The Morning Column presented by The Sporting Tribune

JuJu is Back

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:34:33 GMT

Good morning. College basketball opened Monday, and Las Vegas had the best of it. At T-Mobile Arena, JuJu Watkins played her first game since tearing her ACL in March 2025 and scored 21 as No. 3 USC beat UNLV 100-68. Hours later, No. 22 UCLA beat No. 5 Arizona 84-75 in the same building. In Los Angeles, Luka Dončić scored 42 in a Lakers rout of Miami, the Clippers blew a 13-point fourth-quarter lead and lost their sixth straight, and USC’s men won by 32. Hawaii beat Seattle on a jumper with 1.2 seconds left. Tonight: the Golden Knights are in Pittsburgh at 4, the Ducks open a Western Canada trip in Vancouver at 6, and UNLV and San Diego State open at home at 7. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏀 588 days. JuJu Watkins scored 21 in her return as No. 3 USC beat UNLV 100-68 — Timothy Parker at T-Mobile Arena.

🏀 Upset in Vegas. Trent Perry scored 21 and No. 22 UCLA beat No. 5 Arizona 84-75 — Timothy Parker at T-Mobile Arena.

🏀 42 and 13. Dončić’s fifth straight 35-point game carried the Lakers past Miami 138-117 — Eric Lambkins II at Crypto.com Arena.

🏀 47-27. Toronto outscored the Clippers by 20 in the fourth quarter to win 125-118 — Grant Mona at Intuit Dome.

🏀 1.2 seconds. Jaden Matingou’s fadeaway beat Seattle 74-73 in Hawaii’s opener — The Sporting Tribune.

🏈 “Myles is a yes.” Myles Garrett will return to practice this week, Arash Markazi reports — The Sporting Tribune.

🏒 One point. The Golden Knights rallied from 2-0 down but lost 3-2 in a shootout at Boston — Steve Carp in Boston.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY

🏀 NBA: Lakers 138, Heat 117 · Raptors 125, Clippers 118

🏀 MBB: UCLA 84, Arizona 75 · USC 95, Milwaukee 63 · Hawaii 74, Seattle 73

🏀 WBB: USC 100, UNLV 68 · UCLA 73, Lehigh 53 · San Diego State 77, Cal State Fullerton 51 · Oregon 87, Hawaii 54

🏒 NHL: Bruins 3, Golden Knights 2 (SO)

🏀 FULL DAY IN LAS VEGAS

With 5:50 left in the first quarter, JuJu Watkins made her first basket since March 2025. She had been out about 19 months with a torn ACL. Timothy Parker writes that she looked rusty in the first half and found her rhythm by the end of the third quarter. She finished with 21 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes, and No. 3 USC beat UNLV 100-68 at T-Mobile Arena. Jazzy Davidson scored 23, and freshman Saniyah Hall had 22 and seven rebounds in her debut.

“I think she physically looks great,” Lindsay Gottlieb said. “It’s just finding that rhythm.” Gottlieb limited Watkins’ minutes late, and Watkins did not speak to reporters. Fans came from around the country, including one who traveled from El Paso.

Arion Armeniakos writes that UNLV won two of the four quarters and outrebounded USC 40-35, but a 31-10 USC run in the third decided it. “Going undefeated in non-conference play wins you nothing,” Lindy La Rocque said. UNLV hosts UTSA on Friday and will retire Las Vegas native Desi-Rae Young’s No. 23 before tipoff.

Then UCLA’s men took the floor. The No. 22 Bruins led 27-13 in the first 10 minutes and by 14 at halftime. Ivan Kharchenkov scored 38 for No. 5 Arizona and cut it to 71-70 with about three minutes left. Trent Perry, who led UCLA with 21, helped close it out. “Trent’s one of the best closers in the country,” Mick Cronin said. “To get a win over a team like that, it’s massive.”

GO DEEPER

› Timothy Parker: USC wins season opener led by the return of JuJu Watkins (The Sporting Tribune)

› Arion Armeniakos: Lady Rebels focused on bigger picture after season-opening defeat to No. 3 USC (The Sporting Tribune)

› Timothy Parker: UCLA upsets No. 5 Arizona to begin season (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: USC vs. UNLV (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Arizona vs. UCLA (The Sporting Tribune)

TOGETHER WITH BETONLINE

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🏀 LUKA KEEPS GOING

Luka Dončić had 42 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds on the second night of a back-to-back, and the Lakers beat a rested Miami team 138-117. Austin Reaves scored 27 on 10-of-15 shooting, and Walker Kessler had 15 and 15. The Lakers set a season high with 39 assists. Eric Lambkins II writes that Dončić has averaged 43.4 points over his last five games, and his 66 career 40-point games tie Jerry West for 14th all-time. Fredo Cervantes adds that it was his fifth straight game with 35 or more, matching the longest such streak by a Laker since Kobe Bryant. “We’re sharing the ball really well,” Dončić said. The Lakers are 6-2.

The Clippers can’t close. They led Toronto 91-78 after three quarters and 109-103 late, then lost 125-118. Scottie Barnes scored 15 of his 22 in the fourth. Grant Mona writes that the Clippers were called for 34 fouls, and Toronto made 31 free throws. Max Strus scored 11 in his return from a foot injury, and Kobe Sanders had a career-high 26. “I don’t think there’s a reason to hit the panic button,” Strus said. The Clippers are 1-6 and host Miami on Wednesday.

The Golden Knights got a point. Down 2-0 in Boston, they got a power-play goal from Mark Stone and a tying goal from Trevor Connelly, then lost when David Pastrnak scored the only goal of the shootout. Steve Carp writes that Vegas has lost five of six. “Now we move on to Pittsburgh and try and build on it,” Ryan Craig said.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Lambkins II: Dončić states his MVP case in win over Miami (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fredo Cervantes: Luka Dončić drops 42 points in win over Miami (The Sporting Tribune)

› Grant Mona: Max Strus is back, but the Clippers’ fourth-quarter problem isn’t going anywhere (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: Knights battle back to gain a point in 3-2 shootout loss to Bruins (The Sporting Tribune)

🏀 OPENING NIGHT, EVERYWHERE

USC’s men won by 32. Freshman Adonis Ratliff scored 25 and made five 3-pointers, the most points by a USC freshman in a debut since O.J. Mayo in 2007. Alijah Arenas added 21, and No. 21 USC beat Milwaukee 95-63. Holdenn Graff writes that Jacob Cofie left in the first half with back spasms. USC plays Wichita State on Sunday at Lake Tahoe.

UCLA’s women started their title defense. The No. 11 Bruins trailed Lehigh early in the second quarter, then outscored them 23-9 in the third and won 73-53. Sienna Betts and Donovyn Hunter scored 15 each, and KK Bransford had 14 in her debut. UCLA hosts UC Irvine on Thursday.

San Diego State’s women raised a banner and rolled. The Aztecs unveiled their 2026 Mountain West championship banner, then beat Cal State Fullerton 77-51, outscoring the Titans 52-10 in the paint. Eric Evelhoch writes that every Aztec who played 10 minutes scored. North Texas visits Thursday at 11 a.m.

Hawaii won at the buzzer. Seattle led 73-72 before Jaden Matingou hit a fadeaway with 1.2 seconds left. He scored 20, and Chance Trujillo had 19. Hawaii opens the 60th Rainbow Classic against Bethesda on Friday. Hawaii’s women lost 87-54 at Oregon in Khalilah Mitchell’s coaching debut.

GO DEEPER

› Holdenn Graff: No. 21 USC cruises past Milwaukee in season-opening blowout (The Sporting Tribune)

› Defending national champion UCLA opens season with 73-53 win over Lehigh (The Sporting Tribune)

› Eric Evelhoch: Everyone gets involved for Aztecs in dominant season-opening win over Titans (The Sporting Tribune)

› Jaden Matingou’s last-second jumper lifts Hawaii past Seattle 74-73 (The Sporting Tribune)

› Hawaii women’s basketball falls to Oregon 87-54 in Khalilah Mitchell’s coaching debut (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

Active today across Southern California — brought to you by Ike’s Sandwiches, home of the world famous Arash Markazi sandwich, which has fried chicken, purple slaw, wasabi mayo, honey mustard, and cheddar on a Dutch Crunch roll. Just ask for the 500 at any Ike’s location.

🌮 Jack in the Box — two free tacos with any drink after the Lakers’ win over Miami. Code LETSGOLAKERS in the Jack app or online.

Coming up: Kings vs. Sharks on Wednesday, with a McFlurry deal if the Kings score in the final minute of the second period.

🏟️ FOUR GAMES, ONE TUESDAY

Golden Knights at Penguins at 4 on ESPN+, the second stop on a four-game trip. Vegas has lost five of six.

Ducks at Canucks at 6 on Prime Video. The Ducks (6-7-1) are coming off Cutter Gauthier’s hat trick against Ottawa and open a Western Canada trip.

Northern Arizona at UNLV and Cal State Fullerton at San Diego State at 7, as both men’s teams open at home.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

Garrett’s clock starts. Rams head coach Sean McVay said that Myles Garrett, who had arthroscopic knee surgery in September, will practice this week, opening his 21-day window to come off injured reserve. “Myles will practice. We’ll start his clock,” McVay said, though he wouldn’t set expectations for this week. Tight end Terrance Ferguson could also return to practice; defensive tackle Poona Ford is out for the season with a triceps injury.

Allegiant gets basketball. Steve Carp reports that Allegiant Stadium will host its first basketball games on Nov. 12, 2027: Arizona vs. Duke and Kansas vs. Indiana. It’s a test run for the 2028 Men’s Final Four, which Allegiant will host.

GO DEEPER

› Myles Garrett set to return to practice as Rams get defensive boost (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: Allegiant Stadium to host mega hoops event ahead of ‘28 Final Four (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3

🏒 NHL: Golden Knights at Penguins — PPG Paints Arena — 4:00 p.m. — ESPN+

🏒 NHL: Ducks at Canucks — Rogers Arena — 6:00 p.m. — Prime Video

🏀 MBB: Northern Arizona at UNLV — 7:00 p.m. — MW+

🏀 MBB: Cal State Fullerton at San Diego State — Viejas Arena — 7:00 p.m. — Pac-12 YouTube

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

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🏀 Northern Arizona at UNLV — $7

🏀 Cal State Fullerton at San Diego State — Viejas Arena — $4

🏀 Heat at Clippers (Wed.) — Intuit Dome — $16

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Luka Dončić’s 66th career 40-point game tied him with Jerry West. What number did West wear for the Lakers?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

The Sporting Tribune Today airs weekdays at 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET on SportsGrid, hosted by Grant Mona and John Browner and built on reporting from our staff across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawai’i.

📺 Watch on television. SportsGrid TV is available on DIRECTV and MyFree DIRECTV (Channel 4105 HD), Samsung TV Plus (2362), Local Now (2024), Vizio WatchFree (640), LG Channels (469) and The Roku Channel (250). You can also search “SportsGrid” on YouTube TV, FuboTV, Sling TV, Plex and Amazon Prime Video.

📻 Listen on radio and podcast. The show airs on SportsGrid Radio, distributed through Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, iHeartRadio and TuneIn — and continues across our regional partners through Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: 44.

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SoFi belongs to the Rams

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:33:19 GMT

Good morning. Sunday was a good day for the region. The Rams beat the winless Chargers 24-9 at SoFi Stadium and are 4-4. The Raiders ended a four-game losing streak with a 38-33 win at the Jets. Luka Dončić scored 45 in a Lakers win, the Ducks came back to beat Ottawa 6-3, Angel City finished the regular season with a 4-1 rout, and the Wave won at Bay FC to lock up the No. 2 seed. The Clippers and LAFC lost. Today is opening day for college basketball: UCLA plays Arizona in Las Vegas, USC hosts Milwaukee, and the USC, UCLA, Hawaii and San Diego State women all play. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 4-4. Two interceptions of Herbert, and the Rams beat the Chargers 24-9 — Eric Lambkins II at SoFi Stadium.

🏈 0-7. The Chargers haven’t scored an offensive touchdown in nine quarters — Fernando Ramirez at SoFi Stadium.

🏈 Streak over. Brock Bowers caught two touchdowns and Jeremy Chinn sealed a 38-33 Raiders win at the Jets — Steve Carp at MetLife Stadium.

🏀 45 for Luka. Dončić added 15 rebounds and five steals as the Lakers beat Toronto 131-125 — Carlos Yakimowich at Crypto.com Arena.

🏒 Hat trick. Cutter Gauthier scored three and the Ducks rallied past Ottawa 6-3 — Zach Cavanagh at Honda Center.

⚽ 10 unbeaten. Angel City beat Boston Legacy 4-1 in its regular-season finale — Micaela Begue at Dignity Health Sports Park.

⚽ No. 2 seed. The Wave beat Bay FC 1-0 and will host Utah in the NWSL quarterfinals Friday — Sebastian Sanchez at PayPal Park.

🏈 No. 5 and No. 18. UCLA and USC climb in the AP Top 25, and their title odds improve — The Sporting Tribune.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — SUNDAY

🏈 NFL: Rams 24, Chargers 9 · Raiders 38, Jets 33

🏀 NBA: Lakers 131, Raptors 125 · Warriors 124, Clippers 112

🏒 NHL: Ducks 6, Senators 3

⚽ NWSL: Angel City 4, Boston Legacy 1 · Wave 1, Bay FC 0 · MLS: Minnesota United 3, LAFC 1

🏈 SOFI BELONGS TO THE RAMS

The Chargers led 6-3 in the second quarter on two field goals. Quentin Lake read a Justin Herbert pass for Charlie Kolar, picked it off and returned it 45 yards. On the Rams’ last drive of the half, Matthew Stafford hit Tutu Atwell for 40, and Kyren Williams jump-cut in from a yard out for a 10-9 halftime lead. The Chargers nearly answered on a Hail Mary to Ladd McConkey that fell inches short of the end zone.

In the second half, Blake Corum broke a 23-yard touchdown run, and Trent McDuffie intercepted Herbert for the cornerback’s eighth of the season. Two plays later, Puka Nacua caught an 18-yard screen for a touchdown. Final: Rams 24, Chargers 9.

Eric Lambkins II writes that Nacua had 11 catches for 80 yards in his 50th career game, and his 369 career receptions are the most through 50 games in NFL history. “He’s a stud,” Sean McVay said. “They just kept getting stop after stop,” he said of the defense. The Rams are 4-4, have won two straight and are at .500 for the first time this season.

The Chargers are 0-7. Fernando Ramirez writes they’ve gone nine straight quarters without an offensive touchdown, and Herbert leads the league with 10 interceptions, at least one in every game. Ramirez argues Jim Harbaugh should have changed offensive coordinators during the bye. “We’re aware of the issues are and we’re the only ones who can fix them,” Harbaugh said.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Lambkins II: Rams find their rhythm and put Chargers away (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fernando Ramirez: Chargers’ offensive nightmare continues as Jim Harbaugh’s team falls to 0-7 (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Chargers at Rams (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏀 FORTY-FIVE AND A HAT TRICK

Luka Dončić had 45 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals, and he made eight 3-pointers. Carlos Yakimowich writes that he also took several charges early, and the Lakers led by as many as 26. Toronto got within single digits after Dončić picked up his fifth foul, then scored 11 points in 40 seconds after JJ Redick pulled his starters, before Walker Kessler’s dunk with 36.4 seconds left closed it out at 131-125. Kessler had 16 points and 15 rebounds. “Obviously, I’m not the best defender in the NBA,” Dončić said. “Luka doesn’t get enough credit for his defense,” Kessler said. The Lakers are 5-2. Fredo Cervantes writes that Collin Sexton, signed this summer for two years and $19.2 million, has become a valuable piece off the bench.

The Raiders snapped their skid. Brock Bowers caught seven passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, Dylan Laube returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score, and Kirk Cousins went 19-of-26 for 247 yards. Jeremy Chinn intercepted Geno Smith in the end zone to seal a 38-33 win. “Our players were very resilient,” Klint Kubiak said. The Raiders are 4-4.

Cutter Gauthier had a hat trick and the Ducks came back from three first-period Ottawa goals to win 6-3. Judd Caulfield scored twice, Leo Carlsson had three assists, and Laurent Brossoit made 19 saves in his first start as a Duck. The Ducks (6-7-1) open a Western Canada trip Tuesday in Vancouver, then debut their new District 5-inspired “Hometown Remix” jerseys against Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The Clippers have lost five straight. Yaxel Lendeborg scored a career-high 37 for Golden State in a 124-112 Warriors win. Grant Mona writes that each of the Clippers’ last three losses came against a team missing its best player. They’re 1-5 and host Toronto tonight.

GO DEEPER

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers ride Luka Dončić’s 45-point night past Raptors (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fredo Cervantes: Collin Sexton emerging as a valuable piece of the Lakers’ rotation (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: Raiders 38, Jets 33 (The Sporting Tribune)

› Zach Cavanagh: Ducks 6, Senators 3 (The Sporting Tribune)

› Zach Cavanagh: Ducks unveil Hometown Remix jerseys (The Sporting Tribune)

› Grant Mona: Clippers keep losing to short-handed teams, and that should worry them most (The Sporting Tribune)

⚽ SOCCER SUNDAY

Angel City is headed to the playoffs on a 10-game unbeaten streak. Nealy Martin scored her first goal of the season, and after Boston tied it before halftime, Evelyn Shores, Sveindís Jónsdóttir and Claire Emslie scored in the second half of a 4-1 win. Hannah Seabert, who announced her retirement Oct. 29, came on for her final minutes. Angel City plays at the Kansas City Current on Saturday.

The Wave finished second. Mimi Van Zanten scored in the ninth minute off a Kenza Dali assist, and San Diego beat Bay FC 1-0 in San Jose. Gotham beat Utah 2-0 to win the Shield by three points, but the Wave (18-8-4, 58 points) are the No. 2 seed and host No. 7 Utah in the quarterfinals Friday at Snapdragon Stadium.

LAFC stumbled into Decision Day. Joaquín Pereyra scored twice and Minnesota United won 3-1 at BMO Stadium, with Sergio Vásquez’s bicycle kick in the 90th minute LAFC’s only goal. “I am responsible. I am not happy,” interim coach Xavi Tamarit said. LAFC is at Seattle on Saturday, still chasing a top-four seed.

GO DEEPER

› Micaela Begue: Angel City dominates in season finale against Boston Legacy FC (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sebastian Sanchez: Wave finish second in NWSL Shield race after Bay FC win, set to host Utah in quarterfinals (The Sporting Tribune)

› Holdenn Graff: Uninspired LAFC drops regular-season home finale to Minnesota United FC (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🍔 Carl’s Jr. — free Famous Star with Cheese with a large drink, after the Rams’ two interceptions. Code RAMS2991 in the app’s Offers tab.

🥞 McDonald’s — $2 Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddles after the Ducks’ home win. In the McDonald’s app, breakfast hours only.

🌮 Jack in the Box — two free tacos with any drink after the Lakers’ win. Code LETSGOLAKERS.

🥞 Norms — two free buttermilk hotcakes from the Galaxy’s home win Saturday. Redeem through NORMS Rewards. Ends today at 1:10 p.m.

🏟️ TEN GAMES, ONE MONDAY

College basketball opens. No. 3 USC women play UNLV in Las Vegas at 1 on CBSSN, with JuJu Watkins back. UCLA’s women host Lehigh at 11:30, Hawaii’s women are at Oregon at 3, and San Diego State’s women host Cal State Fullerton at 6. On the men’s side, UCLA plays Arizona in Las Vegas at 7 on TNT, USC hosts Milwaukee at 7:30 and Hawaii hosts Seattle at 9.

Golden Knights at Bruins at 4 on ESPN+, the start of a four-game East Coast trip. Vegas has lost four of five.

Heat at Lakers at 7 on Spectrum SportsNet, and Raptors at Clippers at 7 on ClipperVision, the second night of a back-to-back for both the Raptors and the Clippers.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

UCLA No. 5, USC No. 18. UCLA moved up two spots in the AP poll after going 8-0, and USC returned to the rankings after beating Ohio State. At BetOnline, USC’s title odds went from 150/1 to 50/1, the biggest jump in the country, and UCLA’s went from 75/1 to 55/1.

GO DEEPER

› UCLA, USC climb in AP Top 25 and improve playoff chances (The Sporting Tribune)

› Timothy Parker: USC women prepare for highly anticipated season (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2

🏀 WBB: Lehigh at UCLA — 11:30 a.m. — B1G+

🏀 WBB: USC vs. UNLV — T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas — 1:00 p.m. — CBSSN

🏀 WBB: Hawaii at Oregon — 3:00 p.m. — B1G+

🏒 NHL: Golden Knights at Bruins — TD Garden — 4:00 p.m. — ESPN+

🏀 WBB: Cal State Fullerton at San Diego State — 6:00 p.m. — Pac-12 YouTube

🏀 NBA: Heat at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — 7:00 p.m. — Spectrum SportsNet

🏀 NBA: Raptors at Clippers — Intuit Dome — 7:00 p.m. — ClipperVision

🏀 MBB: UCLA vs. Arizona — Las Vegas — 7:00 p.m. — TNT

🏀 MBB: Milwaukee at USC — Galen Center — 7:30 p.m. — B1G+

🏀 MBB: Seattle at Hawaii — 9:00 p.m. — MW+

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏀 Heat at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — $48

🏀 Raptors at Clippers — Intuit Dome — $14

🏀 USC vs. UNLV (WBB) — T-Mobile Arena — $45

🌴 TST TRIVIA

The Ducks’ new jerseys nod to the District 5 team from Disney’s “The Mighty Ducks.” In what season did the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim play their first NHL game?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: 1993-94.

