Paul Finebaum blasts Steve Sarkisian over ’embarrassing’ handling of Arch Manning
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning entered the season with Heisman Trophy expectations and in the running for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Halfway through the season, Manning hasn’t lived up to the hype, and college football analyst Paul Finebaum placed the blame on head coach Steve Sarkisian.
“I’m beginning to wonder if Arch Manning should even start. I know he will, and he’s capable of leading them to a win, but I blame Sarkisian for every aspect of this,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show.
It’s terrible. It’s embarrassing what you’ve done to Arch Manning. And I wonder if he’s going to regret the day that he went to play for Steve Sarkisian,” Finebaum said.
Finebaum also said that Sarkisian has made an “absolute mess out of the most talented team in the country.”
Texas has dropped two straight games to Oklahoma and Florida, and Manning threw a pair of interceptions in the Red River Rivalry loss to the Sooners on Oct. 10.
After the loss to Florida on Oct. 17, it was reported that Texas is giving freshman QB KJ Lacey Jr. more first-team reps at practice, although it remains to be seen if Manning is going to get benched anytime soon.
Whether or not Manning can turn it around is another question, but Paul Finebaum certainly didn’t hold back on placing the blame right on the shoulders of Steve Sarkisian.
Warriors issue statement on Kristaps Porzingis amid retirement rumblings, trade talks
Kristaps Porzingis’s future with the Golden State Warriors appears to be up in the air, as does his future in the NBA.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania said Porzingis is “contemplating his future” due to symptoms of an autoimmune condition termed POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).
Golden State has started exploring trade routes for Kristaps Porzingis, who is now seriously contemplating his future in basketball as he deals with recurring symptoms from the autoimmune condition termed as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/w9fb2Tk4kb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 21, 2026
Charania also mentioned the Warriors are exploring trade options, and his two-year, $40 million deal essentially serves as an expiring contract.
Later on Wednesday, the Warriors released a statement on the status of Porzingis.
The statement reads that the Warriors “are not going to comment on trade speculation or reports regarding his health-related matter or future” but also added that the team is “not anticipating Kristaps being around the team in the immediate future.”
Warriors Statement On Kristaps Porzingis: https://t.co/2hCAvCt9TY
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) October 21, 2026
The Warriors acquired Porzingis at last year’s deadline in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. He played just 15 games with Golden State, but he inked a two-year, $40 million deal this summer.
Porzingis said in October that it has been “frustrating,” but he has been working with doctors and experts in hopes of returning to the court.
Right now, the future of Kristaps Porzingis in the NBA is unclear, but the Warriors aren’t expecting him to be around for the time being.
Dodgers reveal major update on Shohei Ohtani’s pitching future
The Los Angeles Dodgers don’t have any plans to shut down Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher.
On Wednesday, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman spoke to reporters and gave an update on Ohtani.
Friedman began by saying that surgery is “not on the table” for Ohtani, and the plan is for him to pitch in 2027.
Andrew Friedman said surgery is "not on the table" for Shohei Ohtani. Said it was "whack a mole" between the knee, then the biceps throughout the year. Friedman: "I fully expect him to pitch next year."
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) October 21, 2026
Ohtani last pitched on July 3, and he didn’t return to the mound for the rest of the year due to knee issues.
Ohtani then landed on the IL with another injury, and he came back but struggled in the postseason as the Dodgers were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers signed Ohtani in hopes of using him on the mound and in the lineup, but he has made just 28 combined starts over the past two seasons. In 2026, he went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA before being sidelined with the injury, and he was in the National League MVP conversation before the injuries took a toll.
At any rate, LA sure plans on using Ohtani as a pitcher going forward.
1 National League team has been named a ‘dark horse’ for Tarik Skubal
There is almost no question that star pitcher Tarik Skubal will get a massive payday this summer.
The only question is which team gives Skubal the money. The Los Angeles Dodgers certainly are a favorite, especially after acquiring him at the recent trade deadline.
MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand named some teams that could be in the mix, but one dark horse candidate emerged: The Philadelphia Phillies.
“Dave Dombrowski has never been shy about spending in free agency, so the Phillies are at least a dark horse candidate to make a play for Skubal,” Feinsand wrote.
