Both James Harden and Kawhi Leonard were left shocked after hearing the Los Angeles Clippers released Chris Paul.

In a bombshell announcement, Paul posted on his Instagram account in the early hours of Wednesday that he was being sent home, the same day the team prepared to play the Atlanta Hawks.

After the game, reporters asked Harden and Leonard about their reactions to the decision.

“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” Harden said. “Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it’s a lot that we were dealing with. But that is out of my hands.”

Leonard also couldn’t believe the news.

“It was shocking to me,” he said. “I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision.”

The victory on Wednesday ended a five-game losing run for the Clippers. However, the team sits 13th in the Western Conference with a 6-16 record.

The poor start to the season hasn’t gone to plan for Paul, who rejoined the team which he spent six seasons with between 2011 and 2017 in the summer. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Paul’s relationship with head coach Ty Lue began to worsen, with the two “not on speaking terms.” The sources also told ESPN that Paul’s presence began to become disruptive.

Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations for the Clippers, confirmed to ESPN that the team parted ways with the veteran point guard, but remains grateful for his contributions to the franchise.

“Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career,” Frank said. “I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled. We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”

Though released from the team, Paul cannot be officially eligible for a trade until Dec. 15 due to signing a one-year deal this past summer.

The Indianapolis Colts suffered their third defeat in four games on Sunday, losing 20-16 to the Houston Texans, dropping three places in the AFC standings.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported last week that quarterback Daniel Jones is currently battling through a fractured fibula injury. He completed 51.9% of his passing attempts during the loss amid Houston’s aggressive rush.

The loss puts the Colts, who began the season 7-1 and now have an 8-4 record and no longer lead the AFC South, with five games remaining.

Jones said he felt fine on the field despite the reported injury.

“[It] felt good today,” he said after Sunday’s game. “I think it’ll continue to improve week to week.”

The team’s offense scored 16 points against the Texans, its lowest total of the season. Before Sunday, the Colts scored 20 or more points in every match, with 30 or more seven times.

With Jones seemingly not fully fit, Indianapolis will host division leaders, the Jacksonville Jaguars, next Sunday. A win would push either side as the sole leader as the final stretch of the season begins.

“Putting your head down and going back to work,” Jones said on how the team can escape its current skid. “And making sure that I’m doing everything I need to do to put the team in a position to win games.”

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made his return for the first time since September in the team’s Thanksgiving clash against the Baltimore Ravens.

His response? Two touchdowns and over 250 passing yards as the Bengals took home a 32-14 victory and snapped a four-game losing streak.

Burrow, who was playing in only his third game of the season after suffering a toe injury in Week 2’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, went 24 for 46 in completions during the victory.

“[It] hasn’t been easy on me through six years from a lot of different angles, but I’ve worked really hard to put myself in a position to be back out there,” Burrow said after the game. “And a lot of people around me have done the same.”

Following Burrow’s long-term injury, the Bengals acquired veteran quarterback Joe Flacco in hopes of keeping the team in playoff contention. Flacco went 1-5 as starting quarterback but recorded 13 passing touchdowns and only four interceptions.

Defensively, however, the Bengals’ defense suffered. At the start of this weekend, the team ranked last in the NFL with defensive yards per game (410) and touchdowns allowed (45). Since Week 3, the Bengals have given up 331 points and allowed 25 points or more in every game, leading up to the win against the Ravens.

Cincinnati will play five more games to close out the 2025 regular season. Burrow looks to help the Bengals finish the year strong after a long journey to recovery.

“There’s no better feeling than that, putting in work for a long time and going out and it paying off,” he said.

The Atlanta Braves signed utility player Mauricio Dubon from the Houston Astros on Wednesday in exchange for shortstop Nick Allen.

The two-time Golden Glove will join the Braves on a one-year, $6.1 million contract.

Allen will join the Texas ball club after spending one year in Atlanta. The shortstop played 135 games during the 2025 campaign, where he recorded a career-high number of hits (82).