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Back from the dead

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 17:12:49 GMT

Good morning. What a Saturday. USC scored on its second play, led 27-9 in the third quarter and beat No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 at the Coliseum to keep its playoff hopes alive. A few hours earlier, UCLA intercepted Nevada three times in the first quarter, won 27-0 and is 8-0. The Galaxy routed Austin 4-1, San Diego State and UNLV both won, and San Diego FC finally won again. Today is packed: Raiders at Jets at 10, Chargers at Rams at 1:05, LAFC, Angel City and the Wave in the afternoon, then the Ducks, Clippers and Lakers. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 Shock at the Coliseum. USC beat No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 — Holdenn Graff at the Coliseum.

🏈 8-0. UCLA picked off Nevada three times in the first quarter and won 27-0, its first Rose Bowl shutout since 2007 — Brady Charette at the Rose Bowl.

⚽ Three assists for Reus. The Galaxy beat Austin 4-1 and can clinch a playoff spot on Decision Day — Rob Jalon at Dignity Health Sports Park.

🏈 Within two. San Diego State held off Washington State 26-20 and needs two more wins for a bowl — The Sporting Tribune.

🏈 Halloween fright. UNLV held on to beat Northern Illinois 31-24 — Derek Hegna at Allegiant Stadium.

🏒 Thompson again. Tage Thompson scored twice and Buffalo beat the Kings 3-2 — Sabrina McClain at Crypto.com Arena.

⚽ Drought over. Anders Dreyer’s 15th goal gave San Diego FC a 1-0 win in St. Louis, its first in 11 games — Angel Rodriguez.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — SATURDAY

🏈 College football: USC 30, Ohio State 18 · UCLA 27, Nevada 0 · San Diego State 26, Washington State 20 · UNLV 31, Northern Illinois 24

🏒 NHL: Sabres 3, Kings 2

⚽ MLS: Galaxy 4, Austin FC 1 · San Diego FC 1, St. Louis City 0

🏈 Back from the dead

On the second play from scrimmage, Jayden Maiava threw a screen pass to Trent Mosley, and Mosley went 69 yards for a touchdown. USC never trailed. Waymond Jordan scored from 9 yards late in the first quarter, and it was 20-9 at halftime, with Ohio State held to three field goals.

In the third quarter, Mark Bowman caught a pass from Maiava, hurdled safety Jaylen McClain and broke more tackles to get to the 3. King Miller scored two plays later for a 27-9 lead. Holdenn Graff writes that Desman Stephens II then forced a fumble, and Floyd Boucard recovered it.

Ohio State made it interesting in the fourth. Jeremiah Smith, the Heisman front-runner, caught a 1-yard touchdown pass and finished with 10 catches for 83 yards, but the two-point try failed. Tanook Hines recovered the onside kick, and Caden Chittenden’s 32-yard field goal closed it out. Final: USC 30, No. 2 Ohio State 18.

Maiava went 15-of-22 for 222 yards, and Mosley had five catches for 101. Freshman Luke Fahey, making his first start for Ohio State, threw for 260 yards. “This program’s built on internal joy, not external applause,” Lincoln Riley said, a week after answering questions about his job. USC gets its second bye, then plays at No. 4 Indiana.

UCLA is 8-0. Nevada quarterback Luke Duncan, who transferred from UCLA after last season, threw three first-quarter interceptions, to Scooter Jackson, Jalen Woods and Derrick Barksdale, who returned his 26 yards for a touchdown. Ty Dieffenbach ran for one touchdown on a fake handoff to Wayne Knight and threw for another, and Mateen Bhaghani kicked two field goals. Nevada ran for 65 yards on 35 carries. It was UCLA’s first shutout at the Rose Bowl since 2007, and the Bruins have forced 14 turnovers in four October games. “To shut a team out at any level is a big deal,” Bob Chesney said. UCLA plays at Minnesota next.

GO DEEPER

› Holdenn Graff: USC shocks No. 2 Ohio State to keep CFP hopes alive (The Sporting Tribune)

› Brady Charette: No. 7 UCLA turns Rose Bowl into house of horrors in monstrous win over Nevada (The Sporting Tribune)

› Jack Haslett: UCLA defense spoils Luke Duncan’s return to Rose Bowl in UCLA shutout (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Ohio State at USC (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Nevada at UCLA (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚽ A BIG SATURDAY ELSEWHERE

The Galaxy can clinch on Decision Day. João Klauss scored in the first 10 minutes for his 10th goal, Hirving Lozano headed in a Marco Reus cross in the 38th, and Robert Taylor made it 3-0 just after halftime. Austin’s Ervin Torres curled one in from 25 yards, and Sergi Roberto answered with his first Galaxy goal, off a Reus header. Reus had three assists. Rob Jalon writes the Galaxy moved into seventh in the West for now, two points ahead of Real Salt Lake, and a win in Salt Lake City on Saturday puts them in the playoffs. “We have a great team. We hope everything comes out in our favor,” Lozano said.

San Diego State is two wins from a bowl. Javion Kinnard ran for two touchdowns, Lucky Sutton had 115 yards, and wide receiver Bert Emanuel Jr. threw a fourth-down touchdown pass in a 26-20 win over Washington State. The Aztecs (4-5) host Utah State on Nov. 14.

UNLV hung on. Jackson Arnold hit Kayden McGee for a 75-yard touchdown on the first play, Jai’Den Thomas broke a 60-yard run, and Mumu Bin-Wahad intercepted a pass in the red zone in the fourth to protect a 31-24 win over Northern Illinois. “We made a lot of big plays that we needed to to win the game,” Dan Mullen said. Wyoming is next.

The Kings lost to Buffalo again. Tage Thompson, who had a hat trick against the Ducks on Thursday, scored twice, including the power-play winner in the third, in a 3-2 Sabres win. Andre Lee and Corey Perry, with his first of the season, scored for the Kings, and Martin Chromiak made his NHL debut. “It’s a dream come true for me,” Chromiak said. The Kings (4-7-2) host San Jose on Wednesday.

San Diego FC won for the first time since August. Anders Dreyer scored his 15th goal in the 39th minute and Pablo Sisniega made six saves in a 1-0 win at St. Louis that ended a 10-game winless streak. SDFC finishes Saturday at home against Sporting Kansas City.

GO DEEPER

› Rob Jalon: LA Galaxy sweep aside Austin 4-1 at home (The Sporting Tribune)

› San Diego State holds off Washington State (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: UNLV survives Halloween fright against Northern Illinois (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sabrina McClain: Sabres spoil Kings’ Halloween with 3-2 victory (The Sporting Tribune)

› Angel Rodriguez: SDFC ends ten-match winless drought in 1-0 win over St. Louis (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🥞 Norms — two free buttermilk hotcakes should be on after the Galaxy scored four times at home. Redeem through NORMS Rewards in the app, at norms.com or in store within 48 hours of the goal.

Today’s triggers: a Rams interception against the Chargers gets a free Famous Star at Carl’s Jr. (check the Rams’ promotions page for the current code), an LAFC win brings back the DoorDash $10-off code, a Ducks home win gets $2 McGriddles, and a Lakers win gets Jack in the Box tacos with LETSGOLAKERS.

🏟️ EIGHT GAMES, ONE SUNDAY

Raiders at Jets at 10 a.m. on FOX. The Raiders (3-4) have lost four straight. “We’re going to keep shaking it up until we find the right mix,” Klint Kubiak said.

Chargers at Rams at 1:05 on FOX, at SoFi Stadium. The Rams (3-4) are 6.5-point favorites over the winless Chargers, and Fernando Ramirez picks the Rams 23-22. Center Coleman Shelton, tight end Colby Parkinson, cornerback Trent McDuffie and receiver Jordan Whittington are questionable.

Minnesota United at LAFC at 1:30 on Apple TV. LAFC has clinched a playoff spot and is playing for seeding.

Boston Legacy at Angel City at 2 on ESPN, at Dignity Health Sports Park. Angel City, unbeaten in nine and fourth in the NWSL, closes the regular season with a chance at its first home playoff game.

Wave at Bay FC at 2 on ESPN+. The Wave need to win and need Gotham to lose to Utah to have a shot at the Shield, which would then come down to goal differential.

Senators at Ducks at 5 on Prime Video. The Ducks (5-7-1) have lost seven of eight.

Clippers at Warriors at 5:30 on ClipperVision. The Clippers have lost four straight.

Raptors at Lakers at 6 on Spectrum SportsNet. The Lakers (4-2) blew a 25-point lead at Golden State on Friday.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

“The buzz is back.” Timothy Parker previews No. 3 USC women’s basketball, which opens Monday against UNLV at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. JuJu Watkins is back from her torn ACL, joined by Big Ten Rookie of the Year Jazzy Davidson and freshman Saniyah Hall, the nation’s No. 1 recruit. “All of a sudden, the buzz is back,” Lindsay Gottlieb said.

GO DEEPER

› Timothy Parker: USC women prepare for highly anticipated season (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fernando Ramirez: Chargers vs. Rams preview, prediction and how to watch (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: Raiders-Jets preview column (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1

🏈 NFL: Raiders at Jets — MetLife Stadium — 10:00 a.m. — FOX

🏈 NFL: Chargers at Rams — SoFi Stadium — 1:05 p.m. — FOX

⚽ MLS: Minnesota United at LAFC — BMO Stadium — 1:30 p.m. — Apple TV

⚽ NWSL: Boston Legacy at Angel City — Dignity Health Sports Park — 2:00 p.m. — ESPN

⚽ NWSL: Wave at Bay FC — PayPal Park — 2:00 p.m. — ESPN+

🏒 NHL: Senators at Ducks — Honda Center — 5:00 p.m. — Prime Video

🏀 NBA: Clippers at Warriors — Chase Center — 5:30 p.m. — ClipperVision

🏀 NBA: Raptors at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — 6:00 p.m. — Spectrum SportsNet

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii— brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏈 Chargers at Rams — SoFi Stadium — $60

⚽ Boston Legacy at Angel City — Dignity Health Sports Park — $40

🏀 Raptors at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — $65

🌴 TST TRIVIA

The Galaxy are one win from the playoffs. How many MLS Cups have they won, the most of any club?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Six: 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2024.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Halloween at the Coliseum

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:02:20 GMT

Good morning, and happy Halloween. USC plays its biggest home game of the season tonight against No. 2 Ohio State, and No. 7 UCLA tries to get to 8-0 against Nevada this afternoon. The Kings, Galaxy, San Diego State, UNLV and San Diego FC all play too. Friday night was a bad one: the Lakers led Golden State by 25 and lost by 17, the Clippers lost their fourth straight, and the Golden Knights lost to New Jersey. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏀 25 points, gone. Golden State outscored the Lakers 38-15 in the second quarter and won 112-95 — Carlos Yakimowich at Chase Center.

🏀 Four straight. A 23-2 Minnesota run buried the Clippers, 127-101 — Colin Costigan at Target Center.

🏒 Hughes times two. Jack Hughes scored twice and the Devils beat Vegas 5-2 — Steve Carp at T-Mobile Arena.

🏈 Rams by one? Fernando Ramirez picks the Rams 23-22 over the 0-6 Chargers on Sunday — Fernando Ramirez.

🏈 Five on the report. Shelton, Parkinson, McDuffie and Whittington are questionable and Cardona is doubtful for the Rams — The Sporting Tribune.

🏈 Fix yourselves first. Steve Carp on the Raiders’ trip to the Jets — Steve Carp.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — FRIDAY

🏀 NBA Cup: Warriors 112, Lakers 95 · Timberwolves 127, Clippers 101

🏒 NHL: Devils 5, Golden Knights 2 · 🏒 AHL: Roadrunners 5, Reign 4

🏈 HALLOWEEN AT THE COLISEUM

No. 2 Ohio State at USC, 4:30 p.m., NBC, the Coliseum. It’s the Trojans’ biggest home game of the season, and it comes after their worst performance. USC (6-2) ran 25 times for minus-17 yards in a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin, its lowest point total since 2018.

Holdenn Graff writes that USC’s defense spent the week rebuilding trust before facing Jeremiah Smith, the Heisman front-runner and Ohio State’s career leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdown catches. The Buckeyes will start freshman quarterback Luke Fahey with Julian Sayin out for the season. “So it’s not about trying to completely eliminate him, but put a cap on him,” safety Prophet Brown said of Smith.

Lincoln Riley spent the week answering questions about his future. “This is where I want to be,” he said. “This is the right place for me. I’m the right person to be here.”

Nevada at No. 7 UCLA, 1:15 p.m., BTN, the Rose Bowl. UCLA is 7-0 for the first time since 2005, leads the Big Ten in takeaways and held Michigan State to 156 yards last week. Bob Chesney shut down talk this week that he’d leave for a bigger job: “I love it here.”

GO DEEPER

› Holdenn Graff: USC defense gears up for Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (The Sporting Tribune)

› Holdenn Graff: “This is where I want to be”: Lincoln Riley answers the noise on his future head-on (The Sporting Tribune)

› Jack Haslett: Bob Chesney is building something at UCLA... and he isn’t going anywhere (The Sporting Tribune)

› Brady Charette: Key turnovers lead UCLA to 28-10 win over Michigan State (The Sporting Tribune)

TOGETHER WITH BETONLINE

Today’s TST Best Bets are brought to you by BetOnline.ag. Join here — new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.

🏀 A ROUGH FRIDAY

The Lakers led 38-15 after one quarter. Luka Dončić, back from his back tightness, scored 21 in the first quarter alone. Then, Carlos Yakimowich writes, Golden State won the second quarter 38-15 to tie it at halftime, took the lead in the third and opened the fourth on an 11-0 run. Stephen Curry made eight 3-pointers and scored 31, and the Warriors’ bench outscored the Lakers’ 50-7. The Lakers had 22 turnovers, eight by Austin Reaves. Dončić finished with 37. “We got to be better. We win together, we lose together,” he said. The Lakers (4-2) host Toronto on Sunday.

The Clippers have lost four straight. They cut Minnesota’s lead to eight twice in the second half, then gave up a 23-2 run and lost 127-101. Colin Costigan writes that LaMelo Ball hit three 3-pointers in under two minutes in the fourth, and Darius Garland had 24 points and five more turnovers. The Clippers are at Golden State on Sunday.

Vegas has lost four of five. Jack Hughes and Arseny Gritsyuk scored twice each and Luke Hughes added one in the Devils’ 5-2 win at T-Mobile Arena. Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev scored for Vegas. “We started turning the puck over and gave them everything they wanted to do,” Barbashev said. The Golden Knights are second in the Pacific, a point behind Edmonton, and start a four-game East Coast trip Monday in Boston.

GO DEEPER

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers squander 25-point lead in loss to Warriors (The Sporting Tribune)

› Colin Costigan: Clippers collapse in late-stage surge to Timberwolves (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: Devils 5, Golden Knights 2 (The Sporting Tribune)

🏈 THE FREEWAY GAME

Chargers at Rams, Sunday, 1:25 p.m., FOX, SoFi Stadium. The Chargers are 0-6 and score a league-low 15 points a game. The Rams are 3-4 and favored by 6.5. Fernando Ramirez picks the Rams, 23-22, and says Aaron Donald and Braden Fiske could give the Chargers’ line trouble. Derwin James is out for the Chargers, and Joe Alt is back.

The Rams have injury questions of their own. Center Coleman Shelton, tight end Colby Parkinson, cornerback Trent McDuffie and receiver Jordan Whittington, whose back locked up Friday, are questionable, and long snapper Joe Cardona is doubtful. “You don’t replace playmakers like those guys,” Sean McVay said of Davante Adams and Terrance Ferguson.

The Raiders are at the Jets on Sunday. Steve Carp writes they need to fix their slow starts and offensive line instead of worrying about the reunion with Geno Smith. “We’re going to keep shaking it up until we find the right mix,” Klint Kubiak said.

GO DEEPER

› Fernando Ramirez: Chargers vs. Rams preview, prediction and how to watch (The Sporting Tribune)

› Rams face injury concerns ahead of Chargers game (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: Raiders-Jets preview column (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

The board is dark this morning. The Lakers lost, so no tacos.

Today’s triggers: a Galaxy goal against Austin in their last home game turns on Norms free hotcakes for 48 hours through NORMS Rewards, and a Kings goal in the final minute of the second period against Buffalo gets a free McFlurry at McDonald’s.

🏟️ SEVEN GAMES, ONE SATURDAY

San Diego FC at St. Louis City at noon on Apple TV. San Diego’s season ended Wednesday with a 4-1 loss in Vancouver.

Sabres at Kings at 1 on ABTV. The Kings (4-6-2) won 6-5 in overtime over Ottawa on Thursday. Buffalo beat the Ducks 7-6 the same night.

Nevada at UCLA at 1:15 on BTN.

Austin FC at Galaxy at 2 on Apple TV, the Galaxy’s last home game. They’re trying to hold a play-in spot after letting a 2-0 lead get away in El Tráfico. They finish at Real Salt Lake on Nov. 7.

Washington State at San Diego State at 4 on CBSSN. The Aztecs (3-5) need wins to get bowl eligible.

Ohio State at USC at 4:30 on NBC.

Northern Illinois at UNLV at 7:30 on CBSSN, UNLV’s first game since losing at Air Force.

Also: Canelo Alvarez fights unbeaten WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on DAZN. Sunday: Chargers at Rams, Raiders at Jets, Senators at Ducks, Raptors at Lakers, Clippers at Warriors, Wave at Bay FC.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

Remembering June Jones. In case you missed it Friday: TST’s obituary of the former Hawaii coach, who died Thursday at 73.

The Reign blew a lead. Ontario led Tucson 2-0 after two periods and lost 5-4, its third home loss.

GO DEEPER

› Legendary Hawaii coach June Jones dies at 73 (The Sporting Tribune)

› Reign blow 2-goal lead to Roadrunners in third home loss (The Sporting Tribune)

› Michael Huezo: Canelo vs. Mbilli preview (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31

⚽ MLS: San Diego FC at St. Louis City — Energizer Park — 12:00 p.m. — Apple TV

🏒 NHL: Sabres at Kings — Crypto.com Arena — 1:00 p.m. — ABTV

🏈 College football: Nevada at UCLA — Rose Bowl — 1:15 p.m. — BTN

⚽ MLS: Austin FC at Galaxy — Dignity Health Sports Park — 2:00 p.m. — Apple TV

🏈 College football: Washington State at San Diego State — Snapdragon Stadium — 4:00 p.m. — CBSSN

🏈 College football: Ohio State at USC — Coliseum — 4:30 p.m. — NBC

🏈 College football: Northern Illinois at UNLV — Allegiant Stadium — 7:30 p.m. — CBSSN

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏈 Ohio State at USC — Coliseum — $42

🏈 Nevada at UCLA — Rose Bowl — $11

🏈 Chargers at Rams — SoFi Stadium (Sunday) — $57

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is the Heisman front-runner. Who was the last USC player to win the Heisman Trophy?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Caleb Williams, in 2022.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Aloha, Coach Jones

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:35:12 GMT

Good morning. June Jones, the winningest coach in Hawaii football history, died Thursday morning in Oregon. He was 73. Jones took over a program that went 0-12 and had it in the Sugar Bowl by his ninth season. In Los Angeles, the Kings won a wild one, 6-5 in overtime over Ottawa, and the Ducks lost a wild one, 7-6 to Buffalo. Tonight: the Golden Knights host New Jersey at 3, the Clippers are in Minnesota at 5, and the Lakers are at Golden State at 7. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🌺 June Jones dies at 73. The run-and-shoot coach won 76 games and took Hawaii to the Sugar Bowl — The Sporting Tribune.

🏒 “A method to the madness.” Byfield scored in overtime and the Kings beat Ottawa 6-5 — Alex Hutton at Crypto.com Arena.

🏒 13 goals. Tage Thompson had a hat trick and Buffalo beat the Ducks 7-6 — Zach Cavanagh at Honda Center.

🏆 Leinart honored. The former USC quarterback will receive the Roy Firestone Award on Tuesday — Arash Markazi.

🏈 The Crosby price. Any team that wants Maxx Crosby before the Nov. 10 deadline will have to pay — Derek Hegna.

🥊 “I’m the challenger now.” Canelo Alvarez faces unbeaten champion Christian Mbilli on Saturday — Michael Huezo.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — THURSDAY

🏒 NHL: Kings 6, Senators 5 (OT) · Sabres 7, Ducks 6

🌺 ALOHA, COACH JONES

When June Jones got to Hawaii in 1999, the Rainbow Warriors were coming off an 0-12 season. That fall they went 9-4, shared the WAC title and won the Oahu Bowl.

Jones died Thursday morning in Oregon, the university announced. He was 73. No cause of death was given.

