The Lead: Starting Five

Plus: Joel Embiid puts up an all-time stat line in a much needed win for the Sixers. And the PAC-12 sees two College Football Playoff contenders go down hard.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: Brooklyn opts for stability behind the bench to help stabilize their season. And some encouraging injury news for one of the NFL’s MVP favorites.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: The Devils keep the good times rolling behind their rising young star. And could OBJ end up with a star on his helmet?  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: A surprising champion emerges at the final event of the women's tennis season. And Baltimore bowls over the Saints to take a firm hold on the AFC North. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: The Jets' defense shines in a surprising win over the Bills. And Major League Soccer wraps up its season with a championship game for the ages. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: The Eagles make sure the ’72 Dolphins keep the champagne on ice for another week. And the NFL community loses an all-time great.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: The Madison Square Garden crowd is introduced to another villain from Atlanta. And the Cavaliers announce themselves as Eastern Conference contenders. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: The Nets try anything and everything to save their season. And college football's top team loses a key piece ahead of a monumental SEC clash.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: Golf has a new teen sensation — and she's already reached the number one spot. And the Milwaukee Bucks' strong start continues. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: A chaotic finish in Atlanta puts a new team atop the NFC South. And why there’s real reason to worry about a hyped NBA team in Los Angeles… and we’re not talking about the Lakers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: Tom Brady’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad season gets a little bit worse. And strange bonds that tie the Astros and Phillies ahead of Game 1 in Houston.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: The NFL’s only remaining undefeated team just added another piece to their defense. And the Yankees make an unpopular move just ahead of free agency. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: A familiar face stands atop the preseason college basketball rankings. And an early Champions League exit caps the major decline of one of Europe’s top teams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: A quarterback controversy is brewing in the AFC East. And the Rangers opt for an experienced hand to guide them back to contention.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: A tough weekend for the NFL’s old guard, while some young stars shine bright. And a former-MLS superstar is making waves in the Premier League. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: A surprising star takes center stage in a matchup of Eastern Conference contenders. And the Yankees can’t stop striking out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: Zion comes back with a bang, while the Nets reunite with a whimper. And things start coming together for Erik Ten Hag and Manchester United.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: Two key pitching decisions prove pivotal in game 5 of the ALDS. And Mike Tomlin slams the brakes on the Trubisky train in Pittsburgh.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: Carolina starts the teardown process in earnest after another big loss on Sunday. And the Padres look to keep the good times going in the NLCS. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: The Yankees face a win or go home game in Cleveland. And Liverpool turn back the clock against Manchester City. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: We somehow got not one but TWO touchdowns on Thursday Night Football. And Mariners fans are starting to feel queasy at the sight of Yordan Alvarez.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: The Padres and Braves bounce back in Game 2 of the NLDS. And Tom Brady finds a new way to extend his athletic career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: The Braves fall just short in their comeback bad against the Phillies wobbly bullpen. And the Hornets lose their star just before the start of the season, but could that help them land the biggest potential star of them all in April? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: The Panthers shake things up to try and rescue their floundering season. And the Braves lock down another talented young player ahead a divisional clash with the Phillies.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plus: Is Draymond Green’s scuffle with Jordan Poole a sign of bigger problems in Golden State? And first we had fishing scandals, and now it’s time for some good old fashion chess cheating! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .