SPORTS
SAC Big Red Machine on a roll
By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net
THE St. Augustine’s College Big Red Machine will be represented in both senior and junior divisions of the BAISS girls' softball championships after dominant single-elimination semi-finals performances yesterday at the Freedom Farm Baseball Field.
The Big Red Machine senior girls defeated St Andrew’s 18-13 in five innings after being down five runs heading into the top of the fifth inning. After a fourth inning riddled with errors, SAC capitalised on key hits late in the game to secure their place in the championship, where they will face the Queen’s College Comets senior girls. Senior girls' head coach Antonicia Moultrie spoke to the feeling of moving on to the championships. “It’s a great feeling to get back into the championships, the bats came around in the last inning but we give God thanks for the victory and
the girls know they made some key errors and some walks that really hurt us and we have a few things to work on but when we get to the championship we’ll get it together. We don’t work hard to not achieve what we are supposed to be achieving, we are the Big Red Machine and, as the Big Red Machine, we keep pushing and pushing and we just kept going.”
The Big Red Machine junior girls cruised past Aquinas College, defeating them 16-1, advancing to the junior championship to also face off against the Queen’s College Comets junior girls. Junior girls’ head coach Rebecca Moss spoke on their performance in the game. “It was a good game for us, we were able to execute a lot of things that we practiced so hopefully moving forward we can continue on that path. Just told the girls to stay focused and play at their level moving forward into the next round.”
Both teams will play again in the championship game on Monday, November 10.
Rookie ‘VJ’ contributes seven points in loss to Cavs
By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) —
Donovan Mitchell scored a season-high 46 points, Jarrett Allen had 24 points and 10 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away in the second half for a 132-121 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers last night.
Evan Mobley added 23 for Cleveland, which won its second straight.
Cavaliers' All-Star point guard Darius Garland had eight points in 26 minutes in his season debut. Garland missed the first seven games after offseason surgery on his left big toe. Philadelphia, which never led in the game, got 27 points apiece from
Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes. Rookie guard Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe contributed seven points, four assists and four rebounds in 37 minutes on the floor.
Mitchell followed up Sunday's 37-point, eight 3-pointer performance against Atlanta by going 15 of 21 from the floor, 6 of 11 from long distance and
making all eight of his foul shots against a 76ers squad that dropped games on back-to-back nights.
Joel Embiid did not play on Wednesday night as Philadelphia is not having him play on consecutive nights early in the season due to left knee issues.
Cleveland stormed out to a 17-point lead eight minutes into the game before
Philadelphia slowly rallied. Kelly Oubre Jr.'s 3-pointer tied it at 72 with 9:48 remaining in the third quarter before the Cavaliers regained control, scoring 13 straight points. Allen scored six during the run and Mobley added five.
Cleveland outscored Philadelphia 35-15 the rest of the quarter after the 76ers tied it and were up 107-87
going into the final 12 minutes. The Cavaliers' largest lead was 116-90 early in the fourth quarter after Mitchell's driving jumper in the lane. Philadelphia made a late charge to get within nine late in the game.
Up Next 76ers: Host Toronto on Saturday.
Cavaliers: At Washington on Friday night.
Cavaliers’ Darius Garland (10) looks to pass as 76ers’ VJ Edgecombe, left, defends during the first half in Cleveland last night.
(AP Photo/Phil Long)
PLAY ACTION: The St. Augustine’s College Big Red Machine senior and junior girls pulled off wins yesterday in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools softball championships after dominant single-elimination semi-finals at the Freedom Farm Baseball Field.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr/Tribune Staff
Rookie VJ Edgecombe has
his first NBA double double -
12 points and 11 rebounds BUT BULLS RALLY FROM 24 DOWN TO BEAT 76ERS 113-111
CHICAGO (AP) — Josh Giddey had a triple-double with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists, Nikola Vucevic made a 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds remaining and the Chicago Bulls came back from a 24-point deficit to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 113-111 on Tuesday night. Philadelphia's Quentin Grimes missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won it.
Giddey is the first Bulls player to have back-toback triple-doubles since Michael Jordan in 1989. He drove to the basket before hitting Vucevic with a pass for the corner 3 on the game's decisive possession.
Vucevic finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Isaac Okoro added 16.
