The Sportsletter - Game 6s in Bunches

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 12, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

With a Bucks comeback, a Grizzlies blowout and a Rangers rally, we officially have 11 Game 6s in the NBA and NHL playoffs over the next 48 hours. And where there are Game 6s, there are soon to be the best two words in sports — Game 7.

Letter Rip!

NBA

Giannis Powers Bucks Comeback

Photo: Maddie Malhotra / Getty Images

Giannis Antetokounmpo (40 points) Lifts Bucks to Comeback Win Over Celtics (110-107) in Game 5 Thriller

The defending champs needed a few big shots and a late rally to steal the swing game and push the Celtics to the brink on Wednesday in TD Garden. The Bucks trailed by double digits with under ten minutes to play on Wednesday before Giannis Antetokounmpo (40 points, 11 rebounds) and Jrue Holiday (24 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists) took over. They hit back-to-back 3s in the final 90 seconds before Holiday blocked Jaylen Brown in the final seconds. Jayson Tatum’s 34 points weren’t enough in the end as Giannis overpowered Boston when it counted. The road win gave the Bucks a 3-2 series lead heading back to Milwaukee for Game 6. MIL Leads Series (3-2)

Watch: Bucks Rally in Final Minutes to Beat Celtics in Game 5 (110-107)

Meanwhile, in Memphis…

Gm 5: Grizzlies def. Warriors (134-95)

Don’t let the scoreline fool you. It was even worse… The Grizzlies topped the Warriors by 39 without Ja Morant on a night where they took Golden State to the woodshed. Memphis led by as many as 55 after putting up 117 through quarters. They let off the gas in the 4th after clearing the bench, but not before the trio of Jaren Jackson Jr., Tyus Jones and Desmond Bane all tallied 21 points. They hit 18 threes en route to the largest playoff win in franchise history. Even so, it’s back to San Francisco for another elimination game without Morant. GSW Leads Series (3-2)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 6: Heat at 76ers (7:00 pm ET) | MIA Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Suns at Mavericks (9:30 pm ET) | PHX Leads (3-2)

Additional Storylines

The Athletic: Grizzlies Rout Warriors to Force Game 6 in San Francisco

Yahoo! Sports: Giannis and the Bucks Complete Epic Comeback to Beat Celtics in Game 5

NHL

Rangers Get Revenge

Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

Rangers Extend Series Against Penguins With Game 5 Win; All Remaining Series at 3-2

Seven of the eight opening-round series in the NHL Playoffs are going to Game 6! With the Rangers facing elimination on Wednesday night, they rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Penguins thanks to a 3-goal 2nd period. Two more in the 3rd slammed the door thanks to Filip Chytil’s go-ahead goal early in the 3rd. Game 6 heads back to Pittsburgh, and it’s Game 6s all-around for the next 48 hours on ice. PIT Leads Series (3-2)

Watch: Rangers Beat Penguins in Game 5 (5-3)

Other NHL Playoff Highlights

Gm 5: Panthers def. Capitals (5-3) | FLA Leads (3-2)

Gm 5: Flames def. Stars (3-1) | CGY Leads (3-2)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 6: Hurricanes at Bruins (7:00 pm ET) | CAR Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Maple Leafs at Lightning (7:30 pm ET) | TOR Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Wild at Blues (9:30 pm ET) | STL Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Oilers at Kings (10:00 pm ET) | LAK Leads (3-2)

Additional Storylines

NHL: Rangers Rally Past Penguins as Sidney Crosby Leaves Game With Upper-Body Injury

USA Today: Comebacks Cats Rally Past Capitals Behind Verhaeghe’s 2 Goals & 3 Assists

MLB

Yelich Makes Cycle History

Photo: Dylan Buell / Getty Images

Brewers’ Christian Yelich Hits 3rd Career Cycle to Tie MLB Record

Brewer on a bike! Christian Yelich made history on Wednesday night in Cincinnati despite the Brewers’ loss to the Reds (14-11). The former MVP hit a double in the 1st, a 3-run homer in the 3rd, a single in the 5th and a triple down the right-field line in the 9th. Yelich’s third-career cycle puts him in elite company. He’s the fifth player in league history with three cycles since 1901 when the stat was tracked (Trea Turner, Adrian Beltre, Babe Herman and Bob Meusel). No player has more than three. Ironically, all of Yelich’s career cycles have come against the Reds. Yeli finished the night 4-for-5 with 3 RBIs and two runs scored.

Watch: Yelich Hits for 3rd Career Cycle

MLB Quick-Hitters

Arcia’s Atlanta Walk-Off: Orlando Arcia stepped in as the DH for the Braves in the bottom of the 9th in a 3-3 game to smash a 2-run walk-off homer. Braves beat the Red Sox (5-3).

Start of a New Story: In the same game, Trevor Story hit his first run in a Red Sox uniform after a slow start to the season. He’s hitting just .206 on the year, but seeing one clear the fence could ignite the next chapter.

McClanahan Ks 11: After all the Angels history in this week’s series against the Rays, Shane McClanahan gave Tampa Bay reason to smile. The Rays’ lefty fanned 11 batters through seven scoreless innings to get the Rays a 4-2 win in SoCal and avoid the series sweep.

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 WNBA: Rookie Howard’s Dream Start

The Atlanta Dream went from No. 1 overall pick to a 2-0 start with a win over the L.A. Sparks last night (77-75). Rookie and No. 1 pick Rhyne Howard (21 points) is putting her stamp on the WNBA with five 3s in her first 20-point performance.

⚽️ SOCCER: De Bruyne’s 4-Goal Extravaganza

Manchester City may have made headlines this week with the signing of Erling Haaland, but Kevin De Bruyne proved why he’s still City’s leading man. De Bruyne scored four goals in City’s 5-1 rout of Wolverhampton to keep the club three points ahead of Liverpool in the EPL race with two matches to play.

THE STORYLINES

🏒 NHL Award Picks

The MVP race (Hart Trophy) is loaded with possibilities, but the Vezina Trophy should be a lock for Rangers net-protector Igor Shesterkin. Who are the other finalists for every trophy in the 2021-22 NHL awards? (USA Today)

🏀 The NBA’s $@&*% Problem

When it comes to excessive expletives, the NBA reigns supreme. The league is no longer messing around. But why? SI goes inside the NBA’s increasingly ‘caught on camera’ foul language. (Sports Illustrated)

🏈 Early Fantasy Football Rankings

It’s never too early to start getting ready for football season. The Ringer’s staff ranks the top 200 players for the 2022 season so you can start prepping early for your fantasy football draft in just a few months. (The Ringer)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Lanier Dies at Age 73 (CBS Sports)
• Kicker Josh Lambo Sues Jaguars After Alleged Urban Meyer Incident (ESPN)
• PGA Tour Refuses to Grant Releases to Golfers for LIV Events (SI)

• Kentucky Derby-Winning Jockey Sonny Leon Suspended for Careless Riding in Ohio (Yahoo! Sports)

• Naomi Osaka Leaves IMG to Start Her Own Sports Agency ‘EVOLVE’ (Bleacher Report)

• Brooklyn Nets GM Noncommittal on Re-Signing Kyrie Irving (USA Today)

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

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Lead Designer: Joe Stella

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