Good morning. UCLA has a chance at history tonight. The 9-0 Bruins host Illinois at the Rose Bowl at 6 on FOX, and a win would give them their first 10-0 start since 1998. Rain is in the forecast. The Kings lost 5-2 to the Islanders for their third straight loss, spoiling Kevin Fiala’s return from nine months out. UCLA’s women beat Arizona by 32. Also tonight: the Clippers host Oklahoma City, the Golden Knights try for five straight against Nashville, and UNLV’s men host Stanford. Let’s get into it.
🚨 HEADLINES
🏈 One more for history. No. 4 UCLA can start 10-0 for the first time since 1998 tonight against Illinois — Brady Charette.
🏒 “We’re wasting time right now.” The Islanders beat the Kings 5-2, their third straight loss — Alex Hutton at Crypto.com Arena.
🏀 Breakout. Addy Brown scored 18 as No. 10 UCLA beat Arizona 76-44 — Jack Haslett at Pauley Pavilion.
🏈 Out Sunday. The Rams are keeping Puka Nacua off injured reserve, but he’ll miss Arizona — The Sporting Tribune.
🏈 Finding money. How the Rams restructured two contracts to clear cap space — Muhammed Asif.
🎶 David Guetta and John Summit. A free music festival will precede the CFP title game in Las Vegas — The Sporting Tribune.
See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.
📋 SCOREBOARD — THURSDAY
🏒 NHL: Islanders 5, Kings 2
🏀 WBB: UCLA 76, Arizona 44 · G League: Coachella Valley Lakers 108, Valley Suns 99
🏈 TEN AND OH?
UCLA has started 10-0 twice in its history. Tonight at the Rose Bowl, against Illinois, the Bruins can make it three, and do it for the first time since 1998. Brady Charette writes that the stakes are historic for first-year coach Bob Chesney, whose team is ranked No. 4 and is one of two unbeaten FBS teams left.
Illinois (6-3) has won four straight, mostly low-scoring, grinding games, and Charette writes that the Bruins are double-digit favorites. Running back Wayne Knight leads the team with 789 rushing yards and the Big Ten with 13 rushing touchdowns. “When Knight goes, so do the Bruins,” Charette writes. UCLA’s defense ranks 10th in the FBS against the run, allowing 87.7 yards a game, and leads the country with 27 takeaways. Illinois running back Aidan Laughery has 615 rushing yards.
Ty Dieffenbach, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after hitting Aiden Mizell for two 75-yard touchdowns at Minnesota, is 4-0 as a starter. Rain is in the forecast. TST’s Timothy Hessen likes UCLA -10 in today’s Best Bets, noting the Bruins have covered in every game this season. “It was not by accident. It was purposefully done,” Chesney said this week of the start.
GO DEEPER
› Brady Charette: UCLA-Illinois preview: No. 4 Bruins continue quest for undefeated season (The Sporting Tribune)
› Timothy Hessen: TST Best Bets, November 13 (The Sporting Tribune)
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🏒 THE KINGS ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME
Fiala came back, and the Kings still lost. Kevin Fiala returned after about nine months out and had an assist, but the Islanders won 5-2 for the Kings’ third straight loss. “For me, just getting in the game, that’s very exciting,” Fiala said. Drew Doughty was blunter. “We’re wasting time right now,” he said. Alex Hutton writes that Peter Laviolette called the team “far too inconsistent.” The Kings are 5-10-2 and close their homestand Saturday against Calgary before a five-game road trip.
UCLA’s women had a breakout. Addy Brown scored 18, her most as a Bruin, with eight rebounds and four assists, and No. 10 UCLA beat Arizona 76-44. Timea Gardiner scored 16, Sienna Betts had a double-double, and Somto Okafor scored 10 in her first start. Arizona shot 24%. “This was a really breakout game for Addy,” Cori Close said. The defending champions are 3-0.
