Giannis Antetokounmpo caught the ball just inside the halfcourt line at Fiserv Forum, and then took seven steps to just one dribble before scoring a basket over New York Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns.

Nobody noticed what the Milwaukee Bucks superstar had pulled off live during the national NBC broadcast on Tuesday, Oct. 28, as the Bucks played host to the Knicks in an early-season NBA matchup. But a slow-motion replay revealed a sequence that would quickly inspire the latest social media debate about whether the best basketball league in the world actually calls traveling anymore.

‘We could have played til we were 50, if we get that runway,’ Reggie Miller said to fellow NBC analyst and former NBA player Jamal Crawford as they laughed and counted the steps on air.

But Antetokounmpo did not get called for traveling and NBC’s Mike Tirico explained on the broadcast to an incredulous Miller the non-call might have been the correct call given the way the NBA’s ‘gather rule’ is written. It became the highlight shared around the internet on a night when the Bucks secured a 121-111 win behind 37 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists from Antetokounmpo against the team that had trade talks about him this past offseason.

Here’s a breakdown of the gather rule, how it applies to Antetokounmpo’s travel/non-travel against the Knicks and some of the best reactions to Antetokounmpo’s one-dribble foray to the basket:

What is the NBA’s gather rule?

The actual act of ‘the gather,’ is defined in two ways by the NBA in Section II of its official rules. For a player who receives the ball via a pass or gains possession of a loose ball, the gather is defined as ‘the point where the player gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or the player cradles the ball against his body.’

For a player who is in control of the ball while dribbling, the gather is defined as the point where a player does any one of the following:

Puts two hands on the ball, or otherwise permits the ball to come to rest, while he is in control of it.
Puts a hand under the ball and brings it to a pause;
Otherwise gains enough control of the ball to hold it, change hands, pass, shoot, or the player cradles the ball against his body.

In Antetokounmpo’s case, latter definition of ‘the gather’ applies because it occurred while he was in control of the ball and dribbling, even if just one time. Furthermore, Section XIII of the NBA rules state ‘a player who gathers the ball while progressing may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.’

How NBA gather rule applies to Giannis Antetokounmpo play

Though Antetokounmpo took five steps after his lone dribble on the play, the non-travel argument would be that his ‘gather’ didn’t technically start until he put his left hand on the ball. He only took two steps after that.

‘The counting starts when he can’t dribble anymore, so that ball is laying on his hand, he can put it down one more time,’ Tirico said on the broadcast to an unconvinced Miller. ‘Alright look, Reg, don’t look at me. I don’t write the rules. I just read them to you, pal. I didn’t say that that wasn’t (traveling). I’m just saying that’s what it is.’

Best Giannis Antetokounmpo reactions

Miller was among those to make light of the situation, and crack jokes playing off the ambiguity of the rule. ‘There’s going to be some kid in Oshkosh, Wisconsin now going to their local gym yelling, I’m doing the gather,’ Miller said.

Here are some more of the compelling reactions around social media after the highlight of Antetokounmpo’s non-travel went viral:

Crosby appeared to suffer an injury to his head and/or neck area while trying to make a tackle in the third quarter of the Bobcats’ matchup against James Madison. Crosby ran into a teammate’s backside and fell to the turf, where he lay motionless for several moments.

Trainers ran to the field to look at Crosby, with both teams kneeling in front of a silent crowd at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Texas. Crosby was eventually placed on a stretcher to be taken off the field. He gave a thumbs up as he exited the field.

Crosby was taken to Seton Medical Center for further evaluation, according to the ESPN2 broadcast. Following the Texas State 52-20 loss to James Madison, Bobcats coach GJ Kinne did not have any immediate updates.

‘I know the team is really worried about him,’ Kinne said. ‘Prayed for him afterward in the locker room, just praying that he’s OK.’

Here’s the latest on Crosby’s injury:

Bobby Crosby injury updates

A representative from Texas State told USA TODAY Sports that Crosby was released from the hospital early on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Crosby began his collegiate career at the junior college level at Cisco College (Cisco, Texas) before transferring to Texas State in 2023. He played a reserve role the last two seasons for the Bobcats but took on a larger role this season.