Dubon spent the last four seasons with the Astros, helping the team win the 2022 World Series. Last season, the 31-year-old hit seven home runs and batted 0.241. He won his first Golden Glove in 2023 and claimed his second last season.

Prior to joining the Astros, he featured for the San Francisco Giants and had a brief stint with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Braves missed the playoffs in 2025, snapping a seven-year streak of postseason appearances. They’ll be looking to bounce back in 2026 with the new edition of Dubon and the re-signing of closer Raisel Iglesias on Wednesday. Iglesias signed a new one-year deal with the team after spending the last three and a half seasons in Atlanta.

Three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday after serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.

Beckham, 33, is now eligible to practice and play immediately and is free to sign with any team. He accepted the suspension in October after a failed test tied to elevated testosterone levels, saying he did not knowingly take a banned substance. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year last played for the Miami Dolphins in 2024. He finished with nine catches for 55 yards in nine games before being released in December.

Once one of the NFL’s most electric playmakers, Beckham opened his career with the New York Giants by topping 1,300 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. Over 10 seasons with the Giants, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens and Dolphins, he has 575 receptions for 7,987 yards and 59 touchdowns, plus a Super Bowl ring from the Rams’ title run in the 2021 season.

Despite injuries and declining production, Beckham has been adamant he is “not done yet.” He shot down a viral fake retirement report this summer and reiterated his desire to chase another Super Bowl.

As the playoff race tightens, several contenders have been rumored to have talked with the veteran. The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos both could use another reliable target. The Pittsburgh Steelers, thin at wide receiver, would give Beckham a third stop in the AFC North. Out West, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, the team he helped to a championship, loom as logical fits if they seek experienced depth for a stretch run.

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was among the headline guests at a black-tie White House dinner Tuesday night hosted by President Donald Trump for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, underscoring the deepening ties between the U.S.

Trump introduced the 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward by telling guests that his son Barron is “a big fan” of Ronaldo and joked that the meeting made his teenager “respect his father a little bit more.”

The event also served as a showcase of Saudi Arabia’s expanding sports footprint. Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr in late 2022 on a contract reported at more than $200 million a year helped open the door for other stars, including Neymar Jr. and Karim Benzema, to join the Saudi Pro League. The kingdom has also bankrolled the breakaway LIV Golf tour, hosted Formula One races and stadium boxing cards, and will stage the 2034 World Cup after running unopposed for hosting rights.

A selfie from inside the East Room, apparently snapped by Ronaldo and shared by tech investor David Sacks, quickly went viral online, showing Ronaldo seated alongside Elon Musk, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and OpenAI president Greg Brockman, among others.

New England Patriots icon Rob Gronkowski signed a one-day contract with the team on Wednesday, officially retiring with the franchise where he spent his entire nine-season career.

The tribute was in honor of the former tight end’s charity partner, Susan Hurley, who passed away earlier this month after battling cancer. Hurley requested that ‘Gronk’ retire in Foxborough.

“We are 100% here today for her, no doubt about that,” Gronkowski said in a press conference on Wednesday. “She just did such a great job, working and running a lot of people’s charities.”

Hurley was the founder of the “CharityTeams” organization and was a former cheerleader of the Patriots. Gronkowski is a vocal advocate for charity and has established the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, which supports kids in sports and education.

“She made it seamless. She made it easy,” Gronkowski said on Hurley’s charity work. “She ran all the activities, all the events. She will have a lasting impact forever.”

The tight end was part of the core players of the Patriots’ dominance throughout the 2010s. He won three Super Bowls in five years alongside Tom Brady and Julian Edelman.

At the end of the 2018 season, Gronkowski announced his retirement, but reversed his decision one year later after teaming up with Brady at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The duo won Super Bowl LV in their first season together, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in February 2020.

A season later, Gronk announced his second retirement.

