One minute, the stadium was abuzz with chatter. West Indies were very much in the game - their death bowling had limited India to under 300 and with Nicholas Pooran and Roston Chase in the middle, they looked like they had it under control.

Then wickets fell like a pack of cards. Pooran. Chase. Carlos Brathwaite. Kemar Roach.

The crowd started to clear. It was an all too familiar feeling. It was an all too familiar sight. West Indies are almost always close, but somehow, almost always short.

"They say in the islands that the West Indies know how to lose," Gerald Ramkissoon, former chief curator and current maintenance head at Queen's Park Oval said. "Same old, same old West Indies," was the take of Ian Ramsey, part of the pitch staff at Queens Park Oval.

The team has been struggling for a while - they last won a bilateral ODI series in 2014, against Bangladesh. But experts and fans had renewed hope before the World Cup, particularly given a drawn series against England leading up to the event. The general perception was that the squad had the tools - with their deep and exciting batting line-up and the in-form pace attack - needed to succeed. Now, it was all about execution.

That's exactly where they failed, close to winning several matches but not going over the line. They were 15 runs short in their run chase against Australia, a heart-breaking five against New Zealand, and 23 against Sri Lanka. Those three results going their way could have meant a semi-final spot for the team.

"Again, we were in front today and then we found a way to give away our wickets, so it's just a matter of us now learning from our mistakes and trying to dig deeper," West Indies coach Floyd Reifer said after the defeat to India in the second ODI, which put them 1-0 behind in the three-match series with one game to go.

Captain Jason Holder has been saying that their main batting focus is taking time with the new ball, understanding the conditions, and then scoring runs at a steady pace. But that approach runs contrary to how many West Indies batsmen usually play - the slam-bang T20 style. And that's the style that has resulted in the batsmen, particularly the middle order, making careless shot choices.

Ramkissoon reminisced about the time when West Indies had someone like Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whom bowlers would spend hours trying to dislodge.

"T20, especially CPL, Big Bash and IPL changed everything," Ramkissoon said. "Don't get me wrong, the current team, Pooran, (Evin) Lewis and (Shimron) Hetmyer, they have the ability and the game to take West Indies far, but it's about how you approach cricket, how you play the game."

Both Ramkissoon and Ramsey feel that the relative lack of experience in the line-up is crucial. "(Kieron) Pollard should have been in this series. He played in the IPL, he knows how most of the Indian players work, he was in good form - he would have helped players on the field, bowled and batted, we call him the triple threat in Trinidad," Ramkissoon said.

With Gayle's looming retirement, there is also the gaping hole that is West Indies' opening spot. Evin Lewis seems more or less set at the top, but without a solid partner, West Indies will struggle to build the foundation that Holder is keen on.

These are just some among a number of issues West Indies need to address sooner rather than later. After all, among the fans, the cricket public, and even the local press, there is continuing hope for the glory days of the 1970s and 1980s to return one day. If it is within reach, as some feel, the players need to do what they can to grab it.

A wider pool of contracted players, extending to the domestic level for the first time, and a significant pay hike for centrally contracted New Zealand women players are among the key features of the new Women's Master Agreement. When finalised, the agreement will replace the previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed in 2016, and expired on July 31 this year.

Under the new agreement, reached in principle between New Zealand Cricket and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, the number of contracted players will be 79 across three levels, up from 15 under the previous MoU, while the total player payment pool will comprise $4.136 million over three years, an annual payment of $1.38 million. The player payment pool in the previous MoU was $1.575 million for three years.

The number of centrally contracted players increases to 17, from 15 over the last three years, with pay ranging from $64,000 to $40,000 annually (inclusive of a retainer payment, retirement fund contribution and promotional payment). Players can also each earn up to $16,000 in match fees. Thus, a centrally contracted player could earn up to $80,000 annually (up from a maximum of $48,000 in the last MoU). In addition, centrally contracted players can participate in overseas T20 leagues in Australia, England and India, when not committed to international or Super Smash fixtures.

Under the new agreement, eight centrally contracted Development Players will earn a minimum of $7,500 for participating in NZC High Performance Programmes and two domestic competitions.

In the first-ever domestic contracts structure, 54 players (nine for each of the six major associations) will be on domestic competition agreements worth $3,250. The agreements will compensate players for their availability for the Super Smash and Hallyburton Johnstone competitions. Non-contracted players selected to play in a domestic competition will be paid an assembly fee.

According to a statement from the NZC, the model of the Women's Master Agreement sought to provide a starting point for the eventual semi-professionalisation of the domestic game. The aim was also to help reduce the financial barriers for the players' continued involvement in the women's game, while retaining their ability to maintain their involvement in other vocations - an issue that emerged as a priority following discussions between the players and the NZCPA.

The new agreement was welcomed by the players. Amy Satterthwaite, the senior women's captain, said the investment in domestic and developing players was an important step forward for the game in the country.

