Nugent-Hopkins scored on a power play in the third period to give McDavid his league-best 29th assist. McDavid has a big lead in points with 37 and is on pace for more than 200.

Longtime running mate Leon Draisaitl recorded a pair of assists, including a perfect skate-to-stick exchange that led to Vasily Podkolzin putting the puck into a wide open net. Ilya Sorokin similarly had little chance on Nugent-Hopkins’ shot from point-blank range off a feed from Kasperi Kapanen 68 seconds earlier.

Edmonton’s Tristan Jarry stopped all 18 shots he faced for a second consecutive shutout, and Jason Dickinson scored into an empty net to seal the victory. The Oilers have won 10 of their first 14 games this season, their first with Mike Babcock as coach.

Despite 20 saves from Sorokin, the Islanders’ winning streak ended at two games, with top defenseman Matthew Schaefer getting whistled for two of the team’s five minor penalties. Forward Emil Heineman was ejected less than 2 1/2 minutes in for a knee-on-knee hit that injured Isaac Howard, who put no weight on his left leg as he was helped off the ice and did not return.

New York was without defenseman Ryan Pulock, who was seeing a doctor after leaving Thursday night at Minnesota with what the team called an upper-body injury.

Up next

Oilers: Make their second stop on a three-game visit to the area by playing at the New York Rangers on Sunday.

Islanders: After some time off, host the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.

According to numerous reports, the NFL has fined the Giants running back $7,073 for lowering his helmet during last weekend's overtime win over the Texans. 

Skattebo, of course, received a 15-yard penalty on the play. 

This marks the second time this season the hard-nosed back has been fined for lowering his helmet, but it doesn't appear he'll be changing his ways. 

“The NFL loves to post when I do stuff like that, but then they also want to take stuff from me,” Skattebo said. “I’m going to run the ball like I want, and if I’m going to continue to get flags or get fined, I guess I’m just going to play for free.

“I’m going to do everything I can to be on this team, to give everything I’ve got to this team, and if they’re going to punish me for it, I’m going to keep doing it, and keep playing hard.” 

Skattebo finished a bounceback effort with 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. 

Gang Green is placing Sweat on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in their Week 7 loss to the Dolphins. The team already ruled out Sweat for their Week 8 matchup with the Raiders this Sunday, but they will give the veteran lineman more time to heal up for the final stretch of the regular season. The Jets have a bye in Week 9 before they head into the second half of their schedule.

The Jets are hopeful Sweat can return to the team before the end of the regular season.

Sweat has played in all seven games this season and has registered 17 tackles and two tackles for loss.

New York signed DT Payton Page to the active roster to take Sweat's place. They are also elevating OL Brand Banks and Edge Quinton Bell from the practice squad.

Bell's elevation could mean rookie pass rusher David Bailey (groin) will miss Sunday's game. He was listed as doubtful after not practicing all week. 

While GM Brian Cashman has already confirmed that he will be sticking around in the Bronx on a new deal, the club will not be renewing the contracts of Omar Minaya and Brian Sabean, per Jon Heyman of the NY Post. 

Both served as special assistants to Cashman during their time with the organization. 

Minaya joined the Yanks during the 2023 offseason, two years after wrapping up his third stint with the Mets. 

The long-time baseball executive worked his way up to the GM role on the other side of town, then returned to them as a special assistant to Sandy Alderson, before taking his talents to the Bronx. 

Sabean began his involvement in baseball as a scout for the Yanks in 1985, and after a long tenure with the Giants that saw him eventually bumped up to the head man role, he returned to the Big Apple in 2023. 

Jones notes that Harbaugh called Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk directly in an attempt to trade for star pass rusher Jeffrey Simmons in a bit of an unorthodox move during NFL trade discussions.  

GM Joe Schoen had previously spoken with Tennessee's front office as well, but at the time, they told him and other interested clubs they weren't looking to move on from Simmons. 

Harbaugh is said to have gotten the same message from Strunk during their conversation, but after a 1-6 start to the season, the Titans wound up dealing Simmons to the Bears for a pair of first-round picks. 

Simmons certainly would've provided a significant boost for the middle of Big Blue's defense. 

The 29-year-old is coming off his first All-Pro season in which he recorded a career-high 11.0 sacks. 

He's racked up four more sacks through the first seven games this year, to go along with 38 tackles (six for a loss) and a team-leading four passes defended. 

According to Jones, the Giants remain active in their pursuit of DT and RB help ahead of the deadline. 

In addition to the Mets and Dodgers, there are a bunch of other teams who have a need for Skubal and a potential willingness to spend what it takes to get him.

The Angels, finally close to being free of meddling owner Arte Moreno, will have new owner Stan Kroenke (and his estimated $27.6 billion net worth) officially taking over in early 2027, pending MLB approval. While the Angels could conceivably go after Skubal, it's fair to wonder how open he would be to signing there given the ownership transition, unsettled situations at GM and manager, and the fact that they haven't had a winning season since 2015. 

The Cubs have a need and ownership with deep pockets, but also must rebuild almost their entire starting rotation -- with Clay Holmes, Matthew Boyd, Kevin Gausman, and Shota Imanaga all free agents. Given how much pitching they need to add, would they be comfortable spending big on Skubal?

The upstart White Sox could also make sense for Skubal, but the biggest free agent contract they've ever given out is the five-year, $75 million deal they signed Andrew Benintendi to in 2023. So Chicago inking Skubal would relatively shocking.

Skubal's first team, the Tigers, are obviously a fit. But they lowballed him when it came to extension offers before he was traded. 

The Yankees could always go nuts and add another ace to their elite rotation, but that seems unlikely given their current deals to starting pitchers Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodon, as well as other big contracts on the books for Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger. Hal Steinbrenner's recent comments about being in favor of a salary cap should also be considered here.

Could the Red Sox, Blue Jays, or Padres try for Skubal? Maybe. But this really does seem like something that could come down to the Mets and Dodgers.

While the Dodgers are swimming in cash, owner Mark Walter has been accused of insurance fraud, recently sold his majority stake in the Lakers, and has been attempting to sell the Sparks. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is loaded with starting pitching options and could be reluctant to hand a megadeal to Skubal -- even if Walter's finances don't become a major issue.

With all that to consider, how seriously should the Mets pursue Skubal? Here are the pros and cons...

PROS

Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, having posted a 2.47 ERA (2.42 FIP) and 0.92 WHIP with 757 strikeouts in 626.1 innings (a strikeout rate of 10.9 per nine) in 103 starts since 2023, which was his age-26 season.

For the Tigers and Dodgers in 2026, Skubal had a 2.72 ERA (2.51 FIP) and 0.96 WHIP while fanning 186 batters in 158.2 innings over 26 starts.

Skubal's arsenal is electric, with him primarily featuring a four-seam fastball that averaged 96.8 mph this past season, as well as a dominant changeup, sinker, and slider.

In 2026, Skubal's stuff unsurprisingly rated near the top of the league, with his overall pitching run value in the 97th percentile. When it comes to how hitters performed against each pitch, none of Skubal's offerings resulted in a slugging percentage higher than .373 (or an xSLG higher than .372). Meanwhile, his vaunted changeup had an absurd whiff percentage of 46.9. 

Looking at Skubal's other metrics, literally all of them except for extension were between well above average and elite this past season, including his xERA, average exit velocity against, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, and walk percentage -- which was in the 99th percentile. While Skubal is overpowering, he also has elite command, posting BB/9 rates of 1.6 or lower each of the last four seasons. 

When it comes to fit, the Mets have a glaring need for Skubal or another pitcher who is a legitimate ace. But Skubal is the only true ace who is available. Putting him atop a rotation that should also include Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, and perhaps another external addition, would be a game-changer for New York. 

Looking elsewhere on the free agent market for other potential big-ticket additions, there really aren't many. Starting pitchers Michael King and Clay Holmes could be pricey in terms of average annual value, but won't get the kind of lengthy deal Skubal could command. Teruaki Sato, who is being posted by his Japanese club, could get a relatively big deal. But even if the Mets sign Skubal, they would theoretically be able to add Sato and/or another legitimate starting pitcher. So there's no reason to be hesitant. 

While the Mets already have roughly $281 million committed to the payroll for the 2027 season (if Bo Bichette opts in), they are going to get serious relief after next season, with Sean Manaea ($22 million), Jorge Polanco ($20 million), and Kodai Senga ($15 million) coming off the books. Also off the books will be the $6 million the club is still paying Luke Weaver for 2027 following his trade to the Pirates. Then, ahead of the 2029 season, the Mets have roughly $90 million set to come off, reducing their overall obligations to around $106 million. 

Given the coming payroll relief and the influx of young, relatively inexpensive players (including McLean, Scott, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, and Zac Thornton), the Mets are in strong position to absorb the kind of massive payroll obligation Skubal's contract will be. 

There's also the fact that David Stearns seems to be in a make-or-break offseason, and could certainly use a bold and potentially tenure-defining move over the next few months -- even if it might come with some prodding from owner Steve Cohen.

CONS

The biggest concern when it comes to a megadeal for Skubal or any other pitcher revolves around health.

Skubal's 2026 campaign was briefly interrupted by NanoScope surgery on his pitching elbow that kept him out of action from April 30 through June 13. But he continued to be dominant upon his return. After having a 2.70 ERA (2.11 FIP) over his first seven starts, Skubal had a 2.73 ERA (2.66 FIP) in the 19 starts he made post-surgery, with 10 of them coming after he was dealt to the Dodgers at the trade deadline.

While Skubal seems to be out of the woods, he has had serious elbow issues in the past. Skubal had Tommy John surgery while in college in 2017 and underwent flexor tendon surgery in August of 2022. If he eventually needs to have a second Tommy John surgery, it's fair to wonder what kind of pitcher he would be on the other side of it. 

Even if Skubal avoids a catastrophic injury during the length of his next contract, he'll be facing an uphill battle to live up to it simply because of the amount of long-term deals for starting pitchers that have gone haywire. 

For every long-term, big-money deal to a pitcher 29 or older that works out (Max Scherzer's seven-year deal with the Nationals looks incredible in retrospect, and the Yankees' deal for Max Fried is aging well), you can point to a whole bunch that didn't or currently aren't (Patrick Corbin, Jacob deGrom, Jordan Zimmermann, Felix Hernandez, Corbin Burnes).

Putting Skubal's potential health and performance to the side for a second, it's probably generally wise to avoid deals for starting pitchers that could go as high as his -- an eight-year deal for around $350 million wouldn't be surprising. 

There's also the pending expiration of the CBA and expected lockout to consider. But there are two reasons why that shouldn't be as big of a deal as some are making it. For one, it's hard to believe the players will bend on a salary cap. Even if they do, any cap would take years to implement, which means it would somewhat disingenuous for any team to cite labor uncertainty as a reason for not pursuing Skubal or other players.  

VERDICT

Sign him.

Ahead of his age-30 season, it feels probable that Skubal's contract will not soar into the stratosphere when it comes to years. As is noted above, an eight-year deal would be reasonable and end when Skubal is 37 years old. Maybe the Mets could go even higher with the average annual value in order to get it down to six or seven years, which would obviously be more in line with Stearns' philosophy -- even if it would still require him to go outside his comfort zone.

Either way, the stars seem to be aligning for the Mets to make a strong push for Skubal. They need to close the deal. 

A report from ESPN's Adam Schefter Saturday morning indicated Indy is now open to it. 