Since Brady and Gronkowski left Gillette Stadium, the Patriots missed the playoffs in four of the last five seasons. This year, however, the tide could be turning as New England sits 9-2 in mid-November.

The New York Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll on Monday after a 2-8 start to the season.

The 50-year-old finishes his tenure at MetLife Stadium with a 20-40-1 record. Thirty-three of those 40 losses came within the previous two and a half seasons.

Daboll was hired in 2022 and led the Giants to the NFC Divisional round in his first season, only losing to the eventual Super Bowl finalists, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The following two seasons, however, got progressively worse for Daboll’s side. The Giants missed the playoffs twice, finishing with a 6-11 record in 2023 and a 3-14 record in 2024.

In 2025, New York has found ways to lose in spectacularly bizarre fashion. Twice this season, the Giants have lost a game while leading by double-digit points with under four minutes remaining. In Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, Daboll’s men lost 40-37 despite scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 25 seconds to go.

In October, the Giants faced the Denver Broncos. Despite the team leading 26-8 with six minutes remaining, the Broncos completed a monumental comeback on a last-second field goal, becoming the second team in NFL history to score 30 points or more after recording none through three quarters.

The final blow to Daboll came last Sunday against the Chicago Bears, when the team suffered another late collapse in the fourth quarter, losing its fourth straight game.

Following Daboll’s dismissal, assistant coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will serve as the interim head coach. His first game – and the Giants’ first in the post-Daboll era – will be a home match against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

The Green Bay Packers’ defensive lineman, Micah Parsons, cannot be traded to the Philadelphia Eagles because of a poison pill clause that was included in the deal.

Parsons was still with the Dallas Cowboys, as the deal was being discussed. The Eagles showed interest in getting Parsons.

The Cowboys ensured during the summer that Parsons would not play with the Eagles.

Under this deal, the two-time All-Pro player will be unable to play for the Eagles in the immediate future.

According to a source who spoke with ESPN, the condition states that if the Packers decide to trade Parsons to an NFC East team, then the Packers would owe the Cowboys their 2028 first-round draft pick.

The condition applies to this season and to the 2026 season. This means that the Packers are unlikely to trade Parsons to another NFC East team until 2027.

With the Packers, Parsons has 6.5 sacks in nine games this season. Parsons has 22 tackles, 11 assists, and 11 combined tackles.

The next game for the Packers will be on November 16 against the New York Giants.

Tensions continue to rise in New York as Jets quarterback Justin Fields faced harsh words from team owner Woody Johnson and mounted pressure to keep his starting job. Following Johnson’s public criticism, which blamed Fields for the team’s terrible start, the 26-year-old quarterback responded calmly, saying he has no plans to confront the owner about his comments.

Fields told reporters after practice that, “I don’t think me talking to him is going to do anything, it’s not going to make me play better.” Fields emphasized that he’s focused on improving his game, not defending himself from outside opinions.

Johnson’s remarks came at the NFL’s fall meeting, where he expressed frustration with the team’s offense, saying, “It’s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that he’s got.” The comments added fuel to the fire, an already unstable quarterback situation.

Many expect veteran Tyrod Taylor to take over if the struggles continue.

Fields admitted he only learned of Johnson’s comments through reporters and seemed unfazed. He explained that criticism “comes with the job.” Despite the tension, he refused to speculate about a potential trade or future roster moves and stressed that his focus remains on the next game.

While the quarterback’s confidence hasn’t cracked publicly, the pressure is undeniable. With the Jets’ season slipping away, Fields’ performance could determine whether he remains under center or becomes the latest symbol of New York’s ongoing quarterback carousel.

Ja Morant hinted at a coaching staff issue during a post-game conference.

This incident happened on October 31, when the Memphis Grizzlies played against the Los Angeles Lakers.

During a quick locker room interview, Morant took questions from reporters when he was questioned on why he wasn’t his usual self. He responded with a quick one.

