Browsing: wins

LOS ANGELES — There havenâ€t been many times during Shohei Ohtaniâ€s eight-year MLB career when the greatness of the undisputed best player in the world has been questioned. But given Ohtaniâ€s struggles at the plate this postseason — he was 6-for-38 entering Game 4 on Friday — questions about his effectiveness now that heâ€s back to pitching and hitting full-time had begun to surface.

When asked this week if pitching has started to affect his prodigious offense, leading to a dip in production, the three-time MVP didnâ€t seem thrilled with the questions, even though, considering his .158 average with two home runs, they had merit. And when Ohtani took batting practice this week in L.A., which he almost never does, it became clear that he felt the need to shake things up.

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In Game 4 of the NLCS, Ohtani had the look of a man with something to prove. And as it turned out, Game 4 — in which the Dodgers defeated the Brewers 5-1 to advance to the World Series — wasnâ€t just about the Dodgers winning the NL pennant. They were well on their way to doing that already, leading the series 3-0.

No, this game was about something more. This was Ohtaniâ€s chance to remind everyone watching that no baseball player in this world or the next is better than him. And he did it in a way that only he could: By putting together one of the greatest postseason performances in MLB history, hitting three home runs and tossing six shutout innings in the Dodgers†sweep-clinching victory over the Brewers.

“He woke up this morning to people calling him out for how poorly he had played in the [NLCS], and 12 hours later, heâ€s standing on the podium as the MVP,†Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “That says everything we need to know about him.â€

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The first task for Ohtani in Game 4 was to continue the Dodgers†trend of elite starting pitching. It was evident from the first frame that Ohtani was locked in on the mound, as his stuff looked electric against the middle of the Brewers†lineup.

After walking leadoff man Brice Turang, the Dodgers†right-hander and designated hitter blew a 100-mph fastball past Jackson Chourio for his first strikeout. He then struck out the next batter, Christian Yelich, on a 100-mph fastball painted on the outside corner. Finally, Ohtani ended the frame by getting William Contreras to swing through a sweeper for strikeout number three.

And then, having set the tone on the mound, it was time for Ohtani to make his presence felt at the plate. His first big swing of the night came in leading off the bottom of the first, as he unloaded on a hanging 3-2 curveball from José Quintana, depositing it deep into the right-field bleachers and giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. With that, Ohtani became the first pitcher in MLB history to hit a leadoff home run in the postseason.

“I felt like the last couple days, I felt pretty good at the plate,†Ohtani said afterward of his postseason slump. “And just because of the postseason, the sample size, the lack of — it’s just that I think the lack of performance really skews in this short period of time.â€

Having given himself and the Dodgers some breathing room, Ohtani, the pitcher, then settled in. Following his dominance in the first inning, his comfort with his full arsenal was on display in the next few frames. Because while Ohtani has a triple-digit fastball in his back pocket that he can use to blow by hitters, he also relied on his sweeper, cutter and signature splitter to keep Milwaukeeâ€s hitters off-balance.

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On the night, the Dodgers†starter induced 19 swing-and-misses, including five with his splitter. All five of those splitter whiffs came on strikeouts. It was arguably the best that pitch has looked during Ohtaniâ€s time as a Dodger.

“The Phillies [outing], he had a couple good ones in there,†Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said of the splitter. “But when he threw that first one to Contreras, [we] kind of knew — all right, we can start leaning on this, get them off the fastball. I think it just opened up everything else.â€

Having drawn a walk in the bottom of the second, Ohtani came back to the plate in the fourth with his confidence growing. Brewers rookie Chad Patrick was one of the best relievers in baseball this postseason, and he threw four quality innings in this contest, but even he couldnâ€t escape the greatness of Ohtani.

On an 89.3-mph cutter from Patrick, the Dodgers†superstar crushed a titanic, 469-foot blast off the roof of the right-field pavilion at Dodger Stadium, and this time, he took a little extra time to admire the swing that sent the home crowd into a complete frenzy.

A historic night deserves a historic homer, and Ohtaniâ€s fourth-inning blast was exactly that. It was just the third time in the history of Dodger Stadium that a player had hit a home run over the right-field pavilion, the others being Kyle Schwarber and Willie Stargell, who accomplished the feat twice in his career. When we look back on this night, that second home run will likely be the most memorable.

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“The one that went out of the stadium kind of took everybodyâ€s breath away,†shortstop Mookie Betts said afterward. “Other than that, itâ€s just Shohei being Shohei.â€

With Ohtani’s two moon shots having loudly announced him as a force to be reckoned with, it was a reminder that his struggling through a series is more good fortune for the other team than anything else — and fortune that can change at any time. Just a day prior, Brewers manager Pat Murphy had acknowledged as much.

“Shohei’s in a little spell here where he’s not barrelling balls like he has,†Murphy said after Game 3. “But he’s still for us a tremendously dangerous, dangerous hitter. You can’t forget that. These great ones, they can turn it on like that.â€

[Get more Los Angeles news: Dodgers team feed]

Back on the mound in the top of the fifth, Ohtani cruised through a Brewers lineup that had no answers for his electric stuff. And he showed that he was feeling it, giving a yell and fist pump after striking out both Caleb Durbin and Blake Perkins to end the frame. Then he came back out and struck out the first two batters in the sixth inning.