He coached Hawaii from 1999 to 2007 and went 76-41, the most wins in program history, with six bowl games, two conference titles and three 10-win seasons. His run-and-shoot offense produced Timmy Chang, who became the NCAA’s career passing leader, and Colt Brennan. In 2007, Hawaii went 12-0 in the regular season, won the WAC and played in its first BCS bowl, losing to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2008. Jones, Brennan and that team are all in Hawaii’s Circle of Honor.

Jones had played quarterback at Hawaii after transferring from Oregon in 1973, and he learned the run-and-shoot from Mouse Davis at Portland State. He also coached the Atlanta Falcons from 1994 to 1996, was the Chargers’ interim coach in 1998 and coached SMU from 2008 into 2014.

“He was a father figure, a mentor, and a visionary who revolutionized the game,” Chang said in a statement. Gov. Josh Green called him “an exceptional human being.” Memorial service details will be announced in the coming days.

GO DEEPER

› Legendary Hawaii coach June Jones dies at 73 (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏒 ELEVEN GOALS, THIRTEEN GOALS

The Kings finally have an overtime plan. Last season they lost an NHL-record 20 games in overtime or a shootout. Alex Hutton writes that Peter Laviolette had the team work on three-on-three in training camp, and on Thursday it paid off: Quinton Byfield came off the bench and scored the winner in a 6-5 game against Ottawa. “It’s the first year in my whole career that we’ve ever actually worked on three-on-three,” Drew Doughty said. “There’s definitely a method to the madness,” Laviolette said. The Kings (4-6-2) got their first home win and host Buffalo on Saturday afternoon.

The Ducks scored six and lost. Tage Thompson scored three times and Buffalo beat Anaheim 7-6 at Honda Center. Cutter Gauthier scored twice on the power play, and Mikael Granlund, Roger McQueen, Tristan Luneau and Beckett Sennecke also scored. Ville Husso made 23 saves. Zach Cavanagh writes the Ducks have lost seven of eight and are 1-4-1 at home. Ottawa is in Sunday before a three-game trip to Western Canada.

GO DEEPER

› Alex Hutton: Kings’ overtime coaching overhaul leads to dramatic win over Senators (The Sporting Tribune)

› Zach Cavanagh: Ducks vs. Sabres recap, Oct. 29 (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Senators at Kings (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Sabres at Ducks (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

The board is dark this morning. The Ducks lost at home, so no McGriddles, and the Kings didn’t score in the final minute of the second period, so no McFlurry. The Lakers didn’t play Thursday.

Tonight’s trigger: a Lakers win at Golden State brings back two free tacos at Jack in the Box on Saturday with code LETSGOLAKERS.

🏟️ THREE GAMES, ONE FRIDAY

Devils at Golden Knights at 3 on ESPN+, on Nevada Day. Vegas ended a three-game losing streak Tuesday when Adin Hill made 24 saves against Ottawa. It’s the last home game before a four-game trip that starts Monday in Boston.

Clippers at Timberwolves at 5 on ClipperVision, the start of NBA Cup group play. The Clippers have lost three straight and lead the league with 23.2 turnovers a game.

Lakers at Warriors at 7 on Prime Video. The Lakers (4-1) beat the Clippers on Wednesday without Luka Dončić, who sat with back tightness.

Saturday: Ohio State at USC, Nevada at UCLA, Washington State at San Diego State, Austin at Galaxy, Sabres at Kings, and Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli. Sunday: Rams vs. Chargers, Senators at Ducks, Wave at Bay FC.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

Leinart gets the Firestone Award. Arash Markazi reports that Matt Leinart, the 2004 Heisman winner who went 37-2 as USC’s starter, will receive the Roy Firestone Award from Westcoast Sports Associates on Tuesday at the Sandbourne Santa Monica. The nonprofit pays youth sports costs for kids in underserved Southern California communities and has raised more than $4 million over 31 years.

What Maxx Crosby would cost. Derek Hegna writes that with the Raiders on a four-game losing streak and the trade deadline on Nov. 10, interest in Crosby is back, and any team will likely have to match the two first-round picks Baltimore agreed to give up before the deal fell through on a failed physical. “We’re talking every day about those things,” Klint Kubiak said.

Canelo as the challenger. Michael Huezo previews Canelo Alvarez (63-3-2) against unbeaten WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli (29-0-1) on Saturday in Riyadh on DAZN pay-per-view. “I’m the challenger now,” Alvarez said.

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: Matt Leinart to receive Roy Firestone Award (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: Teams better be ready to pay up if the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes kick off (The Sporting Tribune)

› Michael Huezo: Canelo vs. Mbilli preview (The Sporting Tribune)

› NFL Week 8 fantasy start-sit: tight ends (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30

🏒 NHL: Devils at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — 3:00 p.m. — ESPN+

🏀 NBA Cup: Clippers at Timberwolves — Target Center — 5:00 p.m. — ClipperVision

🏀 NBA Cup: Lakers at Warriors — Chase Center — 7:00 p.m. — Prime Video

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏒 Devils at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — $74

🏈 Ohio State at USC — Coliseum (Saturday) — $39

🏒 Sabres at Kings — Crypto.com Arena (Saturday) — $30

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Colt Brennan ran June Jones’ offense at Hawaii. Where did Brennan finish in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2007?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Third, behind Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

No Luka, No Problem

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:48:31 GMT

Good morning. A night after giving up 136 points to Portland, and without Luka Dončić, the Lakers held the Clippers to 35% shooting and won 103-87 at Intuit Dome. They’re 4-1 and have beaten the Clippers twice in six days. The Clippers have lost three straight. San Diego FC’s season ended in Vancouver, the Dodgers opened as the favorites to win next year’s World Series, and the Rams say they aren’t overlooking the winless Chargers. Tonight: Ottawa at the Kings and Buffalo at the Ducks, both at 7. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏀 4-1. Collin Sexton scored 21 off the bench and the Lakers beat the Clippers 103-87 without Dončić — Carlos Yakimowich at Intuit Dome.

🏀 Three straight. “We got really stagnant,” Tyronn Lue said after 24 more Clippers turnovers — Colin Costigan at Intuit Dome.

🏈 “I really couldn’t care less what the record says.” Sean McVay on Sunday’s game against the Chargers — The Sporting Tribune.

⚾ +325. The Dodgers open as 2027 World Series favorites after Milwaukee’s title — The Sporting Tribune.

⚽ Eliminated. Vancouver beat San Diego FC 4-1 to end its playoff hopes — Angel Rodriguez at BC Place.

🏈 “Put a cap on him.” USC’s defense prepares for Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith — Holdenn Graff.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — WEDNESDAY

🏀 NBA: Lakers 103, Clippers 87

⚽ MLS: Whitecaps 4, San Diego FC 1

🏀 College basketball (exhibition): San Diego State 92, Long Beach State 67

🏀 NO LUKA, NO PROBLEM

Luka Dončić scored 41 against Portland on Tuesday. On Wednesday he was listed with back tightness and sat out the second night of the back-to-back, along with Ziaire Williams.

The Lakers won by 16 anyway. Carlos Yakimowich writes that they closed the second quarter on a 16-0 run, holding the Clippers to 17.6% shooting in the quarter, and led 56-38 at halftime. The Clippers cut it to seven in the third. Then Collin Sexton scored the Lakers’ last 11 points of the quarter, including back-to-back 3s, and it was 85-66 going into the fourth.

Quentin Grimes, in his first start, led the Lakers with 23 points and four steals. Sexton had a season-high 21 on 4-of-7 from three, Austin Reaves had 16 and Matisse Thybulle 15. The Lakers forced 24 turnovers, scored 31 points off them and held the Clippers to 35.1% shooting. “Sometimes it’s hard to get his attention because he gets locked in,” JJ Redick said of Sexton. “I’m going to do whatever my team needs,” Sexton said.

The Clippers have lost three straight. Colin Costigan writes they lead the league in turnovers at 23.2 a game. Rookie Keaton Wagler scored a career-high 21 off the bench, and Darius Garland had 14 on 4-of-12 with five turnovers. Rui Hachimura was out injured. “I thought tonight offensively, we got really stagnant, and we didn’t do all the things we’ve been talking about,” Tyronn Lue said.

Both teams open NBA Cup play Friday: the Lakers (4-1) at Golden State and the Clippers at Minnesota.

GO DEEPER

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers ride Collin Sexton’s spark to win over Clippers (The Sporting Tribune)

› Colin Costigan: Clippers crumple against Lakers, drop third consecutive game (The Sporting Tribune)

› Carlos Yakimowich: Luka Dončić out against Clippers with back tightness (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Lakers at Clippers (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏈 THE FREEWAY GAME

The Rams play the Chargers on Sunday, and Sean McVay says the Chargers’ winless record doesn’t mean much. “The film doesn’t lie. There’s a lot of really good stuff,” he said. “I really couldn’t care less what the record says.” The Chargers are coming off their bye. Kickoff is 1:05 p.m. at SoFi Stadium.

Davante Adams had surgery on his hamstring, and McVay said he could be back closer to six weeks than 10. Myles Garrett and tight end Terrance Ferguson aren’t expected Sunday, and Trent McDuffie was limited Wednesday. Center Coleman Shelton (hip), tight end Colby Parkinson (rib) and long snapper Joe Cardona (ankle) didn’t practice, and the Rams added Jake McQuaid as insurance at long snapper and brought back kicker Joshua Karty alongside Brandon McManus. “You have to go out there and earn it and do it,” Matthew Stafford said.

GO DEEPER

› Rams not overlooking winless Chargers (The Sporting Tribune)

⚾ FAVORITES AGAIN

Milwaukee won the World Series. The Brewers went 11-2 in the postseason, including the NLCS sweep of the Dodgers, and won their first championship. They opened 2026 at 20-1.

The Dodgers open as the favorites for 2027 at +325 at BetOnline, ahead of Milwaukee (5-1) and the Yankees (+750). The Padres are 25-1, and the Angels are 200-1.

GO DEEPER

› Dodgers open as favorites to win 2027 World Series (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🌮 Jack in the Box — two free tacos with any drink after the Lakers beat the Clippers. Code LETSGOLAKERS in the Jack in the Box app.

Tonight’s triggers: a Ducks home win over Buffalo gets $2 Sausage McGriddles at McDonald’s on Friday (breakfast hours), and a Kings goal in the final minute of the second period against Ottawa gets a free McFlurry.

🏟️ TWO GAMES, ONE THURSDAY

Senators at Kings at 7 on ABTV, the start of a seven-game homestand. The Kings (3-6-2) went 3-2 on their road trip but are 0-3-0 at Crypto.com Arena. “The record could be a lot different if we’re closing out third periods,” Peter Laviolette said Tuesday.

Sabres at Ducks at 7 on ESPN+. The Ducks (5-6-1) blew a 5-2 lead Tuesday and lost to Vancouver in overtime, a game Joel Quenneville called “terrible.”

Friday: Lakers at Warriors and Clippers at Timberwolves (NBA Cup), Devils at Golden Knights. Saturday: Ohio State at USC, Nevada at UCLA, Washington State at San Diego State, Austin at Galaxy. Sunday: Rams vs. Chargers, Wave at Bay FC.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

San Diego FC is out. Vancouver, the West leader, scored four times before Onni Valakari got one back in the 83rd, and the 4-1 loss ended SDFC’s playoff hopes. Angel Rodriguez writes they’re winless in 10. They finish Saturday at St. Louis.

USC gets Ohio State. Holdenn Graff writes that USC’s defense is working on trust after the Wisconsin loss before facing Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State’s career leader in catches, yards and touchdown receptions. Ohio State will start freshman Luke Fahey with Julian Sayin out. “So it’s not about trying to completely eliminate him, but put a cap on him,” safety Prophet Brown said.

JuJu Watkins is back. In her first game in 580 days, Watkins scored 18 in 23 minutes as No. 3 USC beat Cal 78-76 in an exhibition. Rey Moralde writes she’s a possible No. 1 pick in the 2027 WNBA draft, and the Sparks have two picks in the Nov. 15 lottery, with 36 of 1,000 chances at No. 1.

San Diego State looks deep. Six Aztecs scored in double figures in a 92-67 exhibition win over Long Beach State. “This team has a high ceiling, but we have a long way to go to get to it,” Brian Dutcher said. The opener is Nov. 3 against Cal State Fullerton.

GO DEEPER

› Angel Rodriguez: SDFC’s playoff hopes end in 4-1 loss to Whitecaps (The Sporting Tribune)

› Holdenn Graff: USC defense gears up for Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (The Sporting Tribune)

› JuJu Watkins returns as USC beats Cal (The Sporting Tribune)

› Rey Moralde: WNBA 2027 draft lottery (The Sporting Tribune)

› Eric Evelhoch: SDSU MBB vs. Long Beach State exhibition (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29

🏒 NHL: Senators at Kings — Crypto.com Arena — 7:00 p.m. — ABTV

🏒 NHL: Sabres at Ducks — Honda Center — 7:00 p.m. — ESPN+

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏒 Senators at Kings — Crypto.com Arena — $26

🏒 Sabres at Ducks — Honda Center — $28

🏈 Ohio State at USC — Coliseum (Saturday) — $46

🌴 TST TRIVIA

The Brewers won the first World Series in franchise history this month. In what year did they make their only previous World Series appearance?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: 1982, when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

No Stops, First Loss

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:48:15 GMT

Good morning. The Lakers aren’t unbeaten anymore. Portland shot 59%, went to the free-throw line 41 times and won 136-129 despite 41 points from Luka Dončić. The Lakers don’t have long to think about it: they play the Clippers tonight at 7:30 at Intuit Dome. On Tuesday night, the Ducks led Vancouver 5-2 with 12 minutes left and lost 6-5 in overtime, the Kings lost in Chicago, and Adin Hill made 24 saves as the Golden Knights ended a three-game losing streak. LA28 has a slogan, too. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏀 First loss. “We got broken down a lot,” JJ Redick said after Portland beat the Lakers 136-129 — Carlos Yakimowich at Crypto.com Arena.

🏒 “Terrible.” The Ducks blew a 5-2 lead and lost 6-5 to Vancouver in overtime — Zach Cavanagh at Honda Center.

🏒 Skid over. Adin Hill made 24 saves and Raphael Lavoie scored his first NHL goal in a 4-1 win over Ottawa — Steve Carp at T-Mobile Arena.

🏒 3-2 trip. The Kings lost 2-1 in Chicago to finish their road trip — Nick Wire at United Center.

🏅 “Stars Align.” LA28 unveiled its official slogan for the 2028 Games — Arash Markazi.

🏈 Staying put. Bob Chesney and Lincoln Riley both shut down talk about their futures — Jack Haslett and Holdenn Graff.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — TUESDAY

🏀 NBA: Trail Blazers 136, Lakers 129

🏒 NHL: Golden Knights 4, Senators 1 · Blackhawks 2, Kings 1 · Canucks 6, Ducks 5 (OT)

🏀 NO STOPS, FIRST LOSS

The Lakers scored 129 points and shot better than 56%, and it wasn’t enough. Carlos Yakimowich writes that Portland shot 59%, made 18 of 36 3-pointers and attempted 41 free throws, 21 of them in the first half, as the Lakers committed 29 fouls. Ja Morant and Deni Avdija scored 23 each, Jrue Holiday had 22 off the bench, and Damian Lillard’s sidestep 3 with 43 seconds left sealed it.

Luka Dončić scored 41, Austin Reaves had 26 and seven assists, and Sandro Mamukelashvili hit a 3 at the halftime buzzer for a 73-68 lead. Portland is 3-0, and the Lakers are 3-1.

“If we score 129 points at home, we should be able to get enough stops to win,” JJ Redick said. “The game plan discipline, KYP personnel discipline wasn’t where it needs to be.” Walker Kessler took it on himself: “I pride myself on being the leader on the defense and I didn’t perform tonight.”

Tonight: Lakers at Clippers, 7:30, Spectrum SportsNet, Intuit Dome. It’s the second night of the Lakers’ first back-to-back. The Lakers won the first meeting 125-117 on Friday, when the Clippers turned it over 26 times. The Clippers (1-2) have lost two straight on the road, most recently 108-101 in Oklahoma City. “Tonight we lost, but we got another opportunity tomorrow night to go get a win,” Reaves said.

GO DEEPER

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers can’t get stops, suffer first loss of season (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fredo Cervantes: How Matisse Thybulle ended up with the Lakers (The Sporting Tribune)

› Colin Costigan: Clippers drop consecutive road games following loss to Thunder (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏒 TWELVE MINUTES

The Ducks led 5-2 with about 12 minutes left. A.J. Greer scored twice, and Jeff Malott, Beckett Sennecke and Leo Carlsson also scored. Then Jamie Oleksiak scored 30 seconds after Greer’s second goal, and Zach Cavanagh writes Vancouver outshot Anaheim 8-2 the rest of regulation. Sam Colangelo iced the puck trying for an empty-netter, Greer couldn’t clear, and Jonathan Lekkerimäki scored twice with his goalie pulled, the second with 1:57 left. In overtime, a Sennecke high stick and an Alex Killorn interference penalty gave Vancouver a five-on-three, and Filip Hronek won it with about 10 seconds left.

“That was a terrible loss,” Joel Quenneville said. “It’s unacceptable. We can’t let up like that at all,” Jackson LaCombe said. It came three nights after the Ducks snapped a five-game losing streak by coming back from two goals down twice to win 5-4 in Philadelphia, with Beckett Sennecke ending an 0-for-17 power-play drought. The Ducks are 5-6-1 and have lost six of seven. Buffalo is at Honda Center on Thursday.

Vegas stopped the slide. Braeden Bowman scored late in the first, Shane Pinto tied it on a power play early in the third, and Raphael Lavoie scored his first NHL goal to put Vegas ahead for good. William Karlsson and Jack Eichel added empty-netters. Adin Hill stopped 24 of 25, including a diving save on Tim Stützle in the second. “It’s been a long time coming. It feels real good,” Lavoie said. “He gave us a chance to win the hockey game,” Ryan Craig said of Hill. The Devils are at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Nevada Day.

The Kings finished their trip 3-2. Samuel Helenius scored his first point of the season in the first period, but Roman Kantserov tied it in the second and Wyatt Kaiser won it for Chicago early in the third. Anton Forsberg made 25 saves. “The record could be a lot different if we’re closing out third periods,” Peter Laviolette said. The Kings (3-6-2) start a seven-game homestand Thursday, and they are 0-3-0 at Crypto.com Arena.

GO DEEPER

› Zach Cavanagh: Ducks blow 3-goal lead to cellar-dweller Canucks in “terrible” OT defeat (The Sporting Tribune)

› Zach Cavanagh: Ducks 5, Flyers 4 (Oct. 24 recap) (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: Hill comes to the rescue as Knights snap three-game skid (The Sporting Tribune)

› Nick Wire: Kings drop final game of road trip to Blackhawks (The Sporting Tribune)

🏅 STARS ALIGN

LA28 has a slogan: “Stars Align.” Arash Markazi reports the organizing committee unveiled it Wednesday with a 60-second film set to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Can’t Stop,” pairing Olympic and Paralympic moments with the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory. “Los Angeles is the place where dreams take flight, and the Olympics show us what’s possible when the world unites,” LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman said. The Olympics open July 14, 2028, and the Paralympics on Aug. 15.

The coaches aren’t going anywhere. No. 7 UCLA’s Bob Chesney was asked Tuesday about online talk that he’d leave for a bigger program after a 7-0 start. “No messages for them,” he said. “I love it here.” Across town, Lincoln Riley answered questions about his job after the 24-7 loss at Wisconsin. “This is where I want to be,” he said. “This is the right place for me. I’m the right person to be here.” He called athletic director Jen Cohen “a tremendous AD.” USC hosts Ohio State on Saturday at the Coliseum, and UCLA hosts Nevada.

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: LA28 unveils ‘Stars Align’ as official slogan for 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (The Sporting Tribune)

› Jack Haslett: Bob Chesney is building something at UCLA... and he isn’t going anywhere (The Sporting Tribune)

› Holdenn Graff: “This is where I want to be”: Lincoln Riley answers the noise on his future head-on (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

The board is dark this morning. The Lakers lost, so no Jack in the Box tacos. The Ducks lost at home, so no McGriddles. The Kings didn’t score in the final minute of the second period.

Tonight’s trigger: a Lakers win at the Clippers brings back two free tacos at Jack in the Box on Thursday with code LETSGOLAKERS.

🏟️ TWO GAMES, ONE WEDNESDAY

San Diego FC at Whitecaps at 7:30 on Apple TV. San Diego drew Seattle 2-2 on Saturday.

Lakers at Clippers at 7:30 on Spectrum SportsNet, at Intuit Dome. The second game of the Lakers’ back-to-back.

Thursday: Sabres at Ducks, and the Kings open a seven-game homestand. Friday: Devils at Golden Knights. Saturday: Ohio State at USC, Nevada at UCLA, Washington State at San Diego State, Austin at Galaxy.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

How Thybulle got here. Fredo Cervantes writes that JJ Redick and Luka Dončić both recruited Matisse Thybulle, who signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal this summer after a long July conversation with Redick about his role. Redick first met him in Philadelphia in 2021. “I’m really excited that we got him,” Redick said.

