The Sportsletter - Super Sunday 7s

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 20, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Welcome Back 👋

Sunday’s sports-tacular supershow was one non-stop roller-coaster. From Manchester City's four-peat to Xander Schauffele’s epic finish at Valhalla, we were treated to a special day in sports. Then, the Pacers and T-Wolves paired up for dueling Game 7 record-breakers, and this quickly became one of the best newsletter editions a sports fan could ask for.

Plus, more info on Scottie Scheffler’s bizarre arrest. Paul Skenes’ second outing (11 Ks) was even better. And we’ve got another Game 7 on ice tonight (Oilers-Canucks, 9:00 pm ET). Ready?

Letter Rip!

NBA PLAYOFFS

Record-Wrecking Game 7s 🤯

Photo: C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images

Pacers & Timberwolves Shatter NBA Records in Game 7 Closeouts to Eliminate Knicks & Nuggets

Two shocking Game 7s took center stage on Sunday in the NBA Playoffs where both road underdogs did the unthinkable. Tyrese Haliburton (26 pts) and the Pacers blitzed the Knicks (130-109) with the best team-shooting performance in NBA Playoff history (67.1%). A few hours later, the Timberwolves overcame a 20-point deficit to oust the Nuggets (98-90) with the biggest comeback in a Game 7 in NBA Playoff history. The stage is set for the Conference Finals after the Mavericks finished off the Thunder in Game 6 on Saturday night (117-116) with P.J. Washington’s game-winning free throws, and the Celtics are the only 1- or 2-seed remaining.

Pacers Shoot Playoff Record 67.1%

Gm 7: Pacers def. Knicks (130-109)

No one saw this coming. The Pacers won Game 6 on Friday night to force Game 7 Sunday at Madison Square Garden, but many expected the Knicks to flex like they did in previous swing games. Indiana came out firing at an insane clip. The Pacers shot 76.3% in the first half to mount a 20-point lead with the best-shooting half in NBA playoff history. They hit 22 of their first 27 shots. It couldn’t possibly be sustainable, could it? The Knicks made a push and cut the deficit as close as seven in the third quarter, but Indiana got hot again and pulled away. The Knicks also lost another player to injury when Jalen Brunson suffered a broken hand late in the game. Tyrese Haliburton (26 pts, six 3s) was the pace-setter, and the 6-seed Pacers are going back to the East Finals for the first time in a decade (2014). IND Wins Series (4-3)

T-Wolves Overcome 20-Point Deficit

Gm 7: T-Wolves def. Nuggets (98-90)

Don’t change that channel! The defending champion Nuggets were up by 20 in the third quarter (58-38) before Minnesota went on an out-of-their-mind 21-3 run to stun Denver. The fans in Ball Arena went from celebration to shock in about eight minutes. Anthony Edwards (16 pts) was held to just two points in the first half, but Ant-Man accounted for nine points during the comeback stretch. Minnesota pulled away to start the fourth, and Denver had a stretch of just 22 points over 25 minutes in the second half despite a combined 69 points from Nikola Jokic (34) and Jamal Murray (35). By the final horn, the 20-point rally was the largest Game 7 comeback in NBA Playoff history. The T-Wolves are going back to the West Finals for the first time in 20 years (2004). MIN Wins Series (4-3)

*No Games Tonight

The Conference Finals are set. The Celtics are the only 1- or 2-seed still alive. Underdogs and young stars — Haliburton, Edwards, and Doncic — will try to upstage Boston beginning on Tuesday, but the Celtics are heavy favorites from here on out.

Conference Finals Matchups

East: #1 Celtics vs. #6 Pacers (Tuesday)

West: #3 T-Wolves vs. #5 Mavericks (Wednesday)

Sporting News: Timberwolves Stage Largest Comeback in Game 7 History to Upset Nuggets

GOLF ⛳️

Wire-to-Wire: From A to Xander!