Feinsand also notes that Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, has also worked out deals with the Phillies for big-name players such as Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos and Taijuan Walker. That could definitely help the Phillies gain ground on the Skubal sweepstakes.
As far as the money goes, Skubal is expected to surpass the 10-year, $325 million deal the Dodgers gave Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Some predict that Skubal, the reigning American League Cy Young winner, could get the first $400 million deal when it comes to total value.
Skubal finished the season with a 12-7 record and a 2.72 ERA between his time with the Detroit Tigers and the Dodgers. With LA, he went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 regular-season starts, and he made two postseason appearances before the Dodgers lost in a four-game sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers.
While the impending lockout will bring a lot of questions, there is almost no doubt that Tarik Skubal is going to get a record contract this time.
Brian Kelly has been linked to another college football job
Could Brian Kelly be making a return to college football as a head coach?
After the Maryland Terrapins parted ways with Mike Locksley on Wednesday, Kelly’s name surfaced as a candidate for the job. Several college football analysts linked Kelly to the opening, including Chris Vannini of The Athletic and Pete Nakos of On3.
“Kelly is owed a $54 million buyout from LSU, but he must find a coaching job to offset those payments, which could also make him a cheaper option,” Vannini wrote.
Kelly was linked to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights job in September, although the program has yet to move on from Greg Schiano.
Kelly has been the head coach at Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Notre Dame and LSU, and he has a combined record of 200-76 with 10 bowl game victories.
Kelly’s longest tenure came at Notre Dame, where he spent 12 seasons before shockingly leaving to go to LSU in 2022. The Tigers fired Kelly in 2025 despite a 34-14 record, and it came with a massive $54 million buyout.
The buyout still looms large, so it could be a cheaper option if Maryland decides to go that route.
This season, Kelly isn’t coaching anywhere, but he has been calling some Mountain West Conference games for CBS. At any rate, Kelly’s name should be linked to several jobs as soon as they become available.
Angels make a major decision on Kurt Suzuki
The Los Angeles Angels are set to have another new manager for the 2027 MLB season.
On Wednesday, the Angels announced that they have decided not to pick up the option for Kurt Suzuki and they will search for a new coaching staff in 2027.
OFFICIAL: The Angels announced that the Club has declined the option in Kurt Suzuki’s contract and, in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, will search for a new manager and coaching staff for the 2027 season. https://t.co/RExo0C19az
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) October 21, 2026
Ron Washington took an indefinite leave in 2025 due to health issues, and the Angels then hired Suzuki following the 2025 campaign. However, they gave Suzuki a one-year deal in a bit of an odd move.
LA fired general manager Perry Minasian in June, and then owner Arte Moreno sold the team to Stan Kroenke, who also owns several sports teams, including the Los Angeles Rams.
Suzuki, meanwhile, will be offered a position to stay in the organization as a special assistant if he chooses to do so.
The Angels finished with a 62-100 record this season, although the roster didn’t have a lot of talent on it to start with, which made things difficult for Suzuki in his first-ever managerial stint in MLB.
With the offseason here, the Angels will now search for a new GM and manager as more changes take place in Anaheim.
Robert Saleh makes strong statement after Jordan Elliott’s release
The Tennessee Titans released veteran Jordan Elliott on Tuesday after an “incident at the team facility.”
Later that evening, a report surfaced from Austin Stanley and Easton Freeze of A to Z Sports that Elliott went to his vehicle to get a firearm after an altercation with a teammate.
On Wednesday, Titans head coach Robert Saleh addressed Elliott’s release and sent an emotional message to his former player.
Saleh called it a “call for help,” but he also sent a message to the rest of the league about what a good person Elliott is.
“My message to 31 other teams: If you need a hell of a run-stopping D-tackle that can help on a playoff run, give me a call. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about him. He’s a good man. Had a terrible lapse in judgment. I recognize it as a call for help. Not a criminal act,” Saleh said as part of a long answer.
Titans Head Coach Robert Saleh on the Jordan Elliot situation @WKRN https://t.co/UkiNbuYLDR
— Julian Mininsohn (@JMininsohn) October 21, 2026
Elliott spent the past two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where Saleh was his defensive coordinator. The Titans then signed Elliott to a two-year, $8 million deal this offseason.
So, Saleh sure knows a lot about Jordan Elliott, and the Titans coach made sure to send a strong message of support despite the unfortunate turn of events.