He has 39 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and two pass deflections this season for Texas State across eight games.

We’re nearly ready to use that college football ‘D’ word again. This time, for Ohio State. Dynasty.
Ryan Day recruits, and he develops. He also pumps out great quarterbacks.
Buckeyes blessed with enviable resources, and Ryan Day delivers ROI.

Dust off the ‘D’ word. Give it a shine.

We’re nearly ready to use it again. The beast Ryan Day’s building at Ohio State bears all the markers of a dynasty.

Yep, I said it.

The pundits telling you dynasties are dead in this new age of parity must have forgotten Ohio State, or they simply don’t want to acknowledge what the No. 1 Buckeyes have cooking.

Down in Texas, coach Steve Sarkisian insisted the undefeated teams of yore were the last of their kind.

Speak for yourself, Sark, because Day knows what he’s doing with his five-star quarterback, the one who’s not named Manning. Oh, and that Ohio State defense? It’s what Texas’ was supposed to be.

Dynasties are like thunderstorms. They don’t tend to sneak up on you, so long as you keep an eye out. You can see them rolling in from the horizon.

If you don’t detect the thunderclap building in Ohio, it’s because you wish to ignore it. The Buckeyes are winners of 11 straight, dating to last season. They’re a threat to become college football’s first 16-0 team.

What’s Ohio State’s cumulative scoring margin during this win streak?

Buckeyes 400, opponents 116.

That’s lightning and thunder, a show of force that points to college football’s next dynasty rolling in.

Ohio State has dynasty ingredients with Ryan Day

Here’s what you need to build a dynasty in this era:

1. Money. Ohio State’s got plenty. Investment doesn’t guarantee a championship, but it gives you a chance. No pauper will hoist the big prize in the pay-to-play era. Ohio State’s got the backing to sign premier recruiting classes while also cherry-picking transfers.

2. Recruiting. Championships are won with five-star Jimmies and four-star Joes. NIL didn’t make Day a great recruiter. He’d already established his chops in that arena. He’s never signed a class that ranked outside the top five nationally.

3. Quarterback development. Day really shines here. Urban Meyer brought Day, a former NFL quarterbacks coach, onto his staff for his expertise coaching the game’s most important position. He’s shepherded one superb quarterback after another, from Dwayne Haskins to Justin Fields to C.J. Stroud to Will Howard to now Julian Sayin, who’s completing 80% of his passes as a first-year starter. If you have a quarterback, you have a chance. Day’s always got one.

4. Developing recruits into pros. It’s not enough to sign talented recruits. A coach and his staff must get players to perform to their recruiting billing. Day’s doing fine in this area. Fourteen Buckeyes were selected in this past NFL draft. More first-rounders are on the way.

5. Making good staff hires. Recruiting became Nick Saban’s super skill during his dynasty. He also was a maestro of motivation. Another ace up Saban’s sleeve? He went on a tremendous run of hiring good coordinators. Now, check out Day. He had a great pairing last year with Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles. Lost ’em both. Replaced them by promoting Brian Hartline and hiring Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes haven’t skipped a beat. No coach can build a dynasty if success hinges on the retention of a particular coordinator. If he loses a good one, hire a better one.

Ryan Day delivers return on investment

Two persistent criticisms follow Day, even as his .885 career winning percentage trumps that of Knute Rockne.

No. 1: He can’t beat Michigan. Fair criticism. He’s 1-4 against Michigan, including an inexplicable loss last year. Saban won six national titles during a 12-year stretch from 2009-20. He also went 8-4 during the Iron Bowl in that same span.

No. 2: He benefits from a resource and talent advantage. Yeah, so what? Ohio State’s the revenue king, but it’s not as if it rules in a land of the destitute. Oregon’s got Nike money. Michigan’s got Oracle money. Curt Cignetti’s galvanized Indiana’s huge alumni base, and he’s gotten into Mark Cuban’s wallet.