“Go ask the coaching staff why,” Morant said.

Then reporters asked what could have been done differently other than asking the coaching staff, Morant answered honestly.

“According to them, probably don’t play me,” Morant said. “That’s basically what the message was. It’s cool.”

Following these responses, the Grizzlies quickly disciplined Morant.

Morant was suspended for one game for detrimental conduct towards the team.

The Grizzlies continued their losing streak against the Toronto Raptors and the Detroit Pistons.

To make matters worse, Morant has been shooting 38.3% from the field and 14.0% from three-point range, and as a result, the Grizzlies had a miserable 0-4 week.

A sigh of relief rings around the Washington Commanders fanbase.

That’s because quarterback Jayden Daniels will not have to undergo surgery and did not suffer ligament damage to his elbow.

Daniels dislocated his left elbow during the fourth quarter of the Commanders’ 38-14 loss on Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. The team will reevaluate the 2024 first round pick after its bye on Week 12, opening a possibility of a return to the field later this season.

“It’s a good deal with no surgery,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said on Friday. “Obviously that makes a big difference.”

The starting quarterback will also not be placed on the injured reserve list.

After starting the season 2-1, the Commanders are currently enduring a four game losing streak, with their defense giving up 135 points through those games.

Washington will host the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon before traveling to Madrid to play the Miami Dolphins at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu the following weekend.

Karl-Anthony Towns is still rocked by his trade to the New York Knicks last year.

The center, who played nine consecutive seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, was traded to the Knicks one day before the start of Minnesota’s training camp in 2024. New York acquired Towns in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle.

Towns faced his former side on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, where he logged 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the Knicks’ 137-114 victory.

After the win, the center still couldn’t wrap his head around the trade.

“I’m still stunned, I mean, I’m still stunned,” Towns said. “It’s weird.”

Towns admitted he still talks to many of his former teammates on a daily basis, including star shooting guard Anthony Edwards.

“I talk to a lot of them, almost every day, if not every other day,” Towns said. “Me and Ant, like I said those are my brothers. Ant, Jaden [McDaniels], Rudy [Gobert], Mike [Conley], all of them down the list.

“It’s deeper than basketball. It’s always great when you get to see family.”

While the Timberwolves made the Western Conference Final for the second straight season in 2025 and in their first year after the trade, Towns led the Knicks to an appearance in the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the Indiana Pacers.

“Built something special there,” Towns said. “It’s different when you’re in process, and now you’re going against the process. They’re a great team. To see what they’re doing right now, special, and I expect nothing less than greatness from them.”

The Knicks occupy third place in the Eastern Conference in the early stages of the season. Towns’ side returns to the court on Sunday night against the Brooklyn Nets.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has passed away from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Frisco Police Department. He was 24.

The Cowboys announced the news on Thursday morning.

“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the statement said. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

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Earlier this week, the defensive end played in the Cowboys’ 27-17 loss on Monday Night Football against the Arizona Cardinals, where he scored the team’s first touchdown on a blocked punt.

According to a statement by the Frisco Police Department on Thursday, a man, later identified as Kneeland, was found dead following a police pursuit earlier that night. At 10:39 p.m. local time, authorities responded to the Texas Department of Public Safety in locating a vehicle that entered the city of Frisco during a pursuit, the statement said.

Troopers later found the vehicle crashed on the southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway, and Kneeland fled on foot, according to the statement. At 1:31 a.m., Kneeland was found dead in what authorities described as “a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the statement said.

The police department wrote that the investigation is ongoing and no further details were released. The Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of Kneeland’s death, according to the statement.

Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, released a statement on Thursday, saying he was “shattered” to hear the news.

“I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys,” Perzley said. “Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”

The NFL released a statement on Thursday morning.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland,” the league wrote. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates.”

The statement also said the league is in contact with the Cowboys organization and offered support and counseling resources.