Jerry Jones addresses Cowboys trade deadline plans
The Dallas Cowboys are off to a disappointing 2-4 start, but owner Jerry Jones doesn’t seem to be worried.
When Jones was asked about the upcoming trade deadline, he revealed what the team could do over the next couple of weeks.
“I’ll be real clear, I could see being active at the trade deadline if it was something that could help the team this year,” Jones said, via Albert Breer.
When Jones was asked about the Cowboys selling, Jones had one word: “No.”
Dallas has lost two straight games after a 2-2 start, and former NFL head coach Mike Pettine was recently hired as a defensive assistant. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker has struggled at times, so the hope is that Pettine can help this group improve.
The Cowboys have combined to score 29 points over the past two games, and Dak Prescott said it was “very frustrating” after falling to the Green Bay Packers 23-13 in Week 6.
But, even with four losses, Jones doesn’t plan on being a seller at the deadline. Going into Week 7, Dallas is 2-4, but the New York Giants are in first place in the NFC East with a 3-2-1 record, so the division is certainly up for grabs amid a mediocre season all around.
The trade deadline isn’t until Nov. 10, but if the Cowboys lose the next three games, maybe Jerry Jones will think twice.
Giants name new starting quarterback after benching Jameis Winston
The New York Giants had a decision to make as far as the starting quarterback goes, but it looks like it will be JJ McCarthy.
McCarthy replaced Jameis Winston in the Week 6 loss to the New Orleans Saints, and now ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that McCarthy will start for the Giants in Week 7 against the Houston Texans.
Source: The Giants plan to start J.J. McCarthy on Sunday vs. Houston. https://t.co/HzpVzf88Oj
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 21, 2026
The Giants acquired McCarthy at the end of September in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings following the season-ending injury to Jaxson Dart. New York sent a fifth-round pick to Minnesota for McCarthy, who was the 10th overall choice in 2024 after a stellar career with the Michigan Wolverines.
Still, John Harbaugh rolled with Jameis Winston, but he got benched during the Week 6 game against the Saints. McCarthy came in and threw for 243 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but the Giants lost the game 34-27.
On the other hand, New York scored 17 fourth-quarter points with McCarthy under center, although McCarthy’s immediate interception sure had fans buzzing on social media during the game.
McCarthy’s first start with New York will come on Sunday against the Texans at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Giants are currently in first place in the NFC East with a 3-2-1 record.
Luka Doncic sends message to Lakers fans in full-page ad
The Los Angeles Lakers are beginning a new era without LeBron James, and now is officially time for Luka Doncic to be the top superstar of the team.
Ahead of Wednesday’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors, Doncic put out a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times newspaper with a championship message to the fans.
“DEAR LA, Tonight we start our run for a championship. Every player dreams of holding that trophy.
To do it for all of you amazing fans would mean everything to us,” Doncic wrote at the beginning of the ad.
Luka Dončić wrote a letter to Lakers fans 💛 https://t.co/Fl9rWWbZqQ
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) October 21, 2026
Doncic is set to begin his second full season with the Lakers after coming over in the stunning Anthony Davis blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 1, 2025.
After LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency this summer, Doncic went out of his way to make an effort to be the team leader. This included a trip to Slovenia with his teammates, which included training sessions and sightseeing in Doncic’s home country.
The Lakers have a lot of new faces in town, so there are plenty of questions about whether or not this new-look roster can make a run to the NBA Finals.
Doncic and LA begin the season on Wednesday against the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena in LA.
Maryland makes major decision on head coach Mike Locksley
The Maryland Terrapins dropped to 2-5 after a 37-30 home loss to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Week 7, and now head coach Mike Locksley is no longer going to be on the sidelines.
Several reports came in on Wednesday morning stating that Maryland and Locksley are “set to part ways.” The program confirmed the move shortly after with a statement.
“Following thoughtful conversations with Coach Locksley, we agreed that a coaching change was in the best interest of Coach Locksley and the Maryland football program,” said Jim Smith, Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics.
Maryland and head coach Mike Locksley are set to part ways, sources tell @JTalty and me https://t.co/b8TRcJ6zW6
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 21, 2026
Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports also mentioned that defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will be the interim head coach for Maryland after the program moves on from Locksley.