The Bulls held the Sixers to just 16 points in the fourth quarter.
The Sixers scored 45 points in the first to take an 18-point lead and stayed in front for the majority of the game.
Tyrese Maxey scored 12 points on 4 of 6 shooting from 3-point range during the early offensive outburst.
The Bulls trailed by as many as 24 points late in the second quarter, but rallied
to cut the deficit to 95-84 by the start of the fourth. Chicago continued chipping away, pulling within 111-110 on Giddey's basket with 1:19 left.
The two teams have been some of the best in the NBA during the season's opening weeks.
Chicago improved to 6-1 while Philadelphia fell to 5-2.
Maxey led the 76ers with 39 points on 14 of 26 shooting, including 6 of 10 from 3-point range.
Joel Embiid scored 20 and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 18.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe had 12 points and 11 rebounds for his first double double in the NBA.
The popular halftime performer Red Panda made her NBA return at the game. The Chinese American — whose real name is Rong Niu — broke her wrist during a performance on July 1 and missed roughly four months.
76ers guard Vj Edgecombe, left, drives against Bulls guard/forward Kevin Huerter on Tuesday night. (AP Photos/Nam Y Huh)
76ers guard Vj Edgecombe, right, rebounds a ball against Bulls guard/forward Kevin Huerter.
76ers head coach Nick Nurse, right, talks with guard VJ Edgecombe during the first half against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
Coaching staff finalising 12-player roster for
FIBA Women’s Caribbean Championship
THE Bahamas women’s national basketball team continued its practice sessions on Tuesday at the DW Davis Gymnasium as preparations ramp up for the upcoming FIBA Caribbean Championship games in Guyana, set to begin on November 11.
With the tournament just days away, this week’s practices are crucial as the coaching staff finalises the 12-player roster.
The team, which features athletes from both Nassau and Freeport, is scheduled to depart for Guyana by November 10.
‘Buddy’ Hield scores 12 to help Warriors beat Suns 118-107
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)
— Stephen Curry scored 28 points with five 3-pointers, Moses Moody came off the bench to score 24 and also hit five 3s, and Golden State jumped to a big early lead before holding on for a victory over Phoenix on Tuesday.
Devin Booker scored a season-high 38 points, converting all 11 of his free throws. Mark Williams had 16 points and a season-best 16 rebounds and Grayson Allen also scored 16 points for the Suns, who were missing Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green with injuries and fell behind 68-49 at halftime. Phoenix used a 20-6 run to end the third quarter to pull within 92-83 and make it a game again.
Quinten Post contributed 14 points with four 3s and six rebounds for Golden State, while Brandin Podziemski had 13 points and Buddy Hield added 12.
RAPTORS 128, BUCKS 100
TORONTO (AP) —
Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett each scored 23 points, Immanuel Quickley and Sandro Mamukelashvili both had 15 and Toronto won its third straight game by thumping Milwaukee.
Gradey Dick scored 14 points and Brandon Ingram had 13. Toronto posted its biggest margin of victory of the season, eclipsing a 20-point win at Atlanta on October 22.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 22 points, Kyle Kuzma had 18 and Cole Anthony 12 as the Bucks lost for the second time in three games.
It was Milwaukee’s most lopsided loss of the season, easily exceeding the fivepoint margin in a 118-113 defeat at Cleveland on October 26.
Ryan Rollins scored 11 points for the Bucks and Myles Turner had 10.
PELICANS 116, HORNETS 112 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jose Alvarado made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 16 seconds left and New Orleans won for the first time this season by beating Charlotte.
Trey Murphy III scored 21 points for the Pelicans, who had dropped their first six games. Their victory left the Brooklyn Nets (0-7) as the NBA’s only winless team.
Alvarado added 18 points and fellow reserve Saddiq
Bey had 17 for the Pelicans, who announced earlier Tuesday that Zion Williamson would miss at least a week because of a strained left hamstring.
Miles Bridges scored 22 points and rookie Kon Knueppel had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who played without LaMelo Ball for a second straight game because of a right ankle injury.
HAWKS 127, MAGIC 112
ATLANTA (AP) — Zaccharie Risacher scored 21 points, Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 and Atlanta beat Orlando.
