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Good Morning 👋 Ready to recap a wild Wednesday? - The NBA Finals are all but over. Boston, you can plan the parade. Coming back from a 3-0 series lead has never been done. Don’t count on it happening against this team.
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The 2024 U.S. Open tees off this morning from my favorite golf course, Pinehurst No. 2 (I got a chance to play there in 2016 — my worst score ever). You’ll find out why. The greens are diabolical.
- MLB’s Walk-Off Week gauntlet won’t quit. We saw two more walk-offs on Wednesday night.
Plus, we pay tribute to the man whose silhouette became the NBA trademark. Letter Rip! |
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Game 3: Celtics Can Smell Banner 18 |
Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images |
Celtics Nearly Blow 21-Point Lead But Strong-Arm Mavs in Game 3 (106-99), Take Commanding 3-0 Finals Lead
Print the banner and plan the parade! Game 3 of the NBA Finals was truly a game of runs (by both teams), but the Celtics are officially one game away from the franchise's 18th championship. Despite not having Kristaps Porzingis (calf injury), Boston used a 30-11 run in the third quarter to mount a 21-point lead after they trailed by as many as 13 in the first half. Dallas fired back with a 22-2 scoring run in the fourth to pull the game within three points (95-92), but Luka Doncic’s foul trouble and a few clamp-down defensive stops from the C’s closed it out. Doncic fouled out with 4:12 left in a three-point game. Brutal. Kyrie Irving (35 pts) tried to carry the load, but the duo of Jayson Tatum (31-6-5) and Jaylen Brown (30-8-8) brought their A-game. It’s 3-0 in favor of Boston, and no team has ever rallied from a 3-0 deficit in playoff history.
Banner No. 18 Rising: The Celtics are the first team since the 2017 Warriors to reel off a 10-game win streak in the postseason. Golden State went 16-1 in that playoff run. The Celtics are 15-2. Talk about dominant. The potential Finals-clinching Game 4 takes place Friday (8:30 pm ET, ABC). A win would give the franchise its 18th NBA Championship banner.
Top Scorers (Game 3) K. Irving (DAL): 35 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast J. Tatum (BOS): 31 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast
J. Brown (BOS): 30 pts, 8 rebs, 8 ast L. Doncic (DAL): 27 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast D. White (BOS): 16 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast D. Lively II (DAL): 11 pts, 13 reb *Jrue Holiday didn’t have huge numbers, but his defensive effort has been deserving of an honorary nod.
Watch: Celtics Push Mavs to the Brink (106-99) BOS Leads NBA Finals (3-0)
Game 4: Friday (8:30 pm ET, ABC) Read More
SI: Celtics Survive Wild Second Half to Take Commanding 3-0 Lead in NBA Finals
FOX Sports: Tatum & Brown Help Celtics Hold Off Huge Rally for 3-0 Lead in NBA Finals |
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Perplexing Pinehurst: The 2024 U.S. Open Has Carnage Coming |
Photo: Andrew Redington / Getty Images |
Scottie Scheffler’s Streak, Tiger Woods’ Return & The Perplexing Test of Pinehurst No. 2 (By Marissa Kasch)
It’s time to tee up for golf’s third major of the year at the historic Pinehurst No. 2. The field is stacked with the 156 best golfers in the world, minus Jon Rahm (foot injury). Though Scottie Scheffler is the obvious favorite after his win at the Memorial, there are plenty of other golfers poised to make a run for the U.S. Open Trophy. Between competitive groupings, defending champions, and one of golf’s most challenging courses, this weekend is sure to be full of drama and tradition.
⛳️ Pinehurst No. 2’s Perplexing Test
This year will mark Pinehurst’s fourth time hosting the U.S. Open, but that doesn’t mean veteran golfers are in the clear. The course requires accurate tee shots, precise approaches, and pristine putting to be successful. And success is subjective. The domed “turtleback” greens will present a challenge for golfers all weekend. Only four players have ever finished under par at a Pinehurst-hosted U.S. Open — Payne Stewart (1999), Martin Kaymer (2014), Rickie Fowler (2014), and Erik Compton (2014). The latter three were beneficiaries of favorable rain-softened conditions. If you want a sneak peek at just how difficult the greens are, watch this video.
📊 The Favorites & Pairings
All eyes will be on the 1:14 PM tee time featuring Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Scottie Scheffler – the top three favorites. Rory looks to avenge last year’s second-place finish. Schauffele has his sights set on back-to-back major wins after his victory at the PGA Championship. As for Scheffler, what’s left to say? He just looks unstoppable right now. This year also marks Tiger Woods’ return to the U.S. Open for the first time since 2020, and he says he’s ready for the hot and humid weather.
