The Sportsletter - Swing Game Masterpieces

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 15, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

Think you can keep up? The spring sports whirlwind 🌪️ is gaining momentum towards summer. There’s a lot we’re tracking this week. 

• NFL Schedule Release: Expect excitement tonight as your favorite NFL teams reveal their 2024 schedule with some goofy videos.
• NBA/NHL Playoffs: Superstars stepped up big in pivotal Game 5 swings last night, but Game 7s could own the weekend.
• Premier League Drama: One match for all the marbles? Manchester City and Arsenal are going down to the wire.
• Caitlin Clark’s Debut: The WNBA is back. Caitlin Clark hit four 3s and dropped 20 points in her debut. The Fever got demolished though, so we’ll let CC get her reps in before a summer full of Clarkmania.
• PGA Championship: You want golf? The PGA’s next major tees off tomorrow. And yes, Tiger Woods is at Valhalla.

Letter Rip!

  NBA PLAYOFFS  

Swing Game Masterpieces

Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images

Knicks’ Jalen Brunson (44 Points) & Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (40 Points) Each Drop 40-Plus to Take Game 5 Swings

The greatest players step up when the lights are the brightest, and that’s what we saw in a pair of pivotal Game 5 swing games on Tuesday night. With both the Knicks-Pacers and Nuggets-Timberwolves series tied at 2-2 each, Jalen Brunson and Nikola Jokic were on missions. Brunson poured in 44 points and a +/- of +31 when he was on the court for the Knicks. New York only led by seven in the third quarter before running down the Pacers by 30 in Madison Square Garden. Brunson is the first player since LeBron James (2018) with five 40-point playoff games in a single postseason run, and we're halfway through Round 2. 

Out West, Nikola Jokic received his MVP award in front of the Denver fans and proceeded to drop 40 points in a masterpiece. Jokic gave the Nuggets a +/- of +21 when he was on the court. Minnesota’s big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert had no answers for the Joker. The Knicks and Nuggets now lead 3-2, and they’re on the brink of reaching conference finals.

NBA Playoff Highlights (Round 2)

Gm 5: Knicks def. Pacers (121-91)

Jalen Brunson (44 pts, 7 asts)

NYK Lead Series (3-2)

Gm 5: Nuggets def. Timberwolves (112-97)

Nikola Jokic (40 pts, 13 asts, 7 rebs)

DEN Lead Series (3-2)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 5: Cavaliers at Celtics (7:00 pm ET, TNT)

BOS Leads Series (3-1)

Gm 5: Mavericks at Thunder (9:30 pm ET, TNT)

Series Tied (2-2)

Read More

B/R: Jalen Brunson Electrifies in Game 5 as Knicks Take Series Lead

AP: Nikola Jokic Scores 40, Nuggets Shut Down Edwards for 3-2 Series Lead

  PREMIER LEAGUE  

Down to the Wire

Photo: Sebastian Frej / Getty Images

Manchester City Win Sets Up Last-Day Drama With Arsenal for Premier League Title

It’s not often that a 38-match soccer season comes down to the final match of the year, but this is sports, and we’re not complaining. The last time the Premier League relied on the results of Championship Sunday was 2022 — the second of Manchester City’s three-straight EPL crowns. And while City aims for a record fourth consecutive title this weekend, Arsenal still stands in the way.

How’d We Get Here: Man. City took down Tottenham yesterday afternoon (2-0) to grab three points and take a two-point edge in the Premier League race with one match left. Pep Guardiola’s club holds the cards, but it’s not over yet. The Gunners, who finished second by just five points a year ago, have a fighter’s chance.

Watch: Man. City Blank Tottenham (2-0) to Set Up Sunday Finale

EPL Table (1 Match Left)

1. Manchester City (88 pts)

2. Arsenal (86 pts)

3. Liverpool (79 pts)

4. Aston Villa (68 pts)

————————————

5. Tottenham (63 pts)

6. Newcastle (57 pts)

7. Chelsea (57 pts)

8. Man. United (54 pts)

Full Premier League Table

Championship Scenarios & History

Both Man. City and Arsenal play on the road on Sunday. City travels to West Ham (52 pts), while Arsenal gets a more favorable opponent in Everton (40 pts). A win for Arsenal would give the Gunners three points (89 total). They’d need a loss or draw from City to break the streak. Even with a draw from City — and both teams tied at 89 points — Arsenal would hold the tiebreaker in goal differential. A win from City clinches the crown for a fourth straight season. That’s never been done before.

Aston Villa’s 1st Champions League

The other storyline from yesterday’s match result was Tottenham’s bump from a potential top-4 bid. That gives Aston Villa their first Champions League qualification since 1982-83, before the European Cup was rebranded. They were relegated from the Premier League in 2016. What a return to glory!

After nine months and 37 matches, Futbol’s most prestigious league will need one more matchday to decide a champion. Here we go.

Read More

Athletic: EPL Title Permutations: How Man. City & Arsenal Can Become Champions

SI: Aston Villa Headed Back to Champions League for First Time Since 1982-83

  STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS  

Chaos in Canada

Photo: Andy Devlin / Getty Images

Oilers Hold Off Canucks (3-2) in Wild Game 4 Finish; Bruins Stave Off Elimination Against Panthers (2-1)

It’s been 30 years since a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup (1993). Two squads up North are trying to change that trend… But they have to go through each other first. The Canucks and Oilers entered Game 4 last night with some bad blood spilling over onto the ice. Two days ago, Carson Soucy’s reckless cross-check on Connor McDavid lit a fire under the Oilers. Soucy was suspended, and Edmonton flew out to a 2-0 lead last night before one of the craziest finishes of the postseason. Vancouver scored twice in the third period to mount a comeback, including the game-tying goal with 1:41 left. Overtime looked inevitable, but the Oilers struck 60 seconds later — Evan Bouchard from distance! Stunner in the Great White North.