Locksley’s career as a head coach began with New Mexico in 2009, but he was fired in the middle of the 2011 season after a 0-4 start and a combined 2-26 record with the Lobos.
Locksley was then hired as Maryland’s offensive coordinator in 2012, and he became the interim coach in 2015, although he went just 1-5 during his time as the fill-in.
Alabama then hired Locksley as an assistant, and he spent three seasons in Tuscaloosa before landing the Terrapins head coaching job in 2019. The New York Jets even interviewed Locksley in 2025 before they hired Aaron Glenn.
After the Week 7 loss, Locksley finished with a combined 39-54 record, which includes three straight winning seasons from 2021 through 2023. He managed just two Big Ten wins since 2024, and the Terrapins’ only wins this season came against Hampton and UConn to begin the year.
The last two years, Maryland finished with a 4-8 record, and they are on pace for another losing season. The Terrapins are on a bye in Week 8, so it gives the new interim coach time to figure things out before a Halloween game against Illinois.
This marks the first Power 4 job to be open this season.
Brian Cashman announces a big update on his Yankees future
Brian Cashman’s run as the New York Yankees general manager won’t come to an end right now.
On Wednesday, Cashman said he and the Yankees agreed on a new contract, and while the final details are being sorted out, here’s what the GM said: “We’re locked and loaded.”
Brian Cashman said he and the Yankees have agreed on a new contract. They’re just hammering out the final details. "We’re locked and loaded."
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) October 21, 2026
Cashman was hired as an intern with the Yankees in 1986 before moving to a baseball operations assistant role. He then took over as the full-time GM in 1998, so he has now spent nearly 30 years as the GM in the Bronx.
Cashman signing an extension was expected even throughout the summer, and now things are being brought to the finish line.
The Yankees GM has been at the forefront of plenty of trades, and he helped with the team’s most recent World Series win, which came in 1998.
New York defeated the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round before seeing their postseason come to an end against the Tampa Bay Rays, who ended up winning the American League pennant.
The Yankees also decided to run it back another season with manager Aaron Boone, so there is some continuity in the Bronx going into the 2027 MLB season.
Paul George opens up on his health after his historic Celtics debut
Paul George had quite an introduction to Boston Celtics fans, but the journey to his historic performance on Tuesday wasn’t as easy as it looked.
In his first game in a Celtics uniform, the nine-time NBA All-Star put on a show, albeit in a 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. George scored the most points ever by a player making his first appearance as a Celtic, dropping 38 points on 12/21 shooting from the field in 31 minutes of action in a 121-113 loss.
George’s stellar performance may have been wasted in the loss, but it showed that he can still play like his old self, especially after dealing with injuries during his stints with his previous teams.
“My stint in LA. I was pretty healthy to finish my last year there, and then honestly, going to Philly, I just had a bad hyperextension that really set me back, and I couldn’t quite shake that one — it was an ongoing thing of my leg, my knee not feeling strong, and it was rough, right?” the 36-year-old George said when asked when was the last time he felt this healthy, via Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog.
“Because I was trying to rest, but I was also trying to be available for the team, and just couldn’t quite find the time to let it all come together.”
George dealt with an assortment of injuries and load management during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. He’s played 57 games or more in a season just once since appearing in 77 games in the 2018-19 campaign, his last with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
But as long as he’s healthy and playing, George can still be a dangerous offensive weapon, as the Celtics saw on Tuesday.
NFL hits another Bills player with suspension over a disgusting act
The NFL handed another Buffalo Bills player a one-game suspension for the same reason.
The league announced on Wednesday that it is suspending Bills defensive back Sam Franklin Jr. “for an act of unsportsmanlike conduct” in Buffalo’s 33-30 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.
Franklin’s suspension begins on Oct. 26. He will be eligible to return to the team’s active roster on Nov. 2.
Buffalo has a Week 7 bye, so the suspension will keep Franklin from playing against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Nov. 1.
The NFL said that Franklin spat at a Raiders player following an extra-point attempt later in the fourth quarter of the game.
However, Franklin can still appeal his suspension, so the door remains open for him to play against the Ravens.
Sam Franklin Jr. Suspended One Game https://t.co/sp1qzvVK3d
— NFL345 (@NFL345) October 21, 2026
Bills safety CJ Gardner-Johnson had already been slapped with a one-game suspension for spitting in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers in the same game.
