Category: Sports

The NBA begins this week with the 2 largest names in Australian basketball – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – with no roster spot for the primary time in a decade.

His absence indicators a altering of the guard, with Boomers protection duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels rising as key starters for the playoff hopefuls, with lately signed nine-figure contracts making them a few of Australia’s largest sporting earners.

However they aren’t alone. Fourteen Australians are anticipated to compete for minutes within the league, from veteran facilities Jock Landale and Duop Reath, rising wings like Johnny Furphy and Josh Inexperienced, to intriguing call-ups like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey needs to show himself

After protracted negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey lastly signed his rookie extension price $100 million ($153 million) over 4 years final month. It is an enormous contract for the Melburnian, however in NBA phrases it is low cost for Giddey’s place and profile as a principal playmaker. The Chicago entrance workplace’s reluctance to overpay means the 23-year-old enters this season with quite a bit to show.

Having been traded from Oklahoma Metropolis at the beginning of final season, Giddey watched his former crew attain the NBA championship with out him. Because the Bulls look to make the playoffs within the weaker Jap Convention, he might want to show that his capturing and protection are worthy of a starter, or else he may fall to the periphery of the NBA.

Dyson Daniels takes one other step

Daniels signed the identical contract as Giddey this week, and after receiving MVP honors final season, the Hawks level guard’s profession took off in Atlanta following his launch from the Pelicans. He’s now lauded as one of many league’s greatest perimeter defenders and led the league in steals, with three steals per recreation – multiple full takeaway per recreation greater than the second-place crew’s tally.

Enjoying alongside the flamboyant Trae Younger in Atlanta, the 22-year-old may discover success this season as a secondary ball-handler and elite defender so long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But when he can elevate his three-point capturing, which was beneath league common final 12 months, and proceed to develop his passing and driving, Daniels may change into one of many league’s most versatile gamers.

Johnny Furphy within the highlight

Pacers guard Furphy has emerged as a fan favourite in Indiana after a succession of highlight-reel dunks within the preseason. His acrobatics led NBA persona Pat Beverley to explain him because the “greatest white dunker we’ve seen shortly,” and an invitation to the mid-season dunk contest might be on the desk.

After taking part in simply eight minutes per recreation in 50 video games in his rookie marketing campaign, the Maribyrnong Faculty alumnus is in competition for a Pacers rotation that would lean towards youth following the damage to level guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor with an outdoor shot

Guard Proctor fell within the June draft to the forty ninth choose, the place Jap Convention contender Cleveland chosen him. The Cavs are the favorites to achieve the NBA Finals from the East, so it might be uncommon for a rookie taken within the second spherical to see a lot time on the court docket. However the Sydney product obtained minutes in preseason and his NBA-ready shot offers him an opportunity to contribute.

The minute crunch approaches for the veteran quintet

Veteran heart Jock Landale has an opportunity to safe the beginning position in Memphis as extremely touted Zach Edey will miss the beginning of the season following ankle surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to younger facilities Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, however may play constant minutes if the Blazers change into aggressive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle will seemingly be used as a defensive set off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Inexperienced’s offseason shoulder surgical procedure left him with no timetable for his return. The 24-year-old nonetheless has a contract for subsequent season, however he will not need to give an excessive amount of of a bonus to his teammates on the rebuilding Hornets. And the damage has already slowed down Dante Exum, who has knee issues and missed essential preseason alternatives in Dallas.

Australian NBA gamers on the sidelines

Then there are those that seemingly will not see a lot, if any, court docket time this season. Joe Ingles, 38, is again in Minnesota, however seems to be little greater than an older brother retaining Anthony Edwards in verify.

Rocco Zikarsky will seemingly be developed by the Minnesota Timberwolves by their G-League crew. Chicago rookies Lachlan Olbrich and Alex Toohey of the Golden State Warriors are additionally within the crockpot, whereas the extra skilled Luke Travers hopes to earn minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills search for a deal

If there was any doubt about Mills’ retirement, he responded with a exercise video posted to his social media over the weekend, displaying that the 37-year-old stays alert and centered on securing one other NBA contract.

What Simmons is considering is anybody’s guess after an low season in Australia, going fishing and taking part in with a Sherrin. Though he took to Instagram final month to dismiss options he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star in 2021 – has but to make an look.

