Keegan Murray, who is expected to make his season debut this week. The Kings (120.4 rating) have the fourth-worst defense in the NBA. — Slater

Role player: Nic Claxton

It seems like Claxton has spent his entire time in Brooklyn being unsung (he was actually drafted a few days before Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving announced they were going to Brooklyn in 2019), and his game has grown. He is being tasked with doing far more in a less-than-ideal situation. Guess who’s leading the woeful Nets in assists? Claxton (3.9). Along with doing his usual work on the glass and blocking a shot and a half a game. Just staying engaged in a difficult situation is a win at this point. — Goodwill

• 2025-26 record: 2-12

• Previous ranking: 27

• Next games: vs. DEN (Nov. 19), @ DAL (Nov. 21), vs. ATL (Nov. 22), vs. CHI (Nov. 24)

Role player: Derik Queen

This might be our last chance to talk about Queen’s impact as a reserve for a while. The lottery pick, a bright spot in New Orleans’ 2-12 start, was promoted to the starting five over the weekend by interim coach James Borrego, who took over Pelicans coaching duties when Willie Green was fired Saturday. Queen’s 26-point effort on 12-of-18 shooting last Wednesday against the Trail Blazers was one of the top 25 reserve performances this season in terms of game score. Queen’s first two starts were less productive, as he failed to score double figures. — Pelton

Role player: T.J. McConnell

Because of a hamstring injury, McConnell missed the first 10 games this season. And since he has returned, the veteran guard has had to take on more scoring responsibility than ever before because of the injuries around him. McConnell sports a career-high 25% usage rate through four games, and while it’s a small sample, his efficiency has suffered as a result. Even with the stable, organized McConnell back in the fold, Indiana has still lost all four of those games by 15-plus points. — Kram

• 2025-26 record: 1-12

• Previous ranking: 30

• Next games: @ MIN (Nov. 19), @ TOR (Nov. 21), @ CHI (Nov. 22), vs. ATL (Nov. 25)

Role player: Marvin Bagley III

Playing for his fourth team in eight seasons after being drafted No. 2 in the 2018 draft, Bagley is enjoying a career-best player efficiency rating. Bagley is getting to the free throw line at a career-best rate and shooting 66% from the field — his previous career high was 59% — and he’s playing a solid 15 minutes per night backing up another No. 2 pick, young center Alex Sarr. — Kram

Source link

A brace from fullback Alex Freeman led the United States to a stunning 5-1 victory over Uruguay on Tuesday at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

Highlighted by the efficient use of set pieces, the U.S. opened the scoring in the 17th minute when midfielder Sebastian Berhalter launched a shot into the back of the net off a free kick. Three minutes later, Freeman doubled the lead with a headed goal that followed a corner from Berhalter. In the 31st minute, the ever-proactive Freeman stepped up again with a roaming run that earned his second goal of the night.

Eager for more, the USMNT then made it 4-0 through a goal from Diego Luna in the 42nd minute, shortly before giving up a dramatic bicycle kick from Uruguay’s Giorgian de Arrascaeta that solidified a 4-1 scoreline by halftime.

After that, Uruguay’s short-lived momentum plummeted with a red card for captain Rodrigo Bentancur. With renewed energy through a one-man advantage and substitutes Gio Reyna, Tanner Tessmann, and Folarin Balogun, the USMNT capitalized in the 68th minute with a headed goal from Tessman following a Reyna cross.

By the final whistle, a 5-1 win was secured for the Americans, earning them an eye-catching victory to close out 2025. With the result in hand, U.S coach Mauricio Pochettino and his roster will head into a World Cup year with a five-game unbeaten streak.

– How Roldan went from USMNT afterthought to Pochettino favorite
– How the USMNT combats jet lag: Fly kits, supplements, sleep masks
– Pochettino the player: How his playing days shaped USMNT coach

Manager rating out of 10

Mauricio Pochettino, 9 — It’s becoming increasingly difficult to criticize Pochettino. There’s no doubt that we’ve seen some stumbles for the coach who has been open about wanting to reset the U.S. culture and roster in 2025, but over the past three windows, we’ve seen progress. Does he know his ideal best XI? That might not matter for the Argentine whose tinkering has created competition and a five-game unbeaten run. Shifting between a 3-4-2-1 and 4-3-3, Pochettino again took another chance with his altered lineup and it paid off with a statement result.

Player ratings (0-10; 10 = best, 5 = average)

GK Matt Freese, 7 —He’s docked a point or two for a moment of miscommunication in the first half that nearly led to a goal for Uruguay, but Freese shouldn’t be too harsh on himself. He wasn’t too busy but did provide a vital save and high claim.

DF John Tolkin, 7 —Had a few good dribbles on the left flank and connected well with the midfield. At times he went quiet in comparison to his more proactive teammates.

DF Auston Trusty, 7 —Few problems for the defender who also provided an assist to Freeman.

DF Mark McKenzie, 6 —Lost his player during Uruguay’s lone goal but had a decent partnership with Trusty in the backline.

DF Alex Freeman, 9 —Two goals and plenty of defensive work for the roaming fullback. What more could you want from arguably the man of the match?