Schefter notes that the Colts are in active and ongoing discussions, and the Giants are among the teams that have expressed at least some level of interest in the three-time Pro Bowler. 

Denver, Green Bay, Minnesota, and the Seahawks have also been in the mix. 

Taylor certainly would cost a pretty penny in any potential deal, but he'd bring John Harbaugh and the Giants the workhorse running back they've been looking for since the offseason.  

The 27-year-old New Jersey native has once again been the workhorse for the Colts' offense, racking up 587 yards and a league-high eight touchdowns over the first seven games of the season. 

Pairing him with the hard-nosed Cam Skattebo would give New York an elite one-two punch. 

Following their 98-93 loss to the 76ers on Friday night, New York is now 2-4 through their first six games. While the Knicks have played a ton of quality opponents, including the Sixers twice, it's the way they've looked in their losses that has raised eyebrows. 

Take Friday, for example. 

Philadelphia took advantage of eight first-half turnovers and decimated the Knicks' defense in the paint, putting up an efficient 55 percent from the field. The first quarter, especially, saw the 76ers eat well from near the basket, where they shot 6-for-8.

The Knicks took away the 76ers' paint shots in the second half, and that allowed them to make a comeback -- even taking a one-point lead late in the fourth -- but it wasn't enough. They could not overcome that sluggish start.

“Today, we looked like a team that was at the end of a road trip," Karl-Anthony Towns said of the team's energy after the loss. "We got to find that gear, got to find that energy. I thought we did a great job in the fourth quarter of finding that gear, just getting out of that quicksand…to do that, it puts us in that position where you gotta make some magic happen, and we just didn’t have enough magic today to get back and win the game tonight."

"It’s a new year. The flow’s tougher. The ball gets stagnant, and I think that’s a little bit from fatigue," Josh Hart said. "Mentally, you know what to do, but you’re trying to get your body to that point. That’s part of it. Have to be more deliberate with cuts and movements, and taking care of the ball."

Hart was asked to elaborate on the fatigue, and the Knicks starter simply said the team, physically, has to catch up with their mental processes.

"We all feel the fatigue. We have to fight through it," he said. "It’s six games in. We have to try and find a way to get our bodies ready to play every day. Mentally, we’re there. We just have to find it physically."

Jalen Brunson, who led the team with 24 points and whose three-pointer gave the Knicks that late lead, was asked about Hart's comments and responded in typical Brunson fashion.

"Josh said he feels the fatigue? Well, Josh is old as s--t," Brunson quipped.

While the Knicks captain may not admit to any physical fatigue, it's hard not to believe the team is feeling it in some capacity. 

Most of the championship team is back, and many played deeper into an NBA season than they've played in before, not to mention the extra game that helped them capture the NBA Cup a year ago. The numerous second-half comebacks in the playoffs also put a strain on what was a magical run, but it adds up. This team has had a shorter offseason than any other team in the NBA aside from the Spurs. 

Fatigue or not, Brunson knows the Knicks can be better, and it starts with limiting the turnovers.

"Being hesitant, sometimes, can put you into a position where you want to make the right play, but you don’t want to turn the ball over. At that point, it turns into a home run pass or something like that," Brunson explained. "We have the right intentions; we have to be confident in the decision-making. Don’t be afraid to fail. We have the confidence in this locker room. We all work hard, we see it every day. Everything will fall into place as it should be." 

The Knicks will look to get back on track when they take on the winless Nets at home on Monday.

“I think the flow's tougher... the ball gets stagnant… I think that that's part of it. We got to be more deliberate with cuts and movements. And taking care of the ball,” Hart said after New York (2-4) fell to the Sixers on Friday night.

Static offense and untimely turnovers are two of the reasons New York lost to Philadelphia on Friday. Fatigue may have been another. 

Hart referenced fatigue when answering questions from reporters in Philadelphia – where the Knicks were playing their third game in four nights.

“We all feel the fatigue. So we got to fight through it. Six games in. So we got to find a way to make sure we get our bodies ready to play every day,” Hart said. “I think mentally we're there. We just gotta find it physically.”

The Knicks certainly looked flat in the first half on Friday. They allowed 17 points off of turnovers in the first half. They coughed it up eight times. The Knicks also allowed Philadelphia to score 26 points in the paint.

Sure, the Knicks made it close late in the game, but they couldn’t come all the way back against a tough Sixers team.

Philadelphia and LeBron James have looked sharp in both games against New York this year. The Sixers have defended well against the Knicks and have leaned on Tyrese Maxey to lead the offense. It’s early, but Philadelphia is playing with the kind of cohesion that many thought would be missing at this point in the season.

Of course, it's way too early to make bold proclamations about anything you see in the NBA right now. We’re six games into an 82-game season. But while the Sixers (5-1) have gotten off to a strong start, the Knicks, as Hart said, are still finding their way.

TURN-ING POINT

One issue for the Knicks early on? Turning the ball over. New York has been a low-turnover team for most of the last two seasons. But they rank 16th in the league in turnovers per 100 possessions so far this season.

“Just a little careless,” Jalen Brunson said. “And sometimes it can be us being hesitant as well, wanting to make the right play, but they're also not trying to turn over, and then it's just a little late to our decision making. It could be a lot of things, but obviously, we got to clean it up.”

Head coach Mike Brown sees a correlation between his team’s turnovers/sloppy passing and poor offense.  

“It’s been going on all year,” Brown said of the turnovers. “Like, we’re trying to hit a home run every time we get the ball. And we have to hit singles. We can’t hit a home run. We gotta hit singles offensively and then if our play breaks down, we have to move. There’s too many times where we have too many guys trying to iso and the other four guys sitting there and staring at the ball a whole possession.”

"They were getting in our paint left and right, right and left, and it was really, really easy doing it," Brown said.

The Sixers ended the night with 36 paint points, but scored 26 down low in the first half, where they also shot 5-for-17 from downtown. Too often, those points in the paint came way too easily, with many players on New York not moving and just looking at the ball while allowing Philadelphia to waltz right in for an easy score. Not good, to quote Brown.

The disappointing defense also came just hours after Brown said pregame that "our transition defense right now stinks," which was another problem on Friday with Philadelphia scoring 23 points off turnovers. 

In fact, turnovers were Brown's next biggest gripe with his team after they coughed it up eight times in the first half (though they cleaned it up some in the second half with five). 

"It’s been going on all year," Brown said. "We’re trying to hit a home run every time we get the ball and we have to hit singles. We can’t hit a home run, we gotta hit singles offensively, and then if our play breaks down, we have to move."

The Knicks shot 31.8 percent from deep in the first half on 22 shots, forcing some bad ones in the process instead of trying something different. They ended the game 13-for-41 (31.7 percent) from three-point range and struggled overall, shooting 40.7 percent from the floor. 

Still, New York, who was down by as many as 14 points, staged a comeback in the second half and even took a brief lead before the 76ers took control for good. Part of that was thanks to the Knicks switching it up and attacking the rim more. They scored 24 points in the paint in the second half after just 10 in the first half -- basically the total opposite of Philadelphia.

"On top of that, we did a better job with our turnovers," Brown said, referring to the second half. "But more importantly, we reacted better when we turned the ball over and we had five turnovers for six points (against)."

Regardless of the turnaround in the second half, Brown wants to see his team play like that for the entire game, not just in spurts or moments.

"Against a good team on the road, if you let go of those things in a half, you’re in trouble," he said. "And so somehow some way we have to be cognizant of doing this stuff for 48 minutes, which we’re not doing right now.

"Tonight it was the first half and it was almost like [we thought] we’re just gonna show up and go hoop and not do the little things that we need to do to go get a win."

The Knicks are talented enough to go toe-to-toe with anybody and are fresh off an NBA championship, so they're allowed some slack for their 2-4 start, but if they have any intentions of repeating, they need to clean things up here and there before things possibly spiral and their head coach knows it.

"It’s a little thing here, a little thing there, a little thing there," Brown said. "… We’re competitive when we need to be and that’s why all of our games that we’re in we have a chance down the stretch, but trying to make sure we continue to do the little things throughout the course of the game is gonna be huge for us because we’re not doing it right now."

Ron Holland II finished with 16 points off the bench and Paul Reed chipped in 12 for the Pistons, who have won five of their first six games to begin the season for the first time since 2015-16.

Detroit limited the winless Nets to 40% shooting from the field. No team has shot over 45.5% from the floor against the Pistons this season.

Julius Randle scored 15 and Michael Porter Jr. added 13 for the Nets, who fell to 0-5.

The Pistons got off to a slow start and trailed 28-21 after one quarter. Brooklyn took a 10-point lead – its largest of the season – after a pair of free throws from Randle with 10:44 to play in the second quarter.

But the Pistons began to chip away at the deficit and closed out the first half with an 18-7 spurt to take a 56-49 lead at the break.

Detroit did not let up in the third quarter and outscored the Nets 37-17 thanks to 12 consecutive points from Holland.

The Pistons held the Nets to 33% shooting from the field and forced nine turnovers during the third period.

Detroit outscored Brooklyn 48-36 in the paint and had a 27-11 advantage on the fast break.

Up next

Pistons: Visit the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.

Nets: Visit the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

Hellebuyck, who spent his first 11 seasons in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, had his second win since the Devils acquired him Oct. 23. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner was also in goal Tuesday night in Dallas in a 5-1 win.

Gritsyuk has scored at least a goal in six of the last eight games and has 10 points during the stretch. Luke Hughes also scored for New Jersey. The Devils improved to 10-1-0 when the Hughes brothers score in the same game.

Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev scored for the Golden Knights, and Adin Hill stopped 26 shots.

Luke Hughes got things going early in the first when he rifled a one-timer from the top of the left circle past Hill.

Stone tied it when he deflected Mitch Marner’s blast from the point past Hellebuyck. Barbashev gave the Knights a 2-1 lead moments later when he tapped Marner’s pass home after a picture-perfect cross-crease pass.

The lead didn’t last one minute, as Gritsyuk took advantage of a turnover and sniped Hill top shelf from the left circle.

Jack Hughes put New Jersey back in front when he stole the puck from Jack Eichel in the neutral zone, then passed it to himself through Stone’s legs before beating Hill.

Gritsyuk scored his second goal by backhanding his rebound after Hill blocked his first attempt.

Hughes’ empty-net goal provided the final margin.

UP NEXT

Devils: Host Edmonton on Tuesday night.

Golden Knights: At Boston on Monday night.

Here are the key takeaways...

-- The reigning NBA Cup champions began this season’s group stage with a dud in the first half.

It was a rough night shooting the ball for New York, particularly from beyond the arc, as it couldn’t penetrate the 76ers’ defense down low, which led to poor shot selection. The Knicks also turned the ball over far too many times and struggled to get into any kind of rhythm.

-- In the first quarter, New York shot 40.9 percent from the field (27.3 percent from deep) and had four turnovers compared to Philadelphia, who shot 52.4 percent from the floor (33.3 percent from deep) and had zero turnovers. 

-- Tyrese Maxey led the way for the 76ers with seven points in the opening frame, with Joel Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe each adding six points. OG Anunoby led the Knicks after one with seven points, including a layup in the final seconds to cut New York’s deficit to 29-21 headed to the second.

-- Things stayed the same in the second quarter, with the Knicks relying too much on the three. They only scored 14 points in the paint at halftime while the Sixers had 26. Philadelphia also moved the ball around much better than New York did in the first half, totaling 17 assists to the Knicks’ 10.