"I know people tend to focus on the White Ferns' contracts but the investment in domestic and developing players is an important step forward for women's cricket in New Zealand," she said. "This is an agreement that recognises the need to grow the game at grassroots and domestic level in order to produce White Ferns who excel on the world stage.

"This means all White Ferns can now ply their trade as full-time professional cricketers as well as having the flexibility to participate in overseas leagues - which is a huge leap forward for all involved. With the ICC Women's World Cup 2021 on the horizon, this will mean a great deal in terms of upskilling and training, and providing the best possible environment for preparing ourselves and the team."

Batsman Suzie Bates hoped the new agreement would make the game more attractive for aspiring players. "From what I can see, it provides a great framework and starting point for the eventual semi-professionalisation of the women's domestic game in New Zealand - and that's probably the most important point in the entire agreement," Bates said.

The next head coach of the senior India men's team is expected to be chosen on Friday from a shortlist of six: the incumbent, Ravi Shastri, as well as Tom Moody, Mike Hesson, Phil Simmons, Lalchand Rajput and Robin Singh. The BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee, headed by Kapil Dev, will convene in Mumbai to conduct the interviews before making their decision.

The three overseas coaches are likely to join the committee members over video conference, while Rajput and Robin, team manager and fielding coach during India's 2007 World T20 win, are likely to be present in Mumbai for the interviews. Besides Kapil, the CAC comprises Anshuman Gaekwad, the former India opener and coach, and Shantha Rangaswamy, the former India women's team captain.

Confirming the updates, a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India, "These six will give presentation for head coach before CAC. It has been learnt that these six have been short-listed for interview with the CAC."

While the names of Moody, who has rich coaching pedigree in international cricket [Sri Lanka] as well as in the franchise circuit [Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, for example], and Hesson, formerly head coach with New Zealand and Kings XI, have been doing the rounds, Simmons is seen as a late entrant.

The former West Indies opener was until June the head coach of Afghanistan. In the past, he has also had stints with West Indies, with whom he won the World T20 title in 2016, and, most notably, Ireland. Hesson, meanwhile, served as head coach of New Zealand for six years, the highlights being their memorable run to the 2015 World Cup final and a home Test series win over England in 2018. He has also been linked with the Bangladesh men's team, who are without a coach since letting go of Steve Rhodes after the World Cup.

There have been suggestions from the BCCI that Shastri is most likely to continue, something that has the backing of India captain Virat Kohli, who publicly expressed his support for Shastri at a press conference before flying out for the tour of the USA and the Caribbean late last month.

"With Ravi bhai, all of us have a great camaraderie, everyone in the team shares mutual respect [with him]. And we have done really well together as a group," Kohli had said at the time. "Yeah, we will definitely be very happy if he is continuing as a coach, but as I said it is upon the CAC to seek my advice or opinion if they want. Right now, I haven't been contacted at all. And I don't know what is going to happen with the process."

Shastri and the rest of his support staff - Sanjay Bangar (batting coach), B Arun (bowling coach) and R Sridhar (fielding coach) - are automatic entrants into the process. All of them are on an extended 45-day contract that will come to an end following the two-Test series in the Caribbean.

While Arun has been favoured, like Shastri, to retain his job, Sridhar could be up against Jonty Rhodes for the fielding coach's position. Meanwhile, Bangar's position as batting coach will be challenged by the candidatures of Pravin Amre, Vikram Rathour and J Arun Kumar.All three have been associated with coaching at the domestic and IPL level.

Amre is presently batting coach of Delhi Capitals, while Rathour, who served as member of the selection committee until 2016, and Arun are with Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry respectively.The support staff is likely to be picked by MSK Prasad, the men's selection committee chairman.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It doesn't matter to Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Kyler Murray that he won't run his offensive scheme in its entirety during the preseason.

He believes the Cardinals will still be ready Week 1 against the Detroit Lions because of how well he knows the system because he's been running a version of it every season since eighth grade.

"I know it'll work against teams," Murray said. "It's hard to prepare for what we will do when the season comes."

Murray implied that the Cardinals ran parts of their offense in their first preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers. But, he emphasized, the Cardinals did not create a game plan last week. That'll change a bit this week, coach Kliff Kingsbury said. Arizona will plan a bit for what the Oakland Raiders, whom the Cardinals host Thursday night, will do, Kingsbury said Monday.

"Not a ton but enough to go out there and be able to execute at a high level," Kingsbury said.

Murray, who'll play more than one series against Oakland, expressed his "confidence" in the offense, especially when it's being run full bore.

"I think when we get out there full speed moving around, it'll be good," Murray said.

How does he know?

"Just because I've been in it for so long," he said. "I know what it looks like. I know how it works. It's tough to stop. At any level I think it'd be tough to stop."

NAPA, Calif. -- After Antonio Brown lost his grievance against the NFL over wearing his old helmet, the Oakland Raiders receiver should return to the team's training camp soon. Brown has also been dealing with frostbitten feet suffered in a cryotherapy mishap in France last month. He has not been with the Raiders since being limited in a practice and leaving early on July 30.

