Sports briefs 10/27
NBA
Oklahoma City guard Jalen Williams will need surgery to repair a broken left fibula and dislocated left ankle, the latest significant blows to a Thunder franchise that has dealt with a number of injury-related issues in recent seasons.
There isn’t a timetable for Williams’ return and one won’t be set until after the surgery, general manager Sam Presti said Monday – but given the history of such injuries, it’s reasonable to think Williams could miss the rest of the season.
It was a double gut punch for the Thunder on Monday, with the team also revealing that forward Cason Wallace will need surgery to repair a left labral tear. Like Williams, Wallace was injured on Sunday in Oklahoma City’s 108-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The timetable for Wallace’s return also will be set after surgery, but such procedures typically require several months of rehabilitation.
NHL
The St. Louis Blues have condemned what they called an antisemitic protest during a game last week at Enterprise Center.
Signs that read “Israel Kills” and “Free America from Israel” were held by fans in the stands Thursday when the Blues played the Vegas Golden Knights.
In a statement on Monday, Blues owner Tom Stillman called the signs “vile messages of hate” that were “unfortunate and unforgivable.”
Stillman said the fans who held the banners were ejected from the arena.
The 2026 Freedom Convoy, which said it was responsible for the protest, disagreed with Stillman’s characterization of the signs.
College football
No. 17 Florida could have quarterback Aaron Philo back for Saturday’s game against third-ranked Georgia in Atlanta.
Philo, who sat out a victory at then-No. 7 Texas on Oct. 17 because of an injured throwing shoulder, practiced Monday and split first-team repetitions with backup Tramell Jones Jr.
Coach Jon Sumrall said he will wait to see how both QBs get through the first few days of practice this week before making a decision, one he might not announce publicly.
• Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said he expects quarterback Josh Hoover to start and deliver a better performance when the fourth-ranked Hoosiers host Minnesota on Saturday.
Hoover played through a right arm injury last weekend at Michigan and he didn’t look the same.
The former TCU star was just 8 of 18 for 81 yards with no touchdowns and threw his first interception of the season. Hoover scored the winning touchdown on a 4-yard run in overtime to give Indiana its first victory at Michigan, 13-6, since 1967. It’s also the first time the Hoosiers have won two straight in the series since 1958-59.
Baseball
Francisco Lindor felt so honored to be given the Roberto Clemente Award, he showed up at World Series Game 3 in a Ferragamo tuxedo to accept it.
A five-time All-Star, Lindor became the fifth recipient of Puerto Rican descent to receive the award after Edgar Martinez (2004), Carlos Delgado (2006), Carlos Beltrán (2013) and Yadier Molina (2018).
Lindor and his wife have worked with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals; the SEEN Foundation, a disability advocacy group; Special Olympics Florida; and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
He donated to relief efforts in Puerto Rico after hurricanes Maria and Fiona, restored athletic facilities in his hometown of Caguas and donated more than $1 million to build Lindor Hall at the Montverde Academy, a school he graduated from in Monteverde, Florida.
N Minnesota Twins prospect Kyle DeBarge walks a few steps to a worn-out patch of grass while playing center field during a recent Arizona Fall League game at Salt River Fields, glancing up at a small video board that lets him know if he’s in the right spot.
A few steps to his left, right, front or back and a big red “X” appears on the video board above home plate. That’s not good.
If he stays on that little island of dirt in a sea of grass, a big ‘O’ appears and the video board is green. Much better.
Welcome to Major League Baseball’s newest experiment in its quest to juice the game’s sluggish offense: Restricting the positioning of outfielders on every at-bat. The idea is that making outfielders play straight up – instead of adjusting for individual hitters’ tendencies – will lead to more doubles and triples.
The Arizona Fall League has long been a testing ground for the next generation of MLB players, and lately, it’s also been a venue for testing potential rules changes.