James Franklin and Brian Kelly went splat despite coaching well-heeled programs. Sarkisian is doing less with more with his 2025 Longhorns. So, I’d call Day’s ability to deliver return on investment a feature, not a bug.

Saban achieved his dynasty by assembling unmatchable talent. Then, Kirby Smart replicated that move. They weren’t winning national titles with a team of three-star Dandy Dans. You build dynasties by signing and developing guys who’ll play on Sundays. Day does that.

The Buckeyes’ robust roster payroll creates the avenue for an advantage. It does not guarantee the type of dominance Ohio State’s achieved lately. Check out Texas using its war chest to build a team that needed overtime to survive Kentucky and Mississippi State.

The luster of this weekend’s Penn State-Ohio State matchup is gone, because only one coach delivered ROI, while the other got swallowed whole by the expectations.

The only silver lining for Penn State fans? They won’t have to watch Franklin wilt against Day for the seventh consecutive season.

“They really have a nothing-to-lose mentality,” Day said of facing four-loss Penn State. “We have to be at high alert.”

When speeding toward a dynasty, it sure helps if you can resist rat poison and navigate past trap games.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

The NFL trade deadline is where expectations rarely meet reality.

It’s just the nature of the sport, but everyone usually walks away looking for more. Perhaps that’s a societal thing, where material items reign supreme and nothing is ever good enough. Maybe it’s sheer ambition or just pure selfishness.

Some teams will make an aggressive move ahead of the deadline, looking to acquire a game-changer that catapults them to becoming true Super Bowl contenders. Others will say they’re going for it, while their actions say otherwise.

The trade deadline might not stack up to the NBA or MLB version, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream of a more perfect world. Here are five trades that contenders should make ahead of the deadline.

NFL trade ideas for Super Bowl contenders

Bengals trade EDGE Trey Hendrickson to Eagles

Last season might’ve been magical for the Eagles, but this season has given us a peek behind the curtain. Teams aren’t falling for those tricks anymore and every game for Philly feels like a struggle. The passing attack has been inconsistent and the pass rush has been nonexistent.

For the most part, those solutions are in-house for the Eagles. The pass rush still needs work though and getting Brandon Graham to come out of retirement isn’t enough.

Trey Hendrickson wants to remain in Cincinnati on a long-term deal; however, history indicates that he has a better chance of landing on the moon than getting that contract from the Bengals. There is still time to work something out, but the more realistic move is to trade him before the deadline. Philly has a need for someone like Hendrickson and Howie Roseman is known for his aggressive moves.

Saints trade WR Chris Olave to Bills

As currently constructed, it’s hard to envision Buffalo as a Super Bowl contender. They have issues on defense and a desperate need at receiver. While Josh Allen and James Cook are enough to win in the regular season, that won’t be enough to get past the Chiefs – or even the Colts at this point. Keon Coleman hasn’t emerged as the WR1 that Buffalo had hoped for and they can’t afford to keep waiting around.

Jets trade RB Breece Hall to Chiefs

It doesn’t seem like the Jets are going to re-sign their star running back and Breece Hall’s need for a change of scenery remains evident. New York’s offense is designed to make players like Hall a focal point. Opposing defenses know that and the Jets don’t have enough talent elsewhere to keep them honest.

That wouldn’t be a problem for running back-needy Kansas City. It would give Patrick Mahomes a level of talent in the backfield that he hasn’t played with, forcing teams to defend a lethal passing attack and a much-improved running game. The Chargers also make sense, but the Chiefs’ offense could reach new heights with someone like Hall.

Raiders trade WR Jakobi Meyers to Buccaneers

The Raiders’ apparent plan for a competitive rebuild has failed miserably in a division already loaded with talent. Luckily for Vegas, they didn’t bet too much on this season being a success and now have a reason to tear it down to the studs. That starts with Jakobi Meyers, who requested a trade during the offseason after contract talks didn’t progress.

