The Sportsletter - Playoffs Proceeding

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 25, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning, 

It's a short-and-sweet mid-week edition to keep things rolling towards the holiday weekend. I just witnessed the game of the year in baseball, and the NBA and NHL playoffs take another step towards a champion.

Letter Rip!

NBA PLAYOFFS

Luka Lives On

Photo: Tom Pennington / Getty Images

Luka Doncic (30-14-9) Flirts With Triple Double to Save Mavericks (119-109)

Not over yet! No NBA team has ever surrendered a 3-0 series lead in league history, but Warriors couldn’t complete the sweep in the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night. The Mavericks stomped the Warriors through three quarters (99-70) before Golden State cut into the lead in the fourth to lose by just ten (119-109). Luka Doncic (30-14-9) was one assist shy of a triple double, and Dorian Finney-Smith (23 points) and Reggie Bullock (18 points) were a combined 10-for-17 from deep to assist Doncic’s efforts. The Mavs staved off elimination for the moment, but Game 5 goes back to San Francisco for a re-focused Warriors club. GSW Leads Series (3-1)

Watch: Luka & Mavs Stave Off Elimination in Game 4 (119-109)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 5: Celtics at Heat (8:30 pm ET)

Series Tied (2-2)

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Rain Causes Water Leak That Delays 2nd Half of Mavs-Warriors Game 4

Yahoo! Sports: Back to the Bay: Mavericks Rain Down 3s to Stave Off Elimination

USA Today: Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Gives Emotional Speech After Texas School Shooting

NBA AWARDS

All-NBA Teams

1st Team: G Devin Booker (Suns), G Luka Doncic (Mavericks), F Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), F Jayson Tatum (Celtics), C Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)

2nd Team: G Ja Morant (Grizzlies), G Stephen Curry (Warriors), F DeMar DeRozan (Bulls), F Kevin Durant (Nets), C Joel Embiid (76ers)

3rd Team: G Trae Young (Hawks), G Chris Paul (Suns), F Pascal Siakam (Raptors), F LeBron James (Lakers), C Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves)

NHL PLAYOFFS

Oilers On Top of Alberta 

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Oilers Take Control of Alberta in Game 4 (5-3); Rangers Get Even With ‘Canes (4-1)

The Battle of Alberta is leaning north after the Oilers survived a Game 4 scare on Tuesday. Edmonton blew a three-goal lead to Calgary after the Flames caught fire, but a pair of goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane slammed the door (5-3). Out east, the Rangers won a no-doubter in Game 4 (4-1) to even the series with the Hurricanes at two games apiece. Igor Shesterkin was dominant again with 30 saves in a one-goal performance. He’s given up just six goals in the four series games. The Lightning are waiting in the semifinals, but the Avalanche can punch their ticket to Round 3 tonight.

Stanley Cup Playoff Highlights

Gm 4: Rangers def. Hurricanes (4-1) | Series Tied (2-2)

Gm 4: Oilers def. Flames (5-3) | EDM Leads (3-1)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 5: Blues at Avalanche (8:00 pm ET) | COL Leads (3-1)

Additional Storylines

SportsNet: Nugent-Hopkins Scores Dagger as Oilers Push Flames to Brink

NY Post: Rangers Handle Hurricanes in Impressive Game 4 to Even Series

MLB

Game of the Year?

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

Pederson Hits 3 HRs, 8 RBIs Before Crawford Walk-Off Ends Giants-Mets Thriller

Game of the year? I’ll say so. The Giants and Mets combined for 25 runs in a 13-12 thriller (Giants win) that saw 15 runs in the final three innings. Joc Pederson (4-for-6) raked 3 home runs and 8 RBIs to lead the highlights. A seven-run 8th inning from the Mets sprung New York into the lead before Pederson’s third homer tied the game at 11-all. Francisco Lindor hit a triple to score the go-ahead run for the Mets (12-11), but the Giants weren’t done. Pederson singled to center to score the tying run before Brendan Crawford’s RBI single to left that scored Darin Ruf on a play at the plate. The win ended a five-game skid for the Giants, and the game of the year just took place in the Bay.

Watch: Giants Beat Mets in 25-Run Thriller (13-12)

MLB Quick-Hitters

Contreras Calls Game: The Braves got a walk-off single from William Contreras that plated Ronald Acuna Jr. to beat the Phillies (6-5).

Yank’d Down the Line: Jose Trevino came through in the clutch to give the Yankees a walk-off single down the third-base line in the bottom of the 11th to beat the Orioles (7-6).

Betts Belts A Pair: To round out Tuesday’s top performances, Mookie Betts went 3-for-4 with two home runs in the Dodgers’ win over the Nationals (9-4).

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🎾 TENNIS: Tsitsipas Survives With Epic Rally

Among the continued first-round highlights at the French Open was a stunning comeback from #4 Stefanos Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas dropped the first two sets to Lorenzo Musetti before storming back to a five-set thriller (5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2).

🏀 WNBA: Delle Donne Cracks 4,000 Points

The Washington Mystics steamrolled the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night (70-50) behind 15 points and six rebounds from Elena Delle Donne, who surpassed 4,000 career points in the process.

THE STORYLINES

🏀 Early NBA Free Agency Buzz

The NBA Free Agent market opens July 1, and there’s plenty of intel on top targets like Deandre Ayton, Zach LaVine and more. (Bleacher Report)

🏈 The NFL’s Most Improved in 2022

As the Chiefs’ offensive line showed last year, it is possible to turn a weakness into a strength in just one offseason. Did these teams manage the same this spring? (The Ringer)

⚾️ Will Aaron Judge Hit 60 HRs?

The Yankees outfielder outpaced a who’s who of sluggers through 40 games. Getting to 60 would require something that has eluded him: durability. (NY Times)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Ravens Sign 1-Year Deal With CB Kyle Fuller (ESPN)
• Toxicology Report Details Show Dwayne Haskins Was Drunk at Time of Death (SI)
• NFL Considering Ending Pro Bowl Game, Discussing Ways to Improve All-Star Experience (CBS Sports)
• Anaheim Mayer Harry Sidhu Resigns Amid Angel Stadium Corruption Scandal (Yahoo! Sports)
• Lakers Reportedly Holding Out Hope Doc Rivers Becomes Available in Head Coaching Search (NBC Sports)

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

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