The suspensions of Gardner-Johnson and Franklin aren’t great news for Buffalo, especially for a defense that has struggled to slow opponents’ aerial attacks. Over six weeks, the Bills rank 31st in the league, allowing 285.8 passing yards per game.
Raptors’ Darko Rajakovic had a blunt response to a question about the Knicks
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic made one thing clear ahead of his team’s first game of the 2026-27 NBA season, and that’s they are not the New York Knicks.
Talking to reporters on Tuesday, Rajakovic was asked what he thinks the Raptors could emulate from the defending champions Knicks.
“What team? New York Knicks? We don’t compare ourselves,” the 47-year-old Rajakovic responded, via New York Basketball on X.
“We don’t care about them,” he doubled down.
The reporter tried to clarify her question, but was met with the same sentiment from Rajakovic, who is in his fourth season at the helm of the Raptors.
“Again, I’m not comparing. I’m not looking anything at them. I’m not looking at other teams,” he continued.
“We have our own story. We have our own identity that we want to develop and that we believe is going to take us to championships. From inside, I don’t know what works for them. If it works for them, it’s not really mine to address that.”
Rajakovic and the Raptors want to chart their own course without being viewed through the same lens as other teams.
In any case, Toronto is one of the more intriguing teams this season, having shown great improvement in the previous campaign. After winning just 30 games in the 2024-25 season, the Raptors went 46-36 and reached the NBA Playoffs in the 2025-26 campaign for the first time since Rajakovic was hired to coach the team in 2023.
That’s not to mention the offseason addition of Kawhi Leonard, who reunites with the team he led to the top in 2019.
The Raptors begin their season Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario.
Jokes pour in after Jayson Tatum’s stinker in Celtics season opener
Jayson Tatum’s awful performance in the Boston Celtics’ season opener gave the haters the material they craved.
Tatum was simply not himself in Boston’s 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich., as he shot a woeful 6/23 from the field, while missing all seven shots he took from deep.
He finished with just 13 points, and while he managed to dish out a game-high 11 assists, it was his lack of scoring and poor shooting efficiency that the internet noticed more.
Tatum’s letdown performance also fueled the belief that he wouldn’t be as good without Jaylen Brown, who was traded by Boston in the offseason to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jaylen Brown watching Jayson Tatum shoot 6-23 as the first option https://t.co/3JpobcPP8g
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) October 20, 2026
Jayson Tatum today https://t.co/xIENOA00ZB
— 💍💍💍💍 (@warriorsger) October 20, 2026
Jaylen Brown watching Jayson Tatum shoot 6-23 to start the season https://t.co/GsHghht2jn
— Basketball Ground (@BBallGround) October 20, 2026
Jayson Tatum to start the season https://t.co/xbAUI9uaes
— Hoops (@Hoopss) October 20, 2026
Jayson Tatum without Jaylen Brown https://t.co/P7H94W8HQV
— Onyx Odds (@OnyxOdds) October 20, 2026
It was clearly not an ideal way for Tatum to start his 10th season in the league.
While the former No. 3 pick overall struggled with his shot, his new teammate, Paul George, put the Celtics on his shoulders, scoring 38 points in an unforgettable Boston debut despite the loss. It was the highest-scoring performance by a player making his Celtics debut.
Boston still has 81 games left in the regular season, and Tatum can get back on track as soon as Friday against the New York Knicks, who also lost on Tuesday against Brown and the 76ers.
Brady Tkachuk reveals great plan in case Senators fans throw jerseys
Brady Tkachuk knows what to do in case Ottawa Senators jerseys are thrown onto the ice when he returns to his old stomping grounds.
Tkachuk will be playing his first game against his former team at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Wednesday, since he was traded by the Sens to the Florida Panthers in June.
As in many previous cases of a star leaving a team to play for another, Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa as an opponent is expected to draw strong reactions from fans of his former squad.
During Tuesday’s edition of the “Wingmen” podcast, Tkachuk revealed his plan in the event his No. 7 Senators jerseys get hurled onto the ice in protest.
Tkachuk said those jerseys will be donated to Ottawa’s Boys and Girls Club.
“If you’re gonna do it and send a message, then just know it’s going to a good cause,” the 27-year-old forward said.
