Good Morning.
We’ve got a new design this morning, and the fresh upgrades will keep coming, so keep sticking around. Speaking of sticking around, three NBA/NHL playoff teams staved off elimination on Wednesday. Plus, we’ve got Champions League coverage, MLB history and the NFL schedule reveal.
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Survival Mode: Knicks & Dubs Stay Alive |
Photo: Elsa / Getty Images |
Knicks (Heat) & Warriors (Lakers) Take Game 5s at Home to Stay Alive, Force Game 6s
The Knicks and Warriors entered Wednesday on life support, attempting to cimb out of 3-1 series deficits. The stats say teams trailing 3-1 come back to win just 4 percent of the time, but both New York and Golden State were hosting Game 5s at home. The result? Comfortable wins. The Knicks overcame an early double-digit deficit to hold off the Heat behind Jalen Brunson’s 38-point performance. Brunson never left the floor and played a full 48 minutes while New York held Jimmy Butler under 20 points for the first time this postseason. The Warriors were in control of the Lakers from tip to horn, winning three out of four quarters and holding off a late run. Steph Curry (27) and Andrew Wiggins (25) had the hot hands, but Draymond Green (20-10-4-2-1) was the “do-it-all” guy in Game 5. The defending champs are still breathing, but they head back to Los Angeles for Game 6. The Lakers are 8-0 in their last eight home games dating back to the regular season.
Conference Semifinals Highlights
Gm 5: Knicks def. Heat (112-103) | MIA Leads (3-2)
Gm 5: Warriors def. Lakers (121-106) | LAL Leads (3-2) Top Performers
J. Brunson (NYK): 38 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists S. Curry (GSW): 27 points, 8 assists R. Barrett (NYK): 26 points, 7 rebounds
L. James (LAL): 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists A. Wiggins (GSW): 25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
NBA Playoffs Bracket Tonight’s Schedule
Gm 6: Celtics at 76ers (7:30 pm ET, ESPN) | PHI Leads (3-2) Gm 6: Nuggets at Suns (10:00 pm ET, ESPN) | DEN Leads (3-2)
Read More ESPN: Knicks Push Heat to Game 6 Behind Brunson’s 38-Point Gem
USA Today: Warriors Fight Off Elimination to Force Game 6 in L.A.
CBS Sports: League Announces All-NBA 1st, 2nd & 3rd Team Selections |
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'Brick Woll' Keeps Leafs Alive |
Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images |
Rookie Goalie Joseph Woll Helps Maple Leafs Avoid Sweep; Oilers Fire Back to Even Series With Vegas
With a chance to notch the first sweep of the NHL postseason, at home, no less, the Florida Panthers couldn’t get it done. The Maple Leafs had their backs up against the wall in Game 4 facing elimination on the road, and they turned to 24-year-old rookie goaltender Joseph Woll (24 saves). Mitchell Marner had his fingerprints on both goals (1 goal, 1 assist), and the Leafs are alive. Out west, the Oilers fired back to even the series with the Golden Knights in what appears to be a seven-game dogfight. The Edmonton duo of Leon Draisaitl (1 assist) and Connor McDavid (2 assists) were held scoreless for the second straight game, but they found their teammates in Game 4.
Conference Semifinals Highlights
Gm 4: Maple Leafs def. Panthers (2-1) | FLA Leads (3-1)
Gm 4: Oilers def. Golden Knights (4-1) | Series Tied (2-2)
NHL Playoffs Bracket Tonight’s Schedule
Gm 5: Devils at Hurricanes (7:00 pm ET, TNT) | CAR Leads (3-1) Gm 5: Kraken at Stars (9:30 pm ET, TNT) | Series Tied (2-2)
Read More Yahoo! Sports: Maple Leafs Stay Alive Behind Rookie Goalie Joseph Woll’s 24 Saves
SportsNet: Oilers Fire Back at Golden Knights in Game 4, Even Series 2-2 |
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NFL Schedule: Christmas Comes Early |
NFL Reveals Holiday & International Matchups Before Tonight’s Full 2023 Schedule Reveal (8:00 pm ET, NFL Network & ESPN2)
Football fans are hitting that “dead period” in the calendar between the NFL Draft and training camp surges, unless you’re a diehard XFL fan enjoying the spring slate. Tonight brings a welcome preview to the 2023 NFL season as the league reveals the schedule. We already know the team-by-team matchups, but only seven games were released yesterday (holiday and international). A Giants-Eagles rivalry in Philly on Christmas Day? Seems like a recipe for more snowballs and Santa. Tonight gives every fan a rundown of which Sundays are most important next fall.