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He finished his night going six shutout innings, surrendering just two hits and three walks while striking out 10. It was Ohtaniâ€s first start with 10 or more strikeouts since June 27, 2023.

“I just don’t know how he handles the expectations, because a lot of times, when you have expectations like he has, they’re just unattainable, and you just never realize them,†Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Certainly the way he was struggling this postseason, and not to let it affect him and keep his psyche [and] his confidence the same is really impressive.â€

Said Betts: “You could call it surprising, I guess. I donâ€t know. Itâ€s kind of like expectation — for only him.â€

Ohtani’s night on the mound ended after he surrendered two baserunners to begin the seventh frame. But he wasn’t quite finished at the plate. With Alex Vesia having gotten out of the top of the seventh unscathed, Ohtani came back up in the bottom of the inning with the Dodgers holding a comfortable 4-0 lead.

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Unlike on his first two homers, this time, against All-Star closer Trevor Megill, Ohtani fell behind in the count 1-2. No matter. He drove a 98.9-mph fastball 427 feet into the left-field seats to put the finishing touches on his incredible, unforgettable night.

“There were times during the postseason where Teo [Hernández] and Mookie picked me up,†Ohtani said afterward. “And this time around, it was my turn to be able to perform.â€

Said Murphy after his team was eliminated: “We were part of tonight — an iconic, maybe the best individual performance ever in a postseason game. I don’t think anybody can argue with that. A guy punches out 10 and hits three homers.â€

Indeed, if Ohtani had just hit three home runs in Game 4, that would have been an amazing accomplishment. If he had merely struck out 10 batters over six shutout innings, that would have been an incredible performance. But what makes Ohtani the undisputed best player walking the face of the Earth — and the NLCS MVP — is that he can do both.

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Not only that, but his ability to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments, in addition to his unbelievable talent, separates him from the pack.

“What he did on the mound, what he did at the bat, he created a lot of memories for a lot of people [tonight],” Roberts said. “So for us to have a game-clinching — to do it in a game-clinching game at home, wins the NLCS MVP, pretty special. I’m just happy to be able to go along for the ride.â€

Said third baseman Max Muncy: “I feel truly blessed to be able to be on the field for that performance tonight.â€

The MLB postseason has a way of lending itself to big moments, and on Friday at Dodger Stadium, in an NL-pennant clinching game, baseballâ€s biggest star shined the brightest. From now on, when the question is raised about the best single-game performance ever, it will not only be an easy one to answer but also something that will likely never happen again:

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The Ohtani Game.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are headed to the World Series after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, capping the four-game stretch with a 5-1 home win on Friday.

Afterward, exuberant Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had something to say for his team’s preseason critics while being interviewed by TNT Sports’ Lauren Shehadi.

“I’ll tell ya, before this season started, they said, ‘The Dodgers are ruining baseball.’

“Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball! Let’s go!”

Per USA Today, the Dodgers had the second-highest payroll in baseball for 2025 at $321.3 million. However, L.A. also has over a billion dollars in deferred payments alone to eight players from 2018-2046.

The Dodgers’ practices even got commissioner Rob Manfred talking, per Ronald Blum of the Associated Press back in February.

“The Dodgers have gone out and done everything possible, always within the rules that currently exist, to put the best possible team on the field and that’s a great thing for the game. That type of competitive spirit is what people want to see,” commissioner Rob Manfred said last week.

“By the same token, it’s clear that we have fans in some markets that are concerned about the ability of the team in their market to compete with the financial resources of the Dodgers. And I think if we’ve been consistent on one point it is we try to listen to our fans on topics like this and I have heard people on this, believe me, I get a lot of emails about it.”

The Dodgers won the World Series last year with a loaded lineup headlined by Shohei Ohtani, and the rich got richer in 2025 with the team adding a host of new talents, including pitchers Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott.

The debate, of course, before the season was whether the Dodgers were ruining baseball with their spending ways.

On one side, you had people concerned about a big market team being able to spend as much money as they want and defer as much money as they want while smaller market teams get squeezed out of adding players.

On the other side, some fans recognized that the Dodgers were doing whatever they can to compete, which is a lot more than can be said for some teams and their owners who are known for penny-pinching.

Injuries hampered the Dodgers during the regular season, but they still had 93 wins and took the NL West. L.A. has since gone 7-1 in the playoffs to cruise to the World Series. The Dodgers need four more wins for back-to-back Fall Classic titles, something Roberts clearly wants for his team but also to send a message to L.A.’s critics.

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• André Snellings

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  André Snellings

  ESPN Senior Writer

  Dr. André Snellings is a senior writer for men’s and women’s fantasy basketball and sports betting at ESPN. André has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Michigan. He joined ESPN in 2017 after a 16-year career as a neural engineer, during which time he was also a writer and analyst for Rotowire.