GO DEEPER

› Fredo Cervantes: How Matisse Thybulle ended up with the Lakers (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28

⚽ MLS: San Diego FC at Whitecaps — BC Place — 7:30 p.m. — Apple TV

🏀 NBA: Lakers at Clippers — Intuit Dome — 7:30 p.m. — Spectrum SportsNet

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏀 Lakers at Clippers — Intuit Dome — $60

🏈 Ohio State at USC — Coliseum (Saturday) — $63

🏈 Nevada at UCLA — Rose Bowl (Saturday) — $20

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics for the third time in 2028. In which two years did it host before?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: 1932 and 1984.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Hova at SoFi

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 17:15:48 GMT

Good morning. The Super Bowl is coming back to Inglewood in February, and on Monday the NFL announced its halftime act: JAY-Z. His company, Roc Nation, has produced the show for years and will again. On the ice, the Kings scored six times at Madison Square Garden and have won three of four. Tonight the Kings are in Chicago at 5, the Ducks and Golden Knights are both home at 7, and the 3-0 Lakers host Portland at 8 on NBC. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🎤 JAY-Z at SoFi. He will headline the Super Bowl LXI halftime show on Feb. 14 — The Sporting Tribune.

🎤 “He signs the check on the gig.” Eric Lambkins II on what it means for the halftime show’s producer to book himself — Eric Lambkins II.

🏒 Six goals. Six different Kings scored in a 6-3 win over the Rangers — Allan Kreda at Madison Square Garden.

🏈 “No controversy.” Klint Kubiak says Kirk Cousins is still the Raiders’ starter — Derek Hegna.

🏀 “The face of the franchise.” Luka Dončić on the Lakers’ 3-0 start — Mykell Mathieu.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY

🏒 NHL: Kings 6, Rangers 3

🎤 HOVA AT SOFI

JAY-Z will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14, 2027. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced it Monday. Roc Nation, the league’s entertainment adviser, will be executive producer, and Hamish Hamilton will direct. Special guests and the setlist haven’t been announced. The game and show will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney+.

“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey,” JAY-Z said. Roger Goodell said that when the league first reached its agreement with Roc Nation, “I had just one request: that JAY-Z take the stage himself one day.”

SoFi last hosted the Super Bowl in February 2022, when the Rams beat Cincinnati 23-20. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar performed at halftime, and that show won three Emmys.

Eric Lambkins II doesn’t give it a clean verdict. He writes that JAY-Z is both a symbol of Black success and the businessman at the center of how the NFL picks its performers: “He doesn’t just get the gig. He signs the check on the gig.” He also covers the controversies around JAY-Z, who has not been charged with anything, and calls the league’s decision “a bet.” His conclusion: “The confusion is the analysis.”

GO DEEPER

› JAY-Z to headline Super Bowl LXI halftime show at SoFi Stadium (The Sporting Tribune)

› Eric Lambkins II: The man who books the Super Bowl halftime show just booked himself in Los Angeles (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏒 THE KINGS AT THE GARDEN

Peter Laviolette went back to New York and his team scored three in the first period. Allan Kreda writes that Taylor Ward scored on a breakaway, and Brandt Clarke and Drew Doughty added goals before James Reimer was pulled after allowing three on eight shots. Artemi Panarin, who scored 49 goals for the Rangers in 2023-24, scored on the power play in the second for his team-leading seventh. Mikey Anderson and Joel Edmundson (empty net) finished it. Six different Kings scored, and 12 had points. Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves.

It was the Rangers’ first home loss in seven games and Laviolette’s 849th coaching win, tying Ken Hitchcock for sixth all time. He coached the Rangers for two seasons and won the Presidents’ Trophy in the first; he called it “a tale of two years.” “I thought it was really good from start to finish. We played the game fast and made really good decisions,” he said Monday. “We’re feeling more confident day by day,” Ward said.

After an 0-4-2 start, the Kings have won three of four and are 3-5-2. They finish the road trip tonight in Chicago.

GO DEEPER

› Allan Kreda: Kings smother Rangers 6-3 for third win in four games (The Sporting Tribune)

› Allan Kreda: Kings coach Laviolette reflects upon return to New York (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

The board is dark this morning. The Kings won, but their McFlurry deal needs a goal in the final minute of the second period.

Tonight’s triggers: a Ducks home win over Vancouver gets $2 Sausage McGriddles at McDonald’s on Wednesday (breakfast hours), and a Lakers win over Portland brings back two free tacos at Jack in the Box with code LETSGOLAKERS.

🏟️ FOUR GAMES, ONE TUESDAY

Kings at Blackhawks at 5 on ABTV, the end of a five-game trip on which the Kings have won three of four.

Canucks at Ducks at 7 on Prime Video, the Ducks’ first home game after a four-game East Coast trip.

Senators at Golden Knights at 7 on ESPN+. Vegas has lost three straight, has scored three goals in its last nine periods and has allowed a power-play goal in five straight games.

Trail Blazers at Lakers at 8 on NBC. The Lakers are 3-0, and Dončić is coming off 52 in Utah. Tomorrow they play the Clippers at Intuit Dome, their first back-to-back.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

“The face of the franchise.” Mykell Mathieu writes about Luka Dončić’s leadership through the 3-0 start. “It’s the start of something new. It’s going to be a special season,” Dončić said. Walker Kessler says playing with Dončić and Austin Reaves is easy because “their court vision’s insane.”

The Rams want more urgency. Mykell Mathieu writes that the Rams (3-4) were scoreless in the third quarter and turned it over in the second half in Las Vegas after leading 28-6 at halftime. “We have to improve and we have to have even greater urgency than last week,” Sean McVay said.

Cousins stays. Fernando Mendoza looked like he was warming up late against the Rams, but Klint Kubiak said Monday, “Kirk is our starting quarterback. There is no controversy there.” Derek Hegna writes the Raiders have a plan for Mendoza, but not yet. The Raiders (3-4) are at the Jets on Sunday.

GO DEEPER

› Mykell Mathieu: Dončić’s leadership and productivity has the Lakers thriving to start the season (The Sporting Tribune)

› Mykell Mathieu: Rams looking to turn renewed sense of urgency into consistent results (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: No QB controversy: Kubiak backs Kirk Cousins as starter (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27

🏒 NHL: Kings at Blackhawks — United Center — 5:00 p.m. — ABTV

🏒 NHL: Canucks at Ducks — Honda Center — 7:00 p.m. — Prime Video

🏒 NHL: Senators at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — 7:00 p.m. — ESPN+

🏀 NBA: Trail Blazers at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — 8:00 p.m. — NBC

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏀 Trail Blazers at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — $50

🏒 Canucks at Ducks — Honda Center — $30

🏀 Lakers at Clippers — Intuit Dome (Wednesday) — $72

🌴 TST TRIVIA

The Rams beat the Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Who was the game’s MVP?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Cooper Kupp, who caught the go-ahead touchdown with 1:25 left.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Fifty-Two

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:09:36 GMT

Good morning. Luka Dončić scored 52 on Sunday, and the Lakers are 3-0. The Rams ran for nearly 200 yards in Las Vegas and beat the Raiders 35-21, and Matthew Stafford broke the franchise record for touchdown passes. LAFC came back from 2-0 down to draw the Galaxy and clinch a playoff spot, and the Wave drew Boston and need help to win the Shield. The Clippers lost in Oklahoma City. Tonight it’s just the Kings, at the Rangers at 4. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏀 52. Dončić made eight 3-pointers and the Lakers came back from 18 down to beat Utah 132-123 — Carlos Yakimowich.

🏈 Backs to the wall. The Rams led 28-6 at halftime and beat the Raiders 35-21 — Eric Lambkins II at Allegiant Stadium.

🏈 Four straight. “You can’t win in this league having to throw it as much as we’re throwing it,” Klint Kubiak said — Derek Hegna at Allegiant Stadium.

⚽ Clinched. LAFC came back from 2-0 down to draw the Galaxy 2-2 and make the playoffs — David Martinez at BMO Stadium.

⚽ “Mature up real fast.” The Galaxy let a two-goal lead get away — Rob Jalon at BMO Stadium.

⚽ Still alive. The Wave drew Boston 2-2 and need help on Decision Day to win the Shield — Sebastian Sanchez at Snapdragon Stadium.

🏀 1-2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 as Oklahoma City beat the Clippers 108-101 — Colin Costigan.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — SUNDAY

🏈 NFL: Rams 35, Raiders 21

🏀 NBA: Lakers 132, Jazz 123 · Thunder 108, Clippers 101

⚽ MLS: LAFC 2, Galaxy 2 · NWSL: Wave 2, Boston Legacy 2

🏀 FIFTY-TWO

The Lakers were down 18 in Salt Lake City and getting beaten on the boards; Utah won the rebounding battle 66-39. Then Luka Dončić took over. He stripped Ace Bailey and hit a step-back, then made a 3 with 4.7 seconds left in the half, and the Lakers went to halftime up 74-71 after scoring 45 in the second quarter.

He scored 14 in the third. With 1:42 left, he made his second 3 in 40 seconds to reach 50 points and put the Lakers up 127-121. He finished with 52 points on 17-of-30 shooting, eight 3-pointers, 10 assists and eight rebounds, the 10th 50-point regular-season game of his career. Carlos Yakimowich writes that he and Austin Reaves, who had 29, scored 24 of the Lakers’ 29 fourth-quarter points. The Lakers won 132-123 for their first road win.

Walker Kessler, back in Utah, had two points and seven rebounds. Yakimowich notes the defense still has problems: “Three games will not determine an MVP race.”

The Lakers are 3-0. Portland comes to Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, and the Lakers play the Clippers at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, their first back-to-back.

GO DEEPER

› Carlos Yakimowich: Luka Dončić flashes early-season MVP magic in road win over Jazz (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏈 THE RAMS RUN IT

A week after losing to Arizona, and without Davante Adams, the Rams ran the ball. Eric Lambkins II writes that Kyren Williams ran for 99 yards and Blake Corum for 93, and each scored a touchdown. Davis Allen caught two touchdowns. The Rams led 28-6 at halftime, their first 28-point half of the season.

Puka Nacua was questionable all week with a calf injury and caught eight passes for 68 yards. His 11-yard touchdown was Matthew Stafford’s 155th as a Ram, one more than Roman Gabriel’s franchise record. Nacua has caught at least five passes in 15 straight games, tied for the eighth-longest streak in NFL history.

“This league is so humbling,” Sean McVay said. “Humility is only a day away.” “Catching touchdowns and throwing touchdowns isn’t a one-man job,” Stafford said. The Rams are 3-4 and next play the Chargers at SoFi Stadium.

The Raiders have lost four straight after a 3-0 start. Derek Hegna writes that Ashton Jeanty ran for 15 yards on eight carries, and Kirk Cousins threw 44 times for 295 yards and two touchdowns. The Raiders converted 5 of 19 third and fourth downs and scored on one of five red-zone trips. “You can’t win in this league having to throw it as much as we’re throwing it,” Klint Kubiak said. Steve Carp calls it “unacceptable” and says benching Cousins for Fernando Mendoza wouldn’t fix the slow starts, the run game or the missed tackles. The Raiders (3-4) play at the Jets next.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Lambkins II: With their backs against the wall, the Rams prevail against the Raiders (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: Raiders cannot complete mad dash as Rams push losing streak to four (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: Raiders show they are their own worst enemy in loss to Rams (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Rams defeat the Raiders, 35-21, at Allegiant Stadium (The Sporting Tribune)

⚽ EL TRÁFICO, 2-2

The Galaxy led 2-0. Joseph Paintsil scored twice, the second in the 51st minute. About two minutes later, JT Marcinkowski spilled an Armindo Sieb shot and Denis Bouanga scored on the rebound. In the 62nd, Son Heung-min’s cross caused confusion in the box and Leo Walta tied it. David Martinez writes LAFC outshot the Galaxy 8-0 over the final 28 minutes, and Bouanga had a late winner called back for offside.

The draw clinched LAFC’s fifth straight playoff spot, and its eighth in nine seasons. LAFC is sixth in the West with two games left. “They never give up,” Xavi Tamarit said. Holdenn Graff asks whether a roller-coaster season can level out before the playoffs.

For the Galaxy, it was a missed chance. Rob Jalon writes that several teams behind them gained ground this weekend. “We have to mature up real fast,” Greg Vanney said, and every game from here is effectively a playoff game. Austin comes to Dignity Health Sports Park on Halloween, then Decision Day at Real Salt Lake on Nov. 7.

The Wave drew Boston 2-2 and ended a five-game winning streak. Gia Corley scored and Boston put one in its own net, but Alba Caño tied it with a long shot in the 73rd. Sebastian Sanchez writes San Diego (55 points) is second, three behind Gotham. The Wave have to beat Bay FC on Sunday and need Gotham to lose to Utah, and then goal differential would decide it.

GO DEEPER

› David Martinez: LAFC battles back from two-goal deficit to clinch playoff berth in El Tráfico (The Sporting Tribune)

› Holdenn Graff: LAFC clinches playoff berth, but can the roller coaster season level out? (The Sporting Tribune)

› Rob Jalon: Galaxy wastes two-goal lead in 2-2 LAFC away draw (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sebastian Sanchez: San Diego Wave keep NWSL Shield hopes alive with draw against Boston (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: LAFC draws with Galaxy, 2-2, in Los Angeles (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🌮 Jack in the Box — two free tacos with any drink after the Lakers’ win in Utah. Code LETSGOLAKERS in the app or online.

🛵 DoorDash — 50% off one order, up to $10, because Dončić scored 50. Code NBA50 for DashPass members, delivery only, 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. today.

Dark today: the Rams didn’t get an interception, so no Carl’s Jr., and LAFC drew, so no DoorDash LAFC code. Next: a Ducks home win against Vancouver on Tuesday gets $2 McGriddles.

🏟️ ONE GAME, ONE MONDAY

Kings at Rangers at 4 on ABTV. The Kings (2-5-2) lost 3-1 in New Jersey on Saturday after winning in Washington and on Long Island. This is the fourth game of a five-game trip, which ends Tuesday in Chicago.

Tuesday: Canucks at Ducks, Senators at Golden Knights, Kings at Blackhawks, Trail Blazers at Lakers. Wednesday: Lakers at Clippers.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

The Clippers lost again. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 of his 34 after halftime, and Oklahoma City beat the Clippers 108-101. The Clippers led 46-43 at halftime, and seven of them scored in double figures, led by Darius Garland’s 16. Thunder forward Jalen Williams was carried off on a stretcher with a serious lower-leg injury late in the game. The Clippers (1-2) host the Lakers on Wednesday at 7:30.

Tic-tac-toe and a 7-0 start. Brady Charette writes about the culture behind UCLA’s best start since 2005. “Doesn’t matter if we are hanging out and playing basic games like tic-tac-toe, I feel like that carries onto the field,” linebacker Jalen Woods said. Nevada visits the Rose Bowl on Halloween.

GO DEEPER

› Colin Costigan: Clippers drop consecutive road games following loss to Thunder (The Sporting Tribune)

› Brady Charette: From Tic-Tac-Toe to Top Ten: Inside the Culture Fueling UCLA’s 7-0 Start (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — MONDAY, OCTOBER 26

🏒 NHL: Kings at Rangers — Madison Square Garden — 4:00 p.m. — ABTV

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏀 Lakers at Clippers — Intuit Dome (Wednesday) — $69

🏒 Canucks at Ducks — Honda Center (Tuesday) — $29

🏈 Ohio State at USC — Coliseum (Saturday) — $115

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Luka Dončić’s 52 points Sunday were the 10th 50-point game of his career. What is his career high?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: 73 points, for Dallas against Atlanta in January 2024.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Seven and Oh

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 16:34:25 GMT

Good morning. UCLA is 7-0 for the first time since 2005. Ty Dieffenbach hurt his knee late in the first half, came back and threw a 63-yard touchdown pass, and the defense held Michigan State to 47 rushing yards in a 28-10 win. Across the country, USC ran for minus-17 yards and lost 24-7 at Wisconsin. Angel City clinched a playoff spot, and the Kings and Golden Knights both lost. Today is full: Rams at Raiders at 1:25, the Lakers at Utah at 2, the Wave and the Clippers at 4, and El Tráfico at 6. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 7-0. Ty Dieffenbach played through a knee injury and UCLA beat Michigan State 28-10 — Jack Haslett at the Rose Bowl.

🏈 Three takeaways. UCLA’s defense held Michigan State without a completion for nearly 40 minutes — Brady Charette at the Rose Bowl.

🏈 Minus-17 rushing yards. USC fell apart in Madison, 24-7 — Holdenn Graff at Camp Randall Stadium.

⚽ In. Angel City beat Bay FC 2-0 and clinched its first playoff spot since 2023 — Micaela Begue at BMO Stadium.

🏒 Three straight. Vegas lost 2-1 in overtime in Columbus — Derek Hegna at Nationwide Arena.

🏒 Two-game streak over. The Devils beat the Kings 3-1 in Newark — Allan Kreda at Prudential Center.

🏈 56 points. Micah Alejado threw for 323 yards as Hawai’i snapped a five-game losing streak — Paul Brecht.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — SATURDAY

🏈 College football: UCLA 28, Michigan State 10 · Wisconsin 24, USC 7 · Hawai’i 56, Northern Illinois 21 · Colorado State 56, San Diego State 49

🏒 NHL: Blue Jackets 2, Golden Knights 1 (OT) · Devils 3, Kings 1 · Ducks 5, Flyers 4

⚽ NWSL: Angel City 2, Bay FC 0 · MLS: San Diego FC 2, Sounders 2

🏀 College basketball (exhibition): BYU 89, UNLV 77

🏒 AHL: Gulls 4, Barracuda 1

🏈 SEVEN AND OH

Late in the first half, Ty Dieffenbach was sacked and hurt his knee, and the trainers helped him off the field. He came back. “In the end, when he came in and moved around, he’s like, ‘I’m perfectly fine,’” Bob Chesney said.

Early in the third quarter, Dieffenbach threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Brian Rowe Jr., the longest of his UCLA career, to make it 21-7. Anthony Woods scored on the third of three straight carries for 28-7. Jack Haslett has Dieffenbach 18-of-31 for 198 yards. “I think I missed a lot of throws today,” he said.

The defense did the rest. Brady Charette writes that UCLA forced three turnovers. Sammy Omosigho recovered a fumble in the red zone, Donavyn Pellot returned an interception 67 yards to set up Wayne Knight’s touchdown, and Malik Hartford had a late interception. Michigan State ran for 47 yards on 29 carries, converted 2 of 11 third downs and went 39 minutes and 53 seconds of game time without a completion. UCLA outgained the Spartans 443-156. UCLA lost two fumbles, and Dieffenbach made the tackle on the second return. “It’s 14 points that Ty ends up saving there,” Chesney said.

UCLA is 7-0 and 5-0 in the Big Ten, its best start since 2005. Nevada comes to the Rose Bowl on Halloween.

USC went the other way. Jayden Maiava threw two first-quarter interceptions, was sacked five times and finished with minus-57 rushing yards. Holdenn Graff writes the Trojans ran 25 times for minus-17 yards, and Caden Chittenden missed from 58 and had a 44-yard try blocked. Wisconsin won 24-7. Lincoln Riley said the team “just flat-out didn’t play good enough on any of the three sides of the ball.” USC (6-2) hosts No. 3 Ohio State on Halloween at 4:30 at the Coliseum.

GO DEEPER

› Jack Haslett: Gritty performance from Ty Dieffenbach powers No. 9 UCLA past Michigan State (The Sporting Tribune)

› Brady Charette: Key turnovers lead UCLA to 28-10 win over Michigan State (The Sporting Tribune)

› Holdenn Graff: USC falls apart in Madison, losing to unranked Wisconsin (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: UCLA defeats Michigan State, 28-10, at Rose Bowl (The Sporting Tribune)

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Today’s TST Best Bets are brought to you by BetOnline.ag. Join here — new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.

🏟️ A BIG SUNDAY

Rams at Raiders, 1:25 on FOX, Allegiant Stadium. The Rams (2-4) have lost three of four and are without Davante Adams, Kobie Turner and Poona Ford. Puka Nacua left Thursday’s practice with a calf injury, and Brandon McManus makes his Rams debut as the team’s third kicker this month. Nacua will be a game-time decision. The Raiders (3-3) have lost three straight. Steve Carp writes they’re 30th in rushing at 3.0 yards a carry, and the Rams are 26th against the run. “Got to quit talking about it, and we got to go do it,” Klint Kubiak said.

Lakers at Jazz, 2 on Spectrum SportsNet. The Lakers are 2-0 after beating Golden State and the Clippers. Walker Kessler, who went 12-for-12 in his Lakers debut, faces Utah.

Clippers at Thunder, 4 on ClipperVision. The Clippers (1-1) turned it over 26 times against the Lakers. “We fought, we played hard, but we didn’t play smart,” Tyronn Lue said.

Boston Legacy at Wave, 4, Snapdragon Stadium. The Wave have won five straight and are one point out of first in the Shield race with two games left.

El Tráfico: Galaxy at LAFC, 6 on Apple TV, BMO Stadium. The Galaxy are eighth, the first play-in spot, and Rob Jalon called this game “extremely decisive” for their playoff hopes. “The important thing now is to rest well and think about LAFC,” Ruiz said after the draw with San Diego. LAFC drew 1-1 at NYCFC last week.