-- New York’s starting five all had at least seven points at the break, but the Knicks’ bench was giving them no help other than seven points by Miles McBride. Landry Shamet was scoreless (0-for-3 from three) in 13 minutes and Tyler Kolek had two turnovers in his seven minutes.

-- Meanwhile, Maxey continued to cook New York’s shoddy defense and went into halftime with 18 points on 8-of-12 from the floor. LeBron James also had a big half with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists, and despite shooting 29.4 percent from beyond the arc, the 76ers led 53-44 at the half.

-- With how bad the Knicks played in the first half, they still weren’t completely out of it at any point and managed to pull within five points in the third quarter after a flurry of points by Jalen Brunson doubled his point total and made it 59-54.

-- Turnovers by the 76ers hurt them in an ugly third quarter, although they started to hit some threes, which neutralized any attempt by New York to make a run. Nevertheless, the Knicks’ offense did pick up thanks to Brunson’s 13 points in the quarter, but they entered the final quarter still down by nine points after Anfernee Simons drilled his third three-pointer of the frame to cap an impressive 13-point quarter for the 27-year-old.

-- Philadelphia’s lead reached double-digits once again in the early part of the fourth, but New York just kept sticking around as the 76ers weren’t able to deliver a knockout punch. Karl-Anthony Towns scored the team’s first eight points of the quarter before Jordan Clarkson, who hadn’t played at all in the first three quarters, helped out with four points of his own to get the Knicks to within three points.

-- In what became a defensive battle in the final minutes of the game with every possession being ever so crucial, New York was able to hold Philadelphia scoreless long enough to take its first lead since the first minute of the game on Brunson’s three-pointer with 1:32 left that put the Knicks ahead 90-89.

James responded with a fadeaway jumper to retake the lead before Edgecombe drilled a dagger three to go up by four with 34 seconds left.

-- Brunson went to the line for two three seconds later but missed the second shot to keep New York down by three. James made a layup on the other end to give him 20 points, his first 20-point game of the season, and after Anunoby dunked with eight seconds left, it was up to free throws. Maxey, who was held relatively in check following his dominant first half, made both from the line, which sealed the deal for the Sixers, who won without Jaylen Brown.

-- Brunson had 24, Towns finished with a double-double, but it wasn’t enough to knock out Philadelphia, who are now 2-0 against New York this season.

Game MVP: LeBron James

To go along with his first 20-point game with his new team, James also added nine rebounds, eight assists, one steal and one block in 34 minutes.

Highlights

The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association athlete of the year gets started https://t.co/a4Vcc99cgx

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 30, 2026

Jordan Clarkson keeping the Knicks in it in Q4 https://t.co/rE60r4Y4oi

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 31, 2026

What's next

The Knicks get back to their regular season schedule on Monday night when they host the Nets in a Battle of the Boroughs. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Saitama Seibu Lions announced Friday that they will approve Taira's posting, and once that happens, MLB teams will be able to negotiate with the right-hander. 

Taira owns a 1.78 ERA and a 9.4 K/9 across his eight NPB seasons, but really broke out this past season. The soon-to-be 27-year-old pitched to a 1.36 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP across 23 games this season as a starter. The Yankees have reportedly scouted the 5-foot-8 pitcher and could use Taira on their roster after a few departures in the bullpen.

David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough, along with Michael Fulmer and John Schreiber (both mid-season additions), are set to hit free agency. And while Bednar and Blackburn could be back, the others may not, which is where Taira's ability to pitch out of the bullpen comes in. Taira pitched briefly out of the 'pen in 2024, but was used more as a reliever in 2025, converting 31 saves and pitching to a 1.71 ERA across 54 games (52.2 IP). 

Whether Taira hopes to be a starter or closer is not yet known, but once Seibu makes their posting official, MLB teams have a 45-day window to negotiate with him. 

Defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat missed Friday's practice and has already been ruled out due to the knee injury he suffered last weekend against the Dolphins. 

Rookie pass rusher David Bailey sat out his third straight practice session as well with a lingering groin issue, and he's being listed as doubtful heading into the weekend.  

If he ends up sidelined, it'll be the first missed contest of his career. 

Star running back Breece Hall appears to be heading in the same direction, having logged three straight limited practices; the team is calling him questionable, as they did last weekend before he was ruled out. 

One positive for Gang Green is that OL Dylan Parham was able to put together his first full practice of the week, so he appears to be trending towards playing, despite dealing with a knee issue. 

Korpisalo took the ice with the rest of the team Friday, marking his first practice since going down with a lower-body injury. 

Head coach Mike Sullivan said the abbreviated appearance was part of the team's "time management plan" but that it was still a big step for the veteran netminder. 

Korpisalo has been sidelined since the end of training camp with the lower-body issue. 

He was expected to serve as the Rangers' No. 2 goaltender to start the year, but instead landed on IR and was expected to miss an additional four weeks at the time of Igor Shesterkin's injury. 

The veteran resumed skating last week and finally made it back into a practice session. 

Korpisalo likely has a few more boxes to check off, but appears to be drawing closer and closer to making his debut between the pipes for the Blueshirts. 

Getting him back certainly would be a nice boost, with rookie Dylan Garand struggling a bit handling the bulk of the workload since Shesterkin went down with his season-ending injury. 

With the team closing October on a three-game losing streak, head coach Mike Sullivan decided to rework the forward lines in search of an offensive spark. 

Hoping to get Pavel Dorofeyev going and create a bit more balance up-and-down the lineup, Sullivan bumped the newly acquired star scorer up to the top line, pushing young Gabe Perreault out of the top six. 

Dorofeyev, who has scored just three times through the first 14 games this season, will have the chance to skate alongside two of the team's top playmakers in Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere for the first time.

“We’re moving people around based on a number of different objectives,” Sullivan explained. “No. 1 we’re trying to help Pav capture his best game, but we’re also trying to create some more balance throughout the lineup.

“I was reluctant to move people earlier in the year because we thought that top line was playing really well, but we think the timing is right to try to make this adjustment -- I think it’s the one combination we haven’t gone to yet, with respect to Pav inside the top six.”

Dorofeyev, of course, started the year on the second line before being demoted to the third. 

As far as Perreault, Sullivan still thinks the second-year winger has still been putting forward a strong game, and he feels that bumping him down in the lineup could help create some of that balance. 

“With Gabe, no matter what line we put him on he’s going to bring certain elements that are going to help,” the head coach emphasized. “When you look at how the lines are constructed we feel we have balance on both sides of the puck.”

The new, balanced group will be put to the test Sunday against the Oilers. 

The more pressing question, of course, is when we’ll see baseball again. 

A lockout on Dec. 1 is a virtual certainty, and the owners' rabid desire for a salary cap is expected to make for a long standoff in collective bargaining negotiations that could stretch into February, March, April…who knows how long.

All of which could also make for a busy November, with at least some teams likely to sign free agents before the lockout and before any potential changes that could make it more penal to add payroll.

Super-agent Scott Boras is already pushing that narrative publicly, and will be trying hard to get a deal done with Tarik Skubal before the sport goes dark.

So with that, here are my predictions for where 10 of the top free agents (actually 11, thanks to a bonus double-entry for the Mets) will sign.

10. ADRIAN MOREJON: PHILLIES

The Phillies have been trying for years, with little success, to build a bullpen that won’t fall apart in the biggest moments, most notably the postseason.

They have a dominant closer now in Jhoan Duran, but need another big piece like Morejon, one of the best left-handed relievers in the game in recent years with the Padres.

Morejon has nasty stuff. He averaged 99.4 mph with his fastball last season, struck out 106 hitters in 86 innings, and ranked in the 99th percentile of MLB pitchers, via Statcast, in chase percentage and soft contact. He’s only 27, turning 28 in February.

9. SEIYA SUZUKI: BLUE JAYS

In a free agent class short on impact hitters, Suzuki could be the best value on the board. He consistently put up good numbers with the Chicago Cubs the last five years, hitting 26 home runs in 2026 with 31 doubles, a .270 batting average and an .841 OPS, and he plays solid defense in right field featuring a very strong arm. 

The Jays, meanwhile, need to make some type of splash after falling off badly following their 2025 World Series season. Suzuki would fit in nicely in right field and perhaps offer lineup protection for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. coming off his subpar season.

8. JAZZ CHISHOLM JR.: PHILLIES

After getting outbid for Luis Arraez -- more on that later -- their trade pickup last August, I think the Phillies will convince themselves that a team with an aging core could benefit from the athleticism and speed Chisholm would provide at second base.

And maybe they would be right, as Chisholm's ability remains enticing at least on the surface. Even in a down year with the Yankees, he stole 41 bases and hit 19 home runs, admittedly a long way from the 50-50-year he predicted back in February, but still productive.

On the other hand, signing Chisholm might be a mistake if he plays with the same lack of awareness he did with the Yanks last season, whether it be making that ill-advised throw on a DP turn in the postseason or playing second base with a lollipop in his mouth.

In any case, the dichotomy between talent and awareness will make it fascinating to see just what Chisholm's market is in the coming weeks. The only near-certainty is the Yankees won’t re-sign him.

7. BRANDON LOWE: RED SOX

Lowe is one of the more underrated players in the game, coming off a very good season as the second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he mashed to the tune of 35 home runs and 29 doubles, and hit .260 with a .493 slugging percentage and an .824 OPS.

Lowe was good defensively as well, ranking in the 96th percentile in defensive run value, via Statcast.

The Red Sox are at least one impact bat away from getting over the hump in the postseason, as demonstrated against the Yankees in the Wild Card Series. Lowe could be that guy for them.

6. FREDDY PERALTA: PADRES

It might be tempting for the Mets to take another shot with Peralta, after he rediscovered his dominance with the Tampa Bay Rays post-trade deadline, but that’s way too much of a gamble.

It didn’t work with the Mets for a reason, whether it was a failure on the part of the coaches to figure out his mechanics or Peralta underperforming under high expectations in New York, or some combination of those factors.

But I do believe he’ll be pursued heavily, and the Padres desperately need more quality pitching if they’re ever going to get through the postseason and win a championship -- especially if Michael King leaves as a free agent this time.

5. RYAN JEFFERS: YANKEES

Here’s another chance for the Yankees to make themselves a more well-rounded team, adding one of the better offensive catchers in the game.

Jeffers, who turns 30 next June, has put up above-average OPS+ numbers for the last four seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Injuries limited him to 92 games in 2026, but he had his best offensive season, hitting .256 with a .416 slugging percentage and an .814 OPS.

Scouts consider him to be slightly below-average defensively but not a butcher behind the plate. He hits right-handed, so the Yanks could still give Austin Wells a decent number of at-bats against right-handed pitching.

4. LUIS ARRAEZ: YANKEES

This feels like a move the Yanks really need to make. For a team that strikes out too much and never seems to get enough timely hitting in the postseason, Arraez offers an obvious solution as perhaps the best pure contact hitter in the majors.

And he improved his defense dramatically last season, ranking high in various defensive metrics as a second baseman. That, plus his bat, makes him a better option at the position than Anthony Volpe.

Arraez, who sports a .316 career batting average, also added some slug to his contact bat, with a career-high .419 slugging percentage to go with hitting .310 last season. And he only struck out 28 times in 655 plate appearances, putting him in the 100th percentile among all major leaguers in strikeout and swing-and-miss percentage.

