Spooky Sports: 24 Games, 5 Leagues, 1 Night
10/31/2023By: Jeff Yoder
Happy Halloween
A spooky sports week is picking up speed. Get ready for some winners in today’s post-Equinox recap.
Last night featured 24 games across all five pro sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS), all while the NFL trade deadline started to heat up and a blockbuster NBA trade broke in the middle of the night. Go to bed, GMs. Let’s try breaking some news while people are awake, eh? Happy Halloween, team.
BREAKING NEWS
76ers Trade James Harden to the Clippers
*We’ll have full coverage of the trade in tomorrow’s edition
Letter Rip!
WORLD SERIES
Game 3: Rangers Hit Back
Rangers Overcome Injuries to Max Scherzer & Adolis Garcia to Win Game 3 (3-1), Lead World Series (2-1)
Advantage, Rangers. Game 3 of the World Series was full of twists, and the lowest-scoring game of the Fall Classic was decided by one big swing. Texas took a 3-0 lead with a three-run 3rd inning thanks to a two-run shot from Corey Seager. Starter Max Scherzer left after the 3rd with a back injury after getting hit by a comebacker. The D-Backs made things interesting with a run in the 8th, but the Rangers made the most of their scoring chances. Jon Gray came on in emergency relief of Scherzer for a squeaky three-inning stint (3 IP, 3 Ks, 1 Hit, 0 Runs). Back and forth we go towards Game 4 tonight. TEX Leads Series (2-1)
Ranger Danger: Injuries to Scherzer and Adolis Garcia (8th inning) could be vital moving forward. Early indications are that Garcia left the game with a lower-back injury and it doesn’t appear too serious. His availability for the rest of the week will be crucial for the Rangers. Garcia was the ALCS MVP, and he’s batting .323 in the postseason with 8 HRs.
Road Rangers: Texas is still perfect on the road this postseason (9-0). Good luck to the D-Backs in Games 4 and 5.
Watch: Rangers Take Game 3 of World Series Despite Injuries (3-1)
Upcoming World Series Schedule
Gm 4: Rangers at D-Backs (8:03 pm ET, FOX)
Gm 5: Rangers at D-Backs (8:03 pm ET, FOX)
Read More
SI: Corey Seager’s Stoic Demeanor Is A Feature, Not A Bug, of His Success
Yahoo! Sports: Rangers Overcome Scherzer Injury, Grind Out Victory in Game 3
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NFL
Leaping Lions Laugh Past Raiders
RB Jahmyr Gibbs Has Breakout Game as Lions Send Dejected Raiders Into Trade Deadline Spiral (26-14)
Don’t let the scoreboard fool you. The Lions gave up a pick-six and multiple missed opportunities in the red zone during last night’s 26-14 win over the Raiders. This game could’ve easily been 40-7 if it weren’t for a few unfortunate moments. Detroit’s rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs (189 total yards, 1 TD) had a breakout performance and reached the end zone for the first time (and then jumped into the stands). And while the Lions bounced back from a brutal loss last week, the Raiders are the talk of the impending NFL trade deadline. The Las Vegas offense was abysmal, and WR Davante Adams had just one catch for 11 yards despite seven targets. At the end of the game, QB Jimmy Garoppolo missed him on a wide-open go-route. Adams went viral after slamming his helmet and uttering some choice words.
Fun Fact: The Lions out-gained the Raiders on Monday Night by 330 yards (486 to 156). How this was only a two-score game is beyond me. Vegas looks dejected.
The Lions are now 6-2, and the Raiders are 3-5 with many GMs across the league ready to make some calls at the trade deadline (today, 4:00 pm ET). Could Davante Adams really be traded?