GO DEEPER

› Steve Carp: Can Raiders’ struggling run game break out vs. Rams? (The Sporting Tribune)

› Rams WR Puka Nacua leaves practice early with calf injury, status uncertain for Raiders game (The Sporting Tribune)

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers outlast Clippers behind big three (The Sporting Tribune)

› Rob Jalon: Galaxy grind out 2-2 draw against San Diego FC (The Sporting Tribune)

🏒 A BAD SATURDAY ON THE ICE

Vegas has lost three straight for the first time this season. Denton Mateychuk scored for Columbus in the first period, and Tomas Hertl tied it before the intermission. Then Shea Theodore took a penalty in overtime, and Adam Fantilli scored 15 seconds in for a 2-1 Blue Jackets win. Derek Hegna writes Vegas has scored three goals in its last nine periods, and the penalty kill has given up a power-play goal in five straight games. Mitch Marner remains out. Ottawa is at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday.

The Kings’ streak ended at two. Scott Laughton scored late in the second period, but Anthony Mantha tied it with 1:17 left in the period, and Brett Pesce scored the winner in the third. Allan Kreda writes the Devils outshot the Kings 14-3 in the second. Anton Forsberg made 23 saves and is 0-2-1. “It was a game in the third and we gave one up,” Peter Laviolette said. “For whatever reason we are playing slower in the second,” Trevor Lewis said. The Kings (2-5-2) are at the Rangers on Monday and Chicago on Tuesday.

The Ducks finished their road trip in Philadelphia.Anaheim did a bit of everything in coming back twice from down two goals and giving up a shorthanded goal to surge back over the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The Ducks (5-6-0, 10 points) snapped a five-game losing streak with their first comeback victory of the season. They host Vancouver on Tuesday.

GO DEEPER

› Derek Hegna: Flaws showing as Golden Knights fall to Blue Jackets in OT (The Sporting Tribune)

› Allan Kreda: Devils smother Kings en route to 3-1 win in Newark (The Sporting Tribune)

› Zach Cavanagh: Ducks, Carlsson spark comeback in Philly, snap 5-game losing streak (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🌮 Jack in the Box — two free tacos with any drink, still listed from the Lakers’ win over the Clippers. Code LETSGOLAKERS in the app or online.

Today’s triggers: a Rams interception gets a free Famous Star with Cheese at Carl’s Jr. (check the Rams’ promotions page for the current code), a Lakers win in Utah brings the tacos back, and an LAFC win in El Tráfico brings back the DoorDash $10-off code. San Diego FC’s draw didn’t trigger Carl’s Jr.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

Angel City is in the playoffs. Gisele Thompson scored in the 49th minute and Riley Tiernan in the 83rd, and Angel City beat Bay FC 2-0 to clinch its first playoff spot since 2023. Micaela Begue writes Angel City is fourth with 49 points, unbeaten in nine, with a chance to host the first home playoff game in club history. “We’re extremely effective and that’s what you need going into the playoffs,” Sarah Gorden said. The regular-season finale vs. Boston Legacy is Sunday, November 1st.

Hawai’i scored 56. Micah Alejado threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns, and the Rainbow Warriors (2-6) won 56-21 at Northern Illinois to end a five-game losing streak. They’re off until Nov. 7 at UTEP.

San Diego State gave up 56. Freshman Stone Saunders threw for 369 yards in his first start, but Colorado State had 549 yards and won 56-49. Four Aztec turnovers came within five plays, including a pick-six. Eric Evelhoch writes the loss likely ends their Pac-12 title hopes, and the goal now is a bowl game. SDSU (3-5) hosts Washington State on Saturday.

Also Saturday: San Diego FC drew Seattle 2-2 at Snapdragon Stadium, BYU beat UNLV 89-77 in an exhibition at the Thomas & Mack Center, and Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan both defended their titles at UFC 333.

GO DEEPER

› Micaela Begue: Angel City defeats Bay FC, 2-0, as they get ready for playoffs (The Sporting Tribune)

› Paul Brecht: Hawai’i snaps five-game losing streak with 56-21 blowout win at Northern Illinois (The Sporting Tribune)

› Eric Evelhoch: Spear Points: Not much defense in Aztecs loss at CSU (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: UNLV returns to ‘Hardway Eight’ mode in 89-77 exhibition loss to BYU (The Sporting Tribune)

› Michael Silver: Volkanovski and Yan defend titles at UFC 333 (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: San Diego FC draw against Seattle Sounders, 2-2, at Snapdragon Stadium (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25

🏈 NFL: Rams at Raiders — Allegiant Stadium — 1:25 p.m. — FOX

🏀 NBA: Lakers at Jazz — Delta Center — 2:00 p.m. — Spectrum SportsNet

⚽ NWSL: Boston Legacy at Wave — Snapdragon Stadium — 4:00 p.m. — NWSL+

🏀 NBA: Clippers at Thunder — Paycom Center — 4:00 p.m. — ClipperVision

⚽ MLS: Galaxy at LAFC — BMO Stadium — 6:00 p.m. — Apple TV

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏈 Rams at Raiders — Allegiant Stadium — $255

⚽ El Tráfico, Galaxy at LAFC — BMO Stadium — $100

🏈 Ohio State at USC — Coliseum (Saturday) — $115

🌴 TST TRIVIA

UCLA’s 7-0 start is its best since 2005. Who was the Bruins’ head coach that season?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Karl Dorrell. The 2005 Bruins finished 10-2.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

L.A. belongs to the Lakers

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 18:15:48 GMT

Good morning. The Lakers won the first Battle of L.A. Austin Reaves scored 28, Walker Kessler had 22 points and six blocks, and the Clippers turned it over 26 times in a 125-117 loss. The Lakers are 2-0. Saturday is full. The Ducks are in Philadelphia at 10 a.m., the Kings are in New Jersey at 12:30, and No. 9 UCLA hosts Michigan State at the same time. USC plays at Wisconsin at 4:30, Vegas is at Columbus, and Angel City hosts Bay FC needing a win. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏀 2-0. Reaves, Dončić and Kessler combined for 73 as the Lakers beat the Clippers 125-117 — Carlos Yakimowich at Crypto.com Arena.

🏀 26 turnovers. “We fought, we played hard, but we didn’t play smart,” Tyronn Lue said — Eric Lambkins II at Crypto.com Arena.

🏈 “Opposite directions.” No. 9 UCLA hosts a Michigan State team on a five-game losing streak — Brady Charette.

🏀 All-WNBA. A’ja Wilson makes the first team for the sixth time and Jackie Young the second team — Derek Hegna.

🏀 Never trailed. Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas led No. 21 USC past San Diego State 85-68 in an exhibition — The Sporting Tribune at Viejas Arena.

🥊 Haney to DAZN. The unbeaten welterweight champion signs a multi-fight deal — Michael Huezo.

See what else is trending at [The Sporting Tribune](https://www.thesportingtribune.com).

📋 SCOREBOARD — FRIDAY

🏀 NBA: Lakers 125, Clippers 117

🏀 College basketball (exhibition): USC 85, San Diego State 68

🏀 L.A. BELONGS TO THE LAKERS

The Clippers shot 63% in the first quarter and led most of the first half. It was tied at halftime. Then the Lakers won the third quarter 39-26 and led 103-90 going into the fourth.

Austin Reaves did most of it. Carlos Yakimowich writes that Reaves made nine of his first 10 shots, scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the third and finished with 28 points and nine assists. Walker Kessler had 22 points and six blocks, five of them in the second and third quarters. Luka Dončić started 2-for-10, finished with 23 and had a career-high 11 turnovers. The three of them combined for 73, two days after combining for 77 against Golden State. Ziaire Williams scored 14 and Matisse Thybulle 13.

“It just felt like Walker was everywhere, in that third and really was a huge spark for us getting us a win,” JJ Redick said. He wasn’t happy about the Lakers’ 21 turnovers: “We know the turnovers is a problem.”

The Clippers were worse. Eric Lambkins II writes they turned it over 26 times and gave up 33 points off those turnovers. Darius Garland had 26 points and nine turnovers, Brook Lopez scored 22, and Rui Hachimura, back at Crypto.com Arena, had 16 points and six rebounds. “You can’t play against a good team and turn over 26 times and expect to win the game,” Tyronn Lue said. “We fought, we played hard, but we didn’t play smart.”

The Lakers are 2-0. The Clippers (1-1) play Oklahoma City next.

GO DEEPER

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers outlast Clippers behind big three (The Sporting Tribune)

› Eric Lambkins II: Clippers beat themselves in 125-117 loss against Lakers (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Lakers defeat Clippers, 125-117, at Crypto.com Arena (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏈 SEVEN AND OH?

No. 9 UCLA is 6-0 and the last unbeaten team in the Big Ten. Michigan State has lost five straight. Brady Charette calls them “two teams who appear to be heading in opposite directions.” Kickoff is 12:30 on CBS at the Rose Bowl, and a win would give UCLA its best start in two decades.

Ty Dieffenbach starts again at quarterback. Charette’s keys: UCLA leads the Big Ten in rushing behind Wayne Knight, and Michigan State allows the fifth-most rushing yards in the conference. UCLA leads the Big Ten with 19 takeaways, and Michigan State has forced three, tied for the fewest in the country.

USC is at Wisconsin at 4:30 on NBC. Holdenn Graff writes that the Trojans bring their composure from the win at Penn State to Camp Randall, where quarterback Colton Joseph has run for 333 yards. Wisconsin held UCLA to 17 points last week.

GO DEEPER

› Brady Charette: UCLA-Michigan State Preview: Unbeaten Bruins aim to continue historic rise against sputtering Spartans (The Sporting Tribune)

› Holdenn Graff: The USC defense brings its Penn State composure to Camp Randall (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🌮 Jack in the Box — two free tacos with any drink after the Lakers beat the Clippers. Code LETSGOLAKERS in the Jack in the Box app or online.

Today’s trigger to watch: a Kings goal in the final minute of the second period in New Jersey gets a free McFlurry at McDonald’s. The Ducks’ McGriddles need a home win, and their next home game is Tuesday.

🏟️ NINE GAMES, ONE SATURDAY

Ducks at Flyers at 10 a.m. on Prime Video, the end of the road trip. The Ducks (4-6-0) have lost five straight.

Kings at Devils at 12:30 on ABTV. The Kings (2-4-2) have won two straight, with Darcy Kuemper making 71 saves in those two games.

Michigan State at UCLA at 12:30 on CBS. Hawai’i at Northern Illinois at 12:30 on MW+, with the Rainbow Warriors (1-6) trying to end a four-game losing streak.

San Diego State at Colorado State at 3:30 on the CW. The Aztecs (3-4) are coming off the Old Oil Can win over Fresno State.

Golden Knights at Blue Jackets at 4 on ESPN+. Vegas (8-4) has lost back-to-back games 6-2, and Ryan Craig said, “I expect a response.”

USC at Wisconsin at 4:30 on NBC.

Bay FC at Angel City at 5:45 on ION, at BMO Stadium. Angel City is unbeaten in eight and needs to win its last two to host a playoff game.

Sounders San Diego FC at 7:30 on Apple TV.

Sunday: Rams at Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, El Tráfico, and Boston Legacy at the Wave.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

A’ja Wilson, All-WNBA again. Derek Hegna writes that Wilson made the first team for the sixth time after leading the league in scoring (26.2) and blocks and winning her third straight MVP. Jackie Young made the second team for the third time after career highs in points and assists. Wilson had campaigned for her in September: “All-WNBA, 100 percent. I ain’t got a vote but, if I did, I’d give it to Jackie.”

The Raiders’ run game. Steve Carp writes the Raiders are 30th in rushing at 3.0 yards a carry, and Ashton Jeanty is averaging 3.2. Mike Washington Jr. is questionable. The Rams are 26th against the run. “Got to quit talking about it, and we got to go do it,” Klint Kubiak said. Derek Hegna reports Tonka Hemingway is back from the concussion protocol. On the Rams side, Puka Nacua left Thursday’s practice with a calf injury.

USC basketball looks ready. Rodney Rice scored 23 with five 3-pointers, Alijah Arenas had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and the No. 21 Trojans never trailed in an 85-68 exhibition win at San Diego State. They forced 20 turnovers. The season opener is Nov. 2 against Milwaukee.

Haney signs with DAZN. Michael Huezo writes that Devin Haney (33-0), the WBO welterweight champion, signed an exclusive multi-fight deal through his promotional company. A unification fight with IBF champion Liam Paro is reportedly targeted for December.

GO DEEPER

› Derek Hegna: A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young continue dominance with All-WNBA selections (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: Can Raiders’ struggling run game break out vs. Rams? (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: Raiders hoping to finally turn the corner with the injury bug (The Sporting Tribune)

› Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas lead No. 21 USC past San Diego State in 85-68 exhibition win (The Sporting Tribune)

› Michael Huezo: Devin Haney signs exclusive multi-fight deal with DAZN (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

🏒 NHL: Ducks at Flyers — Wells Fargo Center — 10:00 a.m. — Prime Video

🏒 NHL: Kings at Devils — Prudential Center — 12:30 p.m. — ABTV

🏈 College football: Michigan State at UCLA — Rose Bowl — 12:30 p.m. — CBS

🏈 College football: Hawai’i at Northern Illinois — Huskie Stadium — 12:30 p.m. — MW+

🏈 College football: San Diego State at Colorado State — Canvas Stadium — 3:30 p.m. — CW

🏒 NHL: Golden Knights at Blue Jackets — Nationwide Arena — 4:00 p.m. — ESPN+

🏈 College football: USC at Wisconsin — Camp Randall Stadium — 4:30 p.m. — NBC

⚽ NWSL: Bay FC at Angel City FC — BMO Stadium — 5:45 p.m. — ION

⚽ MLS: Sounders at San Diego FC — Snapdragon Stadium — 7:30 p.m. — Apple TV

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by [TickPick](https://www.tickpick.com/), the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏈 Michigan State at UCLA — Rose Bowl — $21

⚽ Bay FC at Angel City — BMO Stadium — $23

🏈 Rams at Raiders — Allegiant Stadium (Sunday) — $250

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Rui Hachimura, now with the Clippers, began his NBA career with which team after it drafted him in 2019?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The Washington Wizards, who took him ninth overall.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Battle of L.A.

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:19:12 GMT

Good morning. The first Lakers-Clippers game of the season is tonight at 7 on Spectrum SportsNet. Both teams are 1-0 after blowout wins on opening night. On Thursday, the LA Kings won for the second straight game, 3-2 in overtime on Long Island, with Darcy Kuemper making 41 saves. The Ducks lost their fifth straight, and the Golden Knights lost 6-2 for the second straight game. Puka Nacua left Rams practice with a calf injury. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏒 Two straight. Brandt Clarke scored 2:43 into overtime and Kuemper made 41 saves in a 3-2 Kings win — Allan Kreda at UBS Arena.

🏒 Five straight losses. The Devils beat the Ducks 4-1 — Zach Cavanagh at Prudential Center.

🏒 6-2 again. Vegas allowed a power-play goal for the fourth straight game in a loss at St. Louis — Derek Hegna at Enterprise Center.

🏈 Nacua hurt. Puka Nacua left practice with a calf injury and is uncertain for Sunday — The Sporting Tribune.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — THURSDAY

🏒 NHL: Kings 3, Islanders 2 (OT) · Devils 4, Ducks 1 · Blues 6, Golden Knights 2

🏀 BATTLE OF L.A.

Both teams looked ready on Wednesday. The Lakers beat Golden State 127-105. Walker Kessler went 12-for-12 for 26 points in his debut, Luka Dončić had 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists and sat out the fourth quarter, and Austin Reaves had 23. Before the game, Dončić wrote a letter to the city: “Tonight we start our run for a championship.”

The Clippers beat Sacramento 121-96. They scored 41 in the first quarter, Darius Garland had 30, Brook Lopez had a double-double off the bench and rookie Keaton Wagler had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. Tyronn Lue liked the numbers: “We shot 52% from the field and 40% from three, those are some good numbers.”

Tonight, 7 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet, Crypto.com Arena. Garland’s backcourt against Dončić and Reaves, and Lopez and the Clippers’ bigs against Kessler, who had 11 dunks on Wednesday. Jake LaRavia rolled his ankle in the fourth quarter of the opener.

“That’s just the first game,” Dončić said Wednesday. “I think our ceiling is even higher.”

GO DEEPER

› Carlos Yakimowich: Walker Kessler delivers in debut as Lakers punish Warriors on opening night (The Sporting Tribune)

› Colin Costigan: Clippers dethrone the Sacramento Kings in regular-season opener (The Sporting Tribune)

› Eric Lambkins II: The letter that will set the tone for the Lakers this season (The Sporting Tribune)

TOGETHER WITH BETONLINE

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🏒 THE KINGS WIN AGAIN

After an 0-4-2 start, the Kings have won two in a row. Allan Kreda writes that Artemi Panarin scored in the first period. Rookie Victor Eklund scored for the Islanders in the second, and Matthew Schaefer tied it with his first goal of the season in the third. Brandt Clarke won it 2:43 into overtime, his second goal of the season.

Darcy Kuemper made 41 saves, two days after making 30 in Washington. The Kings are 2-4-2.

GO DEEPER

› Allan Kreda: Kings edge Islanders 3-2 on Clarke goal in overtime (The Sporting Tribune)

› Alex Hutton: Kings’ offense and Kuemper step up against Capitals for first win of season (The Sporting Tribune)

🏒 LOSING STREAKS

The Ducks have lost five straight. Nico Hischier scored on the power play in the final minute of the first period, and the Devils led 2-0 after one and won 4-1. Tim Washe scored Anaheim’s only goal, and Ville Husso made 25 saves. Zach Cavanagh writes the Ducks haven’t led at any point on this road trip after leading after one period in each of their first seven games. Pavel Mintyukov is day-to-day. “We keep leaving our goalies out to dry, too,” Jackson LaCombe said. “We got to be better than we are,” Joel Quenneville said. The Ducks (4-6-0) finish the trip Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.

Vegas lost 6-2 again. Dylan Holloway scored twice and St. Louis beat the Golden Knights at Enterprise Center. Derek Hegna writes that Vegas has allowed a power-play goal in four straight games, and its penalty kill ranks 29th after finishing sixth last season. Brett Howden and Jack Eichel scored. Mitch Marner was away for the expected birth of his second child, and Alexander Holtz, called up to replace him, got his first point of the season. “We’re not pleased with this. I expect a response,” Ryan Craig said. Vegas (8-4) is at Columbus on Saturday.

GO DEEPER

› Zach Cavanagh: Ducks bedeviled again on the road, drop 5th straight (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: Woes bleed over as Golden Knights fall to Blues (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🌮 Jack in the Box — two free tacos with any drink, still listed from the Lakers’ opening-night win. Code LETSGOLAKERS in the app.

Tonight’s trigger: a Lakers win over the Clippers turns the tacos back on for Saturday.

🏟️ ONE GAME, ONE FRIDAY

Clippers at Lakers at 7 on Spectrum SportsNet. Both teams are 1-0 after winning their openers by 22 and 25.

Saturday: Michigan State at UCLA, USC at Wisconsin, Ducks at Flyers, Golden Knights at Blue Jackets. Sunday: El Tráfico, and Rams at Raiders.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

More Rams injuries. Puka Nacua left Thursday’s practice early with a calf injury and is uncertain for Sunday against the Raiders. Linebacker Nate Landman is in the concussion protocol, and Trent McDuffie is day-to-day with a groin injury. Davante Adams will have what Sean McVay called “more of a cleanup type of procedure” on his hamstring. With Adams out, Konata Mumpfield could get more snaps. “He’s one of those guys that when he’s been counted on, he’s delivered,” McVay said. “It’s a team effort,” Matthew Stafford said.

Fantasy Week 7. James Newell finishes his start-’em, sit-’em series with defenses and kickers.

GO DEEPER

› Rams WR Puka Nacua leaves practice early with calf injury, status uncertain for Raiders game (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: The message of closing out games came through loud and clear for Raiders (The Sporting Tribune)

› James Newell: Week 7 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Fantasy Defenses/Kickers (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23

🏀 NBA: Clippers at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — 7:00 p.m. — Spectrum SportsNet

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏀 Clippers at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — $90

🏈 Michigan State at UCLA — Rose Bowl (Saturday) — $40

⚽ El Tráfico, Galaxy vs. LAFC (Sunday) — $100

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Before the Clippers moved to Intuit Dome in 2024, the Lakers and Clippers shared an arena for 25 seasons. What was it called when they moved in together in 1999?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Staples Center, now Crypto.com Arena.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Twelve for twelve

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 17:30:31 GMT

Good morning. Opening night couldn’t have gone much better in Los Angeles. Walker Kessler went 12-for-12, mostly on alley-oops, and Luka Dončić sat the whole fourth quarter of a 127-105 win over Golden State. At Intuit Dome, Darius Garland scored 30 and the Clippers beat Sacramento 121-96. Both teams are 1-0 and play each other Friday. The Angels declined Kurt Suzuki’s option after a 100-loss season. Tonight is all hockey on the road: Ducks at New Jersey at 4, Kings at the Islanders at 4:30 and Vegas at St. Louis at 5. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏀 12-for-12. Kessler scored 26 in his debut and the Lakers beat Golden State 127-105 — Carlos Yakimowich at Crypto.com Arena.