The Yankees seemingly have to try something different in October to win their first championship since 2009. Arraez, who turns 30 in April, is an intriguing option.

3. TERUAKI SATO: METS

Sato is a bit of a gamble, with his high strikeout total, but he was the Triple Crown winner in Japan this year, making enough contact to hit .307 with big power, and offers the most potential impact of any position player on the market.

David Stearns scouted him in person, as he did Munetaka Murakami last year. He was scared off, as was just about every MLB team, by Murakami’s strikeouts, but may be more convinced to sign Sato after Murakami put up big power numbers with the Chicago White Sox.

Sato has mostly been a third baseman who would presumably be asked to move to first base, and after all the problems the Mets had playing non-first basemen at the position last year, it's not a perfect fit. But his bat is worth the gamble, with a safety net of sorts in the possibility of Bo Bichette moving to first if necessary.

2. MICHAEL KING AND CLAY HOLMES: METS

We know Stearns is all about value. I believe he’ll convince Steve Cohen there is more value in signing two front-of-the-rotation starters such as King and Holmes than paying for Tarik Skubal alone.

And certainly there is an argument to be made for that. Holmes was outstanding for the Mets last season before a line drive broke his fibula before he was eventually traded at the deadline, while King showed both dominance and durability in pitching a career-high 185 innings with the Padres.

The counter to that is neither is as good as Skubal at his best -- yet they’re good enough to win a championship with the right pieces around them. And neither is likely to command the type of long-term deal it will take to sign Skubal.

If you say the best plan is for the Mets to sign Skubal plus either King or Holmes, well, yes, absolutely. But realistically that may be too much even for Cohen, especially if the Mets intend to add to their bullpen and position player group.

Also notable is that because King was given a qualifying offer last winter before re-signing with the Padres, and Holmes was traded this season, neither can be given a qualifying offer, meaning that signing them wouldn’t cost the Mets any draft picks.

Finally, I think Stearns likes the idea of bringing Holmes back after trading him for Jefferson Rojas, an enticing prospect. It’s making the most of an asset, a good look for a president of baseball operations who is all too aware about the need to win over disenchanted Mets fans.

1. TARIK SKUBAL: CUBS

After a quick exit in the postseason, the Cubs have more than $100 million coming off their payroll, a glaring need for an ace, and the added incentive of knowing their neighbors to the north, the rival Brewers, just won the World Series.

All of which I believe will add up to them outbidding the Mets, the Dodgers, and anybody else who pursues Skubal, even if it means going to eight years at $45 million or so per season.

Cohen, of course, will only be outbid if he chooses to draw a line on what he’ll pay, but I believe Stearns will convince him to do just that.

In Week 8, they host the 3-4 Las Vegas Raiders, in a game where both teams will be hoping to right the ship.

Here are the main storylines to watch…

Redemption time for Geno Smith?

Smith will face the team he played for last season. On the face of it, this sets up a classic storyline about a player wanting to defeat his former employer, perhaps because he feels they set him up to fail, or because they traded him away in the offseason.

However, this game could set up a different redemption arc involving Smith. The veteran wore out his welcome with Raiders fans, who were disappointed with his play, and reacted badly to him making an obscene gesture towards a fan who was criticizing him last November.

Raiders fans would therefore love to see Las Vegas get one over on Smith and his new team. There could feasibly be Raiders players who have added motivation for similar reasons, too.

Fernando Mendoza bides his time

When the schedule was announced, some may have circled this game as an opportunity for Jets fans to see what they missed out on in April when the Raiders drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza ahead of the Jets with the No. 1 pick.

However, Mendoza remains on the bench, as veteran Kirk Cousins has led the league's number four passing offense and thrown a league-high 16 touchdowns.

The story doesn't necessarily have to end there, though. All it would take is an injury or a downturn from Cousins and we could end up getting our first extended look at Mendoza after all.

Protecting the football

The Raiders have been one of the better teams at forcing turnovers this season, and they are facing a Jets team that just threw their first two interceptions of the season over the past two games.

Two players in particular stand out as potentially dangerous, so the Jets should be particularly wary of them. One is rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses, who has a league-high three interceptions. The other is linebacker Nakobe Dean, who is tied for the league lead with three forced fumbles and also has an interception.

Red zone woes for both teams

The Jets' red zone issues have been well documented. In Week 7, they were better in these situations as they scored three red zone touchdowns -- their first since the Lions game in Week 3. However, their inability to punch the ball in from the one-yard line in the fourth quarter was one of the main things that cost them Sunday's game.

They are not alone in struggling in this area. The Raiders have had the second-highest number of red zone trips in the league but are 29th in conversion percentage. They had one touchdown in five red zone trips in last week's loss to the Rams.

In addition, they gave up a touchdown on all five of the Rams' red zone trips, so their red zone defense has been vulnerable. These issues are the main reason Las Vegas has lost four in a row since an improbable 3-0 start.

Building the offense around Garrett Wilson

Sunday was the second game in a row where Wilson didn't see enough of the ball on offense for the Jets. That comes after he had over 100 yards and a touchdown in their most recent win over the Browns.

Clearly, the Jets need to ensure they are optimizing their offense by making the most of Wilson's abilities. They shouldn't need to get too creative or force the ball to Wilson, but they should seek ways to use their alignment to isolate him in one-on-one situations where targeting him should be a high-percentage option.

It's also worth noting that AD Mitchell and Kenyon Sadiq only had one catch between them against Miami, so Smith has a lot of mouths to feed.

But the trade market could be percolating, too. 

Shortly after spinning a handful of trade deadline deals this past summer, bringing in a bevy of intriguing prospects while bolstering the Mets' farm system, head of baseball operations David Stearns was not shy about the possibility that some of those recently-acquired prospects could be quickly turned around as part of other deals that help New York.

That doesn't mean the Mets are in a rush to trade any of them, but the infusion of talent into their system likely makes it easier to swing an impact trade or two. 

And given New York's plethora of infield options who are close to the majors (including Jefferson Rojas, Mitch Voit, and Émilien Pitre), it's not outlandish to think Stearns could deal from that relative glut in an effort to improve the team elsewhere -- perhaps in the starting rotation. 

With offseason moving and shaking beginning soon, there's every reason to believe there will be a free agent and trade frenzy over the next month with the lockout looming on Dec. 1 when the CBA expires. So the Mets, and every other team, could be in a race to that theoretical deadline.

Here are the five players the Mets should have highest on their list of trade targets, ranked:

5. Hunter Brown, RHP

Brown is at No. 5 instead of the very top of this list simply because the Astros don't have to be in a rush to trade him. Set to enter his age-28 season in 2027, Brown is under team control via arbitration for two more years. And he's still very inexpensive, expected to make roughly $8 million next season.

But while the Astros can take their time if they so choose, there are a few reasons why dealing Brown this offseason could make sense.

For one, Houston is in a period of transition, currently searching for replacements for outgoing GM Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada. Meanwhile, despite winning the putrid AL West in 2026 with a record of 81-81, the arrow is pointing down for the Astros. Jeremy Peña will be a free agent after 2027, Yordan Alvarez will be a free agent after 2028, the high-priced Carlos Correa can't stay healthy, and Jose Altuve (who will turn 37 years old next May) seems to be running out of gas.

There's also the fact that (with the exception of Altuve) Houston has typically been unable or unwilling to extend its stars, as was the case relatively recently with Gerrit Cole and George Springer, who both walked as free agents. 

Adding all of that up, it could be smart for Houston to start retooling for the future. 

And if the Astros decide to dangle Brown, who has emerged as a legitimate frontline starter over the last three seasons, the Mets should race to the phone. 

4. Joe Ryan, RHP

Ryan was a buzzy name attached to the Mets last offseason, and could be again this time around.

With Ryan almost certainly set to depart Minnesota via free agency after 2027 (there is a mutual option for 2028 worth $13 million that he would likely only accept if his season is derailed by injury or poor performance), it would behoove the Twins to trade him this offseason.

One thing to note, though, is that the Twins actually became buyers at the 2026 deadline even though they were under .500 (56-57) and 4.0 games back in the mediocre AL Central on Aug. 3. So it's possible they simply roll the dice again in a still-underwhelming division and try to win. 

If they don't, Ryan -- who has a 3.79 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9 rate across six big league seasons -- could be one of the most intriguing names on the trade market.

For the Mets, he would be a strong fit in the middle of a rotation that is expected to include Nolan McLean and Christian Scott, and could feature a legitimate ace at the top -- with a Skubal signing a possibility. 

3. George Kirby, RHP

When you look at the Mariners' starting rotation depth chart, which features Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, Kade Anderson, Bryce Miller, and Emerson Hancock, it makes sense why people are looking at Seattle as a potentially big player on the trade market this winter.

As far as Kirby, he has backslid a bit since putting up very strong seasons from 2022 to 2024 in what were his first three years in the league. In 2026, while posting a career-worst 4.33 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, the value of Kirby's stuff also regressed in a big way. But it wasn't due to a loss in velocity, as Kirby's four-seam fastball averaged a career-high 96.7 mph. It also seemingly wasn't an issue with his extension off the mound (something that hampered Freddy Peralta during his time with the Mets).

Kirby's elite command (his walk rates in 2023 and 2024 were 0.9 and 1.1, respectively) has also become simply very good. 

But the tools are still there for Kirby, who will earn roughly $10 million in 2027 via arbitration and is under team control through 2028. 

An undeniable plus is that Kirby is a New York native who grew up in Rye, so he wouldn't be overwhelmed by the market. 

2. Drew Rasmussen, RHP

The Rays hold a $20 million option on Rasmussen for the 2027 season, but Tampa has typically traded their higher-priced players ahead of free agency -- as they did recently with Tyler Glasnow and Brandon Lowe. So they could theoretically pick up Rasmussen's option and then deal him. 

Perhaps their run to the World Series changes the calculus with Rasmussen. If it doesn't, he would be one of the most sought-after pitchers available.

There will always be some lingering concern about Rasmussen's health given that he has had multiple serious elbow surgeries, including an internal brace procedure that kept him out for most of 2023 and 2024.

But when Rasmussen is healthy, he's one of the best pitchers in the sport. And he's been healthy the last two seasons, throwing a combined 322 regular season innings for the Rays while posting a 2.71 ERA and 0.96 WHIP while striking out 301 batters and allowing just 241 hits.

Rasmussen, who will be entering his age-31 season in 2027, would give the Mets a true ace to slide in atop their rotation.

1. Logan Gilbert, RHP

Yes, every top target is a starting pitcher. 

With Gilbert set for free agency after the 2027 season, it's possible the Mariners are more motivated to move him than Kirby.

Gilbert, 29, has been an inning-eating machine for Seattle, tossing 185.2 or more innings four of the last five seasons.

In 2026, he posted a 3.73 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while striking out 205 batters and allowing only 153 hits across 186 innings spanning 32 starts. His advanced metrics were also mostly in the red, including xERA, xBA, chase percentage, and extension.

Like Kirby, Gilbert's arsenal is expansive, though he is especially reliant on his four-seam fastball and slider.

Gilbert might not have quite the upside of Rasmussen, but could be a safer bet due to his mostly clean injury history.

Schaefer beat goalie Jesper Wallstedt from the right circle on a break.

Schaefer also had an assist, Bo Horvat scored a power-play goal and Adam Pelech also connected for for New York. Ilya Sorokin made 22 saves.