A single Quebec will get an A grade on the Nationwide Hockey League (LNH) Recruiting Heart’s preliminary listing forward of the upcoming playoff.

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Expert Armada de Blainville-Boisbriand defenseman Xavier Villeneuve is their solely Quebec-born skater to earn this grade, which is in keeping with a first-tour contender. In 12 video games this season, he scored 5 pi and 11 po at 162 lb and earned 20 factors.

Unsurprisingly, Nittany Lions ahead from Penn State College Gavin McKenna additionally received it with an A grade. Celui who debuted shy within the NCAA with one mas and 6 factors in six matches jusqu’ici is each day misplaced as the most effective results of this cuvée.

Their different Maritimes Québec Junior Hockey League skater to earn the best grade is Russian Victoriaville Tigers ahead Egor Shilov. The 6 pi and 1 po and 180 lb heart participant at the moment ranks fourth on the circuit with 19 factors in 10 video games.

L’attaquant des Remparts de Québec Maddox Dagenais is as for the Quebecois seul joueur to acquire grade B, reserved for the attainable alternative of two or three days, based on the Centrale.

Forwards Simon-Xavier Cyr (GAT), Florent Houle (SHE), Ryan Howard (QUE), Liam Lefebvre (RIM), Romain L’Italien (CAP), Thomas Rousseau (SHE), Dylan Rozzi (SJN) and William Yared (SJN) achieved a C grade, all like defenders Cameron Chartrand (SJN), Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte (VDO) and Alexandre Taillefer (QUE) in addition to the gardiens Rafaël Courchesne (SJN), Nick Cirka (HAL) and William Lacelle (RIM).

15 Different Quebecers, Armada defender Bo Damphousse, additionally acquired an honorable point out in his Central honors.

TORONTO – Well timed blow. High quality pitch. Stellar protection.

The Toronto Blue Jays centered on the fundamentals on Sunday and it paid off with a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Recreation 6 that left each groups one victory away from the World Collection.

Addison Barger and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered and starter Trey Yesavage went 5 2/3 innings for the win as Toronto compelled a decisive Recreation 7 within the American League Championship Collection on Monday evening at Rogers Centre.

“It’s actually cool to be the place we’re,” Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider mentioned. “I am not going to lie. It’s worthwhile to preserve your foot on the gasoline and prepare for tomorrow.”

The winner will face the Los Angeles Dodgers within the World Collection.

Toronto has not participated within the Fall Traditional since successful its second consecutive title in 1993. The Mariners have by no means appeared within the World Collection.

Yesavage set the early tone in Toronto’s first must-win postseason sport by hanging out 4 of the primary six batters he confronted. The rookie right-hander allowed two earned runs, three walks and 6 hits.

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He obtained a standing ovation from the Rogers Middle crowd of 44,764, which was raucous from the opening pitch.

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“This was probably the most electrifying, energized crowd I’ve ever performed in entrance of and the workforce rallied behind the followers,” mentioned Yesavage. “They have been an ideal motivation for us.”

The street workforce received each sport within the sequence till Seattle picked up a 6-2 victory in Recreation 5 at T-Cellular Park.

Again residence for Recreation 6, the Blue Jays rattled off two consecutive runs. Barger’s third-inning residence run off Logan Gilbert put Toronto up 4-0.

Seattle’s starter was pulled after Guerrero led off the fifth inning with a solo shot.

It was the Toronto slugger’s sixth residence run of the playoffs, tying him with Jose Bautista and Joe Carter for many by a Blue Jay in a postseason.

“It’s simply a kind of issues the place you hope he does one thing extraordinarily much like Vladimir,” Toronto designated hitter George Springer mentioned. “He’s been unbelievable.”

Josh Naylor of Mississauga, Ontario, hit a solo residence run in Seattle’s sixth run.

Guerrero scored once more within the seventh on a wild pitch by reliever Matt Brash of Kingston, Ont. Guerrero moved to 3rd base and a throwing error by catcher Cal Raleigh allowed him to return residence.

Toronto turned three double performs on the evening to flee some jams. Seattle struggled defensively with three errors that evening.

The Blue Jays’ relievers additionally confirmed up after a tough evening for the bullpen in Recreation 5. Louis Varland recorded 4 strikeouts and Jeff Hoffman had 4 strikeouts in a two-inning look.

