The Sportsletter - Raining Game 7s ☂️

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 13, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

Thursday was the first night in the history of pro sports with six Game 6s on the same night. A minimum of four Game 7s in the NBA and NHL are on the forecast for this weekend, and we could have as many as nine by Sunday. Grab an umbrella. It’s raining Game 7s…

Letter Rip!

NBA PLAYOFFS

Turning On The Heat 🔥

Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images

Jimmy Butler Sparks Heat in Game 6 (99-90) to Eliminate 76ers; Mavs Hammer Suns (113-86) to Force Game 7

The first team to the conference finals is the Miami Heat! Three NBA series are still playing with Game 6 (tonight) or Game 7 (this weekend) to round out the Association’s “Final Four.” Miami claimed the first ticket with another stellar defensive effort that locked down the 76ers. Meanwhile, the Mavericks handed the Suns a devastating loss to force Game 7 in the desert on Sunday. The playoffs continue…

NBA Playoff Highlights

Gm 6: Heat def. 76ers (99-90)

For the second time in three years, the Heat are heading to the Eastern Conference finals. Miami shut the door on the 76ers behind a 32-8-4 night from Jimmy Butler and a third-quarter defensive stand where Philly scored just 15 third-quarter points. James Harden (11 points) went 0-for-2 from the field in the second half. The Sixers have seen playoff runs stall in the conference semifinals four times in the last five years, and they’ve failed to reach the conference finals since 2001. Meanwhile, the Heat are heading to the East finals for the 8th time in 17 seasons. MIA Wins Series (4-2)

Gm 6: Mavericks def. Suns (113-86)

Dallas protected home court once again with a blowout against the West’s top seed in Game 6. The Mavericks ran away from the Suns in the second quarter and never looked back. Luka Doncic (33 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals) was dominant from start to finish. He got support from an unlikely sidekick as Reggie Bullock had a playoff career-high 19 points on five 3s. The home team has won every game in the series, and we’re going back to Phoenix for a Game 7 on Sunday. Series Tied (3-3)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 6: Celtics at Bucks (7:30 pm ET) | MIL Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Grizzlies at Warriors (10:00 pm ET) | GSW Leads (3-2)

Additional Storylines

SI: Winner Take All: Doncic Masterful as Mavs Blow Out Suns to Force Game 7

ESPN: 76ers & James Harden: More Questions Than Answers for This Complicated Relationship

NHL PLAYOFFS

Forcing Game 7s

Photo: Mark LoMoglio / Getty Images

Blues Punch Out Wild; Three Game 7s Guaranteed After Bruins, Oilers & Lightning Stave Off Elimination

The St. Louis Blues became the second team through to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 5-1 win over the Wild in Game 6. They’ll face the Avalanche in the next round. Elsewhere, three teams thwarted elimination with Game 6 victories, including an overtime winner from Brayden Point to lift the Lightning past the Leafs. The Bruins blasted the ‘Canes and the Oilers escaped the Kings after blowing a two-goal lead. Three more Game 6s on the way tonight.

NHL Playoff Highlights

Gm 6: Blues def. Wild (5-1) | STL Wins Series (4-2)

Gm 6: Oilers def. Kings (4-2) | Series Tied (3-3)

Gm 6: Bruins def. Hurricanes (5-2) | Series Tied (3-3)

Gm 6: Lightning def. Maple Leafs (4-3, OT) | Series Tied (3-3)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 6: Rangers at Penguins (7:00 pm ET) | PIT Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Panthers at Capitals (7:30 pm ET) | FLA Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Flames at Stars (9:30 pm ET) | CGY Leads (3-2)

Additional Storylines

CBC: Point Pots OT Winner as Bolts Beat Leafs to Force Series Finale in Toronto

NBC Sports: Matthews, McDavid & Shesterkin Named Hart Trophy (MVP) Finalists

MLB

Southside Slugfest

Photo: Quinn Harris / Getty Images

Yankees Bury White Sox (15-7) Behind Stanton’s 2-HR Night, Lead Majors After 6 Weeks

The Yankees are winners of four in a row after a scoreboard-blasting night in Chicago. The Yanks rung up 14 runs on the White Sox (15-7) thanks to two homers from Giancarlo Stanton and a seven-run 8th inning. Stanton and Aaron Judge combined to go 5-for-8 with 10 RBIs, and the Yankees (23-8) are out in front of the rest of the majors. They’re 8-2 in the month of May after an 11-game win streak earlier in the season. It’s early, but everyone is chasing the Pinstripes.