Joel Eriksson Ek, Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy scored for Central Division-leading Minnesota, with Boldy tying it at 3 with 3:53 left in regulation.

Wallstedt stopped 22 shots.

The Islanders won their second straight to improve to 7-4-2. The Wild dropped to 9-3-3. They had won three in a row.

Up next

Islanders: Host Edmonton on Saturday.

Wild: At Washington on Sunday.

But while the Mets have expected for several weeks now that Bichette would be back, his return nevertheless qualifies as crucial to their offseason. With Bichette, the Mets lineup in 2027 will include all the key components of a group that posted the fifth-best OPS in the majors after Aug. 1… even with Juan Soto injured for part of that time.

The top of the order looked versatile and energetic when Francisco Lindor was healthy and leading off and Soto was healthy and hitting second and Bichette was behind them, putting the ball in play with Carson Benge there to drive everyone in. Bichette’s return means the Mets can build on the offense they unearthed late last season, rather than having to reconfigure it.

But because Bichette’s decision was not a surprise, expectations for the Mets season should not pivot because of it. They still need, and plan to pursue, starting pitching. They will still explore options to upgrade offensively at first base, though exactly how high they will aim – and how much money or prospect capital they are willing to spend there – remains unclear.

And they still seem likely to give one of their infield prospects a chance somewhere in the majors next season. With Bichette back, the most obvious place for a prospect to elbow in would be second, though because Bichette has also played second base, the Mets could make room for a prospect at third.

Still, Stearns’ affinity for defensive versatility does not necessarily mean the Mets could not acquire a third baseman not yet imagined. The surest thing for the Mets next year would be to pencil Bichette in at third, then find a proven offensive producer at second base instead of relying on some combination of Marcus Semien, Brett Baty, and/or a prospect. But if the market yielded a proven third baseman, the Mets could theoretically also acquire one of those, move Bichette to second and figure out what to do with Semien and Baty later. Internally, the Mets felt their defense did improve last year, even with Bichette, Baty, and others at new positions.

At this moment, however, the Mets seem perfectly willing to believe in their in-house options at second base: After watching what Benge and A.J. Ewing did after being called up last year, one can forgive the Mets' optimism about what Jefferson Rojas, Émilien Pitre, or Mitch Voit could do upon arrival.

Speaking of Benge and Ewing, Bichette’s return will impact the Mets’ lineup through them as well: Bichette, their de facto older brother and alleged batting practice fashion inspiration, will be back to help them navigate the toughest thing they have had to navigate so far: Year two.

To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, New York designated outfielder Cristian Pache, who played in 15 games for the Mets last season, for assignment.

Paris played in just eight games with the Halos in 2026 after appearing in 44 games the year before, where he hit six home runs in 126 at-bats. The youngster also added four doubles, one triple, seven steals, and 20 runs scored to give him 0.8 WAR as a reserve player. 

About to turn 25 years old in November, Paris had spent his entire four-year career in Los Angeles, slashing .147/.238/.272 in a super utility role. In 88 career games (72 starts), Paris has played second base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions, although the infield is where he's the best defensively.

Paris has spent the majority of his career in the minors, splitting time last season between Double-A and Triple-A. Despite a lackluster performance in Double-A, Paris shined in 62 games for Triple-A, where he slashed .307/.427/.554 and showed off his power and speed with 31 extra-base hits, a .981 OPS, and 16 steals.

In 455 career games in the minors, Paris has hit .243 with a .779 OPS and 150 steals.

As for Pache, he joined the Mets last offseason on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training before eventually signing a one-year deal worth $850,000. The soon-to-be-28-year-old fought for the club's fourth outfield spot in spring training and despite a solid showing, Pache began the season in the minors.

After making his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2020, Pache has been a journeyman and has played for six different organizations. He's never been able to produce consistently at the plate and even struggled across 93 games with Triple-A Syracuse this season.

The outfielder was called up by the Mets in early August for depth and went 1-for-8 at the plate.

New York's move will make Dadiet an unrestricted free agent next June and create salary space heading into the 2027-28 season.

Dadiet, who was selected 25th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, has been unable to carve out playing time with the Knicks since he arrived. The French national appeared in 18 games his rookie season, where he averaged 1.7 points on 32 percent shooting. He averaged the same amount of points on 33 percent shooting across 29 games last season.

This season, the 21-year-old has appeared in one game, grabbing one board in his one minute on the court. 

The second-year back criticized the Jets' run defense Wednesday, even going as far as suggesting some Jets players don't want to make tackles.

"Yeah. I think we can definitely get the run game going. Get back on track," Jeanty said. "Just really get after these guys. A couple guys out there that don't really want to tackle, but I'm not going to say names."

Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker said during his media availability Thursday that he was aware of Jeanty's comments, but played it coy when asked for his thoughts.

"I got plenty of confidence in our guys," Duker said with a smile.

Duker said he hadn't shown the players the comments, but is just as confident that his defense has already seen them, saying, "I’m sure they’re aware. Those guys know what’s going on." 

“Whenever our name is brought up, whether it be by an opponent or past opponent, it catches our eye," Minkah Fitzpatrick said after Thursday's practice. "But the way I operate, I give 110 percent effort no matter who I’m playing against, no matter what they said. Obviously, some things can add more fuel to the fire, but at the end of the day, I gotta go out there and do my job. And most of the guys in that locker room operate in that same fashion."

"As a defense as a whole, our best football is ahead of us. And we’re looking forward to putting that on display," Demario Davis said. “It's called bulletin board material. Nothing other than that. I'm big on, the game is played inside the white lines. It’s as simple as that."

Following their Week 7 loss to the Dolphins, the Jets' defense, while ranked ninth overall in the NFL, is just 24th in stopping the run. Against a winless Dolphins team, the Jets allowed 28 points, with Miami putting up 156 rushing yards on 41 carries, including a career-best 103 yards by second-year back Ollie Gordon. 

"This past game, there were a couple of technique things I wasn’t happy with," Duker said of his run defense. "I would keep more schematically-specific for how we fit runs that I felt like we weren’t great at this week. Look forward to doing a better job of that this week." 

Duker added that he'd like the run defense to be better: "There’s certainly room for improvement. I’m always going to want more in that area, as well. That’s how I feel about it." 

Following his 102-yard performance in Week 1, Jeanty has not hit 60 yards in any of his last six games, including rushing for just 15 yards on eight carries in the Raiders' loss to the Rams. 

Gang Green (2-5) is looking to keep their season alive, and holding Jeanty in check could help lead to a much-needed win this week.

Jets DC Brian Duker saw Ashton Jeanty's comments about facing the Jets Duker: "I've got plenty of confidence in our guys" https://t.co/LPvu2BXU2q

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) October 29, 2026

Murphy, while predicting to Bauers that he's about to cash in via free agency, also took a swipe at the Yankees.

"You're gonna be a rich fu--er," Murphy said. “Just remember when you were on that horses--t Yankees team, you guys were all playing for yourself? Just remember, say, 'this is the way we used to do it.'"

Murphy was alluding to the 2023 Yankees team that Bauers was a part of, with him posting a .693 OPS in 218 plate appearances over 85 games. That Yankees club finished 82-80 and missed the playoffs.

The Yanks, despite reaching the World Series in 2024 and being almost perennial contenders recently, have been an easy target for opposing teams.

After their loss to Los Angeles in the 2024 World Series, Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly ripped them a few days after. 

"Look at the team, look at the talent," Kelly said. "We go through numerous scouting reports. We pay attention to every single detail. We have a lot of big superstars in our clubhouse, but our superstars also care and aren't lazy and play hard. That's the difference, and the biggest separator."

Right after the World Series ended, as the Dodgers were celebrating on the field at Yankee Stadium, Kelly had criticized New York's poor defense.

"They got bad ball. Yeah, sloppy. Everyone knows that," he said. "We were saying every single game. 'Just let them throw the ball into the infield, they can’t make a play.' You saw Shohei get an extra base going to third off a sloppy Gleyber play. It’s well known. We all knew."

Since their run to the World Series in 2024, the Yanks have been knocked out in the ALDS in consecutive seasons -- by the Blue Jays in 2025 and Rays in 2026. 

Part of what has done the Yankees in over the last three postseasons is shoddy defense and poor fundamentals, as well as an offense that is too reliant on home runs. 

Speaking a few weeks after their 2026 campaign came to a close, owner Hal Steinbrenner pinned most of the blame on the position players.

"I don't think you can pin the season and the unacceptable end to it on Aaron [Boone]. I don't think you can pin it on Brian [Cashman]," Steinbrenner said. "I was disappointed, quite frankly, with the offense throughout the course of the year…as a whole, they were very inconsistent when it came to run scoring. And that made it difficult to catch the Rays and win the division. Winning the division is a big deal in this playoff format. This has been twice now that the offense has not lived up to their end of the bargain."

However, with most of the starting positions on the 2027 roster locked in, where can the Yanks look to improve? The bench needs a boost, and there are still questions surrounding second base and third base.

Not to mention the annual bullpen rebuild New York has become known for. 

While the Yanks should be looking to bring back some of their own free agents, like David Bednar and Paul Blackburn, we'll make this list more interesting by including only players who were not in pinstripes this past season, starting with the bullpen, then catcher and finally the infield.

Raisel Iglesias

The Braves' closer for the last four seasons, Iglesias would make a great Bednar replacement if he were to get away.

Despite putting up 30-plus saves every season as Atlanta's closer, he was a first-time All-Star in 2026 while pitching to a 2.55 ERA -- his third sub-3.00 ERA in the last four seasons -- with 34 saves and a 1.08 WHIP. 

The 36-year-old did miss some time this past season with shoulder inflammation, which isn't great, but he finished strong, helping the Braves win the NL East and make it to the NLDS. 

Adrian Morejon

The name seemingly on every team's lips. Morejon has dominated in his time with the Padres, especially most recently setting up for Mason Miller.

Morejon pitched his third consecutive season with a sub-3.00 ERA and while he wasn't as unhittable as he was in his lone All-Star season in 2025, he had a career-high in strikeouts (107) and in K/9 (11.2). 

With Brent Headrick already in the bullpen, Morejon would be a luxury as a southpaw, but would serve nicely as the setup man for whoever closes for the Bombers in 2027 and beyond. 

Alex Vesia

A pursuit of Vesia should not be impacted by potential pursuits of Blackburn and Bednar. 

Tim Hill, the once lockdown lefty specialist in the 'pen, is going to hit the market and Vesia would be an upgrade. Vesia pitched to a 2.64 ERA and struck out 74 batters across 58 innings for the Dodgers in 2026. The one bugaboo about him is his walk rate, as he averaged five walks per nine in 2026 and has a career walk rate of 4.3 per nine. 

But the Yankees could perhaps overlook it, especially if you consider his postseason numbers. Vesia pitched 3.1 scoreless innings this postseason and was dominant in 2024, allowing just two hits and two walks across 5.2 scoreless innings, en route to a World Series title over the Yankees. 

Pete Fairbanks

This would be a reclamation project. Fairbanks had a down 2026 with the Marlins, pitching to a 6.31 ERA (4.42 xERA) and a 1.35 WHIP after a magnificent 2025 with the Rays, when he locked down 27 saves and pitching to a 2.83 ERA. 

The right-hander was also injured, missing a few weeks due to a shoulder issue, but he should be looking for a prove-it, one-year deal and the Yankees could use him after the departures and question marks surrounding some of their relievers. 