He has continued to express a desire to leave Sin City and Tampa might be the best fit. The Buccaneers can’t escape injuries at receiver this season, recently losing Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. It’s worth noting that the Raiders general manager, John Spytek, was hired out of the Buccaneers’ organization after being with the team since 2016. While many focus their attention on the more receiver-needy teams, this connection makes too much sense to ignore.

Saints trade WR Rashid Shaheed to Patriots

Timelines are a funny thing in the NFL. New England was supposed to take a step in the right direction in 2025, but instead, they are competing for the AFC East crown halfway through the season. That means the need for a receiver is moving up the priority list.

Drake Maye has been thriving with a core that doesn’t necessarily stack up against the other contenders. Stefon Diggs is a nice piece, but Rashid Shaheed would add some serious speed element to the room as one of the league’s best deep threats. Shaheed is also set to be a free agent after the season. New England can get ahead of some offseason work and solidify its receiver room for at least this season – and potentially beyond.

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was facing an $8 million tax lien around the same time he allegedly pulled himself from a 2023 NBA game that’s currently the focal point of an FBI gambling investigation, ESPN reported Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Court records obtained by ESPN in Broward County, Florida, show the Internal Revenue Service filed the $8,218,211 federal income tax lien against Rozier in November 2023.

Rozier has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in an indictment released last week by a federal court in New York. He’s accused of being part of an illegal betting scheme by alerting gamblers he intended to fake an injury in order to make money off a prop bet related to his performance in a March 23, 2023, game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans.

Justice Department officials allege that more than $200,000 was bet on Rozier’s ‘under’ game totals in several statistical categories.

Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, said in a statement to USA TODAY that his client is ‘not a gambler’ and he ‘looks forward to winning this fight.’

ESPN also uncovered records from Broward County showing a construction lien filed against Rozier in August 2022 for about $271,000 for a variety of work being done on Rozier’s $5.3 million property there. The records show $250,000 was paid by July 2023.

Rozier was one of 34 people indicted in two related gambling scandals that rocked the sports world last week.

The investigation also snared Portland Trail Blazers coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and coach Damon Jones, who are accused of participating in a scheme to rig illegal poker games.

The NBA has placed Rozier and Billups on ‘immediate leave’ as the league continues to cooperate with law enforcement officials in the investigation.

The Thunder, just months removed from their first NBA title since relocating to Oklahoma City, are the first team to five victories.
The Warriors already have big wins against the Lakers, Nuggets and Clippers.
The Bulls, 76ers and Spurs, non-playoff teams last season, are all undefeated.

The first week of the NBA season is in the books and, already, the balance of power has started to shift – at least everywhere but the top.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, just months removed from their first NBA tittle since relocating from Seattle, are the first team to five victories and look very much like a threat to become the first team to repeat as champions since 2018.

But there have been surprises in the middle of the pack, where teams like the Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs – each of whom missed the postseason last year – are all undefeated.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 1 of the 2025-26 regular season:

NBA power rankings — Week 1

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (5-0)

Last week: 1st

2. Golden State Warriors (4-1)

They did lose an unexpected game to the Trail Blazers, but the Warriors otherwise have massive wins against the Lakers, Nuggets and Clippers, the last of which came as Stephen Curry struggled from 3, hitting just 2-of-8 attempts.

Last week: 11th  

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (3-1)

Their offensive production hasn’t quite been what it was last season – the Cavs posted an NBA-best offensive rating of 121.0 last year and are at 114.1 through four games – but Cleveland’s 21-point victory over the Pistons on the road showed what it can do on both ends.

Last week: 5th

4. Denver Nuggets (2-1)

Aaron Gordon has had a monster start this season, but Denver blew its late lead against the Warriors, and Nikola Jokić has struggled from deep to start the season, shooting just 12.5% from 3.

Last week: 2nd 

5. New York Knicks (2-2)

The Knicks had looked like a legitimate contender in the East before losses to the Heat (in which they gave up 31 fast break points) and the Bucks (in which they scored just 40 second-half points) knocked them back a bit. New York is still every bit a threat, but it might need some time to settle under new coach Mike Brown.

