Sports Scores October 21, 2026: Dream Takes Finals Lead, Lakers Roll

Results are current through 2:50 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

The sports scores from October 21, 2026, produced a championship shift in Atlanta, an emphatic Lakers opener and a historic result in women’s gymnastics. The Atlanta Dream routed Golden State to take a 2-1 WNBA Finals lead. Meanwhile, Luka Dončić and Walker Kessler powered Los Angeles past Golden State on the NBA’s busiest opening-night slate.

Elsewhere, Como stunned Manchester United in the Champions League, Forge FC became the first Canadian Premier League club to win the Voyageurs Cup, and China narrowly ended the United States women’s long world team-title run.

WNBA Finals: Dream 97, Valkyries 71

Atlanta controlled Game 3 from the opening minutes and pulled away with a 23-9 surge after Golden State briefly drew even in the third quarter. As a result, the Dream lead the best-of-seven championship series 2-1.

Angel Reese finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Rhyne Howard scored 16 and Naz Hillmon added 15. Atlanta shot 49.3 percent, recorded 26 assists and committed only eight turnovers. By contrast, Golden State shot 34.8 percent and turned the ball over 15 times. Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 15 points.

WNBA Star of the Game: Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream — 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Series status: Atlanta leads 2-1. Game 4 is Saturday, October 24, at State Farm Arena.

NBA opening night: Lakers, Raptors and Trail Blazers make statements

Los Angeles Lakers 127, Golden State Warriors 105

Dončić scored 28 points with eight rebounds and seven assists, while Kessler delivered 26 points on perfect 12-for-12 shooting in his Lakers debut. Los Angeles broke the game open by winning the third quarter 36-16. Austin Reaves added 23 points, and Stephen Curry led Golden State with 23.

Atlanta Hawks 132, Orlando Magic 125

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 31 points and buried two late 3-pointers after Orlando had pulled within one. Jalen Johnson added 20 points and 14 rebounds. Paolo Banchero answered with 35 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists for the Magic.

Washington Wizards 128, Milwaukee Bucks 116

Anthony Davis scored 34 points in his Washington debut, and Trae Young supplied 20 points and 13 assists. Moreover, the Wizards used a decisive fourth-quarter run and dominated the paint. Tyler Herro led Milwaukee with 24 points and nine assists.

Charlotte Hornets 110, Brooklyn Nets 103

Charlotte newcomers made the difference. Grayson Allen scored 21 off the bench, while Naz Reid posted 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Julius Randle scored 33 in his Brooklyn debut, but the Nets could not erase Charlotte’s fourth-quarter cushion.

Toronto Raptors 135, Chicago Bulls 92

Kawhi Leonard, Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes scored 23 points apiece as Toronto led from start to finish. The Raptors forced 27 turnovers and held a 34-13 advantage in fast-break points. Consequently, Chicago never threatened after falling behind 43-23 in the first quarter.

Minnesota Timberwolves 131, Miami Heat 106

Anthony Edwards poured in 45 points, hit nine 3-pointers and grabbed 10 rebounds. LaMelo Ball added 21 points in his Minnesota debut. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 in his first game for Miami, but the Timberwolves led by 28 when Edwards exited late.

Indiana Pacers 123, New Orleans Pelicans 120

Pascal Siakam scored 30, and Tyrese Haliburton returned from an Achilles injury with 23 points and 12 assists. Indiana closed with enough defense to survive missed late chances by Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Fears. Williamson finished with 22 points.

Memphis Grizzlies 123, Utah Jazz 103

Ty Jerome set a career high with 45 points and broke Memphis’ franchise record for scoring in a season opener. He shot 17-for-25 and added seven rebounds and six assists. Memphis also outrebounded Utah 55-38 and led by as many as 27.

Houston Rockets 128, Dallas Mavericks 110

Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 points each as Houston built a 32-point halftime lead. Fred VanVleet returned with 11 assists, and Alperen Şengün contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds. Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg scored a game-high 32 in his debut.

Portland Trail Blazers 124, Phoenix Suns 83

Damian Lillard made six 3-pointers and scored 25 in his first game in nearly 18 months. Portland opened with 21 unanswered points and eventually led by 52. Deni Avdija had 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Devin Booker scored 23 for Phoenix.

Los Angeles Clippers 121, Sacramento Kings 96

Darius Garland scored 30 points, and Brook Lopez added 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Clippers opened with a 41-point first quarter and controlled the second half to finish a wire-to-wire victory.

NHL: Flyers win third straight; Senators spoil Tkachuk’s return

Philadelphia Flyers 3, Buffalo Sabres 1

Cole Knuble scored the first two goals of his NHL career in only his second game, lifting Philadelphia to its third consecutive victory. In addition, goaltender Dan Vladař stopped all 16 Buffalo shots in the opening period and protected the lead from there.