🏀 “Dear LA.” The letter Luka Dončić wrote before opening night — Eric Lambkins II.

🏀 30 for Garland. The Clippers beat Sacramento 121-96 in their opener — Colin Costigan at Intuit Dome.

⚾ Suzuki out. The Angels declined their manager’s option after a 62-100 season — Anthony Arroyo.

🏈 Third quarters. The Raiders have been outscored 38-9 in third quarters since Week 3 — Derek Hegna.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — WEDNESDAY

🏀 NBA: Lakers 127, Warriors 105 · Clippers 121, Kings 96

🏒 AHL: Firebirds 3, Gulls 2

🏀 TWELVE FOR TWELVE

Before the game, Luka Dončić wrote to the fans. “Tonight we start our run for a championship,” the letter began, and it promised “No excuses. No nights off.” Eric Lambkins II writes it set the tone for the season.

Then Walker Kessler set the tone for the game. He went 12-for-12 and scored 26 points with nine rebounds, and Carlos Yakimowich counts 11 dunks, mostly lobs. Dončić had 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, Austin Reaves had 23 and six assists, and the three of them scored 27 of the Lakers’ 34 first-quarter points.

It was 34-33 after one. The Lakers won the second quarter 32-19, and Dončić hit a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer. The lead got to 32 in the third and 35 in the fourth, and Dončić watched the fourth from the bench. Stephen Curry scored 16 of Golden State’s first 21 points and had seven after that.

“I definitely was a little nervous going into the game,” Kessler said. “Just so thankful and so grateful for how it went.” Dončić: “That’s just the first game. I think our ceiling is even higher.”

JJ Redick started Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle with the big three, with Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili first off the bench. Jake LaRavia rolled his ankle in the fourth and walked off on his own. The Clippers come to Crypto.com Arena on Friday.

GO DEEPER

› Carlos Yakimowich: Walker Kessler delivers in debut as Lakers punish Warriors on opening night (The Sporting Tribune)

› Eric Lambkins II: The letter that will set the tone for the Lakers this season (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Lakers defeat Warriors, 127-105, in Los Angeles (The Sporting Tribune)

TOGETHER WITH BETONLINE

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🏀 41 IN THE FIRST

The Clippers scored 41 in the first quarter. Colin Costigan writes that Sacramento closed the half on a 25-14 run and cut it to five in the third, and then the Clippers made eight of 13 shots, pushed the lead to 18 and held the Kings to 14 points the rest of the quarter. Darius Garland scored 30 on 11-of-19 shooting. Brook Lopez had 17 points and 11 rebounds in his new backup center role, and rookie Keaton Wagler had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. The Clippers shot 52% and 40% from three.

Tyronn Lue said Garland “set the tone early” and “did a really good job of orchestrating that second half.” For Sacramento, Zach LaVine scored 28 and Domantas Sabonis had 18 rebounds. The Clippers play the Lakers on Friday at 7.

GO DEEPER

› Colin Costigan: Clippers dethrone the Sacramento Kings in regular-season opener (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Clippers defeat Kings, 121-96, at Intuit Dome (The Sporting Tribune)

⚾ THE ANGELS START OVER

The Angels declined Kurt Suzuki’s option after one season and a 62-100 record, Anthony Arroyo reports. They reportedly offered him a special assistant role. Suzuki, the first Hawaii-born full-time manager in the majors, took over from Ron Washington with no prior coaching experience.

The next manager will be hired with the new owners. The club said the search will be “in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.” Stan Kroenke’s group agreed to buy a controlling stake from Arte Moreno, reportedly for $4 billion including the regional sports network, and the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027.

GO DEEPER

› Anthony Arroyo: Angels decline Kurt Suzuki’s managerial option (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🌮 Jack in the Box — two free tacos with any drink. The Lakers beat Golden State. Code LETSGOLAKERS in the Jack in the Box app.

🏟️ THREE GAMES, ONE THURSDAY

Ducks at Devils at 4 on Prime Video. The Ducks are 4-5-0, have lost four straight and are 0-for-10 on the power play over their last three games.

Kings at Islanders at 4:30 on ABTV. The Kings got their first win Tuesday in Washington and are 1-4-2. Quinton Byfield left that game early with an upper-body injury.

Golden Knights at Blues at 5 on ESPN+. Vegas is 8-3 after Tuesday’s 6-2 home loss to Tampa Bay.

Friday: Clippers at Lakers. Saturday: Michigan State at UCLA, USC at Wisconsin, Ducks at Flyers, Knights at Blue Jackets. Sunday: El Tráfico, and Rams at Raiders.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

“Close. Games. Out.” Derek Hegna writes that the Raiders have been outscored 38-9 in third quarters since Week 3, and their defense has forced one turnover in three games after forcing nine in the first three. Kirk Cousins has been running drills that simulate halftime. The Rams come to Allegiant Stadium next.

USC’s defense heads to Camp Randall. Holdenn Graff writes that the Trojans are bringing the composure from their win at Penn State to Wisconsin, where quarterback Colton Joseph has run for 333 yards this season. Defensive end Luke Wafle was named a midseason true freshman All-American. “Every great defense has really good red zone defense,” defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren said.

Fantasy Week 7. James Newell has start-’em, sit-’em picks at quarterback, running back, receiver and tight end.

GO DEEPER

› Derek Hegna: The message of closing out games came through loud and clear for Raiders (The Sporting Tribune)

› Holdenn Graff: The USC defense brings its Penn State composure to Camp Randall (The Sporting Tribune)

› James Newell: Week 7 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Fantasy Quarterbacks (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Firebirds defeat Gulls, 3-2, in San Diego (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22

🏒 NHL: Ducks at Devils — Prudential Center — 4:00 p.m. — Prime Video

🏒 NHL: Kings at Islanders — UBS Arena — 4:30 p.m. — ABTV

🏒 NHL: Golden Knights at Blues — Enterprise Center — 5:00 p.m. — ESPN+

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii— brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏀 Clippers at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena (Friday) — $62

🏈 Michigan State at UCLA — Rose Bowl (Saturday) — $38

⚽ El Tráfico, Galaxy vs. LAFC (Sunday) — $100

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Kurt Suzuki won a World Series as a player in 2019. With which team?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The Washington Nationals.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Opening Night

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:42:30 GMT

Good morning. Both Los Angeles NBA teams open their seasons tonight: the Lakers against Golden State at 7 on ESPN, and the Clippers against Sacramento at 7:30 on ClipperVision. On Tuesday, the LA Kings won for the first time this season, 5-2 in Washington, after starting 0-4-2. The rest of the night didn’t go as well. Tampa Bay beat the Golden Knights 6-2, and the Ducks lost their fourth straight. The Rams signed Brandon McManus to be their third kicker in nine days. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏀 “I just want to win.” Walker Kessler is ready for the expectations that come with the Lakers — Carlos Yakimowich at UCLA Health Training Center.

🏒 Finally. Adrian Kempe scored twice and Darcy Kuemper made 30 saves for the Kings’ first win — Alex Hutton at Capital One Arena.

🏒 Streak snapped. Tampa Bay scored five in the first two periods and beat Vegas 6-2 — Steve Carp at T-Mobile Arena.

🏒 Four straight. Another slow start, and the Ducks lost 3-2 on Long Island — Zach Cavanagh at UBS Arena.

🏈 Kicker No. 3. The Rams signed Brandon McManus and put Davante Adams and Poona Ford on injured reserve — The Sporting Tribune.

🏈 “Everybody has a story to tell.” The people behind UCLA’s 6-0 turnaround — Brady Charette.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — TUESDAY

🏒 NHL: Kings 5, Capitals 2 · Lightning 6, Golden Knights 2 · Islanders 3, Ducks 2

🏒 AHL: Reign 3, Wranglers 2

🏀 OPENING NIGHT

The Lakers’ new big man knows what tonight is. “I think there’s gonna be a lot of nerves going into the game,” Walker Kessler told Carlos Yakimowich at practice. Kessler makes his regular-season debut against Golden State at 7 on ESPN at Crypto.com Arena.

He has spent training camp learning to play with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and he knows what that means: “Always have your hands up.” On defense, he wants “a habit of overcommunicating on every possession.” And on the expectations that come with the Lakers: “I just want to win.”

The three of them have barely played together. Dončić, Reaves and Kessler shared the floor for only one half all preseason, and the Lakers went 2-3, including a 101-89 loss to the Warriors in Las Vegas after leading by 20. JJ Redick hasn’t named his starters. Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle started the preseason finale with the big three, and Quentin Grimes moved to the bench. The Lakers waived Dalton Knecht on Monday to get to 15 players.

Then the Clippers. They open at 7:30 against Sacramento at Intuit Dome after finishing the preseason with a 122-110 win over Denver, led by rookies Keaton Wagler and Baba Miller.

GO DEEPER

› Carlos Yakimowich: Walker Kessler ready to embrace Lakers’ expectations ahead of opener (The Sporting Tribune)

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers part ways with Dalton Knecht ahead of season opener (The Sporting Tribune)

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers Sunday Report: Three questions entering opening week (The Sporting Tribune)

› Grant Mona: Two Clippers rookies make their case in preseason finale win over Nuggets (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏒 THE KINGS WIN ONE

The Kings fell behind 2-0 in Washington, and it looked like loss No. 7. Then, Alex Hutton writes, they scored twice in the final 33 seconds of the first period. Adrian Kempe scored his first of the season, and Artemi Panarin scored with about two seconds left. Erik Gustafsson went coast-to-coast for the go-ahead goal, and Kempe scored again. The Kings scored three times in the last 13 minutes, and the Kempe-Panarin line with Alex Laferriere had seven points.

Darcy Kuemper made 30 saves, and Peter Laviolette called it his best game of the season. “I think we’ve been playing a lot better than our record,” Kuemper said. “Everybody’s happy,” Laviolette said. Quinton Byfield played only 2:44 before leaving with an upper-body injury and will be evaluated. The Kings are 1-4-2 and play the Islanders on Thursday.

GO DEEPER

› Alex Hutton: Kings’ offense and Kuemper step up against Capitals for first win of season (The Sporting Tribune)

🏒 A ROUGH NIGHT ELSEWHERE

Vegas ran into Tampa Bay. Mark Stone tied it 2-2 late in the first with his team-high eighth goal, but Anthony Cirelli scored twice in the second, Victor Hedman made it 5-2 and Nikita Kucherov scored on a breakaway. Steve Carp writes that Carter Hart allowed five goals on 14 shots through two periods. The Golden Knights are 8-3 and are no longer the league’s top team. Carp notes all eight wins have come against teams at .500 or worse. “We did do some good things. We had some chances. We just didn’t finish,” Stone said. Vegas is at St. Louis on Thursday and Columbus on Saturday.

The Ducks never led. They had led after the first period in each of their first seven games. On Long Island, Ondrej Palat, Victor Eklund and Simon Holmstrom put the Islanders up 3-1 by the first intermission. Frank Vatrano and Alex Killorn scored, and Lukáš Dostál made 22 saves, but Anaheim lost 3-2. Zach Cavanagh writes the power play is 0-for-10 over the last three games. The Ducks are 4-5-0 with four straight losses and play at New Jersey on Thursday and Philadelphia on Saturday.

GO DEEPER

› Steve Carp: Knights see three-game win streak snapped in 6-2 loss to Lightning (The Sporting Tribune)

› Zach Cavanagh: Ducks can’t overcome another slow start, handed 4th straight loss (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Lightning defeat Golden Knights, 6-2, at T-Mobile Arena (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

Tonight’s trigger: a Lakers win. Beat Golden State and Jack in the Box gives two free tacos with any drink on Thursday. Code LETSGOLAKERS.

🏟️ TWO OPENERS, ONE WEDNESDAY

Warriors at Lakers at 7 on ESPN. Opening night, and Walker Kessler’s Lakers debut.

Kings at Clippers at 7:30 on ClipperVision. The Clippers’ opener at Intuit Dome.

Thursday: Kings at Islanders, Ducks at Devils, Golden Knights at Blues. Saturday: Michigan State at UCLA, USC at Wisconsin. Sunday: El Tráfico, and the Rams at the Raiders.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

The Rams’ new kicker. The Rams signed Brandon McManus, a 12-year veteran who made three field goals in Super Bowl 50 for Denver and hit 95.2% of his field goals for Green Bay in 2024. He has made 82% for his career. He replaces Blake Grupe, who tore his ACL in his only game. The Rams also put Davante Adams (hamstring) and Poona Ford (triceps) on injured reserve.

“Everybody has a story to tell.” Brady Charette goes inside the people behind UCLA’s turnaround from a three-win season to 6-0 and No. 9 under Bob Chesney, who called Nico Iamaleava’s knee injury “severe.” Michigan State comes to the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

USC heads to Madison. Holdenn Graff previews the Trojans’ trip to Wisconsin, a week after the Badgers held UCLA to 17 points. True freshman Vlad Dyakonov made his first start at Penn State on short notice. “Our deal is very process and standard oriented,” Lincoln Riley said.

The Reign got their first home win. Martin Chromiak tied it 18 seconds into the third period and won it with 2:50 left as Ontario beat Calgary 3-2.

GO DEEPER

› Rams sign veteran kicker Brandon McManus, place Davante Adams and Poona Ford on injured reserve (The Sporting Tribune)

› Brady Charette: The group behind UCLA and its remarkable turnaround this season (The Sporting Tribune)

› Holdenn Graff: “Fundamentals will triumph everything else”: USC preps for Wisconsin (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sabrina McClain: Chromiak’s game-winning goal leads Reign to first home win of the season (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21

🏀 NBA: Warriors at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — 7:00 p.m. — ESPN

🏀 NBA: Kings at Clippers — Intuit Dome — 7:30 p.m. — ClipperVision

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏀 Warriors at Lakers, opening night — Crypto.com Arena — $121

🏀 Kings at Clippers, opening night — Intuit Dome — $21

🏈 Michigan State at UCLA — Rose Bowl (Saturday) — $39

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Brandon McManus, the Rams’ new kicker, made three field goals in Super Bowl 50. Which team did Denver beat in that game?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The Carolina Panthers, 24-10, in February 2016.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

The morning after

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 15:09:34 GMT

Good morning. The Rams found out Monday how much Sunday cost them. Four key players are out for weeks or for the season, including Davante Adams and Blake Grupe, and they worked out Matt Prater and Brandon McManus to be their next kicker. The Ducks lost 5-2 at Madison Square Garden to start their road trip, and the Lakers waived Dalton Knecht to set their roster for Wednesday’s opener. Tonight: the Kings and Ducks are both on the East Coast at 4, and Tampa Bay is at the Golden Knights at 7:30. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 “You don’t replace somebody like him.” Adams out 6-10 weeks, Turner 4-6, and Ford and Grupe done for the season — Arash Markazi at Rams Village.

🏒 Late goals only. The Ducks scored twice in the final 70 seconds and lost 5-2 to the Rangers — Allan Kreda at Madison Square Garden.

🏀 Knecht waived. The Lakers cut their 2024 first-round pick to get to 15 before the opener — Carlos Yakimowich.

🏈 Next man up. How UCLA’s receivers have held together through injuries — Jack Haslett.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY

🏒 NHL: Rangers 5, Ducks 2

🏈 THE MORNING AFTER

The Rams knew Sunday’s loss was bad. Monday, Arash Markazi reports, they found out how bad:

Davante Adams: ruptured hamstring, out 6-10 weeks.

Kobie Turner: groin, out 4-6 weeks and likely headed to injured reserve.

Poona Ford: ruptured triceps, out for the season.

Blake Grupe: torn ACL, out for the season, after the tackle on the kickoff in his first game as a Ram.

Myles Garrett is still out after knee surgery and won’t practice this week. Trent McDuffie is progressing, and there’s no timetable for tight end Terrance Ferguson.

“You don’t replace somebody like him,” Sean McVay said of Adams. “It starts with me,” he said again on the team’s energy and discipline. He did point to the defense, which held Arizona to 0-for-5 in the red zone.

Now the Rams need their third kicker in eight days. They let Harrison Mevis go after the blocked kick against Buffalo, and Grupe lasted one quarter. They planned to work out Brandon McManus and Matt Prater on Monday. Prater has made 29 of 31 field goals over the last two seasons, including the playoffs. McVay expects to “have something here in the next day or two.”

The Rams are 2-4, last in the NFC West, and have lost three of four. They play at the Raiders next on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: Rams devastated by injuries after Cardinals loss (The Sporting Tribune)

› Eric Lambkins II: Rams go from Super Bowl favorites to NFC West cellar dwellers (The Sporting Tribune)

› Arash Markazi: Rams kicker Blake Grupe knocked out after suffering knee injury on kickoff (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏒 A LATE START IN NEW YORK

The Ducks’ trip to New York started about 15 hours late because of a mechanical problem with their charter, and the game went about as badly. Allan Kreda writes that Sean Durzi scored 78 seconds in, J.T. Miller scored on the power play, Gabe Perreault added one and Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice. Dylan Garand had a shutout until Nick Jensen scored with 1:09 left, in his first game of the season. A.J. Greer added one with 33 seconds left. Leo Carlsson and Beckett Sennecke didn’t do much.

“I thought our top guys weren’t very good tonight,” Joel Quenneville said. It was Anaheim’s first road loss in four games this season. The Rangers, last in the East a year ago, are 6-0-0 at home. The Ducks are at the Islanders tonight, then New Jersey on Thursday and Philadelphia on Saturday.

GO DEEPER

› Allan Kreda: Ducks fall 5-2 to Rangers to start four-game trip (The Sporting Tribune)

🏀 THE LAST CUT

The Lakers waived Dalton Knecht on Monday, Carlos Yakimowich reports, to get from 16 players on standard contracts to the regular-season limit of 15. Knecht was the 17th pick in 2024 and scored 37 against Utah as a rookie, but the offseason added Quentin Grimes, Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle on the wing. He averaged 7.1 points and shot 36.8% from three in 132 games. JJ Redick credited his improvement and acknowledged how tough the crowded wing group made his spot.

That sets the roster for Wednesday’s opener against Golden State at Crypto.com Arena. Redick still hasn’t named his starters around Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler, the three of whom shared the floor for only one half all preseason.

GO DEEPER

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers part ways with Dalton Knecht ahead of season opener (The Sporting Tribune)

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers Sunday Report: Three questions entering opening week (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🍔 Carl’s Jr. — free Famous Star with Cheese with a large drink, from the Rams’ interception Sunday. Code RAMS1221 in the Carl’s Jr. app’s Offers tab.

Expired: the Norms hotcakes from the Galaxy’s home goal ended Monday night. Coming Wednesday: a Lakers opening-night win over Golden State turns on two free tacos at Jack in the Box with code LETSGOLAKERS.

🏟️ THREE GAMES, ONE TUESDAY

Kings at Capitals at 4 on ABTV, the start of a five-game East Coast trip. The Kings are 0-4-2, the only winless team in the NHL, and average two goals a game.

Ducks at Islanders at 4 on Prime Video, the second stop on their trip, a night after the loss at the Garden.

Lightning at Golden Knights at 7:30 on ESPN, the end of the homestand. Vegas has scored at least five goals in three straight games and won 6-2 over Pittsburgh on Saturday. Adin Hill is 4-0.

Wednesday: Warriors at Lakers, opening night. Sunday: El Tráfico, and the Rams at the Raiders.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

UCLA’s receivers keep stepping up. Jack Haslett writes that the No. 9 Bruins have kept their passing game going since losing Mikey Mathews early in the season. Senior Semaj Morgan leads the team with 313 receiving yards, Landon Ellis had two catches for 57 yards against Wisconsin, and Brian Rowe Jr. and Aidan Mizell are getting more involved. “Teams are going to try to take something away, so other people have to be able to step up and make plays,” Bob Chesney said.

GO DEEPER

› Jack Haslett: How UCLA’s receiving core has stuck together for success (The Sporting Tribune)

› Jack Haslett: UCLA moves to No. 9 in AP Poll after defeating Wisconsin (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20

🏒 NHL: Kings at Capitals — Capital One Arena — 4:00 p.m. — ABTV

🏒 NHL: Ducks at Islanders — UBS Arena — 4:00 p.m. — Prime Video

🏒 NHL: Lightning at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — 7:30 p.m. — ESPN

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏒 Lightning at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — $40

🏀 Warriors at Lakers, opening night — Crypto.com Arena (Wednesday) — $120

⚽ El Tráfico, Galaxy vs. LAFC (Sunday) — $100

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Matt Prater, one of the kickers the Rams worked out Monday, held the NFL record for the longest field goal for eight years. How long was it?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: 64 yards, for Denver in 2013. Justin Tucker broke the record with a 66-yarder in 2021.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Oh-for-Sunday

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 17:49:32 GMT

Good morning. Sunday was a bad day for the region’s NFL teams. The Rams lost Blake Grupe, the kicker they signed this week, on a first-quarter kickoff in his first game and lost to Arizona by two. The Chargers didn’t score a touchdown in a 22-6 loss in Kansas City and are 0-6. The Raiders scored 30 and still lost to Buffalo. The good news came Sunday afternoon: UCLA is No. 9 in the AP poll, its first top-10 ranking since 2022. Tonight the Ducks start a four-game road trip at Madison Square Garden. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 2-4 and last. Arizona kicked six field goals and beat the Rams 18-16 — Eric Lambkins II at SoFi Stadium.