The Cowboys have a bye this weekend and are scheduled to play their first game since Kneeland’s passing on Nov. 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Last week, the New Orleans Saints handed the reins of their offense to rookie Tyler Shough, as head coach Kellen Moore confirmed the 26-year-old quarterback will start moving forward after a 1-7 start to the season.

Shough, the second-round pick (No. 40 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Louisville, replaces Spencer Rattler, who compiled 1,586 passing yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions in eight starts this season.

Moore said, “I’m really excited about this opportunity for him. He has been preparing every week just as he would be if he were the starter; he is ready to go.”

Shough made his first significant appearance when he relieved Rattler in the third quarter of a 23-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards and an interception. He acknowledged the new role, saying, “It was a good feeling, but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Offensive struggles prompted the switch: New Orleans has averaged just 16 points per game and has scored 14 or fewer this season. Moore emphasized that while the change is credited to Shough, the offense as a whole must raise its level.

Rattler will shift to a backup role and support Shough in his development. The Saints are betting that a fresh face at quarterback will spark an offense in need of consistency.

In Shough’s starting debut, head coach Kellen Moore said he saw “some positives” despite the team’s loss to the Rams, 30-10. “Certainly there were some positives in there,” Moore said. “Thought he handled himself well, and so we didn’t get enough opportunities to compete.”

After the Los Angeles Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series title in a dramatic Game 7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays (5-4) in 11 innings, they celebrated with a huge victory parade in downtown L.A.

The Dodgers became the first team in 25 years to repeat as champions. The game showcased a tense and emotional night, featuring grit, clutch hits, and an elite pitching depth.

The one at the center of it all, Dodger pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who earned the World Series MVP honors after pitching on zero days’ rest. The Japanese ace had thrown six innings in Game 6 but came back to record the final outs of the ninth, dominated through the 10th, then proceeded to survive the 11th inning. Manager Dave Roberts called Yamamoto’s effort “unheard of.” Teammate Clayton Kershaw also said, “[he] is the gutsiest thing any guy has ever done.”

On the offensive, the Dodgers trailed by a run in the ninth until Miguel Rojas hit a solo home run to tie the game, his first extra-base hit in the postseason. Catcher Will Smith launched the go-ahead homer off Shane Bieber in the 11th to give Los Angeles its first lead. The Dodgers then sealed the win with a game-ending double play, which set off a wild celebration.

The Blue Jays were close to flipping the script with loaded bases in the ninth and sending a deep fly ball to left-center, but outfielder Andy Pages made a stunning catch to save the game and kept the goal in sight for the Dodgers.

The victory marked the ninth World Series title for the Dodgers, tying them with the Red Sox and Athletics for the third-most all-time. Despite mid-season drama and injuries, the Los Angeles rotation carried them through October.

This was the perfect final chapter for Kershaw, who announced his retirement after the game.

The NFL’s choice of Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny to perform at the Super Bowl LX halftime show has sparked criticism from conservative groups online, labeling the artist as “anti-American.” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league’s decision. He emphasized that the selection was based on global popularity and broad appeal.

Bad Bunny, 31, is one of the most successful artists in the world. He holds the title of Spotify’s most-streamed musician for several consecutive years. He has won three Grammy Awards and 10 nominations, along with multiple American Music Awards and a BET Award for Single of the Year for “I like it.” His collaboration with Cardi B and J Balvin.

Beyond music, Bad Bunny has ventured into professional wrestling with appearances in WWE and recently starred in the film Happy Gilmore 2, released in July.

President Donald Trump even weighed in on the controversy during a Newsmax interview, saying, “I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it; it’s crazy. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Super Bowl LX will take place on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and will air on NBC. The NFL has not announced any guest performers who might join Bad Bunny on stage.

Halftime show controversies have long accompanied the event, from Janet Jackson’s 2004 “wardrobe malfunction” to debates over Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance.

The Boston Celtics made lots of changes in the offseason, and one of the gambles they made was the signing of power forward Josh Minott.