Brown took to social media on Monday to address the decision.

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"While I disagree with the arbitrator's decision, I'm working on getting back to full health and looking forward to rejoining my teammates on the field. I'm excited about this season appreciate all the concerns about my feet ?!" #AlwaysAFight #Represent #itsbiggerthanme

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It is considered "very unlikely" that Brown will appeal the decision, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Brown prefers to wear his older helmet, believed to be a 10-year-old Schutt Air Advantage model, which is no longer made by the company and, thus, no longer certified by the National Operating Committee for Standards and Athletic Equipment. He has tried the new certified helmet out and believes it protrudes out and interferes with his vision as he tries to catch the football.

On Friday, Brown had a two-hour conference call with an independent arbitrator to argue why he should be allowed to wear his older helmet, which he is thought to have been using his entire career. The arbitrator for the grievance call was joined by league officials, player representatives and NFLPA representatives in Philadelphia, a source told ESPN.

Brown argued that his helmet made him feel safe and, save for an illegal hit from Vontaze Burfict in the 2016 playoffs, kept him healthy, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The arbitrator was sympathetic but issued what was described by a source as a "very kind denial."

Brown is looking into whether he could find a version of his preferred-style helmet that is less than 10 years old to see if that would be acceptable, a source told Fowler. But it is not clear that even if he could find one and get it certified by NOCSAE, that the NFL would sign off on it because the technology is outdated.

Raiders coach Jon Gruden said he supports the player, who opened camp on the non-football injury list and has participated in one pre-practice walkthrough, on July 28, before being limited on July 30. The Raiders have held 11 practices and one exhibition game.

Brown was a mainstay during the Raiders' offseason program.

"He has a strong feeling about what he's worn on his head, and we're supporting him," Gruden said after Saturday's exhibition against the Los Angeles Rams. "We understand the league's position as well, so we're in a tough spot, and we hope Antonio is here soon because he's exciting to be around. I'm excited. I've got some plays for him. I hope we can start calling them."

Brown, acquired by Oakland in a trade for a third- and a fifth-round pick in March from the Pittsburgh Steelers and promptly given a three-year, $50.125 million contract, has reportedly threatened to retire if not allowed to wear his helmet.

"I have a lot of confidence that he's one of the premier competitors that I've ever been around," Gruden said. "And I've got a feeling he would play with no helmet -- that's how much he loves to play. But I'm not going to put words in anybody's mouth. We're going to support him, and whatever his decision is, we'll stand by it. But we're confident that he's going to be a huge factor for the Raiders for years to come."

Other NFL players not happy to change helmets include Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, as well as a "handful" of Raiders players, per a league source, although none had threatened to retire like Brown.

Former NBA player Sebastian Telfair has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for illegal gun possession, Brooklyn's district attorney announced Monday.

Telfair, 34, was convicted in April of one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which stemmed from an arrest in January 2017. Police found firearms including a semi-automatic rifle, ammunition, a ballistic vest and marijuana inside a vehicle Telfair was driving during a traffic stop in Brooklyn.

"This defendant exercised his right to a jury trial and was found guilty of possessing an illegal firearm," district attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. "The mandatory prison sentence he received today is required by law and he has now been held accountable for the unlawful conduct."

Telfair was a first-round draft pick in 2004. He started with the Portland Trail Blazers and spent time with the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and other teams before ending his career in China in 2014.

Telfair was also arrested in 2007 after a traffic stop when police found a loaded handgun in the vehicle. He pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon and was sentenced to three years of probation in that case.

The NCAA has amended its certification process for agents representing basketball players who are deciding whether to stay in school or explore the NBA draft and will no longer require them to have a bachelor's degree.

Instead, agents who don't have a bachelor's degree will have to be in good standing with the National Basketball Players Association.

"We are committed to providing student-athletes who are deciding whether to stay in school or explore NBA draft options with access to a wide array of resources to make their decision," the NCAA said in a statement on Monday.

"NCAA member schools developed the new agent certification process to accomplish that goal and reflect our higher education mission. However, we have been made aware of several current agents who have appropriately represented former student-athletes in their professional quest and whom the National Basketball Players Association has granted waivers of its bachelor's degree requirement."

Last week, the NCAA issued a memo to agents, outlining new certification requirements that included a bachelor's degree, NBPA certification for at least three consecutive years, professional liability insurance and completion of an in-person exam taken in early November at the NCAA office in Indianapolis.

The NCAA's new requirements were heavily criticized because some current NBA agents didn't attend college. The bachelor's degree requirement led some to refer to it as the "Rich Paul Rule."

Paul, who represents LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons and Draymond Green, among others, and recently brought his Klutch Sports Group under the United Talent Agency umbrella, began working with James a couple of years after high school and didn't graduate from college.