Dyson Daniels added 18 points, Jalen Johnson had 17 and Kristaps Porzingis finished with 15 as Atlanta won for the third time in four games. Onyeka
Okongwu added 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Daniels was 8 for 9 from the field as the Hawks shot 55.6% and led by 25 points while improving to 2-0 against the Magic this season.
Paolo Banchero had 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Magic, who lost starting guard Desmond Bane to an ejection in the third quarter.
THUNDER 126, CLIPPERS 107
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and 12 assists and the defending champion Oklahoma City extended their season-opening winning streak to eight games with a victory over Los Angeles. Isaiah Joe added 22 points
and Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins each had 12 to help the Thunder overcame an early surge by the Clippers to set a franchise record for consecutive victories to start a season.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who played for the Clippers in his rookie season before he was traded to the Thunder, was 9 of 14 from the floor and 4 of 5 from 3-point range.
James Harden scored 25 points and John Collins added 17 for the Clippers. They were without Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and Bradley Beal (knee) on the second night of a home back-to-back.
Derrick Jones Jr. scored 16 points as the Clippers lost consecutive home games after winning the first three in their own building.
Warriors guard Buddy Hield, middle, reaches for the ball between Clippers guard Chris Paul, left, and forward Kawhi Leonard (2) on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Warriors guard Buddy Hield, left, shoots against the Clippers on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Warriors’ Buddy Hield shoots past Bucks’ Myles Turner during the first half on October 30, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Pelicans coach Willie Green takes job-security questions in stride after an 0-6 start
By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer
METAIRIE, La. (AP)
— As Pelicans coach Willie Green took repeated questions about his job security, he kept calm and expressed empathy toward the very New Orleans fans that have made him the object of their ire.
“When you take these positions, this is what comes with it,” Green said as his 0-6 team prepared for Tuesday night's home game against Charlotte.
“There is no way around that," Green continued. “If the team doesn’t do well or doesn’t start the way you want it to, I’m up front and centre.”
Not only have the Pelicans opened on a six-game skid, but three of those losses have come by 31 or more points.
Green said the only way forward is “turning the page” on a dreadful past two weeks.
“Obviously we’re all disappointed, frustrated with our start," said Green, not that he speaks daily with first-year basketball operations chief Joe Dumars. "We continue to come in, work at it and address it.” Green is now in his fifth season as the Pelicans'
coach. New Orleans has made the postseason in three of those four seasons, but has yet to finish as a top-six seed in the tough Western Conference.
Twice, the Pelicans advanced past the play-in tournament before losing first-round playoff series to Phoenix in 2022 and Oklahoma City in 2024. In 2023, the Pelicans were eliminated in the play-in stage by Oklahoma City.
Last season, the Pelicans were plagued by injuries, including to star power forward Zion Williamson, and lost the last seven games of the regular season to finish second to last in the West at 21-61. “We are definitely in a spot where we need to win games,” forward Trey Murphy III said. “We are not happy with what’s going on right now.
“We are going to have to go out there and fight and compete,” Murphy added. That’s the biggest thing.” Murphy takes heart in the fact that as a rookie, during the 2021-22 season, the Pelicans started 1-12, but finished strong to narrowly qualify for the play-in before advancing to the playoffs. “It’s not about how you start.," Murphy said.
Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9), right, celebrates with centre/forward Isaiah Hartenstein (55).
"It’s how you finish,” he added.
While Dumars has doubled-down on oft-injured Williamson as New Orleans' franchise player, he made a number of roster changes this past offseason. New players in starting or more prominent reserve roles include free-agent signings Jordan Poole, Kevon Looney and Saddiq Bey. He also drafted guard Jeremiah Fears seventh overall before trading back into the first round to take forward Derik Queen with the 13th overall pick.
New Orleans' early season depth also has been effected by an injury to Looney and guard Dejounte Murray's prolonged recovery from his Achilles tear last season.
“Not to make any excuses, but it’s a new group playing against really experienced teams,” Green said when asked about his club's three blowout losses.
“With Boston, Denver and OKC, if you don’t compete for 48 minutes — play hard and play together against groups like that — they expose you.
“I totally understand the frustration from fans,” Green added. “We all feel the same way, and we want to get it right.”
