The Sportsletter - The Porzingis Monster

BY JEFF YODER

JUNE 7, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

Another special sports summer weekend awaits. We’re crowning softball champs today as we sprint towards the French Open finales, but we start with Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The forgotten star just reminded the world that he’s a monster.

Letter Rip!

NBA FINALS 🏆

Game 1: The Porzingis 'Monster'

Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images

Kristaps Porzingis Drops 20 Off the Bench, 11 in 1st Quarter to Spark Celtics Blowout in Game 1 (107-89)

Well, that happened. We didn't forget about Kristaps Porzingis, but his impact in Game 1 made us realize that... maybe we did? He just made Boston an undeniable NBA Finals giant after a 'monster' Game 1 performance in limited minutes. Porzingis, who returned from a calf injury after missing the last two series, came off the bench in the first quarter last night and sent an absolute series-altering message. He played seven minutes in the first and took over on both ends of the floor (11 pts, 3 rebs, 3 blk). The game was relatively close until he checked in, then Boston led by 17 after Q1 thanks to a 23-5 run with Porzingis on the court.

"Kristaps had a monster game for us. Just his presence shooting the ball and then him being able to attack those switches and mismatches, he made 'em pay every time, and that's what we need going forward in the series." - Jaylen Brown

The Celtics led by as many as 29 before Luka Doncic caught fire and the Mavericks stormed back. Dallas cut the lead within eight, but Boston stepped on the gas late and sprinted back to a blowout. Don’t let the box score fool you. Porzingis is back, and his 20 points off the bench made the difference in Game 1.

Kristaps Porzingis Game 1 Stats

20 Points, 6 Rebounds, 3 Blocks (21 Minutes)

Play of the Game: Jaylen Brown Crosses Up Luka Doncic & Throws Down Poster

Other Top Players

L. Doncic (DAL): 30 pts, 10 rebs

J. Brown (BOS): 22 pts, 6 rebs
J. Tatum (BOS): 16 pts, 11 rebs, 5 asts

P. Washington (DAL): 14 pts, 8 rebs

K. Irving (DAL): 12 pts (0-for-5, 3pt)

Watch: Celtics, Porzingis Send Early Message to Mavs in Game 1 of NBA Finals (107-89)

Finals Fact: The Game 1 winner of the NBA Finals has won the series 70 percent of the time.

🏆 NBA Finals Schedule

Gm 2: Mavericks at Celtics (Sun. 8:00 pm, ABC)

BOS Leads Series (1-0)

NBC News: Celtics Dominate Mavericks in Game 1 of NBA Finals

SI: Doris Burke Becomes First Woman Broadcaster to Call a Men’s Championship in U.S. Sports History

WCWS

Sooner Celebration No. 4 🎉

Photo: Brendall O'Banon / Getty Images

#2 Oklahoma Beats #1 Texas (8-4) to Win Historic 4th-Straight WCWS Title

Make it four! The unbelievable story of the Oklahoma softball team ended with another photo finish in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma won Game 2 last night (8-4) in a best-of-3 series with top-seeded Texas to seal their fourth consecutive softball title. All nine batters reached base in Game 2 while a rotation of five different pitchers combined to shut down Texas. OU scored three runs in the 4th inning to break open a 2-2 tie. Rylie Boone (3-for-3), Kasidi Pickering (2-for-3, 2 RBIs), and Cydney Sanders (1-for-2, 3 RBIs) did the most damage at the plate.

Oklahoma’s Epic 4-Season Streak

With four straight softball crowns, Oklahoma has officially broken the record for most consecutive championships in NCAA history. The Sooners have rung up a 235-15 record during the past four seasons (.940 winning %). Head coach Patty Gasso claimed her eighth title in 30 seasons. That’s a national championship 27 percent of the time. Wow.

This year’s seniors have officially done nothing but win titles their entire collegiate careers. Congrats to Oklahoma!