James and Thunder guard Chris Paul criticized the NCAA's new requirements on social media.

In an op-ed piece for The Athletic on Monday, Rich Paul wrote: "Requiring a four-year degree accomplishes only one thing -- systematically excluding those who come from a world where college is unrealistic. Does anyone really believe a four-year degree is what separates an ethical person from a con artist?

"Let's also be clear that once the NCAA requires a four-year degree for athletes 'testing the waters,' it's only a matter of time until this idea is socialized, no longer questioned, and then more broadly applied. We all know how this works. Unfair policy is introduced incrementally so people accept it because it only affects a small group. Then the unfair policy quietly evolves into institutional policy. I'm not sure what the technical term is for that because I didn't finish college but I know it when I see it."

The NCAA said in the original memo to agents that it implemented the new requirements "to protect the collegiate eligibility" of student-athletes.

"While specific individuals were not considered when developing our process, we respect the NBPA's determination of qualification and have amended our certification criteria," the NCAA said in Monday's statement.

The NCAA will still require agents representing players who might return to school to have NBPA certification for a minimum of three consecutive years, maintain professional liability insurance, complete the NCAA qualification exam and pay the required fees.

In the application, sources told ESPN last week, agents are required to agree that they will cooperate with the NCAA in investigations of rules violations, "even if the alleged violations are unrelated to [their] NCAA-agent certification."

Agents who complete the application and background check will take the in-person exam on Nov. 6, the day after the college basketball season begins with the Champions Classic in New York.

Agents who meet every requirement besides the three-year NBPA certification can receive an exception if the student-athlete they represented this past spring decided to return to school.

"This policy provides student-athletes with access to hundreds of qualified agents who can offer solid guidance but also protects those same students from unscrupulous actors who may not represent their best interests," the NCAA said. "We remain focused on improving the college basketball environment, and over the next year, we will continue to evaluate the agent certification policy as well as the implementation of other rules recommended by the Commission on College Basketball."

ESPN's Jeff Borzello contributed to this report.

The 2019-20 NBA schedule was unveiled on Monday, and with summer player movement scattering stars across the league to new teams, return games will feature prominently throughout the season.

Kawhi Leonard will make his return to Toronto on Dec. 11 as the LA Clippers visit the defending champion Raptors. New Celtics guard Kemba Walker returns to Charlotte on Nov. 7 and Jazz guard Mike Conley is back in Memphis on Nov. 15.

On Nov. 27, Lakers big man Anthony Davis returns to New Orleans and Nets guard Kyrie Irving is in Boston.

Clippers forward Paul George returns to Oklahoma City on Dec. 22. Rockets guard Russell Westbrook will make his return to Oklahoma City on Jan. 9, though the Rockets face the Thunder in Houston on Oct. 28, their third game of the season.

The 2019-20 season opens on Oct. 22 with a doubleheader featuring the Pelicans visiting the Raptors on ring night, and the Lakers visiting the Clippers in the first installment of the new battle for Los Angeles.

The Lakers lead the way in national TV appearances (ABC, ESPN and TNT) with 31, winning the first matchup with the Clippers, who clock in with 26. The Warriors have the second-most with 30, the Rockets will appear 26 times, Celtics 25 times, while the Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers make 24 appearances each. Zion Williamson and the Pelicans will make 20 national TV appearances.

The league's marquee Christmas Day games will feature five games, with the Celtics visiting the Raptors at noon (all times ET), the Bucks at the 76ers at 2:30 p.m., the Rockets at the Warriors at 5 p.m., the Clippers at the Lakers at 8 p.m., and the Pelicans at the Nuggets at 10:30 p.m.

A primary focus for schedule-makers this season was to move up East Coast start times for national TV doubleheaders. The overall number of 10:30 p.m. ET starts on national TV was reduced from 57 to 33, with the Warriors playing only 11 times at 10:30 p.m. (down from 18 last season) and the Lakers only 10 times (down from 19).

For a fifth consecutive season, back-to-backs are at a historic low, with teams averaging 12.4 this season, down from 13.3 last season. Since the 2014-15 season, back-to-backs are down 36% overall. The range of back-to-backs per team is between 11 and 14 (it was 12 to 15 last season). For a third straight season, there will be no four-in-five-night games for any team and no eight-games-in-12-nights for a second consecutive season.

The All-Star break will begin Feb. 14 with the 2020 All-Star Game on Feb. 16 in Chicago. The league will be on a break with no games from Feb. 14-19. Every team will have at least seven days off.

The schedule also features a record 48 prime-time games for Europe (afternoon start times in North America, prime-time for European time zones), and the first-ever slate of Saturday prime-time games for Europe.

The regular season concludes on April 15 with 26 of the 30 teams in action that night.

Mark your calendars -- the full NBA schedule is here.