• Eric Moody

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  Eric Moody

  ESPN Writer

  Eric Moody is a writer for fantasy football, men’s and women’s basketball, and sports betting at ESPN. Eric joined ESPN in 2021 after working as a senior fantasy analyst at Pro Football Network. Prior to that, he spent much of his career as a manager at a Fortune 100 financial services company.

Oct 17, 2025, 07:30 AM ET

The 2025-26 NBA season tips off on Tuesday, October 21 with the Oklahoma City Thunder raising their NBA championship banner against the Houston Rockets, who now feature Kevin Durant.

The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to take the crown in the Eastern Conference, as the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers will need others to step up to replace injured stars. Cooper Flagg looks to make a splash in his rookie year with the Dallas Stars, while teams like the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings look to take another step forward.

Every team has a betting angle — from player props to team futures — and that’s why we’re here to help you find the best futures bet from each of the NBA’s 30 teams.

André Snellings made his picks for the Eastern Conference, Eric Moody did the same for the Western Conference.Odds as of publication. For the most up to date odds, visit ESPN BET.

Jump ahead
Eastern Conference: Hawks | Nets | Celtics | Hornets | Bulls |
Cavaliers | Pistons | Pacers | Heat | Bucks |
Knicks | Magic | 76ers | Raptors | Wizards
Western Conference: Mavericks | Nuggets | Warriors | Rockets | Clippers |
Lakers | Grizzlies | Timberwolves | Pelicans | Thunder |
Suns | Trail Blazers | Kings | Spurs | Jazz

Eastern conference

Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young 12-plus Assists Per Game (+225), Trae Young Assists Per Game Leader (-130)

In last season’s preview, I noted that Young’s career trajectory suggested he would break 11 assists per game and lead the league in assists. Sure enough, he averaged 11.6 APG and led the league. Rinse and repeat. Entering his eighth NBA season, Young has increased his assists average every season of his career, from 8.1 APG as a rookie up to 11.6 APG in his recently concluded seventh season. In addition, the Hawks have surrounded him with finishers this season, including a new pick-and-roll/pop partner in Kristaps Porzingis.

Boston Celtics

Jaylen Brown to average 28-plus PPG (+225)

Brown will be Boston’s top scoring option this season with Jayson Tatum out injured. Over the past two seasons, when Brown played without Tatum his scoring average increased from 22.2 PPG to 26.8 PPG. Expect Brown to take a good chunk of Tatum’s 20.3 field goal attempts per game this season, and with the team featuring him, those looks should come from advantageous spots. Brown has averaged as many as 26.6 PPG over a season (2023-24) while playing next to Tatum, and he has a good chance to set new career marks this season. At plus money, Brown over 28 PPG is solid value.

Brooklyn Nets

Fewest regular season wins in the NBA (+180)

The Nets enter the season in a three-way near-virtual tie in the projections for the worst record in the league, according to BPI. The Nets and Utah Jazz (+165 for fewest wins) both have a BPI of -6.9, tied for the second lowest mark in the league just ahead of the Washington Wizards’ BPI of -7.4. The Nets drafted five rookies in the first round of this year’s draft and plan to feature them in their rotation, and that much youth could be a ticket more for building for the future than present-day success. At plus money, there is value in betting them for the fewest wins in the league.

Charlotte Hornets

Over 26.5 wins (-120)

The Hornets won only 19 games last season and 23 the season before, but those struggles are strongly correlated with the injury absences of their perimeter players. Last season, the Hornets went 16-31 with LaMelo Ball in the lineup, for a 28 win pace, but only 3-32 without him. Ball has struggled with injuries for three straight seasons, but this offseason the Hornets seemed to prepare for that by bringing in several quality guards. With this added depth on the perimeter, in addition to growth among their young stars like Ball and Brandon Miller, the Hornets project to more success. Per BPI, they project to 29.6 wins this season.

Chicago Bulls

Josh Giddey to average 8-plus APG (+115), Giddey to win Most Improved Player (18-1)

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The Bulls traded away Zach LaVine last season, giving the reins of the franchise to Giddey and Coby White. In the last 19 games of the season, after the LaVine trade, Giddey averaged 21.2 PPG, 9.3 APG and 10.7 RPG. With the offense running through him, Giddey has a strong chance to average 8-plus APG over the course of this season. If he comes anywhere near his stats from the last quarter of last season, he will be firmly in the MIP mix as well.

Cleveland Cavaliers

To be Eastern Conference No. 1 seed (+115)

The Cavaliers exploded for 64 wins with a +9.5 point average scoring margin last season to finish as the top seed in the East, three games ahead of the Boston Celtics and 13 games ahead of the New York Knicks. The Cavaliers return all of their primary players and their coach from last season, while the Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum and the Knicks will feature a new head coach. The Cavaliers will be without Darius Garland for roughly the first month of the season, but still have plenty of talent to replicate their level from last season. According to BPI, the Cavs project to comfortably win the most games in the East, with more than a four-game cushion in projected wins of the second seed (Knicks).