So far, the risk is paying off for the Celtics as the 22-year-old impressed on Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 11 points and 15 rebounds in a 125-105 home win.

Minott is beginning to raise eyebrows at TD Garden.

“I can’t even explain it, man,” the power forward said after the game. “Like, just thanking God, thanking the fans just for the energy. My teammates, everyone here associated with Boston, just empowers me. It’s just a blessing to be here, truthfully.”

Prior to arriving in Boston, Minott spent three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he featured in 93 regular-season games. However, the former Memphis Tigers draft pick never started a game during his time in Minneapolis.

That changed this season: Minott started two straight games for Boston this week, helping the team secure victories over the New Orleans Pelicans and Cavaliers. The 22-year-old could potentially be a key starter for Joe Mazzulla‘s side in the early weeks of the season.

“We were all stars in high school, and I’d say most of us were stars in college, so it’s like just coming here, you’ve got to understand that not everyone’s going to be a star,” Minott said. “So it’s just like, I’ve got no problem with that. I’ll go make y’all look good.”

After starting the season with three straight losses, the Celtics look to go .500 as they face an undefeated Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

If Monday night was the last time Clayton Kershaw took the mound, the Los Angeles Dodgers ace made sure it ended on his terms.

The longtime Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander announced this would be his last season in the big leagues. He was summoned during the 12th inning of a tense 18-inning World Series Game 3. With the game tied and the bases loaded for the Toronto Blue Jays, the Manager, Dave Roberts, turned to the future Hall of Famer to escape the jam.

Kershaw, pitching in relief for the first time since 2019, battled Nathan Lukes to a full count before he forced a weak ground ball to second baseman Tommy Edman, who flipped to first for the out. This play sent Dodger Stadium into a frenzy and gave Kershaw one more signature postseason moment.

He said, “It was a big spot, but that’s why you play the game. You just try to execute one pitch at a time.” His late-season comeback was marked by perseverance. After missing the first two months of 2025 to recover from a shoulder surgery. He finished the regular season with a 3.36 ERA over 23 appearances. His fastball velocity and strikeout totals declined, but his command and poise remained.

Roberts stated, “There was no hesitation to use Kershaw in the high-pressure moment. There’s nobody I’d trust more in that spot. He’s been doing it his whole career.”

The decision paid off. Kershaw silenced a tense crowd and reminded everyone of his postseason composure.

The Dodgers went on to win on Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run in the 18th inning, which gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead in the series. Whether or not Kershaw pitches again, his brief outing Monday reminded fans why he will soon have a plaque in Cooperstown.

What started as a bold plan to pitch to Shohei Ohtani turned into an 18-inning endurance test that left the Toronto Blue Jays with little choice but to stop the challenge against baseball’s biggest star.

By the end of Monday night’s marathon game, Ohtani had reached base a record nine times, including four straight intentional walks beginning in the ninth inning. The Los Angeles Dodgers ultimately pulled out a 6-5 win on Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run in the 18th, taking a 2-1 lead in the World Series.

The shift in Toronto’s approach came after Ohtani went 4-for-4 early. He blasted two home runs and 2 doubles, one of which tied the game in the seventh. The Blue Jays manager, John Schneider, said, “The decision to walk him repeatedly was not the initial plan, but became a necessity.”

Despite the cautious approach, Toronto’s bullpen managed to hold firm until Freeman’s game-ending swing against reliever Brendon Little in the 18th.

The Blue Jays used nearly their entire roster in the loss, with only three pitchers left unused. Still, the team remained confident after the setback.

Schneider said, “The Dodgers did not win the World Series today; they won a game.” He expects his team to bounce back in Game 4, even though the status of outfielder George Springer remains uncertain after his possible injury.

On Tuesday night, though, the Blue Jays got their payback winning 6-2, evening the series to 2-2.

Then on Wednesday, the Jays snuck ahead, winning Game 5, 6-1.