I thought it was important to give the new players their debuts at Providence Park because I think it's important for them to sample what it's like to be a Portland Timbers player. I've looked at Cole [Bassett] all pre-season and I think he's experienced now what this club's all about. I think that was really important for [Alex] Bonetig and Brandon Bye as well.
Creme: Baylor has lacked a true go-to scorer the last two seasons and Scott, a transfer from Auburn, is expected to change that. If Monday was any indication, she's off to a good start. Not only did Scott lead the Bears in scoring, she delivered when Baylor needed her most -- in crunch time of a close game. Scott scored half of her 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Bears surged ahead, and her free throw shooting (8-of-10 for the game) prevented a Blue Devils comeback in the final minutes.
NEW YORK -- Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns revealed he is dealing with a Grade 2 quad strain, which led to his "will he or won't he" status in the hours leading up to Wednesday night's season-opening 119-111 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Shortly before gametime, Towns declared himself fit to play, then scored 19 points and 12 rebounds in 31 minutes in a matchup between the two favorites in the Eastern Conference.
The Washington Wizards fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 133-120 in Wednesday's regular season opener. Washington drop to a double-digit deficit early in the first quarter after a slow start offensively was overcome by struggles on the defensive end. The Wizards bounced back in the second half, outscoring the Bucks 67-61 to cut their lead down to size. However, in the end, Brian Keefe's squad struggled to overcome the early hole they dug themselves in, even with the strong second half put together by Washington.
The start of year 100 felt eerily similar to many dispiriting nights in year 99. The New York Rangers' lethargic effort in a 3-0 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday could be chalked up to a number of factors: adjustments to a new coach and new systems, the return of Artemi Panarin and J.T. Miller after lengthy preseason absences, and a general lack of execution.
All eyes were on the Patriots' offense in the season-opening game against the Raiders on Sunday, with hopes that we would see the start of the second-year jump of Drake Maye now that an upgraded group finally surrounds him. From the offensive line to the receiving corps, the excitement was palpable for the start of the Mike Vrabel era, until it became apparent they wouldn't live up to the hype this week.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Shane Steichen interrupted the backslapping in the celebratory locker room and called his team together. The Indianapolis Colts' coach had something to say about a victory that was more meaningful than the 33-8 win over the Miami Dolphins reflected on the scoreboard. Steichen wanted to mark the occasion of the team's first victory without its longtime owner, Jim Irsay, who died in May and was honored with induction in the team's Ring of Honor at halftime of Sunday's season opener.
SANTA CLARA Christian McCaffrey had on his 49ers helmet, No. 23 jersey, white gloves, black sweatpants and white cleats. He looked ready for Friday's practice and Sunday's season opener. Looks can be deceiving. Or encouraging. Whether another calf issue will keep him out of another season opener is yet to be answered. Coach Kyle Shanahan will address reporters after practice and provide McCaffrey's official status for Sunday's opener in Seattle against the Seahawks (1:05 p.m., FOX).
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Julian Sayin had a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State's defense got a couple key stops in the red zone and the third-ranked Buckeyes opened their season with a 14-7 victory over top-ranked Texas on Saturday. It was the fourth time the AP's No. 1 team in the preseason poll has met the previous season's national champion in the opener. The defending champ has won the last three.
"We want to have the No. 1 defense, we talk about it, 100 percent," Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto said. "But we have to go out and do it, we have to do the things, each of us, to make that happen. How do we do that? Be better than last year and get off to a good start. It doesn't matter who is across from us every week, we want to be that defense that starts fast and just keeps going."
Barcelona secured a decisive 3-0 victory against nine-man Mallorca, dominating the game with a high conversion of attempts, highlighted by key performances from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