GO DEEPER
› Alex Hutton: Kings’ loss to Islanders increases frustration despite Fiala’s return (The Sporting Tribune)
› TST Images: Islanders at Kings (The Sporting Tribune)
› Jack Haslett: Addy Brown’s Bruin breakout leads No. 10 UCLA over Arizona (The Sporting Tribune)
🏈 THE RAMS, WITHOUT PUKA
Nacua stays off IR but is out Sunday. Sean McVay said Puka Nacua’s prognosis hasn’t changed and that keeping him off injured reserve is about roster rules. He’ll miss Sunday’s game against Arizona. Matthew Stafford said rookie CJ Daniels could see a bigger role. “We’re going to have to play as a team as good, if not better, than we have all season,” Stafford said. Davante Adams could return after the Green Bay game, and Trent McDuffie is expected to play Sunday.
How the Rams found cap room. Muhammed Asif writes that the Rams were roughly $600,000 over the cap before restructuring the contracts of Kyren Williams and Kam Curl, which freed about $3 million. The Rams are 5-4 and have won three straight.
A concert before the title game. The CFP will hold a free, two-day music festival in Las Vegas on Jan. 23-24, headlined by David Guetta and John Summit, before the national championship game Jan. 25 at Allegiant Stadium. Marshmello, Fisher and Sofi Tukker are also on the bill.
Also: the Coachella Valley Lakers came back from 20 down with a 30-0 run to beat the Valley Suns 108-99.
GO DEEPER
› Rams keep Puka Nacua off injured reserve, but receiver still faces extended absence (The Sporting Tribune)
› Muhammed Asif: Les Snead and Sean McVay carved out millions to survive the Rams’ cap crunch (The Sporting Tribune)
› David Guetta, John Summit to headline free CFP music festival in Las Vegas (The Sporting Tribune)
› Coachella Valley Lakers erase 20-point deficit with 30-0 run (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.
No new deals triggered Thursday. The Jack in the Box Lakers code LETSGOLAKERS from Wednesday’s win in Milwaukee may still work.
This weekend’s triggers: a Ducks home win over the Islanders on Saturday gets $2 McGriddles, and a Rams interception against Arizona on Sunday gets a free Famous Star at Carl’s Jr.
🏟️ FIVE GAMES, ONE FRIDAY
Illinois at UCLA at 6 on FOX, at the Rose Bowl, with a 10-0 start on the line.
Thunder at Clippers at 7:30 on ClipperVision. The Clippers (2-8) have lost eight of nine. Grant Mona writes that their defense, not their injuries, is the bigger problem.
Predators at Golden Knights at 7 on ESPN+. Vegas has won four straight; Nashville has won six straight, including wins over the Kings and Ducks this week.
Stanford at UNLV at 6 on CBSSN, with both men’s teams unbeaten. And Hawaii’s women play their home opener against Saint Mary’s at 1 in the Bank of Hawaii Classic.
📌 AROUND THE MARKETS
The weekend ahead: USC football plays at Indiana on Saturday at 12:30 on CBS. USC and UCLA boxers meet Saturday night in Rivals in the Ring at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The Ducks host the Islanders and the Kings host Calgary on Saturday. On Sunday, Fernando Mendoza makes his first start for the Raiders against Seattle, the Rams play Arizona, and No. 3 USC’s women play No. 1 South Carolina at 10 a.m. on ABC.
Lakers injury watch. Austin Reaves (left heel) was scheduled for more imaging Thursday, and Luka Dončić twisted his ankle in Wednesday’s win at Milwaukee. The Lakers host Phoenix on Sunday.
📺 WATCHLIST — FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13
🏀 WBB: Saint Mary’s at Hawaii — Stan Sheriff Center — 1:00 p.m. — MW+
🏀 MBB: Stanford at UNLV — Thomas & Mack Center — 6:00 p.m. — CBSSN
🏈 CFB: Illinois at UCLA — Rose Bowl — 6:00 p.m. — FOX
🏒 NHL: Predators at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — 7:00 p.m. — ESPN+
🏀 NBA: Thunder at Clippers — Intuit Dome — 7:30 p.m. — ClipperVision
🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?
Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawai’i — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.
🏈 Illinois at UCLA — Rose Bowl — $25
🏀 Thunder at Clippers — Intuit Dome — $30
🏒 Predators at Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena — $74
🌴 TST TRIVIA
UCLA’s last 10-0 start came in 1998. Which team handed the Bruins their first loss that season?
Answer at the bottom.
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Trivia answer: Miami, 49-45, in the regular-season finale.
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