Good Morning! Today is Thursday, December 4. Here’s what happened this week in the world of sports.

NBA

I saw an article the other day titled “Will the Thunder Ever Lose?” and assumed it was hyperbole. Further investigation showed that it’s a legit question. OKC beat the Warriors on Tuesday and moved to 22-1 on the season. They are the fourth team in NBA history to win 21 of their first 22 games. And somehow they’re getting even better! All-star Jalen Williams just returned from injury, scoring 22 points in his third game of the season. Second-year guard Ajay Mitchell is averaging 15 points per game in an expanded role. Last year’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is second in the league at 32.8 points per game. It’s not just the offense– OKC is allowing 107 points per game by their opponents, the lowest number in the entire NBA. The defending champs are the favorites to repeat… and thanks to great deals made by the Clippers and Jazz, OKC might have two lottery picks to reload next season, too.

NHL

The big story on the ice this week concerns the actual ice. For the first time since Sochi 2014, NHL players will compete in the Winter Olympics. However, the rink where Olympic hockey will be played in Milan this February has a few issues. For starters, it has not yet been built. I don’t think I have to explain why that’s a problem. But even if/when the stadium is completed, the ice will be about three feet shorter than an NHL hockey rink. Usually International Hockey is played on a larger playing surface, not a smaller one. While a few feet doesn’t seem like a large difference, the quality of play could be vastly affected by less room to maneuver. Hockey people seem confident that everything will work out, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

ELSEWHERE

In the midst of his final season, NBA legend Chris Paul has been sent home by the Los Angeles Clippers. LA has started the year horribly with a 6-16 record, and apparently this was the change they decided to make. "I'm just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world," said Clippers star James Harden. "It was shocking to me. I guess they had a conversation and front office made a decision,” echoed Kawhi Leonard. CP3 can’t be traded or released for another two weeks due to salary cap and contract rules, making the situation even stranger.

Hot stove update! 2025 Korean Baseball Organization MVP Cody Ponce has signed a three-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The AL champs add yet another talented arm… the Mets are adding former Brewers and Yankees closer Devin Williams to their bullpen… World Series hero Miguel Rojas is back with the Dodgers for his final season. Rojas will transition to a front office position with LA after his playing career ends in 2026.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK

The College Football Playoff committee released their penultimate rankings. Let’s do a blind resume real quick, shall we? Here are three teams, you tell me what order they should be in:

These are the 9, 10, 11, and 12th teams in the current rankings. Team one has no bad losses and the best record, but only one top 25 win. Team two looks like the worst of the bunch, with a head-to-head loss and a losing record against top 25 teams. Team three has the best winning resume but also a big blemish with a loss against a team under .500. Team four is similar to team one, but with a crucial head-to-head victory over team two.

Did you figure it out? The teams listed, in order, are (1) BYU (2) Notre Dame (3) Alabama and (4) Miami. The CFP committee has them ranked in the following order:

9. Alabama

10. Notre Dame

11. BYU

12. Miami

So yeah, it makes zero sense why Notre Dame is the number 10 team in the country, ahead of BYU or Miami. Although it may not matter in th end, as Bama and BYU can clinch their spots in the playoff with a win in their conference championship games this weekend. Poor Miami, however, is left out in the cold, as the ACC tiebreaker scenarios pushed 7-5 Duke into the spotlight over the more-deserving Hurricanes.

SHOUTOUT!

Highly recommend this great article about the potential upcoming MLB expansion:

THIS WEEKEND’S BIG GAMES (all times Eastern)

THURSDAY:

• Cowboys @ Lions, 8:15 PM on Prime

FRIDAY:

• FIFA World Cup Draw, Noon on Fox

• Lakers @ Celtics, 7 PM on Prime

• (11) Gonzaga @ (18) Kentucky, 7 PM on ESPN2

• SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP: Troy vs (25) James Madison, 7 PM on ESPN

• AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP: (24) North Texas vs (20) Tulane, 8 PM on ABC

SATURDAY:

• (10) Iowa State @ (1) Purdue, Noon on CBS

• (4) Duke @ (7) Michigan State, Noon on Fox

• BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP: (11) BYU vs (4) Texas Tech, Noon on ABC

• (6) Louisville @ (22) Indiana, 2 PM on CBS

• SEC CHAMPIONSHIP: (3) Georgia vs (9) Alabama, 4 PM on ABC

• BIG 10 CHAMPIONSHIP: (2) Indiana vs (1) Ohio State, 8 PM on Fox

• ACC CHAMPIONSHIP: Duke vs (17) Virginia, 8 PM on ABC

SUNDAY:

• Colts @ Jaguars, 1 PM on CBS

• Steelers @ Ravens, 1 PM on CBS

• Bears @ Packers, 4:25 PM on Fox

• Texans @ Chiefs, 8:20 PM on NBC

End quote. Have a day!

Have a wonderful weekend! See you on Monday