The Senators decided to trade Tkachuk to the Panthers, who also have his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, after he told Ottawa he didn’t intend to sign an extension with the team. He signed a 7-year, $57.7 million contract with the Sens in 2021, and that deal is about to expire by the end of the 2027-28 campaign.
Tkachuk spent his first eight seasons in the NHL with the Senators, who selected him fourth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. He enters Wednesday’s game with six goals and four assists through his first nine games with the Panthers.
H/T Gino Hard
Thunder rookie emphatically rejects Victor Wembanyama with early Block of the Year candidate
They don’t call him “Wemby Stopper” for nothing. Oklahoma City Thunder rookie big man Aday Mara lived up to that nickname, at least during a play, in Tuesday’s game against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Mara showed off his defensive prowess in the game, and nothing was more highlight-worthy than when he met Wembanyama up top and rejected the Spurs star’s attempt to throw it down in the third quarter.
Wembanyama thought he had an open look at the basket when he slipped through the screen and went straight into the rim to catch a lob pass from De’Aaron Fox.
There wasn’t anyone from the Thunder protecting the rim, as Mara was mindful of Spurs forward Carter Bryant, who was stationed on the deep left side of the court. But the rookie immediately recognized what was happening between Wembanyama and Fox and raced to the basket to challenge the Spurs center.
Here is a video of that play.
aday mara is insane 🤯 https://t.co/RBRfggVZQw
— profitbydre.eth (@profitbydre) October 21, 2026
At 7-foot-3, Mara has the height and length to be a problem for Wembanyama inside, and he showed that in the Thunder’s 116-104 victory.
The former Michigan Wolverines star came off the bench in his NBA debut and scored seven points on 3/4 shooting while adding two rebounds, an assist and that block on Wembanyama in just 12 minutes.
As a team, Oklahoma had a masterful game plan to limit Wembanyama on offense, as he went 1/13 from the floor and finished with just 12 points.
Victor Wembanyama involved in an altercation during Spurs-Thunder game
The San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder were back at each other’s throats from the very first game of the season.
San Antonio and Oklahoma City met on Tuesday to tip off the new NBA season. But in the second quarter at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, some extracurricular activity developed.
Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox was switched onto Thunder center Chet Holmgren in the paint during an OKC possession. Fox proceeded to throw Holmgren to the ground as an entry pass came in.
As a result, Thunder big man Jaylin Williams got into Fox’s face. That led to a skirmish in which Spurs star Victor Wembanyama also entered the mix and exchanged shoves with Williams. Here is the full video.
SPURS VS. THUNDER GET INTO IT. https://t.co/OM3wAbg2NV
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 21, 2026
In the end, Fox was given a flagrant 1 foul for the initial throwdown of Holmgren. Wembanyama and Williams also received technical fouls, as did OKC forwards Kenrich Williams and Jalen Williams.
The Spurs and Thunder are two bitter Western Conference rivals, which is why they were scheduled for a marquee slot on NBA Opening Night. They already met in last year’s Western Conference Finals, a series that also featured some on-court fireworks between the two teams.
Steven Kwan is being linked to 2 teams after Guardians’ playoff exit
The Cleveland Guardians’ World Series dream is over, and now they may have some hard decisions to make.
Guardians star outfielder Steven Kwan could be on the trade block after the team’s ALCS exit, Robert Murray of FanSided reported Tuesday. Murray notes that Kwan is headed into his final year of arbitration and that Cleveland has a history of trading players before they get paid on the open market.
Additionally, Murray reports that the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs could be two potential suitors for Kwan on the trade market. You can read his full report on the situation here.
The lefy-hitting Kwan, 29, is one of Cleveland’s best homegrown success stories. He has made two All-Star teams and won four Gold Glove Awards with the Guardians since debuting in 2022 and hit a stellar .282 with three home runs, 32 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases this season as one of baseball’s best contact hitters.
But Kwan’s contract situation means that he can become a free agent after the 2027 MLB season. While Kwan did only bat .244 during Cleveland’s ALCS run this year, he is still at a relatively high point of his value right now.
The 91-win Padres lost in the NLDS this year and have since been linked to some other interesting outfielders too. Meanwhile, the 89-win Cubs fell in the NL Wild Card Series this season and could have a few notable holes to fill in their own outfield.