“Which may have been the perfect I’ve ever seen him, as ever,” Varland mentioned of the proximity to Toronto. “I imply, he was punching everybody. Poor contact, you identify it.”

After a 94-win common season, that is the place Toronto is in first place within the American League. The Blue Jays will host Recreation 7 and can feed off the vocal assist of their rabid fan base.

Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber was slated to begin towards George Kirby.

“We’ve been doing an ideal job of passing the baton, so to talk,” Bieber mentioned. “In the end, each sport is a person sport and that’s the fantastic thing about baseball.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 19, 2025.

&copy 2025 The Canadian Press

WWhen the Los Angeles Rams took the sphere on Sunday at Wembley Stadium to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, they did so with out their finest offensive weapon, large receiver Puka Nacua, who was sidelined with a sprained left ankle. On condition that the Jaguares’ protection It’s been spicy sometimes beneath first-year coordinator Anthony Campanile, maybe Jacksonville may come away with a win that will transfer them to 5-2 on the season.

That is not how issues occurred. The Rams received 35-7, and Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford accomplished 21 of 33 passes for 182 yards, 5 touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer score of 117.7. Stafford became the eighth quarterback in professional football history throw 5 or extra passing touchdowns of fewer than 200 yards; the final to take action was Jameis Winston for the New Orleans Saints towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers on September 12, 2021.

Though Jacksonville’s offense was very troublesome towards the Rams’ protection, the Rams’ offense was practically unstoppable beneath head coach Sean McVay. In earlier years, Los Angeles’ high offensive lineman has most popular 11 personnel (one operating again, one tight finish, three receivers) greater than every other personnel grouping. In accordance with Professional Soccer Focus, the Rams ranked first in 11 personnel scores for the 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons (and 2017 was McVay’s first season with the staff).

However with Nacua out, McVay went utterly towards his personal tendencies with a ton of 13 personnel packages: a operating again, three tight ends and a receiver. The Rams have not run a single passing play all season with 13 gamers, they usually’ve had simply eight consecutive performs. McVay started that includes it in week six towards the Baltimore Ravens after Nacua was injured with 10:02 left within the first quarter, and all eight 13 private performs towards Baltimore had been operating performs.

Towards the Jaguares, and figuring out full nicely that there can be no Nacua – who became one of the five best receivers in the NFL – McVay leaned closely on the 13-person archetype. On the finish of the sport, that they had 24 performs from 13 gamers. To place that into perspective, the Pittsburgh Steelers led the NFL with 49 performs on 13 gamers. whole from the primary to the sixth week.

Three of Stafford’s landing passes got here from 13 staff, together with one for Davante Adamswho changed Nacua as Stafford’s favourite goal. Adams caught 5 passes on eight targets for 35 yards and three touchdowns.

Since we’re digging into the story, Adams is the 11th player of all time end a sport with three or extra speeding touchdowns and 35 or fewer receiving yards. Tight finish Shane Zylstra did it for the Detroit Lions on December 24, 2022 (26 yards and three touchdowns), and Travis Kelce of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs did it (after which some) towards the Las Vegas Raiders on October 10, 2022 with 25 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.

The 5-2 Rams now have a bye and their subsequent sport will probably be towards the New Orleans Saints on November 2nd. They anticipate Nacua to return again for it, and with McVay calling it as he’s, that is an offense nobody desires to cope with.

Even the attackers they were celebrating!

MVP of the week

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots. Talking of offenses nobody desires to cope with, how concerning the sudden resurgence of the New England Patriots, who marched to 5-2 on the season after their 31-13 defeat of the Tennessee Titans. This sport was private for New England head coach Mike Vrabel, who was fired as head coach of the Titans on January 9, 2024, after a second consecutive dropping season however an total file of 54–45.

Vrabel would want Maye, the star sophomore from North Carolina, to make that revenge occur, and Maye was dedicated to it. He accomplished 21 of 23 passes for 222 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer score of 135.9. On this sport Maye broke Tom Brady’s franchise file for completion proportion in a single sport with a fee of 91.3%, surpassing the GOAT’s 88.5% against the Jaguares on December 27, 2009.