Detroit Pistons

Cade Cunningham to average 28-plus PPG (+185)

Cunningham has significantly increased his scoring average in every season of his career, from 17.4 PPG as a rookie up to 26.1 PPG in his fourth season. Cunningham is still only 24 years old, and the Pistons are built for him to be the clear-cut top creator on offense. He is high usage, will have the ball in his hands on every possession, and continues to improve as both a finisher in the paint and a 3-point shooter. Cunningham averaged 28.1 PPG over his last 40 games last season, giving this bet strong value at plus money.

Indiana Pacers

Andrew Nembhard (12-1) or Bennedict Mathurin (16-1) to win Most Improved Player

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With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined (Achilles) and Myles Turner traded away, plus T.J. McConnell dealing with injury, the Pacers will be depending on Nembhard and Mathurin to create the lion share of their offense from the perimeter. Both could be in line to see significant jumps in production over their previous career, with Nembhard as a strong source of points and assists and Mathurin as a potentially dominant scorer. This is a recipe for a potential MIP bid in a field that tends to be wide open every season.

Miami Heat

Heat to participate in Play-In Tournament (-110)

The Heat have been in the Play-in Tournament in three straight seasons, continuing the tradition last season despite the Jimmy Butler availability saga that ended with his in-season trade to the Warriors. The Heat enter this season, again featuring a roster strong enough to compete each night but unlikely to contend. According to BPI, the Heat project to a three-way tie for the ninth-best record in the East, more than five games behind the projected sixth seed and more than five games ahead of the projected 12th seed.

Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo to average 7-plus APG (+110)

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Barkley: ‘I wish a person loved me as much as the Bucks love Giannis.’

Charles Barkley weighs in on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks after Milwaukee had trade conversations with the Knicks earlier in the offseason.

Antetokounmpo averaged a career-best 6.5 APG last season, but in the 13 games he played without Damian Lillard he averaged 7.9 APG. With Lillard no longer on the roster, Giannis should see an uptick in his usage, perhaps to the level of the career-high 38.8 USG% from 2022-23 — the season before Lillard’s arrival. With the makeup of the Bucks, Antetokounmpo will be tasked with creating the majority of the offense for himself and his teammate. He has a strong chance to generate a career-best in assists for the third straight season.

New York Knicks

To make Eastern Conference Finals (+130)

The Knicks made the Eastern Conference Finals last season, going through the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the semi-finals before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Finals. But both the Celtics and Pacers lost their best players to torn Achilles tendons in the playoffs, dramatically lowering their likelihood to return to those levels this season. The Knicks changed coaches in the offseason, but otherwise return their primary rotation players with the goal of getting even better this season. Per BPI, the Knicks project to the second-most wins in the Eastern Conference this season, and have the second-highest odds to reach the Conference Finals this season.

Orlando Magic

Paolo Banchero to average 26-plus PPG (+110)

Banchero increased his scoring average in each of his first three seasons, from 20.0 PPG as a rookie up to 25.9 PPG last season. The Magic brought in another volume scorer this offseason in Desmond Bane, one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. While Bane’s shots will have to come from somewhere, I think Banchero’s scoring volume actually increases because Bane’s shooting ability will stretch opposing defenses in ways the Magic haven’t been able to do in recent years. Banchero loves to operate from the mid-range and inside off the dribble, and he should have more room to get the shots he wants this season.

Philadelphia 76ers

Tyrese Maxey to average 26-plus PPG (+150)

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Charles Barkley: If the 76ers are healthy, they can win the East

Charles Barkley joins “The Rich Eisen Show” and explains why the 76ers can win the Eastern Conference this season.

Maxey has averaged 26.1 PPG in 122 total games over the past two seasons. He has consistently scored at that level, and at only 24 years old he still has significant upside to improve. Maxey is one of three All Stars in the 76ers starting lineup, but both Joel Embiid and Paul George have significant injury histories that have kept them out of large amounts of games for the past several seasons. Maxey will be relied upon even more heavily if his teammates are out, and he has the game to support higher usage when called upon.

Toronto Raptors

To participate in Play-in Tournament (Even)

The Raptors are an enigmatic team because they lost so many games to injury last season, but they are a team full of young veterans that have each proven themselves productive when on the court. If It all meshes, they could be one of the more talented young teams in the Eastern Conference. According to BPI, the Raptors project to a three-way tie for the ninth-best record in the Eastern Conference, more than five games behind the projected sixth seed and 5.5 games ahead of the 12th seed.

Washington Wizards

Fewest regular season wins in NBA (+375)

The Wizards are a rebuilding team that plans to feature their young prospects this season, though they also currently roster two veteran starters in CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton. This season should be more about developing their young players and establishing a professional culture than wins and losses. According to BPI, the Wizards project to the lowest score in the NBA at -7.4, with only the Brooklyn Nets (-6.9) and Utah Jazz (-6.9) joining them below -5.0. With significant plus money, there is value in betting the Wizards for the fewest wins in the league this season.

Western conference

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Cooper Flagg throws down a wide-open dunk

Anthony Davis passes to Cooper Flagg, who flies to the rack for a two-handed jam.

Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg over 16.5 points per game (-110)

Flagg is a solid bet because the No. 1 overall pick enters a high-usage role in Dallas alongside Anthony Davis while Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL. His versatile scoring, size, and competitive mindset make him a primary offensive option from day one. We project Flagg to average 19.5 PPG in 33.2 MPG on 14.6 shots per game.