The regular season tips off Oct. 22, a week later than last year, and ends on April 15, with the playoffs beginning just three days afterward. There are 1,230 games on the schedule (trust us, we counted), but we've circled these as our must-see regular-season matchups for 2019-20. The calendar is complete with plenty of reunions, debuts, rookie showdowns and, of course, the biggest contests featuring the new-look Lakers and Clippers.

Editor's note: This list does not include the league's five Christmas Day games, which were revealed Aug. 2.

More: Big Christmas questions | ESPN/ABC games | Full schedule

Must-see season openers

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Toronto Raptors
Oct. 22, 8 p.m. ET | TNT

The banner will be raised to the rafters. The shimmering championship rings will be presented. Montage videos of the Toronto Raptors' run to the 2018-19 championship will be played. A packed house of roaring fans will relive the first NBA title for a Canadian team. It'll be a special night in Toronto, even if the team is picking up the pieces in the wake of superstar Kawhi Leonard's leaving after one memorable season to join the LA Clippers in free agency.

This also marks the start of the Zion Williamson era for the New Orleans Pelicans, with a ton of attention focused on the No. 1 overall pick's NBA debut. Fans will expect an array of high-flying acrobatics from the athletic wunderkind. And a few highlight-reel-worthy slams from the ex-Duke standout should help New Orleans fans move on from their former star, Anthony Davis. Let's Dance!

-- Baxter Holmes

LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Oct. 22, 10:30 ET | TNT

The season opens with the battle for supremacy over Los Angeles and perhaps the Western Conference. Leonard makes his Clippers debut -- it remains to be seen whether Paul George will be ready after his shoulder surgery in June -- against the team's Staples Center-hallway rival, the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James unveils his newest All-Star big man as the Anthony Davis era begins to the delight of the purple-and-gold nation.

This game will be the debut for several Lakers, from head coach Frank Vogel to DeMarcus Cousins, Danny Green and former Clipper Avery Bradley, among others. On the other side, Doc Rivers might have two new superstars, but he has plenty of continuity with veterans such as Patrick Beverley and the best bench in basketball (with Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell) returning. Let the Battle for L.A. begin.

-- Ohm Youngmisuk

Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Oct. 23, 7:30 ET | ESPN

It won't take long for Al Horford to welcome his old team to his new town, as the Celtics visit the Sixers on the second night of the season. A recent resurgence of top talent has helped awaken this dormant Eastern Conference rivalry, one of the best in NBA history. And though this year's rivalry will be without Jimmy Butler and Kyrie Irving, both the Celtics and 76ers have more than enough talent to remain in contention in the East -- and to keep these matchups spicy.

-- Holmes

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Brooklyn Nets
Oct. 23, 7:30 ET

The 2019-20 Brooklyn Nets will debut without Kevin Durant, who will be rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon for what is expected to be the entire season, barring any unforeseen circumstances. But this will be Kyrie Irving's first game with Brooklyn -- and that alone is worth tuning in for.

The superstar point guard had a rocky final season in Boston -- to say the very least -- on a talented team that fell far short of expectations. Irving's array of biting comments about leadership and more throughout the campaign raised questions and seemed to sour his on-court relationships and overall perception as a teammate. But Irving is still an elite talent and one of the game's most dynamic scorers, and it'll be fascinating to see how he leads his new squad.

-- Holmes

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Houston Rockets
Oct. 24, 8 ET | TNT

This goes into the ledger as our first look at the new-look Houston Rockets with the reunion of Russell Westbrook and James Harden. The two were teammates what feels like lifetimes ago in Oklahoma City, but so much has changed. They've each since taken home an MVP award and established themselves as the dominant star of their respective teams, so who will cede a bit of control to help make this reunion work? How will floor spacing work? Who will be the dominant ball handler?

Of course, their partnership -- and Westbrook's overall fit in Houston -- will evolve over the course of the season. Even if gets off to a bumpy start, that might not mean it will be that way for the next 81 regular-season games -- though it could be a preview of things to come and what kind of season the Rockets can expect.

Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will take on the newly formed duo of Westbrook and Harden, the 2017 and 2018 MVPs, respectively. There should also be an added layer of competition between Antetokounmpo and Harden, who competed for MVP honors in a heated race last season and could potentially do so again this season.

-- Holmes

LA Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors
Oct. 24, 10:30 ET | TNT

The Warriors may have lost Kevin Durant in free agency and still have Klay Thompson (knee) on the mend, but Oct. 24 will be a night for the Warriors to celebrate the unveiling of their shiny new home arena -- the Chase Center. The Warriors move from Oakland to San Francisco and they'll bring a new All-Star guard with them in D'Angelo Russell.

And who better for Steph Curry and Draymond Green to open their new digs against other than reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard? The last thing we saw when the NBA season ended was Leonard and the Raptors hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy at Oracle. Now Leonard returns to the Bay Area as a member of the Clippers, which should only reignite this California rivalry.