🏈 Kicker down, again. Blake Grupe hurt his knee on a first-quarter kickoff in his Rams debut — Arash Markazi at SoFi Stadium.

🏈 0-6. No touchdowns, two Herbert interceptions and a 22-6 loss in Kansas City — Fernando Ramirez at Arrowhead Stadium.

🏈 “Close. Games. Out.” The Raiders lost 33-30 to Buffalo for their third straight loss — Derek Hegna at Allegiant Stadium.

🏈 No. 9. Unbeaten UCLA cracks the AP top 10 for the first time since 2022 — Jack Haslett.

🏀 Three questions. The rotation, chemistry and rebounding as the Lakers open Wednesday — Carlos Yakimowich.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — SUNDAY

🏈 NFL: Cardinals 18, Rams 16 · Chiefs 22, Chargers 6 · Bills 33, Raiders 30

🏈 KICKER DOWN

Blake Grupe made a 44-yard field goal on the Rams’ first drive Sunday. On the kickoff that followed, Devin Duvernay broke a 70-yard return, and Grupe lowered his shoulder to push him out of bounds and didn’t get up. Arash Markazi reports Grupe stayed on all fours, was helped to the medical tent and then to the locker room, and was listed as doubtful to return with a knee injury. The Rams had signed him off the Jets’ practice squad days earlier to replace Harrison Mevis.

Punter Ethan Evans took over kickoffs, and in the second quarter the Rams went for two instead of trying an extra point and didn’t convert. Arizona didn’t score a touchdown and won anyway, 18-16, on six field goals.

Eric Lambkins II writes that the problems went beyond the kicking. Matthew Stafford went 25-of-33 for 155 yards, and his air yards per attempt hit a season low for the second straight week. The Rams had the ball for barely 22 minutes, ran 55 plays to Arizona’s 75 and were outgained 339-286. Blake Corum scored their only touchdown, and Tyler Higbee fumbled deep in Arizona territory with 7:47 left.

“It starts with me,” Sean McVay said. “We shoot ourselves in the foot sometimes,” Corum said. Kevin Dotson: “We need to find a way to win a football game again so we can walk in this locker room with some joy.”

The Rams are 2-4 and last in the NFC West. They need a kicker again, and the schedule ahead includes Kansas City, San Francisco and Seattle twice.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Lambkins II: Rams go from Super Bowl favorites to NFC West cellar dwellers (The Sporting Tribune)

› Arash Markazi: Rams kicker Blake Grupe knocked out after suffering knee injury on kickoff (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Cardinals defeat Rams, 18-16, in Los Angeles (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏈 0-6

The Chargers didn’t score a touchdown. Fernando Ramirez writes that Justin Herbert threw two first-half interceptions (one wiped out by a roughing penalty), and another was returned 48 yards. Herbert leads the league with eight interceptions. Ladd McConkey left with a concussion, a second-and-goal pass to Oronde Gadsden was dropped, and a screen pass was fumbled. The best play was a 57-yard completion to Quentin Johnston. Kansas City won 22-6.

Ramirez argues Jim Harbaugh has to make a change, and it’s about “rescuing Justin Herbert.” “The McDaniel experiment has run its course,” he writes. He also thinks the Chargers should consider trading Khalil Mack: “Let Mack fight for an opportunity to win a Super Bowl as his career winds down.” A bye week is coming.

GO DEEPER

› Fernando Ramirez: Jim Harbaugh faces difficult decision after Chargers’ offense hits another low in loss to Chiefs (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Chiefs defeat Chargers, 22-6, at Arrowhead Stadium (The Sporting Tribune)

🏈 3-0 TO 3-3

The Raiders scored 30 and lost by three. Derek Hegna writes that Tre Tucker caught five passes for 97 yards and both Raiders touchdowns, Michael Mayer had a career-high 95 receiving yards, and Brock Bowers had 70. But the Raiders went 2-for-5 in the red zone, Kirk Cousins threw the game’s only interception, and Ashton Jeanty averaged 2.2 yards a carry. Josh Allen threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns, and James Cook had 153 yards from scrimmage, including the touchdown that put Buffalo ahead for good.

“You can’t go 2 of 5 in the red zone. You can’t throw an interception and give them a short field,” Cousins said. Steve Carp writes that after a 3-0 start, the Raiders have lost three straight and look like their old selves: penalties, turnovers and not finishing. Klint Kubiak’s message for the week: “Close. Games. Out.” The Raiders host the Rams next.

GO DEEPER

› Derek Hegna: Bills loss highlights how far Raiders have to go in rebuild effort (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: Raiders looking like old selves in loss to Bills (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🍔 Carl’s Jr. — free Famous Star with Cheese with a large drink. The Rams had an interception Sunday. Code RAMS1221 in the Carl’s Jr. app’s Offers tab.

🥞 Norms — two free buttermilk hotcakes from the Galaxy’s home goal Saturday. Redeem through NORMS Rewards in the app, at norms.com or in store. Ends today at 7:34 p.m.

Coming Wednesday: a Lakers win over Golden State turns on two free tacos at Jack in the Box (Code: LETSGOLAKERS).

🏟️ ONE GAME, ONE MONDAY

Ducks at Rangers at 4 on Prime Video, the start of a four-game East Coast trip. The Ducks are 4-3-0 and lost both games of their homestand after leading into the second period. Mikael Granlund is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Tuesday: Ducks at Islanders, Kings at Capitals, and Lightning at Golden Knights. Wednesday: Warriors at Lakers on opening night.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

UCLA is No. 9. Jack Haslett writes that the 6-0 Bruins are in the AP top 10 for the first time since 2022, a year after going 3-9. The goal now is their first top-10 finish since 2014.

Three questions for the Lakers. Carlos Yakimowich has JJ Redick still deciding his opening-night starters (Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle started the finale with Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler, and Quentin Grimes moved to the bench), Dončić, Reaves and Kessler sharing the floor for only one half all preseason, and a rebounding problem: the Lakers gave up 14.8 offensive rebounds a game in their first four preseason games. Golden State is in Wednesday.

Raquel Rodriguez, in her own words. Fernando Ramirez talks with WWE’s Women’s Intercontinental Champion about her father’s influence and her bond with Liv Morgan. “She’s like the yin to my yang,” Rodriguez said.

GO DEEPER

› Jack Haslett: UCLA moves to No. 9 in AP Poll after defeating Wisconsin (The Sporting Tribune)

› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers Sunday Report: Three questions entering opening week (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fernando Ramirez: Raquel Rodriguez reflects on her WWE journey, special bond w/ Liv Morgan and father’s influence (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

🏒 NHL: Ducks at Rangers — Madison Square Garden — 4:00 p.m. — Prime Video

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii— brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏀 Warriors at Lakers, opening night — Crypto.com Arena (Wednesday) — $109

🏒 Lightning at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena (Tuesday) — $51

⚽ El Tráfico, Galaxy vs. LAFC (Sunday) — $100

🌴 TST TRIVIA

UCLA is No. 9 in the AP poll. When did the Bruins last finish a season ranked in the top 10?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: 2014, according to Jack Haslett’s story on the new AP ranking.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Six and oh

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 15:43:57 GMT

Good morning. UCLA is 6-0. A Cal Poly transfer making his first FBS start ran the offense, the defense held Wisconsin scoreless in the first half, and the Bruins beat the Badgers 17-7 at the Rose Bowl. It was a big Saturday across the region. Vegas beat Pittsburgh 6-2, San Diego State kicked a 53-yard field goal with 57 seconds left to keep the Old Oil Can, Angel City and the Wave both won, and the Galaxy drew San Diego FC 2-2. The Kings lost again. Today is NFL Sunday: Cardinals at Rams at 1:05, then Chargers at Chiefs and Bills at Raiders at 1:25. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 6-0. Ty Dieffenbach threw for 264 yards in his first FBS start, and UCLA beat Wisconsin 17-7 — Brady Charette at the Rose Bowl.

🏒 700. Eichel had two assists in his milestone game as Vegas beat Pittsburgh 6-2 — Derek Hegna at T-Mobile Arena.

🏒 0-4-2. Alex Laferriere scored 31 seconds in, but Boston scored the last four and the Kings are the NHL’s only winless team — Jack Janes at Crypto.com Arena.

🏈 The Can stays. Cooper DiLeva’s career-long 53-yarder beat Fresno State 26-23 — Eric Evelhoch at Snapdragon Stadium.

⚽ Eight unbeaten. Angel City came back from 2-0 down to beat Denver Summit 3-2 — Michelle Chavez.

⚽ One point back. The Wave won 2-1 in North Carolina, their fifth straight, and are one point off first in the Shield race — Sebastian Sanchez.

⚽ A point, and El Tráfico next. The Galaxy drew San Diego FC 2-2 and sit in the first play-in spot — Rob Jalon at Dignity Health Sports Park.

🥊 Last-second knockout. Sebastian Fundora stopped Ermal Hadribeaj in the final seconds of the 12th to keep his WBC title — Michael Huezo at The Cosmopolitan.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — SATURDAY

🏈 College football: UCLA 17, Wisconsin 7 · San Diego State 26, Fresno State 23 · Air Force 41, UNLV 31 · New Mexico 21, Hawai’i 10

🏒 NHL: Golden Knights 6, Penguins 2 · Bruins 4, Kings 1

⚽ MLS: Galaxy 2, San Diego FC 2 · LAFC 1, NYCFC 1

⚽ NWSL: Angel City 3, Denver Summit 2 · Wave 2, Courage 1

🏒 AHL: Silver Knights 5, Reign 2

🥊 Boxing: Sebastian Fundora def. Ermal Hadribeaj by KO, Round 12 (retains WBC super welterweight title)

🏈 SIX AND OH

Five years ago, Ty Dieffenbach was watching from the stands. Saturday, with Nico Iamaleava out after his injury at Oregon, the senior Cal Poly transfer made his first FBS start at the Rose Bowl. He went 22-of-33 for a career-high 264 yards and opened the game with a 16-play, 84-yard drive that ended in a field goal.

“Five years ago, I’m sitting in the stands watching guys do this, and now I’m there, it was special to me,” Dieffenbach said.

Brady Charette writes that Wayne Knight scored from a yard out for his 11th rushing touchdown, and Wisconsin didn’t score in the first half. The Badgers got within three after a UCLA double pass was intercepted, but Anthony Woods finished a 97-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown with under 12 minutes left. UCLA converted 13 of 20 third downs. Wisconsin converted three of 11, and Colton Joseph completed six of 16 passes for 66 yards.

UCLA is 6-0 and 4-0 in the Big Ten, its first 6-0 start since 2022. Bob Chesney remains the only coach in program history to start his tenure this way. “It was just a battle,” he said. “These guys came to play.” Ellis, who caught two passes for 57 yards, put it another way: “It’s the Chesney train.”

GO DEEPER

› Brady Charette: UCLA keeps perfect season alive with 17-7 victory over Wisconsin (The Sporting Tribune)

› Jack Haslett: Nico Iamaleava may miss the rest of the season: Where does that leave UCLA’s quarterback room? (The Sporting Tribune)

TOGETHER WITH BETONLINE

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🏒 EICHEL’S 700TH

Jack Eichel set up the first two goals in his 700th NHL game. Derek Hegna writes that Rasmus Andersson scored 66 seconds in and Noah Hanifin added another, both off Eichel passes. Mark Stone scored on the power play two nights after his hat trick, Trevor Connelly and Shea Theodore scored, and Brett Howden hit the empty net. Vegas has scored at least five goals in three straight games. Adin Hill made 22 saves and is 4-0.

“It was a great win,” Eichel said. “Great win for the team and happy we got two points tonight.” Tampa Bay comes to T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday to finish the homestand.

In Los Angeles, the losing streak hit six. Alex Laferriere scored 31 seconds in, and the Kings outshot Boston 12-6 in the first period. Then, Jack Janes writes, they went the next 59 minutes without a goal. David Pastrnak tied it on a breakaway early in the second, Marat Khusnutdinov scored the go-ahead goal with just over six minutes left, and Boston added two empty-netters for a 4-1 win. The Kings are 0-4-2, the only winless team in the NHL, and they’re averaging two goals a game. “We know these guys played last night and we let them kind of outwork us in our own building the last two periods,” Laferriere said. “I don’t think just pushing it away is going to do any good,” Peter Laviolette said. The Kings start a five-game East Coast trip Tuesday in Washington.

GO DEEPER

› Derek Hegna: High-octane offense delivers as Golden Knights celebrate Jack Eichel’s 700th game (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Golden Knights defeat Penguins, 6-2, at T-Mobile Arena (The Sporting Tribune)

› Jack Janes: Frustrating loss makes it six consecutive losses to start Kings season (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Bruins defeat Kings, 4-1, in Los Angeles (The Sporting Tribune)

⚽ SOCCER SATURDAY

Angel City was down 2-0 after 18 minutes in Denver and won 3-2. Michelle Chavez writes that Sveindis Jónsdóttir, Taylor Suarez and Ally Sentnor scored in an 11-minute stretch before halftime. “We never give up and we played with our hearts today,” Jónsdóttir said. Angel City is unbeaten in eight and fifth with 43 points, and it needs to win its last two (Bay FC at BMO Stadium on Saturday, then Boston Legacy on Nov. 1) to host a playoff game.

The Wave are chasing the Shield. Melanie Barcenas scored in the fourth minute and Trinity Byars in the 52nd for a 2-1 win in North Carolina. Sebastian Sanchez writes that San Diego (17-3-8, 54 points) has won five straight, has clinched a top-four finish, and is one point behind first after Gotham lost to Washington. Two games left, starting at home against Boston Legacy next Sunday.

The Galaxy got a point. Joao Klauss scored from about 30 yards in the fourth minute, Anders Dreyer tied it on a penalty, and Erik Thommy and Gabriel Pirani traded goals before halftime. Rob Jalon writes the 2-2 draw leaves the Galaxy eighth, the first play-in spot, with three games left, and the next one is El Tráfico against LAFC. “The important thing now is to rest well and think about LAFC,” Ruiz said. LAFC drew 1-1 at NYCFC on Saturday.

GO DEEPER

› Michelle Chavez: Angel City defeats Denver Summit 3-2; extends unbeaten streak to eight (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sebastian Sanchez: San Diego Wave close gap in NWSL Shield race with win in North Carolina (The Sporting Tribune)

› Rob Jalon: Galaxy grind out 2-2 draw against San Diego FC (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🥞 Norms — two free buttermilk hotcakes after the Galaxy scored at home against San Diego FC. Redeem through NORMS Rewards in the app, at norms.com or in store at Southern California locations.

🏟️ THREE GAMES, ONE SUNDAY

Cardinals at Rams at 1:05 on FOX. The Rams are 2-3 after the overtime loss to Buffalo, with Blake Grupe as the new kicker. “You don’t want to try to chase a ghost,” Sean McVay said of facing a familiar division rival.

Chargers at Chiefs at 1:25 on CBS. The Chargers are 0-5 and Kansas City is 4-0 coming off a bye. The Chiefs are 8.5-point favorites, and Fernando Ramirez picks them 23-17.

Bills at Raiders at 1:25 on CBS. The Raiders’ run game has struggled, and their two rookie cornerbacks, Treydan Stukes and Hezekiah Masses, are trying to bounce back after New England put up 536 yards. Now comes Josh Allen.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

The Old Oil Can stays in San Diego. Starting quarterback Jayden Denegal left in the first half with a leg injury, and freshman Stone Saunders, back from a clavicle injury, led a 10-play drive that set up Cooper DiLeva’s career-long 53-yard field goal with 57 seconds left. Kai Wallin’s sack ended Fresno State’s last chance. “Rivalry games are different,” Sean Lewis said. “It’s exactly what this team needed at the right time.” The Aztecs (3-4, 2-1 Pac-12) go to Colorado State next.

UNLV lost its first conference game. Air Force ran for 430 yards, 126 of them in the fourth quarter, and won 41-31. Derek Hegna has Jackson Arnold throwing for 246 yards and two touchdowns, both to Kayden McGee, but a fourth-quarter fumble set up the go-ahead drive. UNLV is off until Halloween against Northern Illinois.

Hawai’i let a 10-0 halftime lead get away. New Mexico scored 21 straight in the second half and won 21-10. Hawai’i forced three turnovers but turned them into three points. The Rainbow Warriors are 1-6 and have lost four straight. “We’ve got to clean up the little things,” Titan Lacaden said.

Fundora at the bell. Sebastian Fundora knocked out Ermal Hadribeaj in the final seconds of the 12th round at The Cosmopolitan to keep his WBC super welterweight title. “I like that we knocked him out at the last second,” Fundora said.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Evelhoch: Stone cold Aztecs keep Old Oil Can with last-minute win over Fresno State (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: UNLV bombarded in fourth quarter as Air Force runs away with victory (The Sporting Tribune)

› Paul Brecht: New Mexico rallies from 10-point halftime deficit to hand Hawai’i fourth straight loss (The Sporting Tribune)

› Michael Huezo: Fundora knocks out Hadribeaj in final seconds of Round 12 to retain WBC title (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sabrina McClain: Reign fall to 0-2 at home with loss to Silver Knights (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18

🏈 NFL: Cardinals at Rams — SoFi Stadium — 1:05 p.m. — FOX

🏈 NFL: Chargers at Chiefs — Arrowhead Stadium — 1:25 p.m. — CBS

🏈 NFL: Bills at Raiders — Allegiant Stadium — 1:25 p.m. — CBS

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏈 Cardinals at Rams — SoFi Stadium — $69

🏈 Bills at Raiders — Allegiant Stadium — $378

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Jack Eichel, who played his 700th NHL game Saturday, went No. 2 in the 2015 NHL Draft. Who went No. 1?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Connor McDavid, to the Edmonton Oilers.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Stacked Saturday

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 15:50:44 GMT

Good morning. With the Dodgers done, Saturday belongs to everyone else. UCLA is 5-0 under Bob Chesney and hosts Wisconsin at 4:30 on NBC. The Kings host Boston at 6, the Golden Knights host Pittsburgh at 7, and the Galaxy and San Diego FC meet at 7:30. UNLV, San Diego State and Hawaii are all playing too. Friday night was a loss for both teams that played. Boston went 3-for-3 on the power play and beat the Ducks 4-2, and Denver beat the Lakers 121-106 in the preseason finale. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏒 0-for-5, 3-for-3. The Ducks’ power play went quiet and Boston’s didn’t miss in a 4-2 Bruins win — Zach Cavanagh at Honda Center.

🏀 “Growing pains.” Reaves scored 19, but Denver beat the Lakers 121-106 to end the preseason — Carlos Yakimowich at Crypto.com Arena.

🏈 Three All-Americans. Wayne Knight, Ta’Shawn James and Sammy Omosigho make a midseason first team — Jack Haslett at UCLA.

🏈 24 teams. The College Football Playoff is nearing a deal to double in size starting in 2027 — Brady Charette.

🏈 0-5 at 4-0. The Chargers visit unbeaten Kansas City on Sunday — Fernando Ramirez at The Bolt.

🏀 Lakers in the desert. Alex Cerda will coach the G League Lakers in their first Coachella Valley season — Ernesto Madrigal-Rodriguez at Acrisure Arena.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — FRIDAY

🏒 NHL: Bruins 4, Ducks 2

🏀 NBA (preseason): Nuggets 121, Lakers 106

🏈 UCLA, UNBEATEN

The last time UCLA played, it won 17-15 at No. 13 Oregon, its first win over the Ducks since 2017 and first at Autzen Stadium since 2004. That made UCLA 5-0, its first such start since 2022, and Bob Chesney is the first coach in program history to start his tenure 5-0. After a bye week, Wisconsin comes to the Rose Bowl at 4:30 on NBC.

The question is at quarterback. Nico Iamaleava was hurt in the second quarter in Eugene, Jack Haslett reports, and Ty Dieffenbach played the second half. Early reports said Iamaleava would miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Chesney disputed that (”there is no serious concern at this moment”), and he is handling the position week to week between Dieffenbach and sophomore Madden Iamaleava.

The rest of the team is why UCLA is unbeaten. Three Bruins made a midseason first-team All-America list. Running back Wayne Knight leads the FBS at 13.2 points per game and has a rushing touchdown in all five games. Defensive back Ta’Shawn James leads the Big Ten with four interceptions. Linebacker Sammy Omosigho leads the FBS with four forced fumbles.