Best Odds: S. Scheffler (+300), X. Schauffele (+1100), R. McIlroy (+1200), C. Morikawa (+1500), B. Koepka (+1600), B. DeChambeau (+1600), V. Hovland (+1700), L. Aberg (+2000) | Full List of Odds Round 1 Tee Times (Featured Groups) 7:29 AM: W. Zalatoris, M. Fitzpatrick, T. Woods
7:40 AM: J. Thomas, C. Morikawa, B. Koepka 7:51 AM: R. Fowler, A. Hadwin, P. Mickelson 7:51 AM: T. Finau, L. Aberg, D. Johnson
1:14 PM: R. McIlroy, X. Schauffele, S. Scheffler 1:25 PM: B. Harman, N. Dunlap, W. Clark 1:25 PM: B. DeChambeau, V. Hovland, M. Homa
1:36 PM: H. Matsuyama, J. Spieth *All times ET Read More
Golfweek: Photos & Stats for Every Hole at Pinehurst No. 2 Course
AP: Tiger Woods Returns to Pinehurst After 19 Years & It’s Not the Same — Neither Is He
Golf Digest: Grandstand Seats are Reportedly Collapsing at Pinehurst Due to Construction Errors |
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Walk-Off Week Continues 🚨 |
Photo: Matt Thomas / Getty Images |
2 More Walk-Offs Give Baseball 6 Walk-Off Endings This Week
The bats are going wild! We saw four walk-off winners in the first three nights of the week. This story was earmarked if another occurred on Wednesday. It did. Then another. Two more walk-off winners last night brought this week’s total to six. The Mariners have been party to two walk-off wins while the White Sox and Astros have lost two via walk-off. Jackson Merrill also made history last night for the Padres, becoming the youngest player ever to close a multi-HR game with a walk-off (21 years, 54 days). If you’re a fan of dramatic finishes, this week is awesome.
A Year for the Bats: As great as some pitchers have been, Astros’ ace Ronel Blanco holds the only no-hitter of the season (Apr. 1). Batters are having a year, and it’s evident by the home run count. We’re currently on pace to see 10 players crack 40-plus home runs by season’s end. Rather than pick one walk-off and discredit the others, we figured a highlight reel was in order. Here are this week’s six walk-offs, and there's still time for more.
This Week’s MLB Walk-Off Winners Mitch Haniger’s Walk-Off Single
(Mariners def. White Sox, 2-1) Jackson Merrill’s Walk-Off Home Run (Padres def. A’s, 5-4) Brandon Lowe’s Walk-Off Home Run (Rays def. Cubs, 5-2)
Austin Slater’s Walk-Off Single (Giants def. Astros, 4-3)
Cal Raleigh’s Walk-Off Grand Slam (Mariners def. White Sox, 8-4)
Logan O’Hoppe’s Walk-Off HR (Angels def. Astros, 9-7)
Bonus Highlights Corey Seager Homers in Rangers Return
Twins Hang 17 Runs, 24 Hits on Rockies (17-9)
Orioles Oust Braves (4-2) for 6th Straight Win |
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Photo: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images |
NBA Legend Jerry West, Undisputed Basketball Royalty, Dies at Age 86
Jerry West, the inspiration for the NBA’s iconic logo, died yesterday in his home at the age of 86. West was one of the best general managers in NBA history, but he was first a founding star of the league in the 1960s. He played 14 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers (1960-1974) and accumulated nine titles in total as a player, scout, coach, and executive for the Lakers in the 1980s and 2000s before joining the Warriors (as an advisor) for the last decade.
Of course, West’s most notable claim to fame is his silhouette etched in the NBA’s trademark logo since 1969 (and forever more, according to commissioner Adam Silver). He’ll be inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame this October as a contributor to the game, making him the first enshrined as both a player and contributor. Rest in peace to the logo. 🙏
Read More NBC Sports: Remembering Jerry West, an Instrumental Architect of Warriors’ Dynasty CBS Sports: Remembering Jerry West: LeBron James, Pat Riley, Adam Silver & Others Honor the NBA Icon |
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🏈 Super Bowl or Bust
It’s a year-to-year league, and we’d do well to remember it. Every team has cause for optimism, every year. But in this parity-driven league, there are levels to this. Here are five teams that need to win big in 2024, or else. (FOX Sports)
⚽️ Euro 2024 Team Previews
Club football? It’s over. Put it out of your mind, at least for the next six weeks. Summer is international soccer season, and that formally begins on Friday when Germany and Scotland kick off Euro 2024. Which nation will be crowned European champs? (ESPN)
⚾️ Potential MLB Trade Chips
Trying to assess how this year’s Trade Deadline might play out can be an exercise in futility, with 24 of the 30 teams in the Majors entering play Tuesday within four games of a postseason spot. That doesn’t mean we can’t give it a shot, right? (MLB.com) |
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⛳️ U.S. Open Round 1 (All Day Coverage, NBC Sports)
🏒 Stanley Cup Finals Gm 3: Panthers at Oilers (8:00 pm ET, ABC) FLA Leads Series (2-0) ⚾️ MLB Braves at Orioles (1:05 pm ET, ESPN+) Angels at D-Backs (9:40 pm ET, FS1) Rangers at Dodgers (10:10 pm ET, MLBTV) 🏀 WNBA
Dream at Fever (7:00 pm ET, ESPN3) Storm at Wings (7:00 pm ET, ESPN)
Aces at Mercury (10:00 pm ET, PRIME) |
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Poll Results: The Over/Under 'Dogs' |
Yesterday, in honor of Joey Chestnut, we asked: What’s the highest hot dog count you’ve ever consumed in one sitting? We have some professional eaters in the audience. Quite the bell curve here. This question felt a little too personal, so we’ll let sleeping “dogs” lie (Eating five-plus glizzies better have been in a competitive setting). 1 Hot Dog — 11% 2 Hot Dogs — 28% 3 Hot Dogs — 29%
4 Hot Dogs — 15% 5+ Hot Dogs — 14%
Fun Fact: This was one of our most engaging polls. Thanks for playing along. |
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