Two goals from Alex Freeman added cream to a superlative performance from the USMNT. Dustin Markland/USSF/Getty Images

MF Aidan Morris, 6 —Occasionally looked cautious in the starting XI, but that’s probably due to his role in which he had to drop back to support the backline. Should be given credit for his shot on target.

MF Timmy Tillman, 8 —Tillman created danger with his distribution and had a pivotal tackle that kick-started one of Freeman’s goals. His assist on Luna’s goal was technically a slight deflection, but it’s still worth noting.

MF Sebastian Berhalter, 9 —A beautiful goal, pin-perfect assist as the leading set piece taker, and a handful of crucial recoveries for the midfielder that also stood out with his key passes. Take a bow, Berhalter.

FW Sergiño Dest, 8 —It was a subtle assist to Berhalter, but an assist nonetheless for the fullback who was deployed as a risk-taking right winger. If needed, he has shown that he can step up in the attack with no defensive responsibilities.

STREAM FUTBOL AMERICAS ON ESPN+

Herculez Gomez and Cristina Alexander debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights that soccer in the Americas has to offer. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

FW Haji Wright, 7 — Wright did plenty of dirty work as someone who helped fight for the ball and win fouls in dangerous areas. No goals or assists but still a step forward.

FW Diego Luna, 8 —At first struggled to connect his passes before adding to the lopsided scoreline through a great run and finish for his goal. Also helped out defensively.

Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

FW Gio Reyna, 8 —Reyna had an assist for Tessman’s goal and was a clear boost in energy in the second half.

MF Tanner Tessman, 8 —Stepped up with a headed goal, his first at the international level, that shattered any hopes of an Uruguay comeback.

FW Folarin Bolagun, 6 —Had limited time to make an impact but also provided a couple of recoveries.

DF Max Arfsten, N/A —Looked accurate with his passes going forward.

MF Brenden Aaronson, N/A —Limited touches on the ball for the late substitute.

MF Cristian Roldan, N/A — Brought on in the 89th minute.

Source link

In that first Test of 2010 we conceded a first-innings deficit of 211 runs. 35,000 Australians were stamping their feet in the vast concrete stadium baying for English blood in a procession toward another Australian win.

Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott famously pushed back against the noise to amass 517-1 in our second innings. The Test was drawn, but it felt like we had won.

You could feel the rhetoric towards us change. The people who had taken great joy in telling us we were going to be annihilated were slowly starting to say how they respected the way we had fought back and that they loved seeing the competition.

Planning is important, but so is living in the moment. Too many times England teams have gone to Australia with pre-conceived ideas about the conditions they are going to face.

Being able to read the conditions and adapt is crucial. At the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2010, David Saker, the England bowling coach, had absolute conviction bowling first was the way to win the Test.

We bowled Australia out for 98 and won by an innings. Being bold with decision-making will serve England well.

Finally, luck is also a huge part of being successful in Australia.

In 2010 Australia didn’t have a set spinner, there were question marks around the great Ricky Ponting coming towards the end of his career and uncertainty about the seam bowlers.

Australia picked a 17-man squad for the first Test, more players than we had for the entire three-month tour to the country. Catching Australia in a period of transition can be critical.

On this occasion, injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have given England an opportunity to face an Australia team with the cracks maybe just starting to show for the first time since 2010.

There are many challenges that come with playing in an away Ashes series, on and off the field.

The stars may just be aligning for England to have a real crack at winning in Australia for the first time in 15 years.

Source link

• 

  Greg WyshynskiNov 18, 2025, 09:00 AM ET

  Close

  Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.

The penalty box in hockey is commonly known as the “sin bin,” a place where players who break the rules sit to contemplate their transgressions until their penalties are over.

The Spruce Grove Saints, a Canadian junior team that plays in the British Columbia Hockey League, have a new way for the penalized to feel even more guilt.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Chucky the Angel has been the mascot for the Saints since 2019. He’s a blonde-haired, sassy-looking cherub with a halo over his head and wings on his back.

This season, Chucky has added something to his repertoire for home games. When a visiting player is in the penalty box during a TV timeout, Chucky skates over and stands in front of the glass in silent judgment of the player, much to the delight of the fans and the discomfort of the opponent.

He has done it three times this season, including during the Saints’ 5-4 overtime win over the Vernon Vipers on Friday night.

In the second period, Vipers forward Leon Bussmann was issued a misconduct penalty for an illegal check to the head. Chucky skated over, stopped in front of the sin bin glass and stared at him. And stared at him. And stared at him some more.

Bussmann looked down at his skates to avert his eyes, but could only eventually smile as Chucky remained at the glass for a hilariously uncomfortable amount of time.

“Honestly it was a great moment and we’re happy that the player from the other team took things so light-heartedly as well,” said Trevor Miller, the Saints’ director of communications.

If this hockey cringe comedy sounds like something a teenager might think up, there’s a good reason for that: Eric Weidman, a 14-year-old student at Woodhaven Middle School in Spruce Grove, is the performer inside the Chucky suit this season.

“I’m smiling inside the suit, grinning ear to ear, and I’m trying not to laugh,” he told ESPN on Monday.

