The Sportsletter - Hump Day Highlights 🎥

BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 16, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

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Good Morning,

This mid-week edition pumps the brake on news, but it's full gas on highlights across basketball, hockey and soccer. Hot streaks, milestones and extra-time winners incoming. The fun never stops, and neither do we.

Letter Rip!

NBA

Boston Rising ⬆️

Photo: Omar Rawlings / Getty Images

Celtics Capture 9th Straight Win to Surge Up Eastern Conference Playoff Race

The Boston Celtics were below .500 (23-24) on January 21, but the NBA’s hottest team in the last month is only getting better. The C’s won their ninth straight game last night by crushing the 76ers in a 48-point burial (135-87). Jayson Tatum (28) and Jaylen Brown (29) combined for 57 points. And just like that — winners in 11 of their last 12 — the Celtics (34-25) are 3.5 games back of the Eastern Conference lead. Boston is rising, and the East is on notice.

Watch: Celtics Crush 76ers (135-87) for 9th Straight Win

Other NBA Highlights

Giannis Gets Another 50-Piece: Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in a season-high 50 points on Tuesday night in the Bucks’ win over the Pacers (128-119). His first 50-piece of the season was also his 7th game with 40-or-more points.

Trae Young Drops 41: The Hawks bested the Cavs (124-116) behind Trae Young’s 41 points and nine assists.

Towns Goes Off in Wolves Win: The Timberwolves held off the Hornets in overtime (126-120, OT) behind Karl-Anthony Towns’ 39-point, 15-rebound performance.

NHL

Crosby's 500th Lamp 🚨

Photo: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images

Sidney Crosby Nets 500th Career Goal as Penguins Rally to Beat Flyers (5-4, OT)

Another milestone for Sid the Kid! Penguins’ center Sidney Crosby scored his 500th career goal on Tuesday night, joining Alex Ovechkin (761) as the second active player to hit the 500 mark. He’s the 46th player in NHL history with 500-or-more goals, and he helped lead a Penguins’ comeback over the Flyers (5-4, OT). Kris Letang netted the overtime winner 31 seconds into overtime to complete the comeback and a celebratory night in Pittsburgh.

Watch: Sidney Crosby Scores 500th Career Goal

Other NHL Highlights

Rangers Win 9-Round Shootout: A marathon shootout in the northeast saw the Rangers top the Bruins (2-1) after a nine rounds. K’Andre Miller scored the winner after 12 consecutive saves.

Ovechkin Hits 30 for 16th Season: Alex Ovechkin scored two goals in the Capitals’ 4-1 win over the Predators to reach the 30-goal mark for a 16th season. Head coach Peter Laviolette also recorded his 700th career win.

Stars Snap Avs’ Point Streak: Colorado’s 19-game point streak came to an end on Tuesday night at the hands of the Dallas Stars (4-1). Joe Pavelski tallied two goals as Dallas handed the Avalanche their first regulation loss at home since Oct. 26.

SOCCER

Mbappe at the Buzzer

Photo: Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images

Champions League Knockouts: Manchester City Thrash Sporting (5-0); PSG Escape Real Madrid (1-0) on Kylian Mbappe’s Extra-Time Winner

The UEFA Champions League is back, and Tuesday’s action brought Leg 1 of the Round of 16 knockout stage. Manchester City blew out the competition from Sporting (5-0) with four first-half goals, including two from Bernardo Silva. In a more competitive match, PSG edged out Real Madrid (1-0) courtesy of Kylian Mbappe’s extra-time winner. The 23-year-old PSG winger split two defenders in the 94th minute and punched in a massive point. More Leg 1 matches take the pitch today.

Yesterday’s Highlights

PSG def. Real Madrid (1-0)

Manchester City def. Sporting (5-0)

Today’s Schedule

RB Salzburg vs. Bayern Munich (3:00 pm ET)

Inter vs. Liverpool (3:00 pm ET)

Upcoming Matches: Tuesday & Wednesday (Feb. 22-23)

Additional Storylines

Sky Sports: Man. City Make Statement With Five-Star Show

BeIN Sports: Mbappe Shows Los Blancos What They’re Missing With Late Winner

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🎥THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 NCAA Men’s Basketball

#16 Tennessee def. #4 Kentucky (76-63)

#10 Villanova def. #8 Providence (89-84)

#9 Duke def. Wake Forest (76-74)

🏅 Winter Olympics Medal Count

Norway (26)

ROC (20)

United States (19)

Germany (18)

Canada (17)

Austria (16)

Japan (14)

Winter Olympics News & Highlights

THE STORYLINES

🏈  Quarterbacks on the Move

After Rams win Super Bowl 2022 with Matthew Stafford, which NFL QBs and teams could be eyeing big moves? Here’s a look at which signal-callers could be eyeing a relocation. (CBS Sports)

🏎️  The Daytona 500 Lineup

NASCAR’s biggest race also has the most complicated process to determine who gets in and how they line up. On Wednesday, drivers begin the process to set up Sunday’s race. (FOX Sports)

🏀  Which Team Will Win the East?

The cases for and against each of the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference to make the Finals after a very busy NBA trade deadline… (The Ringer)

📰 THE HEADLINES

Simone Biles Announces Engagement to Houston Texans CB Jonathan Owens

(ESPN)

James Harden Misses Deadline to File Paperwork for 76ers Contract Opt-In

(Bleacher Report)

Novak Djokovic Says He’s Prepared to Skip French Open & Wimbledon Over Vaccine Mandate

(SI)

NFL Reporter Michele Tafoya to Chair Minnesota GOP Campaign After Super Bowl Exit

(Yahoo! Sports)

Tom Brady’s Ex-Patriots Peers Don’t Believe QB is Actually Retiring

(CBS Sports)

Russian Speedskater Apologizes for Flashing Middle Fingers After Team Win vs. USA

(USA Today)

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