Denver Nuggets

55-plus wins (+105)

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Denver is positioned for success thanks to roster upgrades and depth. Trading Michael Porter Jr. for sharpshooter Cameron Johnson (19.0 PPG, 47.5% FG, 39% 3PT) improves floor spacing for Nikola Jokic. Adding Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas strengthens bench scoring and brings veteran toughness. Meanwhile, young wings Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, and Jalen Pickett have all shown progression, giving the Nuggets a complete roster ready for a division-title push.

Golden State Warriors

Over 46.5 regular season wins (-115)

The Warriors return a proven core led by Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and midseason addition Jimmy Butler III. Golden State went 28-15 following Butler’s arrival. With veterans healthy and role players like Al Horford, Seth Curry, and Brandin Podziemski adding depth, Golden State is set to exceed its win total. Built to contend, don’t overlook them to make the Western Conference Finals (+625) or NBA Finals (16-1) if everyone stays healthy.

Houston Rockets

Under 53.5 wins (-120)

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Perk: The Rockets are going to be the NBA’s best offensive team

Kendrick Perkins breaks down his optimism for the Rockets’ offense after an impressive performance vs. the Jazz.

The Rockets lost Fred VanVleet for the season to an ACL tear, leaving Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Aaron Holiday, and Josh Okogie to shoulder the backcourt. Even with Kevin Durant (37) added, his injury history limits consistency as he’s averaged just 49 games per season over the past five years. Combined with limited bench scoring, it’s hard to see Houston matching last year’s 52 wins. Expect them more as a play-in team than a division contender.

LA Clippers

To finish as the Western Conference No. 5 Seed (+500)

The Clippers boast a star-studded roster with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac, supported by veterans Bradley Beal, John Collins, Chris Paul, and Brook Lopez. Their offense and defense are elite, but age and past injuries-especially Leonard’s-could affect consistency. If the core stays healthy and meshes well, the Clippers have the depth and talent to finish near the No. 5 seed in the West, with postseason availability prioritized over seeding.

Los Angeles Lakers

To win the NBA championship (15-1)

The Lakers have two generational stars in Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and they went 15-8 together last season despite Doncic joining midyear. With a full offseason to build chemistry, new additions like Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to bolster defense, and head coach JJ Redick entering Year 2 with more time to craft his system, this roster has the firepower and leadership to make a serious title run.

Memphis Grizzlies

Over 40.5 wins (-115)

Memphis returns its core of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., who combine for elite scoring and playmaking when healthy. With new additions like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ty Jerome bolstering depth, and promising young players like Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey taking the next step, the Grizzlies are well-positioned for success. They are poised to exceed 40.5 wins, provided Morant stays on the court.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Over 49.5 wins (-115)

The Timberwolves have averaged 52.5 wins over the past two seasons and return every key piece outside Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert and Donte DiVincenzo form a potent core, now bolstered by sharpshooter Johnny Juzang and 6-foot-11 rookie Joan Beringer. With continuity, proven growth, and added depth, 50-plus wins are well within reach.

New Orleans Pelicans

Over 30.5 wins (-110)

A healthy Zion Williamson transforms this team. Now add in Jordan Poole’s scoring, Trey Murphy III’s two-way growth, and Dejounte Murray returning from injury. With veterans like Kevon Looney and defensive anchor Herbert Jones, the Pelicans have the depth and talent to compete. If Zion stays on the court, 31-plus wins are easily within reach.

Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA Championship Winner (+200)

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Are the Nuggets the biggest threat to Thunder this season?

Marc Spears and Brian Windhorst break down the Nuggets vs. Clippers preseason game and how much of a threat both teams are to the Thunder.

Oklahoma City returns virtually its entire championship roster, led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams, and defensive anchor Chet Holmgren. Last season, they dominated with a record-setting point differential and suffocating defense. Youth, continuity, and a proven ability to turn defense into offense make OKC a powerhouse poised to become the first team in seven years to win back-to-back titles.

Phoenix Suns

Over 31.5 wins (-115)

The Suns’ roster overhaul gives Devin Booker a balanced backcourt alongside Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, both reliable three-point threats (Brooks shot 39.7% on 6.3 attempts per game last season). Rookie Khaman Maluach and Mark Williams bolster the frontcourt, while new coach Jordan Ott brings offensive innovation. Even without Durant or Beal, this revamped Suns squad should comfortably surpass 32 wins.

Portland Trail Blazers

Under 33.5 wins (+110)

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Portland’s offseason is all about potential and hype, not proven production. Damian Lillard will miss the full season with a torn Achilles, Jrue Holiday is on the decline, while young centers Yang Hansen and Donovan Clingan need time to develop. Even with flashes from Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Deni Avdija, the team lacks consistency and depth, making another suboptimal season likely.

Sacramento Kings

To Participate In The Western Conference Play-In Tournament (+195)

Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis form a veteran core capable of scoring in bunches, while Dennis Schroder adds experience at point guard. Young talent like Keegan Murray and Nique Clifford provide upside. If the roster gels under head coach Doug Christie and stays healthy, the Kings have the firepower to sneak into the Play-In.

