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.

View this post on Instagram

"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

A post shared by Boomin (@ab) on Aug 12, 2019 at 1:45pm PDT

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even if he could find one and get it certified by NOCSAE, that the NFL would sign off on it because the technology is outdated.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.

New York Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres continued his decimation of the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning that moved him into Major League Baseball's record books.

The home run in Game 2 of a doubleheader was his second of the game and gave him 13 total homers against the Orioles this season. The 22-year-old also hit a homer earlier in Game 1 on Monday.

The 13 dingers moved Torres into a tie with Roger Maris (1961), Joe Adcock (1956), Hank Sauer (1954) and Jimmie Foxx (1932) for second-most home runs against a team in one season in MLB history, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Only Lou Gehrig, who hit 14 homers against the Cleveland Indians in 1936, has more home runs against an opponent in one season.

"I take all the opportunities they give and then just do damage,'' Torres said after the game.

Torres also moved into a tie with Gehrig for most home runs hit against the Orioles franchise, giving the Yankees yet another record against their division rivals. The Bronx Bombers shattered the record for most homers by a team against an opponent in one season by hitting their 49th bomb against the O's last week. They've hit 10 more in parts of three games since then. The two teams will meet for the final two times this season on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said they gave Torres the "Barry Bonds treatment" by intentionally walking him in the eighth inning.

"I've known Gleyber since he was 16 or 17 years old, so maybe it's something personal that he has," Hyde joked. "He's just a really talented guy, obviously, got a ton of tools and a bright future...we're making him look like a first-ballot Hall of Famer."

The multihomer feat in Game 2 was Torres' eighth this season, tying him with Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio for the most by a Yankees player before his 23rd birthday.

Torres is batting .283 with 26 home runs and 69 RBIs this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CLEVELAND -- Indians outfielder Yasiel Puig has dropped the appeal for his three-game suspension for his involvement in a brawl when he was with Cincinnati.

Puig will begin serving his ban Monday night when the Indians, who have climbed back into a tie for first in the American League Central, open a three-game series against Boston.

Puig was disciplined for his involvement in the latest benches-clearing incident between the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates on July 30. The fracas began shortly after Puig was dealt to the Indians as part of a three-team trade that sent right-hander Trevor Bauer from Cleveland to Cincinnati.

Puig, 28, is batting .357 with one homer and six RBIs in 11 games for Cleveland. He has given the Indians an infusion of power and energy, helping their surge to catch the Minnesota Twins.

Puig is eligible for free agency after the World Series.

WASHINGTON -- The Punisher has punished again.

Cincinnati Reds rookie Aristides Aquino went deep against the Washington Nationals on Monday night, making him the first player in MLB history to hit eight home runs in his first 12 career games.

Aquino's latest blast came on a mammoth solo shot against Nats reliever Tanner Rainey. With two outs in the top of the eighth inning of Cincy's 7-6 loss, the 25-year-old Dominican native crushed a 98 mph fastball from Rainey and deposited it over the fence in right-center field, 425 feet away.

Nicknamed "The Punisher" by his brother when he was growing up, Aquino -- who appeared in one game last season -- has been pulverizing baseballs since getting called up on Aug. 1.

In 11 games since his promotion, the 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound slugger is hitting .429 with eight home runs and 16 RBIs. All eight of his roundtrippers have come in the Reds' past nine games, and he's gone yard seven times in his past six contests, a torrid streak that helped earn him National League Player of the Week honors earlier on Monday.

It's a heady start for a player who was non-tendered this past offseason, and who wasn't considered a highly regarded prospect heading into the 2019 campaign.

"I think it's the timing," Aquino said through an interpreter. "It's the perfect timing, and God has a plan. I just want to go out there and do the best that I can do."

So far, Aquino's best has been better than anything his teammates have witnessed.

"A lot of us say we've never seen anything like it, and that would explain it," Reds manager David Bell said. "It's never happened before. We've been talking about him now, and the great thing is, with the success, just the way he's handling it, just his maturity level. He's handled it with a lot of poise, and we believe in him. We believe that he's going to keep going."

Prior to getting called up, Aquino was hitting .299 with 28 homers and 53 RBIs in 78 games with Triple-A Louisville. Previously, four hitters shared the record of seven home runs in their first 12 career games. The most recent occurrence was in June of this year, when Houston Astros rookie Yordan Alvarez accomplished the feat.