-- Youngmisuk

More can't-miss games

The slate of great games doesn't end when opening week does. Here are 10 more matchups worth circling on your calendar once the page turns past October:

LA Clippers vs. Houston Rockets
Nov. 13, 7:30 ET | ESPN

Who has the best duo in the NBA? The Clippers and Rockets will put that argument to the test when Leonard and George visit Harden and Westbrook in Houston. Just watching Mike D'Antoni's high-powered offense against Doc Rivers' defense will be fascinating to watch, as will the reunion between former Thunder teammates Westbrook and George.

-- Youngmisuk

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Nov. 13, 10 ET | ESPN

LeBron renews his rivalry with Stephen Curry and the Warriors, but this time, he brings perhaps his best All-Star big man in Davis and a new cast of veteran shooters around him.

This game features a couple of notable reunions. D'Angelo Russell faces the organization that drafted and later jettisoned him to make room for Ball. And Cousins returns to the Bay to face his former teammates and coach, looking to prove he can still return to his All-Star form. It also wouldn't be a surprise to see Quinn Cook try to hit a few 3s against his old mates.

-- Youngmisuk

Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks
Nov. 14, 8 ET | TNT

There was a time when Kristaps Porzingis was the savior for the New York Knicks, a unicorn from Latvia who helped awaken Madison Square Garden and was going to help return the Knicks to prominence. Now, Porzingis and his new teammate, reigning Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic, form a duo that could lift the Dallas Mavericks back into title contention. After missing more than 20 months of basketball, Porzingis should finally be healthy and will likely want to show Knicks fans what they'll be missing as he makes his return to MSG.

-- Holmes

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics
Nov. 27, 7 ET | ESPN

The boos will be raining down from all over TD Garden when Irving's name is announced in the opposing starting lineup. And those boos will probably continue almost every time he touches the ball in his former home arena, given the bitter end and sour split.

Not even a year ago, Irving said he'd love to re-sign with the Boston Celtics if the fans would have him, and said he wanted to be the reason no other Celtic would ever wear No. 11 again. And then everything went about as disastrously as it could have. That backdrop should provide plenty of fireworks -- especially with many of Irving's former teammates looking to prove the team can more than move on without him.

-- Holmes

Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Nov. 27, 9:30 ET | ESPN

Davis returns to New Orleans for the first time since being traded to L.A. Normally this would be more than enough drama and reason to tune in, but Davis' likely rude Big Easy reception is only the start of what could be must-see TV. The Lakers will also see some familiar faces in NOLA, a group once meant to be the future in Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart -- the Lakers' three former first-round picks sent to New Orleans in the Davis trade.

Oh, and let's not forget: LeBron vs. Zion. Two of the most freakishly athletic and physically intimidating players we've seen will square off when Williamson hosts James for the first time.

-- Youngmisuk

LA Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors
Dec. 11, 7 ET | TNT

The last time we saw Leonard in Toronto, a helicopter was tracking his vehicle from the sky as he went to meet with the Raptors during free agency. Now, the Finals MVP, who delivered Canada its first championship, returns when the Clippers make their only trip north of the border. It should be an opportunity for Toronto -- and even for Drake -- to thank Leonard again, as he could receive his championship ring on this night.

Although Leonard and the Clippers are title favorites, Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam will be eager to remind everyone who the defending champions are.

-- Youngmisuk

Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Dec. 18, 7:30 ET | ESPN

Jimmy Butler makes his return to Philadelphia for the first time since signing with the Miami Heat in free agency. There was a lot of top-end talent with the Philadelphia 76ers during Butler's final season, and it always felt like there was a log jam of sorts for the alpha dog/scorer role between Butler, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris.

Was the fit perfect? Not always. But now, whatever issues arose are less so with Butler taking his talents to South Beach, where he is the unquestioned top option. His reception back in Philadelphia will probably be mixed because it's Philadelphia, but Butler is a feisty competitor and will no doubt bring something extra for this matchup.

-- Holmes

Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Dec. 18, 10 ET | ESPN

The Portland Trail Blazers will be eager to erase the nasty taste of the Western Conference finals sweep suffered at the hands of the Warriors. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum hope to show they have learned from last season's playoff run and are ready to take another step forward. They'll also have a new big man, Hassan Whiteside, who was brought in to help with Jusuf Nurkic still on the mend.

Of course, Portland has to find a way to slow down Curry, who averaged 36.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists in that series. And then there's Green, who was a virtual walking triple-double after he had two triple-doubles and averaged 16.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists against Portland.

-- Youngmisuk

Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Jan. 9, 9:30 ET | TNT

It's hard to believe the Oklahoma City Thunder era is officially over now with Westbrook's departure. Westbrook's first game back in Oklahoma City will be incredibly emotional for the city, the fans and even Westbrook, who came of age in OKC and rose to MVP stardom there.

If Chris Paul is still in a Thunder uniform, then this game will have extra intrigue as he faces off against his old team. Paul has deep roots in Oklahoma City; he played there when the New Orleans Hornets were displaced during Hurricane Katrina.