San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama to record 1-plus blocks in every regular season game (+130)

Wemby is cleared to play this season following a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder that prematurely ended his second season. The 7-foot-3 generational talent dominated defensively last season, averaging 3.8 BPG. Wemby is primed to control the paint again, and we project him to average 4.0 blocks a game.

Utah Jazz

Over 19.5 wins (-110)

Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler, when healthy, form a promising frontcourt duo, with Markkanen coming off a strong EuroBasket. Rookie Ace Bailey and Summer League MVP Kyle Filipowski bring scoring and versatility, while young guards like Cody Williams, Keyonte George, and Walter Clayton Jr. could develop into reliable contributors. With health and growth, the Jazz should edge past 20 wins, but not by much.

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A brand new Mizuno Pro S-3 6-iron arrived for Marco Penge in Spain on Thursday.

The issue? The Open de España, which Penge was playing in, ended last Sunday. He was long gone.

Yet Penge had a different, brand new Mizuno Pro S-3 6-iron in the bag Sunday as he took down Daniel Brown in a playoff to win his third DP World Tour title this season and punch his tickets to the 2026 Masters and Open Championship.

How and why Penge needed a new 6-iron — and later pitching wedge — can be told by Mizuno Senior Tour Representative on the DP World Tour, Joe Beck.

How Marco Penge’s 6-iron was damaged

After a disappointing week at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, where he finished tied for 91st, Penge and his caddie, Max Bill, arrived in Spain for the next event when they realized Penge’s 6-iron was damaged to the point of non-conformance after hitting a rock with a swing at the Dunhill.

Beck and the Mizuno DP World Tour team only found out on Tuesday and their truck wasn’t at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid because of logistical reasons. So Beck had a replacement 6-iron built for Penge and shipped out that day from England, hoping for delivery by Thursday morning.

Problem solved? Nope, that was the club that was finally just delivered this week.

“It’s a little bit more difficult for us now,” Beck told GOLF. “Trying to ship into Europe with Brexit and shipping regulations, time frame it takes a lot longer than it should to get stuff to players.”

As Beck kept tracking the package, he soon realized the replacement club wasn’t going to get to Penge.

Another casualty

But the 27-year-old Englishman carried on with a replacement Titleist 620 CB 6-iron, as reported by John Whyte of SMS on Tour. With a third-round 64, Penge took a four-shot lead into Sunday.

And that was while playing most of that round down another club.

On the second hole, Penge pulled his tee shot left and saw it settle just inside a tree. Basically standing next to the trunk to try and advance the ball, he took a swing with his pitching wedge, trying to stop his swing before hitting the tree, but it was of little use.

The shaft collided with the wood of the trunk and snapped instantly as the ball sailed farther left of the green, still 71 yards away from the pin.

Remarkably, Penge had no such tree trouble with his third and played his next shot to 14 feet and then curled in the putt for an unlikely par. At the time, the preserved Penge’s one-shot lead before he caught fire later in the round, making birdies on eight of 10 holes from Nos. 7 to 16.

“Like finding a bag of gold,” an announcer on the broadcast said.

One more turn

By Saturday, Beck saw the tracking on the replacement 6-iron move farther away from Madrid. With Penge now needing two replacement clubs, the executive decision was for Beck to take a 6 a.m. flight from Gatwick to Madrid on Sunday and hand-deliver the clubs to Penge and Bill.

Despite being on leave that weekend, Beck was approved to go as he was the closest to where Mizuno’s tour truck was based outside of London.

He built a new replacement S-3s for Penge, 2 degrees upright and 2 degrees strong with KBS V10 130 X shafts to match the rest of his set around 8 p.m. Saturday and then got up at 2:30 a.m. to head to the airport. (Fun vacation!)

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EasyJet flight 8017 departed LGW at 6:02 a.m. local Sunday and arrived at MAD at 9:21 that morning, and Beck was relieved to see the box on the baggage claim conveyor as he walked into Spanish passport control. But, as if his journey needed another hiccup, the box was gone when he cleared customs.

“So there’s a slight, slight bit of panic set in,” Beck said, who’s been on Tour with the company for four years. “I’ve gone upstairs to the baggage gate to see if it had fallen off the baggage belt. Maybe it had come around and come off.”

Had Beck just flown all the way to another country to deliver replacement clubs to one of the best players in the world, only for the clubs to be mishandled at the airport, or worse, stolen?

Luckily, the panic was short-lived. About 30 minutes went by before Beck returned to the baggage claim and eventually found the box unharmed.

Within an hour Beck was at the course and handing off the fresh 6-iron and pitching wedge to Bill, much to Penge’s surprise.

“I was in contact with Max more than Marco building up to it, but yes, Marco was obviously very thankful and very, very relieved to have 14 clubs,” he said.

Penge shot a one-over 72 on Sunday, but it got him into a playoff, which he won with a birdie on the first extra hole for his third DP World Tour win in 16 starts, all but assuring you’ll see him on the PGA Tour next year.