The Saints had posted an ad on Facebook looking for a new mascot. Weidman didn’t have any previous experience but was interested in applying and had an “in” with the team through his dad, Jordi Weidman, a former sports reporter with The Score who was the director of business operations for the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings.

Eric Weidman said the penalty box act came to him during a Saints game against the Trail Smoke Eaters last month.

What’s Trending?

• Army’s uniform for 2025 Navy game pays homage to 250 years of service
• Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield trade jokes ahead of Bucs-Bills
• Chris Chelios lists Malibu beachfront house for sale for almost $60 million
• Detroit Lions to consult Eminem for Thanksgiving halftime show advice
• Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel plays coy on viral sighting with Bills fans

“It was during a TV timeout and the T-shirt toss. I’m like, ‘OK, this would be really fricking funny,'” he said.

At first, he was just amused by the act. It wasn’t until the second time when Weidman realized how his costume made the moment such a perfect fit.

“I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, this is ironic to me. I’m dressed like an angel,'” he said.

After Bussmann’s time in the penalty box, he scored his first goal of the season in the third period to eventually send the game to overtime.

Weidman didn’t realize the target of his mockery ended up scoring a big goal later in the game — but he has a theory for why it happened.

“I think he repented for his sins and things went his way,” Weidman said with a laugh.

Source link

Rutger McGroarty (© Talia Sprague-Imagn Images)

After starting the season injured, Pittsburgh Penguins top prospect Rutger McGroarty kicked off his 2025-26 campaign with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Nov. 15 against the Springfield Thunderbirds. McGroarty certainly started the year off in a solid way, as he scored a goal in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s 3-1 win.

Advertisement

With McGroarty being one of the Penguins’ most promising youngsters, seeing him start the year off with a goal is certainly encouraging. They are expecting the 2022 first-round pick to become a big part of their roster in the future, so he is undoubtedly a player to keep a very close eye on now that he is back to being healthy.

If McGroarty can continue to produce offense for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, it very well could lead to him getting called up to Pittsburgh’s NHL roster in the near future. Thus, the 21-year-old forward will be looking to stand out down in the AHL from here.

McGroarty completed his first professional season in 2024-25, where he primarily played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In 60 games with the AHL squad this past campaign, he recorded 14 goals and 39 points. He also had one goal and three points in eight NHL games with Pittsburgh during the 2024-25 season.

Overall, McGroarty has shown promise, and it will be interesting to see what he can do during his second pro season from here.

Source link

Boland looked likely to be a reserve to the first-choice Australia pace attack in this series, but will now be in the Australia XI for the opening Test following injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood.

Boland and Mitchell Starc will probably be joined by uncapped 31-year-old Brendan Doggett as the specialist seamers.

“Obviously you don’t want to be missing two great players like Josh and Pat,” said Boland.

“Our bowling stocks have been really strong for quite a while – no one has been able to break in.

“It’s going to be an exciting time. A new guy or two will get a look in. They’re not inexperienced guys. Brendan is 31 years old, he’s played a lot of first-class cricket and he knows his game. He knows what he’s going to need to do to express his skills out on the big stage.”

Cummins appeared to be bowling at full pace in the nets on Monday as he builds towards a return for the second Test in Brisbane.

England’s method of attacking batting is going to be tested on what is expected to be a lively surface at Perth Stadium.

The tourists’ stroke-makers will also have to adapt to vast playing areas at Australian grounds, much larger than the Test venues in the UK.

“I’m sure it will help us,” said Boland, speaking at Perth Stadium. “Balls that would go over the fence in England have a longer way to go at grounds like here, the MCG and the Gabba in Brisbane.

“It’s the same for them. Their bowlers when they bowl their short balls, you have to hit it 85 metres instead of 65, so it’s a big difference.”

Source link

Patrick Beverley, a former NBA player who spent a dozen years in the league, was arrested Friday in Fort Bend County, Texas, on felony assault charges, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office confirmed to NBC Sports.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence in Rosharon (a suburb of Houston) at 3:50 a.m., according to the sheriff’s office. Upon arrival, “Deputies learned that a situation transpired between family members leading to a family violence incident. The suspect, later identified as Patrick Beverley, was subsequently arrested and charged with assault, family violence/household member.” The investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriff’s office.

Advertisement

Beverley has been released on $40,000 bail according to multiple reports, put these statements out on social media, the second one including a statement from Beverley’s attorney.

Beverley, a Chicago native, played 12 seasons in the NBA and was named to three All-Defensive Teams. The 6’2″ guard averaged 8.3 points a game for his career, which included playing for Houston, LA Clippers, Minnesota, the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago, Philadelphia and Milwaukee.

Beverley had already been in the news this week after he and Klay Thompson had a little online beef. Beverley and another former NBA player, Jason Williams, made lewd comments about Thompson’s girlfriend, rapper Megan Thee Stallion, during an episode of Barstool Sports†“Hoopin†N Hollerinâ€â€podcast, suggesting she is impacting his play on the court. Thompson shot back at Beverley on Instagram, saying, “How would y’all feel if I referred to your wives in such a way? … Do better fellas. Very disappointing.”

Source link