Western Conference Finals
It has the making of a great script. A city that shines bright with stars of the entertainment and sports variety. Said city has two NBA teams, and the less popular one outlasts the Homecoming King (see what I did there?) in the playoffs. Yet they keep going down 0-2 and giving their fans heart palpitations but come back to win their playoff series.
Here’s where we go from hypothetical to reality. Last night, the Los Angeles Clippers entered Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals down, you guessed it, 0-2, to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns got re-enforcements in the form of Chris Paul, and the Clippers still had to manage without Kawhi Leonard, while also coming off a heartbreaking Game 2 loss.
But no worries. Game 3 is where these Clippers shine, and shine they did. Behind Paul George and his 27 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, the Clippers beat the Suns, 106-92. But there’s no “I” in Playoff P (let’s just go with it), and it was a team effort from his supporting cast.
Game 4 is Saturday night at the Staples Center at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT. Can LA keep defy the odds again and come back to win a trip the Finals? That would be a true Hollywood story.
Eastern Conference Finals
Next, we head east on our Conference Finals tour, where the Atlanta Hawks lead the Milwaukee Bucks 1-0, after winning a thrilling Game 1, 116-113.
Trae Young had 48 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists in his first-ever Conference finals game, and the Hawks continue to surprise just about everybody. The Hawks are 6-2 on the road in the postseason. The Bucks are going to have to look for other ways to defend Young or this is going to be a tough series.
Giannis Antetokoumpo led the way for the Bucks with 34 points, 12 points and nine assists, while Jrue Holiday had 33 points, four rebounds and 10 assists.
Game 2 tips off tonight from Milwaukee at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT.
Chicago Cubs No-Hit Dodgers in True Team Effort
It pains me to write this as the offense for my boys in blue has been MIA since Sunday. It’s as if they left all their hits in Arizona. Anyhoo, the Los Angeles Dodgers returned home last night after being swept by the San Diego Padres, only to be no-hit by the Cubs. It has been a week.
It what was Major League Baseball’s seventh no-hitter of the season, and the Cubs first combined no-hitter in the history of the franchise. Starting pitcher Zach Davies pitched six hitless innings. Then came Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel to finish the job.
If anyone has seen the Dodgers’ high-powered offense, feel free to DM me and let me know where I can pick it up and return it to Dodger Stadium. Also, congrats to the Cubs! That’s pretty cool.
MLB’s Sticky Situation
If you’ve been tuning into Major League Baseball this week, you’ve probably seen umpires checking pitchers’ hands, hats, etc. for Spider Tack or anything sticky that might give them a competitive advantage. For the most part, it’s been smooth (pun intended) and pitchers have been good natured about it.
That was until Wednesday, when Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi went full Spider Tack police on Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer. The umpire did their mandatory checks after the first and third innings. Totally fine. In the middle of the fourth, Girardi wanted a third inspection. Surprise, the only thing on Scherzer’s hands or in his hat was sweat.
Scherzer stared down Girardi. Girardi came out of the dugout to yell at Nats’ coaches. Girardi was ejected. Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo called Girardi a “con artist.” Sigh. It’s going to be a very interesting few months.
Montreal Canadiens
For the first time since 1993, the Montreal Canadiens are heading to the Stanley Cup Finals, after defeating the Las Vegas Golden Knights, 3-2, in an overtime Game 6 in Montreal to advance. The winning goal was scored by Arturi Lehkonen 1:39 into the overtime period.
Montreal, who has an NFL-record 24 Stanley Cups, will take on the winner of tonight’s Game 7 between the defending-champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders.
Game 1 of the Finals begins on Monday.