October 15, 2025

(by Steve Hopkins, photo ITTF)

Team China won the ITTF-ATTU 28th Asian Table Tennis Team Championships.  That headline is not a surprise, but their path was not an easy one.  China’s opening match was against the Islamic Republic of Iran and there were fireworks from Iran’s young star, Benyamin Faraji.  Faraji, at just 15 years old, started the team competition off with a 3-2 upset win over World No. 2 Lin Shidong.   Shidong won the first game, Faraji then took three of the next four in exciting fashion with 12-10, 11-8, and 11-9 scores in his three wins.  Alamiyan Noshod won his first game against Liang Jingkun, for a short time matching the enthusiasm and excitement of Faraji.  This time, however, it was Jingkun who won three tight games (at 13-11, 11-8, and 13-11).  Iran fought admirably from that point forward, but it was decided – and China won 3-1.

A day later, Japan added an additional scare – winning the first two matches 3-2 before losing the next three matches 2-3.  The two wins were Tomokazu Harimoto over Liang Jingkun and Sora Matsushima over Wang Chuqin.  From that point forward, Japan only needed one win – but in each of the final three matches they fell one game short.  China wins 3-2 and moves on to the Final.

The other Semifinal was an upset with Hong Kong topping Taipei 3-2.  Taipei played without their highest ranked player,  Lin Yun-Ju.  Ultimately, it came down to the final match and a strong come-from-behind finish by Baldwin Chan.  The win sent Hong Kong into the Final to face China – where the much lower seeded Hong Kong squad fell 0-3.

China wins – but this was one title that required real work.

Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest table tennis news and results.

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During the off-season, the Montreal Canadiens traded goaltender Cayden Primeau to the Carolina Hurricanes. The move was understandable, as Primeau needed a change of scenery.

However, after being placed on waivers ahead of the season by the Hurricanes, Primeau was claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thus, his time with the Hurricanes came to a quick end.

Now, Primeau has made a positive impact in his first appearance with the Maple Leafs.

Primeau made his Maple Leafs debut in their Oct. 14 matchup against the Nashville Predators. Primeau stopped 26 out of 30 shots in the Maple Leafs’ 7-4 win over the Predators.

Primeau getting a win in his Maple Leafs debut was certainly a solid way for him to leave a first impression with his new club. The former Canadiens goaltender will now be looking to build off his first victory with the Maple Leafs when given the opportunity to start again.

Primeau was selected by the Canadiens with the 199th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In 55 games over six seasons with the Canadiens from 2019-20 to 2024-25, Primeau recorded a 13-24-7 record, a .884 save percentage, a 3.69 goals-against average, and two shutouts. He also had an 84-44-14 record, a .912 save percentage, and a 2.60 goals-against average in 149 AHL games over five seasons with the Laval Rocket.

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The new #1 contender for the NXT Womenâ€s Title certainly earned her spot. Now, Jacy Jayne has quite a scary challenger waiting for her.

The October 14 episode of WWE NXT was quite a show. WWEâ€s NXT brand needed a new #1 contender for the Womenâ€s Title. That was determined this week in a battle royal match.

The battle royal was also promoted to be a cross-branded affair, with NXT and TNA representation. It was anyoneâ€s guess who would show up to get a shot at Jacy Jayneâ€s title.

This match went down as the main event of the night. It included some of the top names from NXT and TNA. They all got in the ring, including Victoria Crawford, Jordynne Grace, the IIconics, Zaria, Lash Legend, and so many more battling for the win.

This was an intense battle royal match, and bodies were flying all over the place at one point or another. Some big names like Lola Vice and the IInspiration were eliminated. Kelani Jordan tried to take out Jordynne Grace, but in the end, the Juggernaut too her out, despite an impressive handstand effort to stay in.

In the end, Izzi Dame, Tatum Paxley, Jordynne Grace and Kendal Grey were the final four in the match. The four kept going and the action was fast-paced, for sure. Grey tried to take Paxley out, but then Grace started to push Kendal out. Izzi eliminated Grey before she clotheslined Grace and they both went toppling over the top rope.

That left Tatum Paxley alone in the ring, so she will get a shot at Jacy Jayneâ€s championship. As Paxley celebrated, her old friend Lyra Valkyria ran out to the ring to join in the happy times as the show came to a close.

Whatâ€s your take on the new #1 contender for the NXT Womenâ€s Title? Do you believe that Jacy Jayne has already met her match? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

October 14, 2025 10:02 pm

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Oct 12, 2025, 12:50 AM ET

PITTSBURGH — New York Rangers coach Mike Sullivan knew the Pittsburgh Penguins were going to play a tribute video. There has been one for each returning player that won a championship during Sullivan’s time with the Penguins.

That doesn’t mean it wasn’t any less emotional in his return to Pittsburgh after parting ways with the organization in April.

“It means a lot,” Sullivan said after New York’s 6-1 win at Pittsburgh on Saturday. “I’m grateful for everything we accomplished (in Pittsburgh) during my time.”