Fairbanks' velocity was still in the 90th percentile per Baseball Savant, and he struck out batters at a 31.1 percent clip, so the stuff is there -- he just needs to execute. His 11.5 percent walk rate was his highest since 2020.

Tyler Stephenson

The former first-round pick of the Reds is heading to free agency. While Cincinnati could extend the qualifying offer, the Yankees should still do their due diligence and see if Stephenson would be right for their club.

Stephenson's overall offensive numbers have declined, but he is still elite when he barrels up the ball. In 2026, he was in the 82nd percentile in barrel percentage, 80th in exit velocity and 71st in hard-hit percentage. 

The 30-year-old is a good blocker behind the plate, but he isn't great at framing or holding runners on. It may be a necessary trade-off to get a competent bat. 

Ryan Jeffers

The biggest name among the free agent catchers, the Yankees looked into acquiring Jeffers at the deadline, but the Twins weren't willing to trade him. Now with Jeffers on the market, the Yanks can pursue Jeffers to bring that pop from the right side.

Although Jeffers, like Stephenson, isn't the strongest behind the plate, the offense is a must. If the Yankees can get him at a reasonable deal, it would be worth it. 

Alec Bohm

Made the pitch in our third base candidates list, but Bohm gives the Yankees a right-handed bat to play the hot corner on most days -- with McMahon coming in for late-game situations for defense -- and could replace Paul Goldschmidt, who is also a free agent, as the right-handed first base option. 

Bohm is durable, playing in at least 140 games in four of his last five seasons, and has been solid at the plate. He's one of only seven right-handed hitters to drive in at least 85 runs in three of the past four seasons. 

While his defense leaves a lot to be desired (-11 OAA playing third and first in 2026), it may be a worthy sacrifice to round out the lineup.

Eugenio Suarez

Another third base candidate from our list, Suarez could be the power option the Yankees could grab on the cheap after the veteran had a down season with the Reds.

Suarez's 2026 was so down that no team wanted him when he was put on waivers toward the end of the season. Perhaps that can motivate Suarez to recapture some of his prolific power. Suarez hit 26 bombs a season after smashing 49, but slashed .212/.307/.433 with an OPS of .740. It could be worth the risk for the Yanks if the money is right.

Like Bohm, Suarez's defensive metrics are not great. He played 50 games at third base in 2026 and had -7 OAA. His arm strength is also in the bottom 25 percent in the league, so a straight platoon with McMahon would be a must.

Luis Arraez

Speaking of players who can round out a lineup, Arraez is a hit machine, one the Yankees can surely use.

Arraez has improved defensively at second base, so that would be the only worthwhile position for him, so admittedly, this would be a luxury signing. His left-handed bat would replace Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s, but his market could be more robust than in years past. 

If the Yanks can swing a one-year deal for Arraez's services, it can change the lineup and even influence other hitters to be more contact-oriented.

Brandon Lowe

Lowe was arguably one of the best acquisitions last offseason. Coming from the Rays after an All-Star 2025 season, the veteran infielder helped the Pirates become one of the more prolific offenses in baseball in 2026.

Now a free agent, Lowe could be the low-key steal of the offseason for the Yankees. 

His offensive numbers were better across the board from his All-Star season, as he slashed .260/.331/.493 (.824 OPS) to go along with his 35 home runs and 96 RBI. And his defense is pretty solid at second base. He posted a career-best +12 OAA, playing 138 games at second in 2026. While not as athletically gifted as Chisholm, he has proven he can handle the position. 

Lowe's career splits against left-handers (.220/.274/.410) are similar to Chisholm's, so the same pitfalls that made the Yankees susceptible to southpaws are there. But it could be worth it for the production Lowe brings, especially if they feel Luis Garcia Jr. isn't a fit to play second base. 

If the Mets pursue a full-time first baseman, the selection will be limited. But it's possible the biggest noise by New York this offseason will be made with starting pitching additions -- whether they come via free agency, trade, or both.

On the free agent market, one of the best starting pitchers in recent memory is available. There are also a handful of strong rotation anchors a tier below that, and plenty of middle of the rotation starters as well.

There are some high-upside relievers available, too, and the Mets could certainly use one of them.

With free agency set to begin soon, there's every reason to believe there will be a spending frenzy over the next month with the lockout looming on Dec. 1 when the CBA expires. So the Mets, and every other team, could be in a race to that theoretical deadline.

Here are the 10 players the Mets should have highest on their list of targets, ranked:

10. Bryan Abreu, RHP

Abreu has been a stalwart in the Astros' bullpen since 2022, with a 2.56 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 12.4 strikeouts per nine over 344.1 innings. In addition to generating strikeouts at a huge clip, Abreu has been adept at limiting hits, with a H/9 of 6.8 or better each of the last five seasons.

Walks were an issue for Abreu in 2026, but that might have been a one-year blip given his steady walk rates in recent seasons.

9. Alex Vesia, LHP

With Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter set for free agency after this season, the Mets traded both of them ahead of the deadline as part of their bigger summer sell-off. Once Raley and Minter were gone, left-hander Nate Lavender made his MLB debut and excelled, showing that he deserves a spot in the 2027 bullpen. But New York should be seeking another left-hander to pair with him.

To that end, Vesia -- who has spent the last six years dominating for the Dodgers -- would be a strong fit. Vesia will be entering his age-31 season in 2027 and is coming off a year where he posted a 2.64 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while continuing to miss bats at an elite rate. In addition to his effectiveness, Vesia has been extremely durable, pitching in 56 games or more five seasons in a row, including a career-high 72 appearances in 2026. 

8. Ty France, 1B

As is noted above, the group of position player free agents is not terribly strong. That includes the first base options, which feature some platoon guys (Paul Goldschmidt among them) and two players who are coming off late-career breakouts. One of them is Jake Bauers, who had a .675 OPS in eight seasons as a part-time player before erupting to smack 26 homers with an .874 OPS this season for the Brewers. The other player who had a breakout is France.

Unlike Bauers, France had excelled in a regular role before, from 2020 to 2022 with the Padres and Mariners. Following a few down seasons offensively, France slashed .295/.363/.502 (.865 OPS) in 133 games in 2026. France, who won the Gold Glove award at first base in 2025, continued to excel defensively this season, landing in the 93rd percentile in OAA.

France also hits from the right side of the plate, which could be a plus for a lefty-heavy Mets lineup that includes Juan Soto, Carson Benge, and A.J. Ewing as key cogs.

7. Jonathan Loaisiga, RHP

After becoming one of the key pieces  in the Yankees' bullpen, Loaisiga's seasons in 2023 and 2024 were seriously impacted because of Tommy John surgery. He returned for the Yanks in 2025, but didn't round back into form until this past season.

In 67.0 innings for the Diamondbacks in 2026, Loaisiga had a 2.42 ERA (2.88 FIP) and 1.03 WHIP while allowing just three homers all year and walking a minuscule 1.7 batters per nine. Loaisiga relies mainly on a sinker that averages a tick under 98 mph and a changeup that averages 91 mph. He doesn't strike out a lot of batters, but is phenomenal when it comes to limiting hard contact and generating ground balls.

In 2026, Loaisiga was in the 93rd percentile or better in average exit velocity allowed, chase percentage, barrel percentage, hard-hit percentage, and ground ball percentage.

6. Kevin Gausman, RHP

After back-to-back seasons where the Mets were done in mainly because they ran out of reliable starting pitchers, they should be aiming to add two legitimate starters this offseason, as well as additional rotation depth.

One of those two main rotation adds should be an ace, with the other filling more of a mid-rotation role -- something that Gausman profiles in at this point of his career. Gausman's ERA was a tick high in 2026 (4.51), but his FIP (3.74), WHIP (1.27), walk rate (2.4 per nine), and strikeout rate (9.3 per nine) indicate he's still a quality starter. He is also one of the most reliable pitchers in the majors, having pitched 174.2 innings or more six seasons in a row.

Ahead of his age-36 season, Gausman -- who has hinted at retiring soon -- could possibly be had on a one-year deal.

5. Clay Holmes, RHP

Holmes is one of David Stearns' biggest free agent hits, with him excelling in the rotation after the Mets signed him and transitioned him back to being a starting pitcher. Before he was traded to the Cubs at the deadline in the deal that brought top infield prospect Jefferson Rojas to New York, Holmes was viewed as one of the clubhouse leaders.

Given Holmes' ability, clubhouse presence, and familiarity with the New York market, it should be a no-brainer for the Mets to consider a reunion -- something SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes recently reported Holmes would be open to.

Since Holmes is about to enter his age-34 season, it's possible he can be snagged on a two- or three-year deal.

4. Michael King, RHP

It feels likely that King will opt out of the final two years of his deal with the Padres and attempt to cash in this winter -- something that would be wise coming off a huge 2026 season.

In 32 starts over a career-high 185.0 innings, King had a 3.21 ERA and 1.17 WHIP while allowing just 148 hits. King's strikeout rate was down this past season, but his stuff -- a five-pitch mix that includes a sinker, changeup, and sweeper -- graded out near the top of the sport.

There have been some serious injury issues during King's career, including a thoracic nerve issue that impacted him in 2025, but he was healthy for all of 2026. And a healthy King is a top of the rotation starter.

Another plus is that King grew up in the Northeast and has familiarity with the New York market, having played with the Yankees from 2019 to 2023. 

3. Adrian Morejon, LHP

The Mets' bullpen situation is solid, but there are huge questions at the back end given Devin Williams' mediocre 2026 (and 2025) and the uncertainty surrounding Kodai Senga's role and future.

But even if the Mets are confident Williams will bounce back and envision Senga back in the bullpen, they should still be attempting to bring in a dominant force to close -- or to at the very least step in for Williams if it's deemed he's best suited for a setup role.

Enter Morejon, who will be in his age-28 season in 2027 and has been pretty much injury-free since 2023. Over the last three years, Morejon has a 2.58 ERA (2.46 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP in 223.1 innings while striking out 248 (a rate of 10.0 per nine). In 2026, Morejon was in the 90th percentile or better in hard-hit percentage, xERA, average exit velocity against, xBA, fastball velocity, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, barrel percentage, and ground ball percentage.

One downside here is that Morejon will almost certainly be saddled with the qualifying offer.

2. Teruaki Sato, INF/OF

Speaking shortly after the season ended, Stearns said the expectation was that the team would look externally for first base help.

Whether that means a platoon partner to share time with Jared Young or someone who profiles as a full-time player remains to be seen. But if the Mets are searching for a regular first baseman whose presence would slide Young to a bench role (they should be), Sato would be the most logical choice.

The Mets haven't made a splash with a Japanese position player since they signed Kaz Matsui ahead of the 2004 season, and the club didn't seem terribly interested in either Munetaka Murakami or Kazuma Okamoto last offseason. So a strong pursuit of Sato would be a bit of a surprise. But that doesn't mean it wouldn't make sense.

Primarily a third baseman in Japan, the belief of many experts is that Sato profiles as a first baseman in the majors. And he has thunder in his bat, having won the Central League MVP in 2025 and the Triple Crown in 2026. In 143 games this past season for the Hanshin Tigers, Sato hit .306/.383/.609 with 39 home runs, 40 doubles, 100 runs scored, and 106 RBI.

There are some strikeout concerns with Sato, but his upside is sky high, the Mets have a glaring need at first base, and it's time for them to take a swing.

1. Tarik Skubal, LHP

Surprised?