Holiday Games - Black Friday: Dolphins at Jets (Fri. 11/24, 3:00 pm ET)
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Christmas Day: Giants at Eagles (Mon. 12/25, 4:30 pm ET)
- New Year’s Eve: Bengals at Chiefs (Sun. 12/31, 4:25 pm ET)
International Games -
London: Jaguars at Falcons (Sun. 10/1, 9:30 am ET)
- London: Bills at Jaguars (Sun. 10/8, 9:30 am ET)
- London: Ravens at Titans (Sun. 10/15, 9:30 am ET)
- Frankfurt: Chiefs at Dolphins (Sun. 11/5, 9:30 am ET)
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Frankfurt: Colts at Patriots (Sun. 11/12, 9:30 am ET)
Read More
CBS Sports: 2023 NFL Strength of Schedule for Every Team
NFL: Early Matchups Announced for 2023 NFL Schedule
NBC Sports: Everything You Need to Know About the NFL Schedule Release |
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Inter in Charge of Italian Rivalry |
Photo: Mattia Ozbot / Getty Images |
UCL Leg 1s: Inter Pace Milan in Semifinal (2-0); Real Madrid & Man. City Deadlocked (1-1)
The UEFA Champions League is now 1/2 through the semifinals after Wednesday’s all-Italy clash between Inter and AC Milan — the Derby della Madonnina. The two clubs both use San Siro as their home turf, so there’s no shortage of rivalry reels in this one. Inter used two early strikes from their veteran stars as Edin Dzeko (8’) fired a one-timer off a corner-kick and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (11’) smashed one minutes later to put the pressure on their crosstown rivals in Leg 1. Tuesday’s semifinal clash between the holders (Real Madrid) and Manchester City was a 1-1 draw to set up an exciting second leg. A full season of European kicking comes down to the next few next weeks as the upcoming Leg 2s will tee up the Champions League finale on June 10.
Champions League Semifinals (Leg 1s) Inter def. AC Milan (2-0) Real Madrid draw Manchester City (1-1) Leg 2 Schedule Inter vs. AC Milan (Tues. 5/16, 3:00 pm ET) Man. City vs. Real Madrid (Wed. 5/17, 3:00 pm ET)
Champions League Final: June 10 (3:00 pm ET) Read More
CNN: Inter’s Lightning Start Stuns AC Milan in UCL Semifinal
ESPN: Both Man. City & Real Madrid Held Back. Who’ll Cut Loose in Leg 2? |
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Quick-Hitters: Jansen Gets 400th Save |
Jansen Makes History With 400th Save: Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen stepped in to a seal the win over the Braves last night, recording his 400th career save and notching a bit of history. The 35-year-old righty becomes just the seventh pitcher in league history with 400 saves, joining a list that’s headlined by Mariano Rivera (652) (Red Sox def. Braves, 5-2).
Volpe’s Slam Helps Yanks Sweep: Yankees’ rookie Anthony Volpe became the youngest player in franchise history to notch a grand slam, and his blast helped the pinstripes complete their first series sweep of the season (Yankees def. A’s, 11-3).
Verlander Beats ‘Em All: Justin Verlander tossed a 7-K, 1-run gem at Great American Ballpark to become the 21st pitcher in league history to beat all 30 teams (Mets def. Reds, 2-1). O’s Overpower Rays, Again: Not today, Tampa. The Orioles just beat the AL leaders for the second straight game and won this week’s series. Baltimore (24-13) is just five games back of Tampa Bay (29-9) (Orioles def. Rays, 2-1).
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NFL Schedule Release Tonight (8:00 pm ET, NFL Network & ESPN2) NBA Playoffs Gm 6: Celtics at 76ers (7:30 pm ET, ESPN) | PHI Leads (3-2)
Gm 6: Nuggets at Suns (10:00 pm ET, ESPN) | DEN Leads (3-2) NHL Playoffs
Gm 5: Devils at Hurricanes (7:00 pm ET, TNT) | CAR Leads (3-1) Gm 5: Kraken at Stars (9:30 pm ET, TNT) | Series Tied (2-2) MLB Rays at Yankees (7:05 pm ET, MLBN) PGA AT&T Byron Nelson, Round 1 (ESPN+/Paramount+) |
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Yesterday’s Results: Which upcoming major May sports event are you most excited for? PGA Championship — 41% French Open — 31% Indy 500 — 28% |
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