The tribute video played at the first media timeout, honoring Sullivan for his accomplishments with the Penguins. Sullivan received a standing ovation and acknowledged the crowd with a wave to the air

Mika Zibanejad scored a short-handed goal 23 seconds after the video to give the Rangers a lead they didn’t relinquish.

Sullivan, who spent 10 seasons with the Penguins, was elevated from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League and won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with Pittsburgh in 2016-17. Sullivan, the only U.S.-born coach to win at least two Stanley Cups, is the all-time leader at Pittsburgh with 409 wins in 753 games.

“I’m so grateful to the group of players over those years that performed the way they did that allowed us to have the success that we had,” Sullivan said. “When you watch a tribute like that, which I was very appreciative of for the Penguins, they didn’t have to do that, it brings back a flood of emotions.”

Sullivan already coached against the Penguins and lost, as Dan Muse won his debut behind the bench with Pittsburgh 3-0 in Tuesday’s season opener at Madison Square Garden. Sullivan was impressed with his team’s response during a shutout at Buffalo on Thursday and again two days later with a win against the same Pittsburgh team that blanked the Rangers in the opener.

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“They played a much more determined game for the last 40 minutes,” Sullivan said. “I think that shows you what we’re capable of when we play with that focus and determination.”

The Penguins and Sullivan parted ways after Pittsburgh missed the playoffs for a third straight season. Almost immediately, Sullivan landed in New York and replaced Peter Laviolette for a franchise seeking it’s first title since 1994. Sullivan is now tasked with the responsibility of providing structure and discipline to a team that unraveled on and off the ice, missing the playoffs one season after winning the Presidents Trophy and reaching the Eastern Conference Final.

Sullivan’s relentless intensity instantly ignited the Penguins. But now Pittsburgh, which hasn’t made it beyond the first round since 2018, is in the midst of an inevitable rebuild and general manager Kyle Dubas felt that it was time to go in another direction.

Now, Sullivan’s job is to turn the Rangers back into an immediate contender.

“I’m excited about the group of players we have in New York,” Sullivan said. “I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve had to work with them to this point, we have a lot of enthusiasm around our team right now and we’re excited about what we can potentially do moving forward.”

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Other than a four month reign by Hirooki Goto earlier this year, Zack Sabre Jr. has largely owned the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship scene in New Japan Pro Wrestling after first winning the title nearly a year ago. Since then, Sabre has held the title twice in dominant fashion, headlining Wrestle Kingdom and Wrestle Dynasty and defeating the likes of Shota Umino, Shingo Takagi, Ricochet, and Nigel McGuinness along the way.

Unfortunately for Sabre, this morning his second run came to an end at the hands of a top AEW star. In front of 5,000+ fans at New Japan’s King of Pro Wrestling event in Tokyo, G1 Climax winner Konosuke Takeshita defeated Sabre in 31 minutes to claim the title. The hard fought back and forth match saw Takeshita connect with several hard strikes while Sabre worked over Takeshita’s arm; in the end, Takeshita powered through and hit two knee strikes, including one with his knee pad down, to put Sabre away.

Takeshita didn’t have long to celebrate, however, as he was immediately confronted by Goto, who challenged for the title. Takeshita mocked Goto and the fans, and notably criticized the younger stars in New Japan’s locker room for not stepping up to challenge him. Even still, he accepted Goto’s challenge, though it remains unclear whether the match will take place soon or at Wrestle Kingdom in January.

The victory makes Takeshita, who holds contracts with AEW, New Japan, and DDT, the second AEW star to hold the IWGP World Title in the last year, following Jon Moxley’s three month championship reign in 2024. He will look to add more gold this weekend at AEW WrestleDream, when he and Don Callis Family stablemate, and budding frenemy, Kazuchika Okada challenge Brodido for the AEW World Tag Team Championships.

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WWE

CM Punk appeared to earn a rematch at Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship after defeating Jey Uso and LA Knight in a triple threat for the number one contendership in the main event of “WWE Raw.” Only to then be attacked by The Vision before their eventual and shocking implosion to close the show.Â

Punk, having defeated Gunther for the title at SummerSlam, lost it within moments to Rollins as he cashed in his Money in the Bank. Since then, he has been clamoring for another opportunity at his arch-rival, getting one as part of a four-way also involving Knight and Uso at Clash in Paris, and then scoring a victory over Rollins and Becky Lynch alongside his wife AJ Lee at Wrestlepalooza.Â

Meanwhile, Jey Uso, who had dropped the title to Gunther in the first place, had also been searching for his rematch for the title, and Knight continued his own pursuit of an elusive first World title win.Â

Ultimately, Punk pinned Uso to make the night his own. But he was then set upon by Rollins, Bronson Reed, and Bron Breakker for what appeared to be the closing angle; the champion was standing tall over the number one contender, the end-of-show credits were on the screen, and Breakker caught everyone off guard as he speared Rollins in the middle of the ring.Â

Both Reed and Paul Heyman looked on, sharing the shock, but after some words from Breakker, Reed joined in and delivered a Tsunami to seal the mutiny. Heyman finally raised both men’s hands in the ring, while in his other hand Breakker held aloft the World Heavyweight Championship.

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