With a young starting staff that includes Nolan McLean and Christian Scott, and could also feature Zac Thornton and eventually Jonathan Santucci, the Mets need a finishing piece -- a true ace who slides in at the top of the rotation. Skubal should be that guy.

And it can be argued that the stars are aligning for Skubal to the Mets.

There's the aforementioned need, the fact that Skubal won't be attached to a qualifying offer, the fact that the Mets have a huge chunk of money coming off their payroll after 2027, and the likelihood that there will not be another starting pitcher like this hitting the free agent market until after 2029 -- when Paul Skenes could theoretically be available.

Put that all together and the question becomes this: If Stearns isn't willing to make an exception for Skubal, it's fair to wonder if the Stearns-led Mets will ever bend their philosophy when it comes to megadeals for "older" starting pitchers. And if they don't, they'll continue to be left out in the cold.

He missed three of his first four shots against the Bulls. At that moment, he was shooting 36 percent (31-for-86) on the season and 19 percent (4-for-21) from beyond the arc.

If you were getting a little antsy in the opening minutes on Wednesday, Brunson probably put you at ease over the course of the night.

The 2026 NBA Finals MVP hit six of his next nine three-pointers (12-for-21 overall) to help New York rebound from a 19-point third quarter deficit and take the second game of a back-to-back.

He finished with a season-high 38 points, seven assists, and two steals in New York’s first road win of the year.

The Knicks shot a season-high 46 percent from three and 45 percent overall in the comeback win.

They looked like the potent offense that emerged late last regular season and then again in Game 4 of their first-round series win over the Hawks.

For what it’s worth, Mike Brown was not panicked at all about his team’s shooting.

"The biggest thing is: are we getting good shots from the right people? Watching the film and watching the game, I think we are," Brown said before the Knicks’ win over Detroit on Tuesday. "We’ve had some pretty good looks from the right people at the right time that normally go in so I want them to keep shooting."

After a slow start, Brunson and his teammates certainly kept shooting -- and shooting well -- on Wednesday night.

The difference for New York in the past two games has been taking care of the minor details on both ends of the floor.

"(We’ve got to) focus on the little things until we get our rhythm. Once we get a rhythm, continue to do the little things. It' a big point of emphasis right no,  our attention to detail."

They executed enough of the little things and big things to leave Chicago with a win. Next up? Friday night in Philadelphia.

BROWN EXPERIMENTING

If you see a lineup this season that you haven’t seen the last two years, don’t get alarmed. That’s Mike Brown’s way of stress-testing some ideas.

"There’s some things that I’m looking at or messing with that may or may not stay the same," Brown said. "That’s part of what you’re trying to do to figure out what’s best for your team long term."

One example? Brown played lineups with Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench in the first two games. Brown abandoned that idea. But don’t be surprised if you see a few non-traditional lineups over the next couple of weeks as Brown gets a feel for this year’s version of the team.

TYLER TIME

Tyler Kolek has moved the ball well during Jose Alvarado’s absence.

Alvarado missed his third straight game due to an ankle injury. Kolek played well, finishing with nine assists and zero turnovers. He has 21 assists and zero turnovers over the last three games. If you’re wondering what Brown expects of Kolek, the coach laid it all out on Tuesday:

"He’s gotta run the team. What I mean by that is, when you watch our games, when he goes on the floor, people get up into his chest when he’s trying to run our offense. He can’t get off the ball too early, if it’s just one guy," Brown explained. "He’s gotta be able to go by that guy and get the guy off-balance and bring it back out and set our offense up and/or get by and make a play in the paint. He can’t let pressure bother him or disrupt our offense at all. 

"And then defensively, he’s gotta be a pest. He’s gotta be nasty, not anything illegal or anything like that, just a guy that people wanna say ‘get off me, get off me,’ because he’s more than capable of doing that. He’s gotta play with some sort of force, particularly for his size."

Whether or not Kolek checked those boxes is open to interpretation. But, objectively speaking, Kolek has made some great reads with the ball -- and protected it. 

Kolek wasn't the only Knick to thrive off the bench Wednesday. Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson combined for 32 points on 12-for-21 shooting. New York outscored Chicago by 13 with either Shamet or Clarkson on the floor Wednesday.

Kadri gave Colorado a 2-1 lead at 2:45, and Kelly followed at 3:47. Nathan MacKinnon added his eighth goal of the season with eight minutes remaining, and Jaden Schwartz connected 30 seconds later.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 20 saves to help Colorado improve to 7-5-1.

Connor Brown scored twice for New Jersey.

Brown had a short-handed goal in the first period, and Gabriel Landeskog tied it on a power play in the second.

Jake Allen stopped 39 shots for the Devils. They are 8-5-0.

Up next

Devils: At Vegas on Friday night.

Avalanche: Host Calgary on Saturday night.

New York was down to the Bulls, 62-56, at halftime and found themselves trailing by as many as 19 points in the third quarter.

That was until Jordan Clarkson and the bench caught fire.

Clarkson scored 18 points in just 17 minutes, including 12 points in the fourth quarter to help pull off the comeback win, 133-127. He also had two steals on defense, three rebounds (two offensive), an assist, and finished with a game-high plus-15 plus/minus in the six-point victory. 

It was a season-high in points and minutes for the former Sixth Man of the Year, who has played sparingly so far this season (16 total minutes over three games prior to Wednesday night).

Although Clarkson didn't do it alone. 

Landry Shamet shook off a rolled ankle and scored 14 points, going 4-for-7 from three, over 32 minutes. Tyler Kolek was just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine assists (zero turnovers) in 18 minutes. Combined, Clarkson, Shamet and Kolek scored 41 points in a night that Mikal Bridges logged only 13 minutes with three points.

After the win, head coach Mike Brown praised Clarkson's and the bench's effort for stepping up when they needed.

"We got a lot of contributions from all across the board. I thought our bench was fantastic," Brown said. "Landry came off the bench and had 14 points, 4-for-7 from the three-point line was huge. Andre Drummond came off the bench and had 11 rebounds in 15 minutes. That was huge. Tyler hit three big threes, nine assists in 18 minutes. Zero turnovers; he's just a ball mover. That was huge.

"And obviously our defensive player of the game, Jordan Clarkson. He was big for us. He had been on the shelf for a while. Not only was he big for us offensively, but he had two big steals for us during our run. Our bench was very good for us tonight."

New York has now won two straight after a 0-3 start and will look to keep up the momentum on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers in their first NBA Cup game of the year.

5 DAYS AFTER WORLD SERIES ENDS: FREE AGENCY BEGINS

Teams have an exclusive five-day negotiating window with their internal free agents. Once that day passes, free agents are free to sign with any club.

NOV. 9-12: GM MEETINGS IN LAS VEGAS

The annual meeting of general managers could be more interesting this time around due to the expectation that a lockout will begin on Dec. 1.

These meetings usually serve as a prelude of sorts to the Winter Meetings, but it's possible that -- due to the likely truncated offseason -- free agent and trade action could already be percolating by the time the GM Meetings begin.  

MID-NOVEMBER: DEADLINE FOR PLAYERS TO ACCEPT OR REJECT QUALIFYING OFFER

Teams have until the fifth day after the World Series ends to extend a qualifying offer to eligible players.

Any player who receives the QO has 10 days to decide whether to accept it or reject it.

If a player accepts, he returns to his current team for the 2027 season.

If a player rejects and signs elsewhere, his former team receives draft pick compensation.

NOV. 17-19: OWNERS MEETINGS IN NYC

The Owners Meetings could be especially notable this year given the expectation that there will be a work stoppage when the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires on Dec. 1. 

NOV. 20: NON-TENDER DEADLINE

Players on the 40-man roster who have fewer than six years of major league service time must be tendered a contract each offseason by the non-tender deadline. This includes players who are due raises via arbitration. If a club non-tenders a player, he immediately becomes a free agent.

DEC. 7-10: MLB WINTER MEETINGS

The Winter Meetings are set to take place in Orlando, but there is a giant asterisk next to this one since the lockout is expected to begin on Dec. 1. The same can be said for the MLB Draft Lottery and Rule 5 Draft, which take place at the Winter Meetings. 

DEC. 8: MLB DRAFT LOTTERY

The lottery will determine the order for the 2027 MLB Draft. 

DEC. 9: RULE 5 DRAFT

The Rule 5 Draft takes place at the Winter Meetings, with certain minor leaguers who are not on the 40-man roster available. If a team selects a player, they must keep that player on their 26-man roster (or the IL) for the entire season or be forced to offer him back to the team he was selected from.

FEBRUARY: ARBITRATION FIGURES EXCHANGED

Once a player is offered arbitration, the team and that player's agent have a decent amount of time to come to terms on a new contract. If that doesn't happen, both sides submit salary proposals and the player's salary is determined by independent arbitrators during hearings.

MID-FEBRUARY: SPRING TRAINING BEGINS

Mets and Yankees pitchers and catchers report in mid-February. The first spring training games begin roughly a week after pitchers and catchers arrive in camp.

Sequences looked incredibly familiar for those fans who labored through watching the first few games of New York’s title defense: stagnant offense, turnovers, missed shots, and periods when the other side just looks fresher. 

And in the middle quarters, it was the young Bulls who rampaged past the older Knicks with a 33-13 run to take an 87-68 lead with under five left in the third. That is when a Jalen Brunson-led charge saw the Knicks use a 22-7 run to enter the fourth down by just six.

Three minutes into the fourth, the Knicks had a lead, as the three-point shooting, which had been rather poor earlier, arrived. It was Karl-Anthony Towns, who poured in another double-double, and a trio of bench players who shined as Tyler Kolek, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson

And after the Knicks got the lead in the fourth, Brunson regained his familiar role as the closer, taking over with 13 points down the stretch, stretching the Knicks’ lead to 10 points with a big crossover and three. The game tightened to just a three-point lead, but Josh Hart’s defensive rebound with under 10 seconds to play kept the game secure.

Here are the takeaways...

- Brunson was quiet for much of the game, but then took over midway through the second, knocking in seven straight for the Knicks to give him 11 points on 5-for-10 from the floor in the first. He added another five points in the second. The fourth quarter was all his as he put in his best performance of the season so far.

The best closer in basketball put on a show to finish with 38 points on 13-for-25 shooting (6-for-10 from three) with seven assists and a plus-3 in 35 minutes.

- Towns was in an awkward collision with Bulls forward Noa Essengue and stayed down in pain early in the first quarter. Towns got up holding his left wrist and was soon seen walking into the locker room. KAT would return just under four minutes later with tape around his left hand. The injury didn’t appear to hamper him as he added an old-fashioned three-point play to finish the opening quarter with six points and five rebounds. 

But then the foul trouble happened and limited his contribution for some time. In a span of just a few minutes late in the first and early in the second, he picked up his third personal just over four minutes into the quarter, and he had nine points and 11 rebounds at the half. After five fast points and an assist early in the third, he picked up his fourth and had to spend some more time on the bench.

But the fourth quarter was fine as he finished with 19 points (7-for-14 shooting, 3-for-6 from deep) with 13 rebounds and five assists and was a plus-5 in 28 minutes.

- Shamet sustained an unfortunate turn of the ankle early in the second, and that saw him head to the Knicks' locker room. He finished a dunk, started backing up the court, but got the back of his foot caught on a Bulls player's shoe and turned his right ankle. But, like Towns before him, he was back in the game a few minutes later. 