-- Holmes

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
Jan. 18, 8:30 ET | ABC

The floor will be littered with MVPs. LeBron, Harden and Westbrook have five MVP trophies from the past decade between them, and Davis is another MVP-caliber player. The Lakers and Rockets are poised to be two of the best teams in the Western Conference, and there should be no shortage of highlights and scoring when these two teams face off.

And there also could be a triple-double or two in this game. Westbrook, James and Harden respectively rank second, fifth and ninth overall on the all-time triple-doubles list.

-- Youngmisuk

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Charlotte Hornets
Jan. 24, 3 ET | NBATV

The Greek Freak takes Paris! The NBA is heading across the pond to play its first regular-season game ever in the French capital, which is fitting, as France has long been a hotbed for NBA talent: Tony Parker, Boris Diaw and Rudy Gobert, to name a few.

Here's hoping neither team is jet-lagged from the six-hour time difference between Paris and the East Coast. The Charlotte Hornets are, shall we say, not at the title-contending level of the Milwaukee Bucks, but it's the stage that matters most in this one.

-- Holmes

More reunion specials to watch

What do you get when dozens of stars change jerseys over the summer? Even more reunions! Here are seven other showdowns featuring stars headed back to face their former franchises:

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets
Oct. 28, 8 ET

Paul was a part of some deep playoff runs in Houston, but he and the Rockets were never able to overcome the Warriors to reach their ultimate goal. Now back in Oklahoma City, where his NBA career has some of its oldest roots, he'll face off against the point guard for whom he was dealt in Westbrook and former teammate Harden, with whom he didn't always see eye to eye. This should be a fun one.

-- Holmes

Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets
Nov. 7, 8 ET | TNT

From the moment they selected him ninth overall in the 2011 draft, Kemba Walker gave eight strong seasons to Charlotte. The three-time All-Star, who signed with the Celtics in free agency, should -- and almost certainly will -- receive a rousing ovation from Hornets fans, witnesses to his rise to NBA stardom.

But this game will also be a reunion of sorts for new Hornets point guard Terry Rozier, whom the Hornets inked in free agency after Walker headed for greener pastures in Boston. The point guard dual should be an enticing matchup, but come for the reception Walker receives in Charlotte.

-- Holmes

Utah Jazz vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Nov. 15, 8 ET | ESPN

Point guard Mike Conley was an integral part of the Memphis Grizzlies' Grit and Grind era, one that has since been dismantled with Marc Gasol, Tony Allen, Zach Randolph and -- as of this summer -- Conley all moving on. But that era will always be a special one for die-hard NBA fans, and its end arrived, officially or not, when Conley was traded to the Utah Jazz this offseason.

Conley will receive tons of love from the Memphis fans -- and rightly so. He'll also face off against the point guard who will more or less be tasked with trying to live up to everything Conley was: rookie Ja Morant, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft.

-- Holmes

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors
Dec. 9, 10:30 ET

If Green is the heart of the Warriors' dynasty, and Curry and Thompson the faces of the franchise, then Andre Iguodala was the soul of the Warriors' run. When he was traded in a cap-clearing move in the aftermath of Durant's departure, it felt like a key part of what made the Warriors special was out the door.

Iguodala should receive a huge roar from the crowd as he plays his first game in the Bay -- albeit in San Francisco and not Oakland -- since he left after making five straight Finals appearances with the Warriors.

-- Holmes

LA Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Dec. 22, 7 ET | NBATV

The schedule-makers made sure not to put this game on the slate too early in the season. With the Clippers expected to take things slow with George and his surgically repaired shoulders, the All-Star swingman should be available when the Clippers visit Oklahoma City. It should be interesting to see the reception George gets after he re-signed with the Thunder only to ask for a trade this past summer to return home to Los Angeles and join forces with Leonard. That trade immediately sent his former team into rebuilding mode.

-- Youngmisuk

Brooklyn Nets vs. Golden State Warriors
March 12, 10:30 ET

While Durant will be having to wait a season before playing in the new Chase Center in a Nets uniform, the player the Warriors got back in the sign-and-trade deal will be making his return to Brooklyn. Russell, who rose to All-Star status a year ago, will have plenty of motivation to remind the Nets what they gave up. And, of course, let's not forget about the marquee matchup between Kyrie and Steph.

-- Youngmisuk

Toronto Raptors vs. Memphis Grizzlies
March 28, 8 ET

Gasol is an NBA champion, and although he didn't win it with the Grizzlies in Memphis, the city and its fans will certainly appreciate their former star returning home with his résumé expanded to include the championship he won in Toronto.

-- Holmes

But wait, more L.A. games to watch

Let's face it -- we won't be able to keep our eyes off Los Angeles hoops this season. With both the Lakers and Clippers amassing star power this offseason, here is a look at more Hollywood drama sure to dominate the 2019-20 season:

Milwaukee Bucks vs. LA Clippers
Nov. 6, 10 ET | ESPN

Antetokounmpo wished Leonard had chosen to remain in Toronto as a free agent. "For me personally, I would love for Kawhi to stay in the East and stay in Toronto because I would love to go through the series [with them] again," the reigning MVP told ESPN in July.