Last week: 4th

6. San Antonio Spurs (4-0)

If Victor Wembanyama keeps this pace, he’ll be firmly in the MVP conversation. More importantly for the Spurs, his defense has completely altered the way teams play San Antonio, which has the NBA’s best net rating (+15.6). Still, the competition the Spurs have faced hasn’t been the toughest.

Last week: 14th

7. Houston Rockets (1-2)

They lost their first two games of the season, but they came against the defending champion Thunder and a very good Pistons team. And those losses were by five combined points. Still, with Fred VanVleet out for the season, the point guard position is showing it may be an issue.

Last week: 3rd

8. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-2)

The defense, surprisingly, has been the weak spot, and players have bemoaned effort as the culprit. Things may get a little worse, at least in the short term; star guard Anthony Edwards has been dealing with a hamstring tweak and may miss some time.

Last week: 7th

9. Milwaukee Bucks (3-1)

Giannis Antetokounmpo is on a mission, averaging 36.3 points per game through four. He’s playing hyper-efficient ball, helping the Bucks erase a 14-point, second quarter deficit Tuesday against the Knicks.

Last week: 16th

10. Los Angeles Clippers (2-2)

It was a bad sign when the Jazz beat the brakes off of the Clippers in the opener, but Los Angeles officially has a turnover problem. They rank dead last in turnover rate, committing one nearly every five possessions.

Last week: 6th

11. Los Angeles Lakers (2-2)

They’re already dealing with injuries to their two biggest players, though the issues facing LeBron James (sciatica) and Luka Dončić (finger, leg) appear to be minor. Austine Reaves’ scoring has picked up, but is it enough to keep L.A. afloat?

Last week: 8th

12. Detroit Pistons (2-2)

Not having Malik Beasley and a slow start to Duncan Robinson’s perimeter shooting has Detroit’s deep game struggling. Ausar Thompson has shined with Jaden Ivey (knee) out, but the Pistons need more offense.

Last week: 10th

13. Philadelphia 76ers (4-0)

They have found something in rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, who has paired excellently with Tyrese Maxey. The best news for Philadelphia is that its solid play has come with Joel Embiid mostly limited. The bad news is that Embiid is still dealing with health issues, though his 25-point showing Tuesday was a positive development.

Last week: 20th

14. Chicago Bulls (3-0)

Arguably the most surprising undefeated team, the Bulls have relied on defense – both in the paint and along the perimeter – to pick up some big wins. Chicago beat the Pistons, Magic and Hawks, each of whom are expected to contend for playoff spots in the East, and have the NBA’s second-best defensive rating (104.4).

Last week: 19th

15. Miami Heat (3-1)

The Heat have completely revamped their offense, pushing tempo and spreading the ball. Miami leads the NBA in pace, generating 109.13 possessions per 48 minutes and is tied with the Grizzlies for bench points per game (53.3).

Last week: 21st

16. Memphis Grizzlies (2-2)

Cedric Coward has shown, thus far, that Memphis will be thrilled with its decision to trade Desmond Bane. Still, the Grizzlies rank 23rd in defensive rating (117.6) and gave up 146 to the Heat.

Last week: 15th

17. Boston Celtics (1-3)

They started the season 0-3 and lost two of those games after they held double-digit leads. Boston has struggled in second quarters and is clearly missing the injured Jayson Tatum, as well Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis, the latter two of whom the Celtics traded. Wednesday night’s test against the Cavaliers will be telling.

Last week: 9th

18. Atlanta Hawks (1-3)

After an excellent offseason, Atlanta’s slow start should be measured with caution; the Hawks have already faced chaos in their lineup with injuries. Trae Young is tied for third in assists per game (9.5) and the Hawks should stabilize once everyone is on the floor.