Photo: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images

Xander Schauffele (-21) Goes Wire-to-Wire, Wins PGA Championship by 1 Stroke With Final-Hole Birdie to Close Wild Weekend in Louisville

Xander Schauffele (-21), with a wire-to-wire run and a dramatic birdie finish, won his first major Sunday at the PGA Championship to cap a crazy weekend in Louisville. The 30-year-old San Diego native fired that record-setting 9-under 62 on Thursday and led or tied for the lead after all four rounds. Three challengers — Bryson DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa, and Viktor Hovland — came creeping up the leaderboard over the weekend. DeChambeau and Schauffele went shot-for-shot down the backstretch. After DeChambeau scrambled to tie Xander at 20-under, Schauffele sunk a walk-off birdie putt on Hole 18. The seven-footer caught the lip and dropped for Schauffele's first major win and a celebration with the Wanamaker Trophy... From A to Xander! And as great as the week was for Schauffele, there was chaos across Valhalla prior to Sunday.

🚨 Scheffler’s Friday Arrest: Shortly after our Friday newsletter went out, the internet was set ablaze with the news that Scottie Scheffler had been arrested. For most of the morning, every golf fan was on edge. Reports later explained that Scheffler disobeyed a traffic officer who was navigating the scene of a crash at the entrance to Valhalla. Scheffler warmed up in a jail cell and was released just in time for his Friday round. He shot a 5-under 66 that day and finished 13-under (T-8th) overall.

PGA Championship Leaderboard

1. X. Shauffele (-21)

2. B. DeChambeau (-20)

3. V. Hovland (-18)

T4. C. Morikawa (-15)

T4. T. Detry (-15)

T6. J. Rose (-14)

T6. S. Lowry (-14)

Other Notable Scorecards: S. Scheffler (-13), J. Thomas (-13), R. McIlroy (-12), T. Finau (-11), B. Koepka (-9), H. Matsuyama (-8), J. Spieth (-6) | Full Leaderboard

Watch: Xander Schauffele’s 18th Hole

Watch: PGA Championship Round 4 Highlights

Golf.com: ‘Oh My God, It’s Scottie Scheffler’: Eyewitnesses Reveal Arrest Details

SI: PGA Championship Winners & Losers: Schauffele Breaks Through, DeChambeau Owns the Crowd

PREMIER LEAGUE

4-Peat for Pep's Peeps 🏆

Photo: Michael Regan / Getty Images

Manchester City Takes Premier League Dominance to Next Level With 4th Straight Title -- What's Next for Pep Guardiola?

Manchester City entered Championship Sunday in the Premier League with one simple title scenario — win and clinch. They left no doubt. Phil Foden scored twice in the first 18 minutes, and City cruised to a 3-1 victory against West Ham. Just 160 miles south, Arsenal scored a 2-1 win over Everton, but it didn’t matter. The 38-match Premier League season was decided by just two points on the final day, and Pep Guardiola’s club lifted the trophy once again. It was City’s record-setting fourth straight EPL crown. No club in league history had ever completed the four-peat, until now. Guardiola’s long-term future at Man. City has plenty of question marks. He's reportedly getting tired. Tired of winning? Regardless, the longest stretch of Premier League titles is now complete.

Haaland’s 2nd Golden Boot: Despite not scoring in the finale, Erling Haaland (27) led the EPL in goals to earn his second Golden Boot award. He was five ahead of second on the list. The Premier League collective also set a record for the most goals in a season (1,246).

EPL Table (Final)

1. Man. City (91 pts)

2. Arsenal (89 pts)

3. Liverpool (82 pts)

4. Aston Villa (68 pts)

Rest of the Top-10: 5. Tottenham (66 pts), 6. Chelsea (63 pts), 7. Newcastle (60 pts), 8. Man. United (60 pts), 9. West Ham (52 pts), 10. Crystal Palace (49 pts)
Relegation (Bottom 3): 18. Luton Town (26 pts), 19. Burnley (24 pts), 20. Sheffield United (16 pts)

ESPN: Man City Boss Guardiola ‘Tired,’ Next Season Could Be Last

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

🏒 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Gm 6: Stars def. Avalanche (2-1, 2OT)

DAL Wins Series (4-2)

Matt Duchene Hits 2OT Winner

Gm 6: Panthers def. Bruins (2-1)

FLA Wins Series (4-2)

Gustav Forsling Scores Late Winner

Gm 6: Oilers def. Canucks (5-1)

Series Tied (3-3)

Edmonton Forces Game 7 Tonight