With Leonard in the Western Conference now, the Bucks should be the favorites to win the East. But this will be just one of two nights when we get to see the NBA's MVP square off against the Finals MVP. Unless, of course, the Bucks and Clippers meet in the NBA Finals.

-- Youngmisuk

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Jan. 3, 10:30 ET | ESPN

Once upon a time, Magic Johnson boasted that Ball would have his No. 2 jersey raised to the rafters to join all the other Lakers legends with retired jerseys. But after just two seasons, Ball is no longer a Laker. Neither is another former No. 2 overall pick: Ingram. Once considered to be the future of the Lakers, Ball and Ingram, along with former Lakers' first-round pick Hart, make their return to Staples Center looking to remind the Lakers how much they gave up to get Davis. As if that wasn't enough to bring out the Hollywood stars courtside, Zion faces the Lakers for the first time at Staples Center. Get Jack and Denzel ready.

-- Youngmisuk

Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Feb. 23, 3:30 ET | ABC

One of the most storied rivalries in all of sports is renewed with a little twist. The Celtics and Danny Ainge long coveted Davis, collecting a boatload of assets to pursue the New Orleans big man once he became available. But Davis wanted to become a Laker, and now Ainge has to stomach the sight of him in purple and gold. This, though, will be an opportunity for some Celtics, such as Jayson Tatum, to remind people it was a good thing Boston didn't trade them away.

-- Youngmisuk

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
March 6, 10:30 ET | ESPN

The Greek Freak believes the best team in the NBA -- not necessarily the one with the best star duo -- will win it all this season. Here's one chance for Antetokounmpo to prove that as the Bucks visit Staples to face LeBron and AD. This will also be a reunion for Antetokounmpo and his former Bucks coach, Jason Kidd, who now is Vogel's lead assistant. It will also be interesting to see whether Kostas Antetokounmpo, who signed a two-way contract with the Lakers, will be up with the team on this night. After all, it's never too early to look ahead to Giannis' free agency in 2021.

-- Youngmisuk

Zion games to watch

On any given night, the Rookie of the Year favorite is a good bet to provide highlight of the night material. Here are three more Pelicans games to watch this season, starring No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson:

New Orleans Pelicans vs. New York Knicks
Jan. 10, 8 ET | ESPN

This is not only a matchup of two top rookies in New Orleans' Williamson and New York's RJ Barrett -- who also were teammates a season ago at Duke -- it's Williamson's debut on the NBA's biggest stage: Madison Square Garden.

The presence of the top overall pick in last year's draft will help create an electric environment in which it's expected his other-worldly athleticism will be on display -- and it figures Williamson, ever the showman, will want to put on a show after his Las Vegas Summer League debut against Barrett was cut short after just nine minutes.

-- Holmes

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Dec. 13, 7 ET

The 76ers' star point guard Simmons won Rookie of the Year in 2018, and in this matchup, he'll face Williamson, the rookie who is expected to take that honor this coming season.

-- Holmes

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Jan. 20, 5 ET | TNT

Williamson and Morant, the first and second overall picks in this year's draft, respectively, will face off as the Pelicans take on the Grizzlies on MLK Day. Both are especially athletic and boast a penchant for attacking the rim, so there should be plenty of highlights in this one.

-- Holmes

Every team's schedule

Atlantic: BOS | BKN | NYK | PHI | TOR
Central: CHI | CLE | DET | IND | MIL
Southeast: ATL | CHA | MIA | ORL | WAS
Pacific: GS | LAC | LAL | PHX | SAC
Southwest: DAL | HOU | MEM | NO | SA
Northwest: DEN | MIN | OKC | POR | UTAH

ESPN baseball analyst Alex Rodriguez was among a group of people who had valuables stolen from an SUV Sunday night in San Francisco.

The vehicle, which was rented by ESPN for some of the production crew covering the Phillies-Giants game on Sunday Night Baseball, was broken into while the group was having dinner after the game.

"I am saddened that several items that were of a personal nature and irreplaceable with sentimental value were taken," Rodriguez said. "I am encouraged that local law enforcement has security footage of the crime and are doing all they can to get the items back."

Rodriguez has declined to comment on what was stolen, and San Francisco police are not releasing details of their investigation into the car break-in near Oracle Park.

But The San Francisco Chronicle, citing sources close to the investigation, said more than $500,000 worth of jewelry and other items was taken from the SUV.

"It's an unfortunate situation. We're working with local authorities to address it," an ESPN spokesperson said.

According to the Chronicle, 2,150 vehicle break-ins were reported in San Francisco in July, or about 69 per day, as part of what the newspaper has characterized as a "rolling epidemic" in the city.