Maye wasn’t simply throwing issues beneath both. He accomplished seven of 9 passes of 10 or extra air yards for 149 yards and each passing touchdowns, and even the announcers (together with former New England cornerback Jason McCourty) weren’t fairly prepared for Maye to do what he did.

Final week, my esteemed colleague Oliver Connolly delved into how Maye turned a Professional Bowl-caliber quarterback (as I did individually in an article and video). After this sport, any argument on the contrary can be fairly silly.

Vrabel’s hiring was a triumph for the Patriots, a company misplaced within the last days of Invoice Belichick in 2023 and beneath former coach Jerod Mayo in 2024.

As for the Titans, who fired coach Brian Callahan final week? Not a lot.

Video of the week

You might or could not like Patrick Mahomes’ State Farm commercials, however it appears like Mahomes’ efficiency is beginning to repay on the sphere. Early within the second quarter of Kansas Metropolis’s 31-0 defeat of the Las Vegas Raiders, Mahomes seemed to be making an attempt to get the Raiders offside, yelling earlier than the snap that “This shit by no means works, man!”

Mahomes then handed the ball off to operating again Kareem Hunt, who gained three yards on fourth-and-1, extending the offense.

Not precisely Sir Laurence Olivier, however it’ll do.

Statistics of the week

30. That is the variety of first downs the Chiefs had in that Raiders sport… and it is also the variety of performs the Raiders had been allowed to run. It is the fewest performs any NFL staff has run because the Browns ran simply 28 in a 43-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 12, 1999, within the franchise’s return to Cleveland with the “New Browns.”

Pete Carroll’s Raiders had no excuse for enlargement. They gained 85 whole yards and went 0-for-7 on third-down conversions. This can be a nice solution to get off the sphere earlier than having to run a whole lot of these sophisticated performs.

Elsewhere within the league

The wildest sport of the day got here in Denver, the place the Broncos watched their visitors, the visiting New York Giants, take a 19-0 lead earlier than going to work within the fourth quarter. The Broncos scored 33 factors within the last quarter-hour, turning into the primary staff in skilled soccer historical past to attain that many factors after being shut out within the first three quarters of a sport.

One sequence appeared to place the nail within the coffin for the Broncos, however Sean Payton’s staff managed to beat it. With 1:08 remaining, the Giants had fourth-and-19 at their very own 26-yard line, however rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart hit receiver Wan’Dale Robinson for precisely 19 yards. Not that Dart wanted it, as Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers was flagged in a suspect violating passerby call.

Two performs later, Dart threw downfield to receiver Beaux Collins, and Broncos cornerback Riley Moss was flagged for a even more suspicious pass interference call.

That put the ball on the Giants’ two-yard line, and Payton added one other yard to that with unsportsmanlike conduct towards referee Brad Allen (whose legacy is… It’s not exactly great). Dart ran the ball for a go-ahead landing, however kicker Jude McAtamney missed his second further level of the sport, which meant the Broncos may nonetheless win with a subject aim.

Which they did when the time expired. And there was his 33-32 last.

The Indianapolis Colts entered Sunday’s sport towards the Los Angeles Chargers ranked first in offensive DVOA (FTN Opponent-Adjusted Effectivity Metrics) and their 38-24 victory, which propelled them to an NFL-best 6-1 file (till what would occur to the 5-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night time) did nothing to cloud the staff’s outlook. Daniel Jones, the previous New York Giants draft decide within the first spherical, continued his unbelievable profession comeback with 23 completions in 34 makes an attempt for 2 touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer score of 113.4. However the actual star of the sport was operating again Jonathan Taylor, who totaled 94 yards and three speeding touchdowns on 16 carries.

That is the third time this season that Taylor scored three rushing touchdowns in a single sport – he did it in week three towards the Titans, and in week 5 towards the Raiders. At this fee, Taylor has a good shot at being the primary operating again to win the NFL Most Invaluable Participant award since Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings did so on the finish of the 2012 season.

Not solely did the Browns outlast the Miami Dolphins 31-6 for his or her second win of the season; in addition they did it with a notable rookie class. The Browns turned the primary staff this decade to have rookies lead them in passing yards (quarterback Dillon Gabriel), speeding yards (operating again Quinshon Judkins), receiving yards (tight finish Harold Fannin Jr) and tackles (linebacker Carson Schwesinger) in any sport.