Last week: 17th

19. Dallas Mavericks (1-3)

No. 1 overall rookie Cooper Flagg got banged up Monday night and had his worst game, arguably, in years, scoring only 2 points. The struggle has been the offense. The Mavericks rank dead last in offensive rating (103.8), and the experiment of having Flagg play point guard while Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL is off to a rough start.

Last week: 18th

20. Orlando Magic (1-3)

Arguably the most disappointing team to start the season, the Magic still cannot hit 3 pointers. Desmond Bane, a career 40.9% shooter from beyond the arc, is hitting 3s at just a 27.3% clip. Paolo Banchero has also struggled to find his rhythm, converting shots at just a 39.4% rate.

Last week: 13th

21. Toronto Raptors (1-3)

On a three-game losing streak after winning their opener against the Hawks, the Raptors have been pushing tempo, but Toronto is stuck playing an old-fashioned style not suited to the modern game; the Raptors rank just 27th in 3-point attempts per game (29.3).

Last week: 22nd

22. Indiana Pacers (0-3)

Indiana simply won’t be able to overcome injuries like this. It’s not only Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell are all banged up already.

Last week: 12th

23.  Portland Trail Blazers (2-2)

Facing the fallout from having their head coach indicted and arrested on a federal gambling probe, the Trail Blazers have bounced back nicely. They are aggressive on defense and force a lot of turnovers and they even played the Timberwolves and Clippers tough, losing both by 11 combined points.

Last week: 26th

24. Utah Jazz (2-1)

The sample size is tiny, but the Jazz might be a tougher out than people expect. They rank fifth in offensive rating (120.5), 13th in defensive rating (113.4) and fifth in net rating (+7.1).

Last week: 30th

25. Charlotte Hornets (2-2)

This feels like a team that has evolved. There’s much more shooting, and LaMelo Ball, while still prone to the mental blunder, has become more efficient, seeing a 6.5% jump in his effective field goal percentage (55.9%).

Last week: 29th

26. Phoenix Suns (1-3)

Blowout losses against the Clippers and Nuggets showed just how far this team is from competing for a playoff spot.

Last week: 24th

27. New Orleans Pelicans (0-3)

Though they haven’t won a game yet, their losses against the Grizzlies and Spurs were close. Zion Williamson is back to attacking the paint, but it seems like coach Willie Green is still tinkering with lineups.

Last week: 27th

28. Sacramento Kings (1-3)

This is a roster that does have some talent, but the lineup combinations don’t seem to make much sense at all. Eight different players have already made at least one start.

Last week: 23rd

29. Washington Wizards (1-3)

They held a 19-point lead and led through much of the game Tuesday night against the 76ers, but blew the lead and the game. Alex Sarr looks like a bright spot, but that seemingly won’t be enough.

Last week: 25th

30. Brooklyn Nets (0-4)

The Nets look like a team headed for a long – very long – season. They rank dead last in net rating, with an abysmal -16.3 mark and are allowing teams to score 130.5 points per game.

Last week: 28th

How will this year’s World Series play out? Using the Dynasty League Baseball online simulation, USA TODAY Sports’ Steve Gardner and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will pre-play each game to provide some insight into the key matchups and strategy fans can expect to see in the Fall Classic.

One thing we know about the 2025 World Series is that it’s going back to Toronto. However, that wasn’t a done deal as the teams prepared for Sim Series Game 5.

The virtual Blue Jays were seemingly playing with house money after winning the first two games at Dodger Stadium. But the home team wasn’t going to fold, especially with veteran ace Blake Snell on the mound against 22-year-old Trey Yesavage. Meanwhile, all eyes were on each team’s biggest star hitter, both of whom have been struggling at the plate the entire series.

Dodgers vs Blue Jays Game 5 simulation

When he took the mound in Toronto earlier in the Sim Series, Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage looked like an overmatched rookie, walking six of the 10 batters he faced in the first inning and giving up five runs. Yesavage was much more comfortable in his second start as his teammates staked him to an early lead on Daulton Varsho’s RBI single in the second inning.