Coverage from the Games in Lima, plus results from the BMC Grand Prix meeting at Stretford and Sierre-Zinal mountain race

Coverage of the European Team Championships Super League can be found here and here, while a British Masters Championships report is here.

Other recent highlights are below.

Pan-American Games, Lima, Peru, August 6-11

World champion Yulimar Rojas won the women’s triple jump with a world-leading leap of 15.11m to also break the Games and Venezuelan records. Her final attempt was a foul by around seven centimetres but she looked to have landed at around the 15.50m world record mark. Omar Craddock won the men’s title with 17.42m.

Jamaica’s double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson won the women’s 100m title in 11.18 (-0.6m/sec), while her compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the 200m title in 22.43 (-0.1 m/sec) to break the Games record.

USA’s Mike Rodgers won the men’s 100m title in 10.09 (-0.5m/sec), while Alex Quinonez of Ecuador took the men’s 200m title in 20.27 (-1.0m/sec).

Canada’s Olympic bronze medallist Damian Warner retained the decathlon title, scoring 8513 points after leading overnight with 4490. Grenada’s Lindon Victor was second with 8240. Cuba’s Adriana Rodríguez won the heptathlon with a 6113-point PB.

Cuba’s world indoor champion Juan Miguel Echevarría leapt 8.27m to take the men’s long jump title, while his compatriot Yarisley Silva claimed her third successive pole vault title after clearing 4.75m to win ahead of USA’s Katie Nageotte and Canada’s Alysha Newman.

Cuba’s Yaime Pérez won the women’s discus with a Games record of 66.58m, while Jamaica’s Fedrick Dacres retained his men’s discus title, also with a Games record of 67.68m, and Danniel Thomas-Dodd won the women’s shot put with a 19.55m Jamaican and Games record.

Grenada’s Anderson Peters broke the Games javelin record with a throw of 87.31m, while USA’s Gwen Berry claimed victory in the hammer with a throw of 74.62m.

Brazil’s Alison Alves dos Santos claimed the men’s 400m hurdles title in a South American under-20 record time of 48.45, while his team-mate Darlan Romani’s Games record of 22.07m secured him the men’s shot put title.

Canada’s Natasha Wodak won the women’s 10,000m in a Games record of 31:55.17. Natoya Goule took the women’s 800m title in 2:01.26, while her fellow Jamaican Shericka Jackson won the women’s 400m in 50.73. USA’s Nikki Hiltz won the women’s 1500m in 4:07.14.

BMC Grand Prix, Stretford, August 10

Verity Ockenden won the women’s 1500m A race in 4:12.26 from Nadia Power with 4:13.93, while Ossama Meslek claimed victory in the men’s 1500m A race in 3:43.05 from Ben Connor with 3:45.52.

Verity Ockenden wins the women 1500m A race in 4:12.26 from Nadia Power 4:13.93 and Dani Chattenton 4:15.35 pic.twitter.com/bUGcEOPq3l

— British Milers' Club (@BritishMilers) August 10, 2019

The 800m A race winners were Elliot Giles in 1:47.28 from Alex Botterill with 1:47.72 and Ellie Baker in 2:04.43 from Jacqueline Fairchild in 2:04.87.

Kieran Clements took the men’s 5000m in 14:05.64.

Sierre-Zinal, WMRA World Cup series, Switzerland, August 11

Both the men’s and women’s course records were broken for the 31km race which features 2200m of ascent and 1100m of descent.

The fifth race in the 2019 World Mountain Running Association World Cup series saw Spain’s Kilian Jornet clock 2:25:35 to gain his seventh win ahead of Petro Mamu of Eritrea (2:26:17) and USA’s Jim Walmsley (2:31:52).

GB’s Robbie Simpson was fifth (2:33:55), Andrew Douglas sixth (2:34:56) and European mountain running champion Jacob Adkin 19th (2:40:43). Douglas’ finish continues his lead in the WMRA World Cup standings.

Switzerland’s Maude Mathys won the women’s race in 2:49:20 ahead of her compatriot Judith Wyder (2:54:20) and Italy’s Silvia Rampazzo (2:56:17).

GB’s Holly Page was eighth in 3:08:21 and Charlotte Morgan 11th in 3:11:03. Ireland’s Sarah McCormack was 13th in 3:12:45 to extend her World Cup lead.