Watch: Giancarlo Stanton’s 2-HR Night Fuels Yankees Win

MLB Standings Update

American League Leaders

1. Yankees (23-8)

2. Astros (21-11)

3. Angels (21-12)

4. Rays (19-13)

5. Twins (18-14)

National League Leaders

1. Mets (22-11)

2. Dodgers (20-10)

3. Brewers (20-12)

4. Padres (20-12)

5. Giants (19-12)

Full MLB Standings

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

⚽️ EPL: Tottenham Shines in Crucial EPL Match

Tottenham shut out Arsenal (3-0) on Thursday thanks to a pair of goals from Harry Kane in a critical Premier League clash. The win gave Spurs (65 pts) three points to close the gap on the Gunners (66 pts) for the fourth spot in the top-4 of the EPL with two matches to play.

⛳️ PGA: Munoz Cards 12-Under at AT&T Byron Nelson

The opening round of the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch belonged to Sebastian Munoz. The 29-year-old Colombian shot a 12-under 60 and leads by four strokes after Round 1.

📰 THE HEADLINES

• NFL Releases Full 272-Game Schedule for 2022 Season (B/R)

• Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge (Yardbarker)

• Raiders Acquire QB Jarrett Stidham From Patriots for 6th-Round Pick (ESPN)
• Breanna Stewart Calls Out WNBA After Several Storm Players Out With COVID-19 (SI)
• Derby Winner Rich Strike to Skip Preakness Stakes, Eliminating Triple Crown Bid (CBS Sports)
• ‘Bad Blood’ Reportedly Part of Ben Roethlisberger’s Steelers Retirement (NBC Sports)
• 48-Year-Old WR Terrell Owens Traded in Fan Controlled Football League (Yahoo! Sports)

🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

It’s the playoff grind with the potential for a Game 7 thunderstorm in the forecast this weekend. There’s plenty of soccer, baseball and golf on the docket, but the NBA and NHL Playoffs could deliver a downpour of must-see moments. Here’s what we’re watching:

NBA Playoffs

Gm 6: Celtics at Bucks (Fri. 7:30 pm)

Gm 6: Grizzlies at Warriors (Fri. 10:00 pm)

Gm 7: Mavericks at Suns (Sun. TBD)

*Gm 7: Bucks at Celtics (Sun. TBD)

*If Necessary

NHL Playoffs

Gm 6: Rangers at Penguins (Fri. 7:00 pm)

Gm 6: Panthers at Capitals (Fri. 7:30 pm)

Gm 6: Flames at Stars (Fri. 9:30 pm)

Gm 7: Kings at Oilers (Sat. TBD)

Gm 7: Lightning at Maple Leafs (Sat. TBD)

Gm 7: Bruins at Hurricanes (Sat. TBD)

*Gm 7: Capitals at Panthers (Sun. TBD)

*Gm 7: Stars at Flames (Sun. TBD)

*Gm 7: Penguins at Rangers (Sun. TBD)

MLB Regular Season

Cardinals—Giants Series

Yankees—White Sox Series

Padres—Braves Series

Dodgers—Phillies Series

Full MLB Weekend Schedule

English FA Cup Final

Chelsea vs. Liverpool (Sat. 11:45 am)

PGA Tour

AT&T Byron Nelson (All Weekend)

IndyCar Series

GMR Grand Prix (Sat. 3:00 pm)

*All Times ET

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

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Lead Designer: Joe Stella

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