Starting Saturday, NBA referees to get new tech upgrade: Here’s what it means
NEW YORK (AP) —
Starting Saturday, NBA referees will begin using headsets during regular-season games for the first time.
The league made that announcement Friday, rolling out a two-phase plan to implement the devices. The first phase, which is expected to continue into January, will see referees having the earpiece clipped onto their uniforms — then using it only during instant replay reviews and other stoppages, but not actually during live play. In the second phase — which is pending evaluation of the first phase — referees will wear the earpieces throughout the game, including during live play, and be able to communicate directly with the replay centre and each other at all times. That phase will continue through at least the All-Star break in February.
Similar technology has been used in other leagues around the world for some time. The NBA has been testing the technology since 2022 at various events, including the G League Winter Showcase, NBA Summer League and NBA preseason games.
THERE WAS NO CHAMPIONSHIP HANGOVER FOR THE THUNDER. THEY’RE ROLLING ALONG, AGAIN
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer
THE last team standing last season is the last team to remain undefeated this season. So much for that championship hangover.
Jalen Williams hasn’t played yet, Chet Holmgren is dealing with a balky back, Lu Dort just missed a game because of illness … and the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder are still just rolling along, off to a 7-0 start despite using four different starting lineups in those seven games.
“We have a DNA,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s reigning NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP and scoring champion. “We have an identity. We understand how to play basketball. We understand how to win. Win games, big moments and it’s done with all five guys on the court on both ends and that’s engraved in us. That’s something that is almost a habit now and every night we try to implement that.”
Such was the case last year, when the Thunder went 68-14 and won the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed by 16 games. Put that into some perspective: Oklahoma City could have ended the season on an 18-game losing streak and it still would have won the No. 1 seed at 53-29, or one game better than Houston’s 52-30. Add the 16 playoff wins from last season and the 7-0 start this season, and Oklahoma City is 94-22 since October 2024. That’s 20 wins or so more than any other team in that span, and all by an average of about 12 points per game. It is an historic level of dominance, as proven by how last season’s 12.9-pointper-game differential in the regular season smashed the existing NBA record that had stood for more than a half-century. And then after Sunday’s win over New Orleans, Gilgeous-Alexander sounded an alarm that the NBA probably didn’t want to hear. “It feels like we’re a better team,” Gilgeous-Alexander
said. “It feels like we’ve had a year to get better, honestly.”
The Thunder had the amazing ability last season to impress onlookers and remain unimpressed by their own success. So far, it looks like the same rings true this season.
They’ve trailed by more than 10 points only once; they faced a 12-point deficit in the season opener against Houston, and that was for only 61 seconds. They survived a pair of double-overtime games to start the season — the opener against Houston, then the NBA Finals rematch two nights later against an Indiana team that is very different than the one that played a Game 7 in Oklahoma City for the Larry O’Brien Trophy 4 1/2 months ago. They have faced a deficit of no more than five points in five of their games, winning two wire-to-wire. They led New Orleans by 36 on Sunday, led Washington by 24 on Oct. 30, led Atlanta by 24 on Oct. 25, led Dallas by 22 on Oct. 27.
“I think it has not been like smooth sailing through the first seven games,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “We’ve played a lot of close games that we’ve had to kind of grind out. We’ve played some games in the mud; you have to be able to win a lot of different ways and so embracing the game when it’s a little ugly, I think, is important. We’ve got some injuries and so we’ve had to lean on our depth and different combinations of people.”
The next week or so doesn't figure to be particularly easy for the Thunder. A four-game, six-night road trip starts Tuesday at the Los Angeles Clippers. After that, it’s a home back-toback with Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers coming in. At some point, of course, they’re going to lose a game.
But it bears noting that only seven teams have won a championship one season and started better than 7-0 in the following season. The champion gets everybody’s best shot, without fail. The Thunder have a giant target
on their backs and haven’t seem bothered.
“Obviously, we’re dealing with some injuries to start the year, but because we’ve gotten better 1 through 15, we were able to plug and
play and figure it out on the fly and still have good results,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “So yeah, we’re definitely a better team than we were a year ago.”
Pelicans head coach Willie Green watches from the sideline during the second half against the Clippers.
(AP Photo/Mark J Terrill)
Thunder guards Ajay Mitchell, left, and Alex Caruso, right, celebrate during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, November 2, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)