Ottawa Senators 5, Florida Panthers 1

Brady Tkachuk scored a power-play goal in his emotional return to Ottawa, but his former team answered with five consecutive goals. Tim Stützle and Stephen Halliday each recorded a goal and an assist as the Senators snapped Florida’s three-game winning streak.

Champions League: Como routs Manchester United

Como delivered the day’s biggest European shock with a 4-1 victory over Manchester United. Nico Paz scored twice and added an assist. Real Madrid also won 4-1, beating RB Leipzig behind goals from Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Kylian Mbappé and Yan Diomande.

Meanwhile, Declan Rice’s late goal rescued Arsenal in a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich. Elsewhere, Galatasaray beat Lille 4-2; Aston Villa defeated Viking 3-1; Club Brugge shut out Lens 3-0; Inter edged Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 despite finishing with 10 men; Real Betis beat Feyenoord 1-0; and LASK stunned Sporting 3-2.

Soccer: Forge FC wins historic Canadian title

Forge FC and CF Montréal finished level after regulation before Forge won the Canadian Championship final 4-2 on penalties. Goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud stopped three penalty kicks. Therefore, Forge became the first Canadian Premier League club to lift the Voyageurs Cup and qualified for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.

In MLS regular-season play, FC Cincinnati beat D.C. United 2-1. David Doudera and Teenage Hadebe scored their first Cincinnati goals, while the defense blocked four of D.C.’s six second-half shots.

College football: New Mexico State 30, Sam Houston 24

New Mexico State earned the only completed FBS victory Wednesday, beating Sam Houston by six in Conference USA play. No AP Top 25 or Power Four football games were completed during the reporting window.

World gymnastics: China edges United States for gold

China won the women’s team world championship with 165.764 points, narrowly beating the United States at 165.531. Qiu Qiyuan clinched the title on floor exercise after China had excelled on balance beam. Japan earned bronze with 164.063.

The result gave China its first women’s world team title since 2006 and handed the United States its first defeat in the event since 2010. China, the United States and Japan also secured team berths for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

October 21 sports scores at a glance

WNBA Finals

• Atlanta Dream 97, Golden State Valkyries 71 — Atlanta leads series 2-1

NBA

• Washington Wizards 128, Milwaukee Bucks 116
• Atlanta Hawks 132, Orlando Magic 125
• Charlotte Hornets 110, Brooklyn Nets 103
• Toronto Raptors 135, Chicago Bulls 92
• Minnesota Timberwolves 131, Miami Heat 106
• Indiana Pacers 123, New Orleans Pelicans 120
• Memphis Grizzlies 123, Utah Jazz 103
• Houston Rockets 128, Dallas Mavericks 110
• Portland Trail Blazers 124, Phoenix Suns 83
• Los Angeles Lakers 127, Golden State Warriors 105
• Los Angeles Clippers 121, Sacramento Kings 96

NHL

• Philadelphia Flyers 3, Buffalo Sabres 1
• Ottawa Senators 5, Florida Panthers 1

UEFA Champions League

• Como 4, Manchester United 1
• Galatasaray 4, Lille 2
• Aston Villa 3, Viking 1
• Bayern Munich 2, Arsenal 2
• Club Brugge 3, Lens 0
• Inter Milan 1, Shakhtar Donetsk 0
• Real Betis 1, Feyenoord 0
• Real Madrid 4, RB Leipzig 1
• LASK 3, Sporting 2

North American soccer

• Forge FC 1, CF Montréal 1 — Forge won 4-2 on penalties, Canadian Championship final
• FC Cincinnati 2, D.C. United 1

College football

• New Mexico State 30, Sam Houston 24

World Artistic Gymnastics

• Women’s team final: China 165.764, United States 165.531, Japan 164.063

Relevant standings and series status

WNBA Finals

• Atlanta Dream: leads 2-1
• Golden State Valkyries: trails 1-2

NBA teams that opened 1-0

• Atlanta Hawks: 1-0
• Charlotte Hornets: 1-0
• Houston Rockets: 1-0
• Indiana Pacers: 1-0
• Los Angeles Clippers: 1-0
• Los Angeles Lakers: 1-0
• Memphis Grizzlies: 1-0
• Minnesota Timberwolves: 1-0
• Portland Trail Blazers: 1-0
• Toronto Raptors: 1-0
• Washington Wizards: 1-0

Principal sources

• NBA official schedule and scores
• WNBA official postseason coverage
• NHL official scoreboard
• UEFA Champions League fixtures and results
• Canada Soccer Canadian Championship
• World Gymnastics official results