The stakes might get bigger. The College Football Playoff is nearing a deal to expand from 12 to 24 teams starting in 2027, with the top eight seeds getting byes and the first two rounds at home sites. The 2027 national championship game is at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

GO DEEPER

› Jack Haslett: UCLA holds on against Oregon to deliver historic win for Bob Chesney (The Sporting Tribune)

› Jack Haslett: Nico Iamaleava may miss the rest of the season: Where does that leave UCLA’s quarterback room? (The Sporting Tribune)

› Jack Haslett: Three Bruins named to Midseason First-Team All-America list (The Sporting Tribune)

› Brady Charette: College Football Playoff nears deal to expand to 24-team format (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏒 THE POWER PLAY FLIPPED

The Ducks led 2-0 after one period. Tim Washe scored in the final minute of the first and Beckett Sennecke scored 20 seconds later. Then, Zach Cavanagh writes, the special teams flipped. Anaheim came in with the league’s second-best power play and went 0-for-5. Boston went 3-for-3 against the fourth-best penalty kill: Frederic Brunet scored his first NHL goal, David Pastrnak tied it and Elias Lindholm put Boston ahead. Matthew Poitras added one with under four minutes left. Lukáš Dostál made 18 saves.

The Ducks are 4-3-0 and lost both games of the homestand after leading into the second period. Cutter Gauthier came back and moved to center, and Mikael Granlund is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Anaheim starts a four-game East Coast trip Monday at the Rangers.

The Lakers finished 2-3 in the preseason. Carlos Yakimowich writes that Austin Reaves scored 19 and Luka Dončić had 15 in 18 first-half minutes, but the Lakers turned it over six times in the first quarter and lost 121-106 to Denver. “There’s gonna be some growing pains,” Reaves said. “Just a lack of reps together so far.” Ziaire Williams scored 14 in 10 minutes and Sandro Mamukelashvili had 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. JJ Redick called Mamukelashvili “a really good connector.” The Lakers open the regular season against Golden State on Oct. 21.

GO DEEPER

› Zach Cavanagh: Bruins power past Ducks in special teams reversal, 4-2 (The Sporting Tribune)

› Carlos Yakimowich: Three observations from Lakers’ preseason finale against Nuggets (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Bruins defeat Ducks, 4-2, in Anaheim (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Nuggets defeat Lakers, 121-106, at Crypto.com Arena (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

The board is dark this morning. The Ducks lost at home, so no $2 McGriddles, and the Lakers’ Jack in the Box tacos don’t return until the regular season. The Norms hotcakes from the Galaxy’s win expired Friday night.

Today’s triggers to watch: a Galaxy home goal against San Diego FC turns Norms back on (free hotcakes through NORMS Rewards for 48 hours), a Kings goal in the final minute of the second period gets a free McFlurry at McDonald’s, and an LAFC win at NYCFC brings back the DoorDash $10-off code. On Sunday, a Rams interception gets a free Famous Star at Carl’s Jr.

🏟️ NINE GAMES, ONE SATURDAY

UNLV at Air Force at 12:30 on CBSSN.

Wave at Courage at 4 in the NWSL, and Angel City at Summit FC at 5:45 on ION.

Wisconsin at UCLA at 4:30 on NBC, at the Rose Bowl.

Bruins at Kings at 6 on ABTV. The Kings have lost five straight and haven’t won yet. Boston is playing the second night of a back-to-back after its win in Anaheim.

Penguins at Golden Knights at 7 on ESPN+. Vegas is 7-2 and leads the Pacific after Mark Stone’s hat trick against Calgary on Thursday.

San Diego FC at Galaxy at 7:30 on Apple TV. The Galaxy beat Portland 2-0 on Wednesday and are six games unbeaten at home. SDFC is winless in seven.

Fresno State at San Diego State and New Mexico at Hawaii, both at 7:30, on the CW and FS1.

Sunday: Cardinals at Rams, Chargers at Chiefs (1:25, CBS) and Raiders vs. Bills.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

The Chargers are 0-5. Fernando Ramirez writes that Jim Harbaugh’s offense has to improve, with Derwin James Jr. and Joe Alt out and multiple rookies possibly starting on the line in front of Justin Herbert. Kansas City is 4-0, rested off a bye, and Kenneth Walker has run for 537 yards. The Chiefs are 8.5-point favorites, and Ramirez picks Kansas City 23-17.

Lakers in the Coachella Valley. Ernesto Madrigal-Rodriguez profiles Alex Cerda, the new coach of the G League Lakers, who are moving from El Segundo to Acrisure Arena. Their season opens Nov. 6 against the Salt Lake City Stars. “The city may change, but the job description doesn’t,” Cerda said.

From Westwood to WWE? Fernando Ramirez writes that former UCLA offensive linemen Yutake Mahe and Noah Pulealii are among the athletes at WWE’s tryout at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.

GO DEEPER

› Fernando Ramirez: Chargers vs. Chiefs I preview, prediction and how to watch (The Sporting Tribune)

› Ernesto Madrigal-Rodriguez: Alex Cerda leads the Lakers’ move to the Coachella Valley (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fernando Ramirez: Former UCLA football players look to make jump to WWE at Hawaii tryout (The Sporting Tribune)

› Arash Markazi: Dodgers’ historic three-peat dream is over, ending the team’s golden era (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17

🏈 College football: UNLV at Air Force — Falcon Stadium — 12:30 p.m. — CBSSN

⚽ NWSL: Wave at Courage — WakeMed Soccer Park — 4:00 p.m. — ION

🏈 College football: Wisconsin at UCLA — Rose Bowl — 4:30 p.m. — NBC

⚽ NWSL: Angel City FC at Summit FC — Centennial Stadium — 5:45 p.m. — ION

🏒 NHL: Bruins at Kings — Crypto.com Arena — 6:00 p.m. — ABTV

🏒 NHL: Penguins at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — 7:00 p.m. — ESPN+

🏈 College football: Fresno State at San Diego State — Snapdragon Stadium — 7:30 p.m. — CW

⚽ MLS: San Diego FC at Galaxy — Dignity Health Sports Park — 7:30 p.m. — Apple TV

🏈 College football: New Mexico at Hawaii — Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex — 7:30 p.m. — FS1

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii— brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏈 Wisconsin at UCLA — Rose Bowl — $26

🏒 Bruins at Kings — Crypto.com Arena — $58

🏒 Penguins at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — $88

⚽ San Diego FC at Galaxy — Dignity Health Sports Park — $29

🏈 Fresno State at San Diego State — Snapdragon Stadium — $20

🏈 New Mexico at Hawaii — Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex — $19

🌴 TST TRIVIA

UCLA’s win at Oregon was its first at Autzen Stadium in how many years?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: 22 years. UCLA’s previous win at Autzen Stadium came in 2004.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Dodgers swept

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 18:24:33 GMT

Good morning. The Dodgers’ season ended Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. Shohei Ohtani’s three-run homer put them up 4-0, and then Milwaukee scored the next six runs, finished the sweep and sent the Dodgers home without a third straight title. Miguel Rojas told the clubhouse it was his last game. In Las Vegas, Mark Stone scored a natural hat trick in a 6-2 win over Calgary. Tonight the Lakers close the preseason against Denver and the Ducks host Boston. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ Swept. The Brewers erased a 4-0 deficit and beat the Dodgers 6-4 to reach the World Series — Fredo Cervantes at Dodger Stadium.

⚾ The end of an era. Arash Markazi on why this loss hurts more than the end of a three-peat chase — Arash Markazi at Dodger Stadium.

⚾ “This is it as a player.” Miguel Rojas announces his retirement — Arash Markazi at Dodger Stadium.

🏒 Hat trick. Mark Stone scored three in the third, and Vegas beat Calgary 6-2 — Steve Carp at T-Mobile Arena.

🏈 “A good kick in the gut.” Inside how McVay and Stafford keep the 2-3 Rams together — Eric Lambkins II at Rams Village.

🏀 Five straight. A’ja Wilson makes the WNBA All-Defensive First Team again — Derek Hegna in Las Vegas.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — THURSDAY

⚾ NLCS Game 4: Brewers 6, Dodgers 4 (Brewers win series 4-0)

🏒 NHL: Golden Knights 6, Flames 2

⚾ DODGERS SWEPT

For three innings, it looked like the Dodgers might at least push the series to Milwaukee. Dave Roberts moved Shohei Ohtani to leadoff, Ohtani hit a three-run homer to right, and the Dodgers led 4-0. Tyler Glasnow retired the first 10 hitters he faced.

Then it went the way the whole series went. Fredo Cervantes writes that Brice Turang walked in the fourth and William Contreras and Jake Bauers hit back-to-back ground-rule doubles. Sal Frelick walked, stole second and scored on David Hamilton’s single in the fifth. Garrett Mitchell homered in the sixth, and Milwaukee led 5-4. Glasnow’s line: 4⅓ innings, three hits, four runs, two walks, six strikeouts. Hamilton added a homer off Edwin Díaz in the ninth.

The Dodgers had a runner on third in the sixth, seventh and eighth and didn’t score. In the eighth, Will Smith tripled, and Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández couldn’t bring him in.

“The train finally ran out of steam I guess,” Max Muncy said. “They were hitting on everything,” Glasnow said. The Brewers are in the World Series for the first time since 1982.

The end of something bigger. Arash Markazi writes that the Dodgers’ championship window is still open, but this group, which won three titles in five seasons and back-to-back in 2024 and 2025, has run its course. They had the oldest roster in baseball. Freddie Freeman turns 38 next season, Muncy 37, and Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández 35, and there’s a good chance Kiké Hernández doesn’t return. “Every single time you’re not the last team standing, it’s heartbreak and it’s failure,” Muncy said. Freeman on what comes next: “It’s not my job. I play first base.”

Rojas is done. Rojas began his career with the Dodgers in 2014, spent eight seasons in Miami and came back in 2023. He won two titles, including the 2025 championship that his ninth-inning homer in Game 7 against Toronto helped make possible. Roberts let him address the team one more time. “This is it as a player,” Rojas said. “The last four years here for me have changed my life.” He wants to stay with the organization on the coaching side.

GO DEEPER

› Fredo Cervantes: Dodgers eliminated as Brewers complete NLCS sweep (The Sporting Tribune)

› Arash Markazi: Dodgers’ historic three-peat dream is over, ending the team’s golden era (The Sporting Tribune)

› Arash Markazi: Miguel Rojas announces retirement after Brewers sweep Dodgers in NLCS (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏒 STONE’S THIRD PERIOD

Brett Howden scored 26 seconds in, off a Mitch Marner pass, and the Golden Knights never trailed. Steve Carp writes that Jack Eichel scored shorthanded for his fifth goal of the season and Braeden Bowman scored on the power play. Then Mark Stone scored three straight in the third period for a natural hat trick. Carter Hart was in net, and Calgary’s goals included a shorthanded one from Jacob Middleton.

“It’s just a matter of sticking with the program through its entirety,” Stone said. Vegas is 7-2 and leads the Pacific Division. Sidney Crosby and the Penguins come to T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

GO DEEPER

› Steve Carp: As expected, Knights take care of business in handling Flames, 6-2 (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Knights defeat Flames, 6-2, at T-Mobile Arena (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🥞 Norms — two free buttermilk hotcakes from the Galaxy’s win over Portland. Redeem through NORMS Rewards in the app, online or in store. lahomewin.com lists the deadline as today at 7:47 p.m.

🥤 Mountain Dew — free 20-ounce Baja Blast from Ohtani’s 428-foot home run. Claim the wallet pass at bajablasthomeruns.com (up to five per season).

🍔 Jack in the Box — free Jumbo Jack with a large Coke, code GODODGERS26, after Dodgers pitchers struck out 10.

🏟️ TWO GAMES, ONE FRIDAY

Nuggets at Lakers at 7 on Spectrum SportsNet, the preseason finale. The Lakers blew a 20-point lead to Golden State in Las Vegas on Tuesday. The regular season starts next week.

Bruins at Ducks at 7 on Prime Video. The Ducks are 4-2-0 after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to Calgary, and they’re without Ryan Poehling, who is out 6-8 weeks with an MCL sprain.

Saturday: Penguins at Golden Knights, Bruins at Kings, San Diego FC at the Galaxy, and LAFC at NYCFC. Sunday: Cardinals at Rams, and Raiders vs. Bills.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

“Motion is lotion.” Eric Lambkins II goes inside how Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford keep the 2-3 Rams from cracking after a 178-play overtime loss to Buffalo that came down to one kick. “There’s no moral victories,” McVay said, but he called the block “a good kick in the gut” the team has to learn from. “He’s the coolest and most collected guy that I’ve been around,” Davante Adams said of Stafford. Arizona is next on Sunday.

The Raiders’ young corners. Derek Hegna writes that rookies Treydan Stukes and Hezekiah Masses have all four of the team’s interceptions, but both were beaten for touchdowns as New England piled up 536 yards. “We got to get better,” defensive coordinator Rob Leonard said. Josh Allen and the Bills are next.

A’ja Wilson, again. Wilson made the WNBA All-Defensive First Team for the fifth straight year after leading the league in blocks for a fifth straight season (1.9 a game). She passed Lauren Jackson for sixth all time in career blocks in August.

From 1-9 to CIF contender. Austin Montgomery profiles Agoura coach Dustin Croick, a former Agoura quarterback who took over a program coming off back-to-back 1-9 seasons. It has won 27 games over the past three years and has a “Be Like Carter” game every season for Carter Jones, the freshman lineman who died in 2023. “It wasn’t about wins and losses anymore,” Croick said.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Lambkins II: Inside the Rams’ dark psychology of survival (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: The Raiders need their young defensive backs to keep their confidence (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: A’ja Wilson adds one more accolade to wrap up 2026 (The Sporting Tribune)

› Austin Montgomery: Dustin Croick built Agoura Football into a CIF title contender (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: USC Women’s Basketball Media Day at Galen Center (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16

🏀 NBA (preseason): Nuggets at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — 7:00 p.m. — Spectrum SportsNet

🏒 NHL: Bruins at Ducks — Honda Center — 7:00 p.m. — Prime Video

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

🏀 Nuggets at Lakers — Crypto.com Arena — $30

🏒 Bruins at Ducks — Honda Center — $50

🌴 TST TRIVIA

The Dodgers were trying to become the first team in more than 25 years to win three straight World Series. Who was the last team to do it, and in which years?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The New York Yankees, who won three straight from 1998 to 2000.

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One game from gone

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 19:17:15 GMT

Good morning. The Dodgers are one loss from the end of their season. Blake Snell allowed a home run on his first pitch and his last pitch Wednesday night, Milwaukee won 6-2, and the Brewers are one win from their first World Series in 44 years. Game 4 is at 5 on FS1 The rest of the night went better for Southern California: the Galaxy shut out Portland, LAFC beat Austin and Son Heung-min tied a Carlos Vela record, and two Clippers rookies stood out in a preseason win. The Golden Knights host Calgary tonight. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ 0-3. Bauers and Mitchell homered in the seventh, and the Brewers beat the Dodgers 6-2 to move one win from the World Series — Fredo Cervantes at Dodger Stadium.

⚾ “English, not math.” Alex Rodriguez on baseball’s coming labor fight, team valuations and sports media — Arash Markazi in Los Angeles.

⚽ Back in control. Marco Reus and Justin Haak scored, and the Galaxy beat Portland 2-0 — Rob Jalon at Dignity Health Sports Park.

⚽ 15 assists. Bouanga scored twice and Son tied Vela’s club record as LAFC beat Austin 3-1 — The Sporting Tribune.

🏀 Rookies make their case. Keaton Wagler and Baba Miller led the Clippers past Denver 122-110 — Grant Mona at Intuit Dome.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — WEDNESDAY

⚾ NLCS Game 3: Brewers 6, Dodgers 2 (Brewers lead 3-0)

⚽ MLS: Galaxy 2, Timbers 0 · LAFC 3, Austin FC 1 · San Diego FC 3, Dynamo 3

🏀 NBA (preseason): Clippers 122, Nuggets 110

🏒 AHL: Reign 3, Gulls 2

⚾ ONE GAME FROM GONE

Jackson Chourio hit Blake Snell’s first pitch of the night over the wall. Garrett Mitchell hit his last one 428 feet. In between, Snell was dominant. Fredo Cervantes writes that Snell struck out nine and retired 13 or 14 straight hitters by Dave Roberts’ count, and he’s only the second pitcher to allow a home run on the first and last pitch of a postseason start, after John Smoltz in 1991.

Will Smith’s two-run double in the sixth gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. It lasted half an inning. Roberts sent Snell back out for the seventh, trying to get him “three more hitters.” Jake Bauers ended an 11-pitch at-bat with a two-run home run. Mitchell followed with a homer to make it 4-2, and Milwaukee added two more late.

“I didn’t give up one the whole year so to have three in a game is pretty frustrating,” Snell said.

The Dodgers had chances to answer. Max Muncy pinch-hit for Andy Pages and struck out. Kiké Hernández pinch-hit for Josue De Paula and struck out. Tommy Edman stayed in the game and kept struggling. The Dodgers have scored seven runs in three games.

Teams leading a best-of-seven 3-0 have won 41 of 42 times. The only comeback was the 2004 Red Sox, and the stolen base that started it in Game 4 belonged to Roberts. Game 4 is tonight at 5 p.m. on FS1 at Dodger Stadium.

GO DEEPER

› Fredo Cervantes: Dodgers tried to ruin baseball as the Brewers said not this year (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fredo Cervantes: Dave Roberts’ bullpen decisions backfire, Dodgers trail 0-2 in NLCS (The Sporting Tribune)

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💼 A-ROD ON THE NEXT FIGHT

Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement runs out after this season, and the NLCS shows the gap at the center of the fight: the Dodgers’ payroll is about $338 million and the Brewers’ is about $143.5 million. Milwaukee is up 3-0.

Arash Markazi talked with Alex Rodriguez, who is back for the fourth season of Bloomberg’s “The Deal,” about the labor talks, rising team valuations and where sports media is going. Rodriguez thinks how the two sides talk will matter as much as the numbers. “The issue sometimes is English, not math,” he said.

On media rights: “If media is king, then baseball should be king.”

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: Alex Rodriguez discusses baseball’s looming labor battle, soaring team valuations and the future of sports media (The Sporting Tribune)

⚽ SEVEN GOALS, TWO WINS

The Galaxy bounced back. Three days after a 6-2 loss in St. Louis, Rob Jalon writes, Marco Reus scored in the 17th minute and Justin Haak added one in the 80th to beat Portland 2-0. JT Marcinkowski made three saves for his fourth clean sheet, and the Galaxy are back in control of their playoff spot and six games unbeaten at home. “We need to get over the win as fast as we get over the losses because now we need to focus on San Diego,” Robert Taylor said. San Diego FC visits Saturday.

LAFC took over in the second half. Denis Bouanga scored in the 52nd minute, Austin’s Brandon Vazquez tied it in the 66th, and Bouanga answered a minute later. Son Heung-min scored in the 72nd. Son’s two assists give him 15, the most in MLS and tied with Carlos Vela’s 2019 club record. LAFC is at NYCFC on Saturday.

San Diego FC and Houston traded six goals in a 3-3 draw at Snapdragon Stadium. SDFC is winless in seven and goes to the Galaxy on Saturday.

GO DEEPER

› Rob Jalon: LA Galaxy shut out Portland 2-0 at home (The Sporting Tribune)

› LAFC beats Austin FC 3-1 (The Sporting Tribune)

› SDFC’s six-goal clash with Houston Dynamo ends in 3-3 draw (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Timbers at Galaxy (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Austin FC at LAFC (The Sporting Tribune)

🍔 THE DEALS BOARD

🛵 DoorDash — $10 off orders of $20 or more after LAFC’s win. Code LAFCDASH15, LA County delivery, through the end of today.

🥞 Norms — free hotcakes after the Galaxy’s win. Redeem through NORMS Rewards within 48 hours.

🥤 Mountain Dew — triggered by Garrett Mitchell’s 428-foot home run at Dodger Stadium.

🏟️ TWO GAMES, ONE THURSDAY

NLCS Game 4: Brewers at Dodgers, 5 p.m. on FS1. Win or the season is over.

Flames at Golden Knights at 7 on ESPN+. Vegas (3-0-0 with Adin Hill in net) is coming off a 5-2 win in Nashville. Calgary got its first win of the season Tuesday in Anaheim.

📌 AROUND THE MARKETS

Two rookies make their case. Grant Mona writes that No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler started and had 12 points, four assists and three 3-pointers, and second-round pick Baba Miller had 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting off the bench as the Clippers beat Denver 122-110 in their preseason finale. The opener is Oct. 21 against the Kings.

USC’s defense finds its footing. The Trojans held Penn State to 68 rushing yards and have won two straight. A bye week comes before Wisconsin.

The Raiders’ run game ranks last in the league at about three yards per carry, and fixing it is the priority before Buffalo.

In the AHL, the Ontario Reign beat the San Diego Gulls 3-2.

GO DEEPER

› Grant Mona: Two Clippers rookies make their case in preseason finale win over Nuggets (The Sporting Tribune)

› Two straight W’s, a bye week and a defense finding its footing (The Sporting Tribune)

› Raiders placing emphasis on fixing early-season Achilles heel (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Reign vs. Gulls (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15

⚾ NLCS Game 4: Brewers at Dodgers — Dodger Stadium — 5:00 p.m. — FOX

🏒 NHL: Flames at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — 7:00 p.m. — ESPN+

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas, Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

⚾ NLCS Game 4, Brewers at Dodgers — Dodger Stadium — $71

🏒 Flames at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — $60

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Blake Snell allowed a home run on the first and last pitch of his Game 3 start. Who is the only other pitcher to do that in a postseason game?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: John Smoltz, in Game 3 of the 1991 NLCS.

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