Out East, the Bruins forced Game 6 with the Panthers thanks to Charlie McAvoy’s go-ahead goal and another stellar outing from goaltender Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins’ goalie made 28 saves, including 10 in the third period to preserve the lead. Boston is still breathing as we head toward the weekend.

Stanley Cup Playoff Highlights (Round 2)

Gm 4: Oilers def. Canucks (3-2)

Evan Bouchard Hits GW Goal With 38 Seconds

Series Tied (2-2)

Gm 5: Bruins def. Panthers (2-1)

Jeremy Swayman Makes 28 Saves

FLA Leads Series (3-2)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 5: Avalanche at Stars (8:00 pm ET, ESPN)

Read More

SportsNet: Oilers Tie Series With Canucks After Dramatic Last-Minute Exchange

ESPN: Swayman Said Series Would Return to Boston, And He Backed It Up

  HIGHLIGHTS   🎥

⚾️ MLB

Phillies First to 30 Wins With Nola’s Shutout

Dodgers Crush Giants Behind Ohtani’s 12th HR

Braves Blank Cubs on Olson’s 4 RBIs, Sale’s Gem

Bonus: Brewers’ Sal Frelick Makes Unbelievable Diving Catch

🏀 WNBA

Aces def. Mercury (89-80)

A’ja Wilson (30 pts, 13 rebs) Shines on Banner Night

Lynx def. Storm (83-70)

Alanna Smith (22 pts) Fuels Lynx in 4th

Liberty def. Mystics (85-80)

New York Rallies From Behind in the 4th

Sun def. Fever (92-71)

Caitlin Clark Has Team-High 20 Points (10 Turnovers) in WNBA Debut / Four 3s Tied for Most in a Rookie Debut

  STORYLINES   

⛳️ Ranking the Valhalla Field

Is this weekend’s PGA Championship truly a three-horse race between Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, and Rory McIlroy? (CBS Sports)

🏈 NFL Strength of Schedules

Before today’s full NFL reveal, the league shared each team's strength of schedule rankings. The Browns (hardest) and Falcons (easiest) lead the way. (B/R)

🏀 NBA 2nd-Round Reset

Which team that was up 2-0 has more reason for optimism — Wolves or Knicks? Plus, series predictions and what to watch in Cavs-Celtics and Mavs-Thunder. (The Ringer)

  NEWS   📰 

🏀 WNBA’s New Team, Golden State Valkyries, Unveil New Nickname & Logo (B/R)

🏈 Kirk Cousins Addresses Falcons’ Shocking Decision to Draft Michael Penix Jr. (CBS Sports)

🏀 UW-Green Bay Basketball to Hire Radio Host Doug Gottlieb as New Head Coach (SI)

🏀 Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert Fined $75K (Again) for Flashing Money Symbol at Refs (Yahoo! Sports)

🏈 Jets & 49ers to Play Week 1 Monday Night Football Game Next Fall (ESPN)

🏈 Justin Fields Reportedly Had ‘Toxic’ Relationships With Veteran Bears QBs (FOX Sports)

⚾️ Astros’ Ronel Blanco Ejected From Game After Foreign Substance Check (SI)

🏈 Jaguars & City of Jacksonville Agree on $1.4 Billion ‘Stadium of the Future’ (CBS Sports)

📺 Tom Brady Regrets Netflix Roast Because of ‘The Way It Affected My Kids’ (Yahoo! Sports)

⚾️ Ippei Mzuhara, Ohtani’s Ex-Interpreter, Pleads Not Guilty to Bank & Tax Fraud (AP)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

Today's Must-Watch List

🏈 NFL

2024 NFL Schedule Release (8:00 pm ET, NFLN)

🏀 WNBA Tip-Off (Night 2)

Sky at Wings (8:00 pm ET, WNBA League Pass)

Dream at Sparks (10:00 pm ET, WNBA League Pass)

🏀 NBA Playoffs

Gm 5: Cavaliers at Celtics (7:00 pm ET, TNT)

Gm 5: Mavericks at Thunder (9:30 pm ET, TNT)

🏒 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Gm 5: Avalanche at Stars (8:00 pm ET, ESPN)

⚾️ MLB

Mets at Phillies (6:40 pm ET, MLBTV)

Cubs at Braves (7:20 pm ET, ESPN+)
Yankees at Twins (7:40 pm ET, PRIME)

⚽️ Soccer

MLS: Orlando City vs. inter Miami (7:30 pm ET, APPLE)

  POLL   📊

Utah's Hockey Nickname

Yesterday, we asked you to vote on the 20 nickname options for the new NHL team in Utah. Every name received at least 25 votes, but one rose above the rest. The Utah Yeti might be inevitable. Here are the top five:

Utah Hockey Nicknames (Top-5)

1. Yeti (16.3%)

2. Black Diamonds (7.8%)

3. Outlaws (7.1%)

4. Mountaineers (7.0%)

5. Fury (5.5%)

*All Others: 3-5% Vote

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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