QB Comparison
J. Goff (DET): 26/37, 272 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
J. Garoppolo (LVR): 10/21, 126 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT
Top Performers
RB J. Gibbs (DET): 31 touches, 189 yards, 1 TD
RB J. Jacobs (LVR): 17 touches, 88 yards, 1 TD
WR A. St. Brown (DET): 6 receptions, 108 yards
LB A. Anzalone (DET): 7 tackles, 2 sacks
Watch: Lions Push Raiders to Breaking Point in TNF Win (26-14)
Read More
ESPN: Jahmyr Gibbs Breakout Performance Leads Lions Past Raiders
USA Today: ‘Never Saw the Stop Sign’: D-Backs Rue Momentum-Killing Game 3 Gaffe
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HIGHLIGHTS
Sports Equinox Scoreboard
24 Games, 5 Leagues, 1 Night — And We’ve Got All the Scores
The 2023 Sports Equinox was non-stop action on Monday night. On top of Game 3 of the World Series and Monday Night Football, 22 other games across the NBA, NHL and MLS brought a smorgasbord of sports unlike any other time of the year. It’s still early-season recaps for the NBA and NHL, but the MLS Playoffs are off and running with Round 1. We’ll turn our focus to the MLS postseason and the NBA/NHL regular-season drama after the World Series concludes this week. For today’s special occasion, here’s an ultra lengthy scoreboard of yesterday’s highlights.
NBA
Celtics def. Wizards (126-107)
Hawks def. Timberwolves (127-113)
*Dejounte Murray Scores 41 Points
Mavericks def. Grizzlies (125-110)
*Luka Doncic Tallies Triple-Double (35-12-12)
Warriors def. Pelicans (130-102)
*Steph Curry Has League-High 42 Points
Thunder def. Pistons (124-112)
*Anthony Davis Has 26 Points, 19 Boards
NHL
Bruins def. Panthers (3-2, OT)
*Boston Rallies to Extend Point Streak to 9
Kraken def. Lightning (4-3, OT)
Red Wings def. Islanders (4-3, OT)
*Artemi Panarin Accounts for 3 Points
Golden Knights def. Canadiens (3-2, SO)
*Vegas Wins Shootout to Extend Point Streak to 10
MLS Playoffs
Gm 1: Orlando City def. Nashville (1-0)
Gm 1: Seattle Sounders def. FC Dallas (2-0)
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STORYLINES
Messi Wins 8th Ballon d’Or Trophy
Lionel Messi won his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or Trophy on Monday in Paris. The award is given to the world’s top soccer player, and Messi continues to reset the record books. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati won the women’s award. (AP)
Today’s NFL Trade Deadline is fast approaching (4:00 pm ET) after two more trades were completed on Monday. The Falcons acquired DL Kentavius Street from the Eagles while the Seahawks added DL Leonard Williams from the Giants in exchange for two future picks, including a second-rounder. (NFL.com)
The NBA today unveiled the official courts that teams will play on throughout the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, which tips off on Friday, Nov. 3. Each team has a special, color-filled court to make it clear when a game carries tournament implications. (NBA.com)
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NEWS
- 76ers Trade James Harden & PJ Tucker to Clippers for Multiple Picks & 4 Veterans (CBS Sports)
- Seahawks Acquire Star DL Leonard Williams From Giants for 2nd-Round Pick (NBC Sports)
- Bills Sign RB Leonard Fournette to Practice Squad (B/R)
- Cooper Flagg, Nation’s Top High School Basketball Recruit, Commits to Duke (Yahoo! Sports)
- Thousands of Dollars in Jewelry Stolen From Colorado Locker Room During UCLA Game (CBS Sports)
- Michigan Puts Future Contract With Jim Harbaugh on Pause (SI)
- NFL Demands Houston Football to Stop Using Oilers-Inspired Uniforms (ESPN)
- FIFA Bans Spain’s Luis Rubiales for 3 Years for Kissing Player at World Cup (USA Today)
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SCHEDULE
Today’s Must-Watch List
World Series
Gm 4: Rangers at Diamondbacks (8:03 pm ET, FOX)
NFL Trade Deadline
Today (4:00 pm ET)
NBA
Knicks at Cavaliers (7:30 pm ET, TNT)
Spurs at Suns (10:00 pm ET, TNT)
NHL
Kings at Maple Leafs (8:00 pm ET, ESPN)
Predators at Canucks (10:00 pm ET, ESPN+)