When the Knicks needed him, he was there, turning it on in the second half as he poured in 14 points (4-for-7 from deep) with five assists to finish a plus-13 in 32 minutes.

- Clarkson, who did not play Tuesday against the Pistons, had six points in five first-half minutes. He added another big three early in the fourth and then added a pair of steals, setting up a Shamet three and a layup of his own to give the Knicks a five-point edge midway through the fourth. 

- Kolek, getting minutes with Jose Alvarado sidelined with an ankle injury, took full advantage, leading several charges down the floor to score nine points (3-for-4 from deep) with nine assists, two rebounds, and was a plus-13 in 18 minutes.

- OG Anunoby started making his imprint early, with five fast points to start the second to give him 11. He finished with 23 points (7-for-16 shooting) and six rebounds, but was a minus-10 in 31 minutes.

- Offense isn't coming to Hart much again, and he had just two points in 17 first-half minutes with three rebounds, two assists, but was a minus-10. And he finished with just the two points on 1-for-6 shooting, but had eight rebounds (three offensive) and three assists and was a minus-2 in 36 minutes.

- Mikal Bridges picked up two fouls early and played just nine first-half minutes with three points on two shots. He was a minus-5 and played just 13 minutes in the game.  

- Miles McBride had a terrible time in the first half with just three points on 1-for-9 shooting (1-for-7 from deep) with three personal fouls and a turnover. He did have five rebounds, a steal, and a block, but was a minus-5 in 14 minutes. He did not feature after the half.

Game MVP: Jordan Clarkson

Yes, this probably should go to Brunson. But the shine should go to a guy who played sparingly in the first four games of the season and was ready to light it up when his name was called. Clarkson finished with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting (2-for-3 from deep) with three rebounds, two steals, an assist, and was a team-high plus-15 in 17 minutes, which was the same number of minutes he had played on the year entering the game.

Highlights

Long-range Jalen 3⃣ https://t.co/aNpZ6J9Wz3

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 29, 2026

Jalen Brunson shows off the smooth footwork 😤 https://t.co/QNiS1s2v8t

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 29, 2026

KAT with the left-handed and-one finish 💪 https://t.co/oT7j7YAw9W

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 29, 2026

Jalen Brunson. Pure. https://t.co/fHqDxxiPQ0

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 29, 2026

TYLER KOLEK TIME. The Knicks are back in it! https://t.co/qvNwdL0dtd

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 29, 2026

JORDAN CLARKSON IMPACT https://t.co/sXINTavizS

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 29, 2026

JORDAN CLARKSON AGAIN! https://t.co/TQEqRDT32P

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 29, 2026

JALEN BRUNSON WITH THE CROSSOVER ON NORMAN POWELL 🔥 https://t.co/bwzVwUEXjc

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 29, 2026

What's next

The Knicks are back in action on Friday night of mischief in the City of Brotherly Love for a 7:30 p.m. tip against the 76ers.

Since Boone is in his last year, who is considered for the manager role in 2028? (And please don’t say they’re drawing Boone a new contract!) – Dyamondphillip on Threads

This is the question I always ask myself when I think about the Yankees moving on from Boone (or even Brian Cashman, for that matter): Who else? 

Certainly, plenty of people would want to run the New York Yankees. But we know that doing so is unlike any other job in sports. The ongoing theory seems to be that running the Yankees requires preexisting understanding of what being a part of the organization is like.

And while Hal Steinbrenner is not as prone to making changes as his father was, managing the Yankees in the age of social media might provide an equivalent stressor: Boone is a constant public punching bag, even when the Yankees are winning. Whatever frustration the public has with that approach, his players respect it and people want to play for the Yankees, in part, because Boone takes the punches for them. So the Yankees need someone who understands the scrutiny, accepts that it is part of the job, and has a deep-rooted plan and personality capable of handling it. I think that list is a lot shorter than it feels sometimes.

Now, if the Yankees are replacing Boone, they are probably looking for someone who does things slightly differently. I would assume maybe a more disciplined approach, whether publicly or behind closed doors, might seem appealing if they have decided Boone’s more player-friendly style is not working.

Who are hard-nosed types with experience who understand what it means to be a Yankee and also want to manage? 

Joe Girardi has already parted ways with this organization once. Alex Cora does not necessarily fit that exact description, and his tendency to speak his mind does not jive with a Yankees front office that is relentlessly buttoned up. Perhaps the Yankees wouldn’t mind that approach if he is still available when it is time to move on from Boone. But he never seemed like the clear-cut fit.

Could a former Yankee fit? Maybe. 

Jorge Posada certainly aired his perspective earlier this week on Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman’s excellent podcast. But he has never managed before, and neither have any of his high-profile late-90s contemporaries. Again, the fit is not obvious.

Certainly, the Yankees could decide someone who hasn’t played for the organization would make sense, as long as they were sure that person could handle all that came with it. Carlos Mendoza is a former Boone bench coach. Luis Rojas has managed in New York before, too. But as Boone disciples, neither would necessarily represent a change in direction.

Obviously, this is all hypothetical, as is the premise of your question. But I do feel that, for all the completely understandable angst around Boone after another playoff failure this year, it is not as easy to replace him with someone who will steer them to the playoffs every year as it might seem. Perhaps that is why the Yankees front office did not prioritize a change ahead of a strange offseason. Perhaps they believe Boone is one of the few people who can handle the job reliably at this unique moment in the history of the franchise.

Is there going to be free agency activity before the lockout? @Buffan1712

Yes. How much? I don’t know. But I would absolutely plan on moves getting made. Last time around, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and others signed massive deals in a flurry before the collective bargaining agreement expired. Certainly, the possibility that this CBA will yield a salary cap might give some teams pause about moving before knowing the rules.

But in talking to people in front offices around the sport, the expectation is that any salary cap would be phased in over many years, rather than be implemented immediately with drastic consequences for those who overshoot its limits. Plus, a cap in any form is no guarantee: The union is vehemently opposed to it. A middle ground of some kind seems like a possible outcome, though no one negotiating could possibly admit that now.

I think some teams will be careful. The Dodgers, for example, might have to have some clarity about the rules before making too many financial commitments simply because they have so many, over so many years, already. The Yankees certainly have their fair share of money committed, too.

Maybe that creates caution in free agency, though frankly, free agency does not necessarily seem like the best way for them to address their needs for a more versatile lineup and some bullpen depth. 

The Mets have enough money coming off the books next year that they likely do not have to wait, either. And remember: the owners talk. Steinbrenner, for example, is on the labor committee. He and others will know what the plan is for negotiations and what they could potentially be looking at in terms of rule changes. And they probably won’t agree to deals or CBA changes that would leave them scrambling when the lockout ends.

Will the World Series matchups and outcome affect the owners' bargaining positions post-2026 season? Will it affect the players association? – jrobelen on Threads

The main impact I think the World Series matchup will have is on public opinion. The owners have been planning to push for the cap for years. They, via their representatives at MLB, have had arguments spun for all scenarios for years, too. The one they will use to address the fact that two small-market teams are in the World Series is as follows: “A small-market team had not won the World Series in over a decade (Kansas City, 2015). Before that? The Marlins in 2003. Is that often enough to constitute true competitive balance?” Again, their argument, not mine.

As for the players association, I do think this World Series will offer some fresh public credibility to the argument they’ve been making all along: That the owners do not care about competitive balance at all, and are instead pushing a cap purely to limit their own expenses and pocket a greater, guaranteed share of revenue so they have more cash in the short term and higher franchise values long-term. Union head Bruce Meyer and his staff have been making that argument for years anyway.

But at its heart, I don’t think this World Series changes much because as it picks apart competitive balance arguments, it exposes the fact that those arguments were never at the heart of these negotiations to begin with.

Obviously, the owners want to make more money. That is their incentive. Obviously, the players association will never want to agree to a salary cap because it limits what their stars can make. That is a huge incentive. So neither side entered these negotiations prioritizing the health of the game, whatever they say to the contrary. They are protecting their right to make money, then trying to frame those arguments in a way that suggests their way is better for the sport.

But remember: The best thing for the sport is not to have a lockout in which players and owners fight over millions of dollars while non-team employees who rely on the sport miss much smaller paychecks and, in some cases, lose jobs. Not to mention the fans who struggle to get by while watching public arguments over millions and billions. The best way to ensure competitive balance is…well, to have competition, not spend the spring arguing in boardrooms.

So no, I don’t think the World Series affects anyone’s positions. If anything, it affects the battle for public opinion, which could matter as time goes on. The owners will push for a cap because it benefits them financially. The players will fight it with all their might because a cap limits their earning power over time. At its heart, this CBA negotiation was never, and will never be, about competitive balance anyway. And I do not think the Brewers or Rays have done anything to change that.

Baseball by June: Agree or Disagree. @lee_w18

Agree. But I have never been less sure of how something will end than I am these negotiations.

"Yeah, I want to be here,” Wilson said on Wednesday. "I want to win games. That's the one thing we've been missing on here. I love it here. Do I love it more than I love winning? Nah, to be completely honest. But I'm hopeful. 

"I’ve never been the best optimistic guy, but I found a way and dug deep, and I’ve been optimistic for three, four, five years now. That’s why these ones each weekend hurt a little more."

Wilson signed a four-year, $130 million extension with the Jets in July 2025.

Despite the rumor mill heating up before the Nov. 10 deadline, Wilson added, "At the end of the day, I got no clue on stuff like that."

He added that while he is not immune to seeing the deadline chatter on social media, he doesn’t let the rumor mill impact his mentality.

"I’m big on… controlling what I can control," Wilson said. "That’s the reality of things when you lose is that stuff like that comes up. And we saw it last year -- we’ve seen it before throughout the history of time.

"My name happens to be flying around in that, but that’s just how the business goes. I try to control what I can control: go out and run good routes, catch the ball when it's thrown my way, have a good impact on my teammates."

Wilson said that even with the rumors, he hasn’t felt the need to speak with general manager Darren Mougey or head coach Aaron Glenn to reiterate his desire to stay.

“I feel like it's understood. We’ve had talks throughout their two years here. They know how I operate, as well,” he said, adding that the outside noise to them is just noise. “I don’t let that bleed into when I get into this facility, man, I don’t. It’s about getting better at football each day, trying to help this team win.”

Wilson, the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, expressed frustration with the offense during Sunday’s 28-25 loss to the previously winless Miami Dolphins, with an apparent on-field spat with veteran quarterback Geno Smith. 

Wilson was targeted just three times in the game with two catches for 26 yards, the second game of minimal targets, and said after the loss the frustration wasn’t directed at Smith. 

"We were heated, but not at each other," the WR said. "We were just disappointed with how we’d been playing up until that point and wanted to be a little more aggressive. That’s all that was there."

On Wednesday, Smith said that his decision-making process comes down to getting the ball in the hands of the playmakers based on what the defense is giving him.

"I read the defense and make the decisions based on what I see," the veteran QB said. "As I’m out there playing, I'm always trying to make the best decision for the team while focusing on getting the ball into the hands of our playmakers.

"I thought [Omar Cooper Jr.] had a great game. [Mason Taylor] had a great game. I think we completed 70 percent of our passes. There’s only one football on the field, and Garrett’s a guy…I’m looking to get him the football, as much as I can. But I have to be mindful of the defense as well."

Wilson began his NFL career with three straight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards. He had just 395 yards and four touchdowns in an injury-hampered seven-game stint last season. Through seven games this year, he has 444 yards and three scores.