The Dodgers pulled even with a two-out rally in the third. With runners at first and second, Freddie Freeman drilled a liner back up the middle that Yesavage couldn’t flag as Andy Pages came around to score.

In the fourth inning, Dodger third baseman Max Muncy launched a Yesavage fastball 448 feet to dead center to put L.A. in front 2-1. But the lead was short-lived as the Jays staged a two-out rally of their own when Addison Barger reached on an infield single and Andres Gimenez doubled him home.

The back-and-forth lead changes would be a recurring theme throughout Game 5.

The Dodgers’ Pages led off the fifth with a home run to even the score. Vladimir Guerrero, who to that point was hitting just .105 in the series, hit a one-out double in the sixth and scored on Varsho’s two-run double as the Jays moved back in front. The Dodgers retied the game on Will Smith’s leadoff homer in the eighth as the tension continued to mount.

In the bottom of the ninth, with Louis Varland on the mound for the Jays, Pages struck again with a one-out double. That brought up Shohei Ohtani –hitting just .188 in the series, but still extremely dangerous in clutch situation. Of course, Toronto intentionally walked him to face Mookie Betts. The just-named Roberto Clemente Award winner calmly ripped a single to left and Pages sprinted home with the winning run.

BOX SCORE: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 4

FULL PLAY-BY-PLAY: Betts walks it off for Dodgers in ninth

Blue Jays vs Dodgers Game 5 projections, analysis

So what does our simulation tell us about what we can expect when the real Game 5 takes place?

Battle of the bullpens: Another close game comes down to the Dodgers having the home-field advantage in Game 5. Whether it’s the bottom of the ninth (or the bottom of the 18th), the home team just has to push across that go-ahead run and the game is over. Louis Varland has probably been the Blue Jays’ most consistent reliever (and certainly the most consistently used). He’s the guy they want out there with the game on the line … It’s just that the Dodgers have so many ways to beat you. In Sim Series Game 5, Betts got the job done with his one-out RBI single. If he hadn’t, however, clutch hitters Freddie Freeman and Will Smith were right behind him.
Reins on the rookie: The biggest question for Toronto is how far to push Yesavage as he makes his second trip through the Dodger lineup. The scales tip significantly toward the hitters when facing a starting pitcher for a third time in a game. In Sim Series Game 5, Yesavage gave up a game-tying homer to No. 9 hitter Pages to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth – just before the lineup turned over for a third time.
Dodgers’ lefty bats struggling: Though Ohtani is having a phenomenal postseason, especially at Dodger Stadium, he’s slumped in the Sim Series. In fact the Dodgers’ three big left-handed sluggers are all hitting under .200 through five games.

Ohtani is at .188 with one extra-base hit
Freeman is at .143 with a homer and three RBI
Muncy is at .158 with two of his three hits home runs

Yesavage vs. LHB: Those three lefty hitters could be the key to L.A. taking an early lead. Yesavage held left-handed batters to a .161/.257/.194 line over his three starts with Toronto during the regular season. (Though he did give up a home run to the Mariners’ Josh Naylor in the ALCS.) Yesavage’s final line in Sim Series Game 5: 4 ⅔ IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K.
Vlad Jr. breaks out: It’s been a difficult Sim Series as well for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., similar to what he was experiencing in the actual World Series – until his huge home run off Ohtani in Game 4. Vlad was hitting just .110 in the Sim Series before igniting the Jays’ sixth-inning rally in Game 5. He added another single his next time up so perhaps that gets him going.
Snell gets the whiffs: Toronto was the hardest team in the majors to strike out during the regular season. Dodgers starter Blake Snell has the highest strikeout rate in major league history (11.2 K/9) among pitchers who’ve thrown 1,000 innings. In our Game 5, Snell whiffed 10 batters in six innings, but he also gave up seven hits and four earned runs.

Previous 2025 Sim Series results

Game 1: Blue Jays 9, Dodgers 1
Game 2: Dodgers 12, Blue Jays 3
Game 3: Blue Jays 5, Dodgers 4
Game 4: Blue Jays 3, Dodgers 1