The Browns are nonetheless making an attempt to return to relevance, however with a rookie class like this, and an additional first-round decide in 2026 as a result of commerce that allowed the Jacksonville Jaguars to maneuver up and choose Travis Hunter, the long run really appears considerably vibrant for a franchise that spent most of this millennium on the improper aspect of all the pieces.

Max Verstappen has admitted “there’s a probability” of profitable this 12 months’s Method 1 world championship after his beforehand unlikely title comeback was boosted by an ideal weekend at the USA Grand Prix.

Verstappen adopted up Saturday’s victory within the Austin Dash – the mini race by which his McLaren rivals crashed on the first nook – with a snug victory over Lando Norris within the full Grand Prix, his third Sunday victory within the final 4 races.

Whereas championship chief Oscar Piastri fought his method right into a distant fifth place, Verstappen’s most factors haul on the Circuit of the Americas meant he took 23 factors off the Australian’s general title lead, leaving him 40 factors off the highest.

Verstappen was 104 factors behind and seemingly effectively out of competition simply 5 races in the past after Piastri gained the Dutch Grand Prix on August 31. There are 141 factors left up for grabs this season within the ultimate 5 remaining race weekends, with the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix instantly subsequent week, reside on Sky Sports activities F1.

“Sure, for certain, the prospect is there,” declared Verstappen of his late-season quest for a record-equalling fifth consecutive world title.

“We simply must attempt to ship these weekends till the top.

“We will attempt every little thing we are able to. It is thrilling and I am very excited till the top.”

Verstappen admits Leclerc helped him beat Norris

Changing his spectacular pole into the race lead at Flip One, Verstappen’s possibilities of a fifth victory of the season have been instantly boosted when Norris fell behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc because the leaders exited the primary nook.

With Leclerc working another tire technique to the opposite drivers in entrance, having began on the quicker softs relatively than the extra sturdy mediums, Norris needed to overtake the Ferrari twice in the course of the race to lastly regain second place.

Verstappen completed eight seconds forward of his British rival.

And the Dutchman admitted: “At present what was elementary was that first go the place Charles principally hindered Lando just a little, as a result of that was the place I might open up my benefit.

“As quickly as Lando was in clear air, he was very quick, equal to or quicker than us.

“Principally, that hole remained kind of the identical till the top, the place Lando once more needed to overtake Charles.

“We gained as we speak and naturally we had a really, excellent weekend. I feel we nonetheless want to enhance our race tempo just a little, however I settle for it.”

“A weekend like this, not fully dominant within the race, however we nonetheless gained, and I feel that is essential.”

Mekies praises ‘extraordinary’ Verstappen as Max goals for ‘excellent’ end in 2025

Any doubts earlier than the weekend that Verstappen was actually again in competition with the McLaren drivers for the championship have been definitely put to relaxation along with his double victory in Austin, as he took two pole positions and led each lap of each races.

He has now outperformed Piastri and Norris in every of the final 4 race weekends.

Pink Bull crew principal Laurent Mekies stated: “Max has been driving at an unbelievable stage.

“We in all probability must admit that we’re witnessing one thing extraordinary and, all collectively [with the team]produced this turnaround.”

Now 40 factors behind – the equal of a win and third place – Verstappen stays out of title competition and insists there is no such thing as a room for error.

Requested if he thought McLaren must prioritize one driver over one other to attempt to deny him the crown, Verstappen replied: “To be trustworthy, it does not actually matter what they do, it is as much as us to be excellent by the top of the season.

“That is what we’ve to give attention to.”

The thrilling race for the Method 1 title continues on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez for the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix this weekend, reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime

The Nationwide Hockey League was definitively determined by Florida Panthers ahead Brad Marchand, dimanche.

The 37-year-old veteran is about to obtain a $5,000 change to unsportsmanlike conduct following the Siens’ 3-0 loss towards the Buffalo Sabers, Samedi.

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Within the second interval of the match, quantity 63 did justice on the identical time after receiving a double examine from Sabers captain Rasmus Dahlin. Marchand is alors rué sur son adversaire earlier than evaluating his casque et de le détruire au banc des penalties.

The officers got penalties for rudeness and obstruction. This sequence was created by the Panthers, then the Sabers took benefit of the numerical benefit to attain because of Josh Doan.