Watch: Oklahoma Beats Texas (8-4) to Win Historic 4th WCWS Championship

Yahoo! Sports: Oklahoma Completes Unprecedented NCAA 4-Peat by Finishing Off Texas

TENNIS

Another No-Sweat Swiatek Sweep 🧹

Photo: Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images

#1 Iga Swiatek Ousts #3 Coco Gauff En Route to French Open Finals & Historic 3-Peat Opportunity

Iga Swiatek still owns Paris. The Polish superstar and No. 1 player took down #3 Coco Gauff in Thursday’s semifinal match with another straight-set sweep. Gauff battled her way to a 3-1 advantage in the second set, but the glimmer of hope faded as Swiatek quickly reeled off three straight games. Swiatek has dropped just one set in this year’s French Open run — that came against Naomi Osaka in Round 2. The back-to-back Roland-Garros champ has now won 20 straight matches at the French Open dating back to the 2021 quarterfinals. She won the tournament in 2020, 2022, and 2023. A three-peat looks inevitable. She’ll face Jasmine Paolini in the finals after the Italian ended Mirra Andreeva’s run in two quick sets. Finals matches coming!

Swiatek’s 3-Peat: With a win on Saturday, Swiatek will join Justine Henin (2005-2007) and Monica Seles (1991-1993) as the only women’s players to win three straight French Opens in the past 50 years.

Women’s Singles (Semifinals)

#1 I. Swiatek def. #3 C. Gauff (6-2, 6-4)

#12 J. Paolini def. M. Andreeva (6-3, 6-1)

Today’s Schedule (Men’s Semifinals)

#2 J. Sinner vs. #3 C. Alcaraz (8:30 am ET)

#4 A. Zverev vs. #7 C. Ruud (11:30 am ET)

🏆 Women’s Final: Saturday

🏆 Men’s Final: Sunday

EuroSport: Scintillating Swiatek Glides Into Final With Resounding Victory Over Coco Gauff

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

⚾️ MLB

Reds Roll Cubs (8-4)

Elly De La Cruz Homers in 1-Year Anny

Red Sox Bash White Sox (14-2)

Chicago Loses Record 14th Straight Game

Dodgers Respond to Pirates (11-7)

Betts, Freeman & Hernandez Hit HRs

Yankees Sweep Twins (8-5)

NYY Wins 8th Straight Game

🏀 WNBA

Liberty def. Dream (78-61)

Breanna Stewart Stars (25 pts, 10 rebs)

Sky def. Mystics (79-71)

Chennedy Carter Goes for Season-High 25 Points

⛳️ PGA Tour

Adam Hadwin (-6) Leads R1 at Memorial Tournament

Scottie Scheffler (-5) in 2nd One Stroke Back

STORYLINES

🏒 The Lakers Offer to Dan Hurley

Despite all the J.J. Redick speculation, the Lakers are reportedly preparing a ‘massive’ offer to UConn head coach Dan Hurley. The back-to-back national championship winner in college basketball might be unable to turn this down. (CBS Sports)

🏀 The Utah Hockey Nickname Finalists

The new Utah NHL team has narrowed its nickname choices to six finalists through a fan poll that received 520,000 votes. The finalists: Blizzard, Mammoth, Outlaws, Venom, Yeti, and the ever-classic Utah Hockey Club (Utah HC). (ESPN)

⛳️ The Game of Golf Remains Lost

Exactly one year after the historic PGA-LIV ‘agreement’ in 2023, golf appears as lost as ever. There’s still no answer to the sport’s future, and no path out of the darkness. Men’s professional golf is stuck in a swampy mire of its own creation. (Yahoo! Sports)

NEWS 📰

🌊 Indy’s Lucas Oil Stadium Transformed Into 2 Giant Swimming Pools for 2024 Olympic Swim Trials (CBS Sports)

🏈 Bucs & WR Sterling Shepard Agree to 1-Year Deal, Reuniting With Baker Mayfield (B/R)

🏈 Chiefs DL B.J. Thompson in Hospital After Cardiac Arrest at Practice (ESPN)

🏈 Vikings Unveil All-White ‘Winter Warrior’ Alternate Jerseys for 2024 (FOX Sports)

🏁 Former NASCAR Driver Tighe Scott Arrested for Alleged Role in January 6th (Yahoo! Sports)

⚾️ Yankees’ Juan Soto Exits With Forearm Injury (SI)

🏀 Ex-NBA Player Delonte West Arrested on 2 Misdemeanor Chargers (ESPN)

WEEKEND SCHEDULE 🗓️

The Weekend Must-Watch List

🎾 French Open (Final Weekend)

M: #2 J. Sinner vs. #3 C. Alcaraz (Fri. 8:30 am)