Lillard’s Lights-Out Loss

06/02/2021

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning,

After a wild weekend, we’re back to the mid-week playoff grind. And if you like superhuman, streaky shooting highlights, you’ll love this. The hands on the clock read ‘Dame Time’ on multiple occasions last night, but the final score read ‘Denver.’ An instant classic…

Letter Rip!

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NBA PLAYOFFS

Dame vs. Denver: A Can’t-Miss Moment

Photo: Aaron Ontiveroz / Getty Images

Damian Lillard Scores 55 Points, Hits 2 OT-Forcing 3s, But Nuggets Prevail in Game 5 Thriller (147-140, 2OT)

Game of the year? It’s gotta be up there. The Nuggets and Blazers entered Game 5 in a tied series (2-2) with a swing game hanging in the balance, and it took an additional 10 minutes (two overtimes) to find a winner. Damian Lillard (55 points) broke the NBA Playoff record with 12 3s in an other-worldly shooting night (17-for-24, FG / 12-for-17, 3-pt) that included not one, but two game-tying 3s at the end of regulation and OT. Lillard also tallied the NBA’s first-ever 55-point, 10-assist postseason game. But despite Dame’s stunning performance, Nikola Jokic (38 pts, 11 rebs, 9 asts, 4 blks) and the Nuggets took the edge in the series (3-2).

Nuggets-Blazers Series Scoring Breakdown

D. Lillard (POR): 35.6 ppg (47.3% shooting)

N. Jokic (DEN): 32.4 ppg (53.9% shooting)

Watch: Jokic & Lillard Deliver Epic Battle in Double-OT Game 5 Thriller

Other NBA Playoff Highlights

Gm 5: Nets def. Celtics (123-109)

Brooklyn’s Big 3 of James Harden (34), Kevin Durant (24) and Kyrie Irving (25) combined for 83 points in last night’s Game 5 win (123-109), including a 34-point triple-double from Harden. The Nets’ Big 3 is now 10-3 this season (regular and postseason) when all three stars play together. They’ll face the Milwaukee Bucks in Round 2. BKN Wins Series (4-1)

Gm 5: Suns def. Lakers (115-85)

We knew the Lakers would be short-handed without Anthony Davis in Game 5 due to a groin injury, but this was something else. The Suns held L.A. to just ten points in the second quarter as they took a 30-point halftime lead — the largest playoff halftime deficit in LeBron James’ career. Devin Booker had a game-high 30 points, and Phoenix just pushed the defending champs to the brink. PHX Leads Series (3-2)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 5: Wizards at 76ers (7:00 pm ET)

PHI Leads Series (3-1)

Gm 5: Hawks at Knicks (7:30 pm ET)

ATL Leads Series (3-1)

Gm 5: Grizzlies at Jazz (9:30 pm ET)

UTA Leads Series (3-1)

Gm 5: Mavericks at Clippers (10:00 pm ET)

Series Tied (2-2)

Additional Storylines

NBA.com: NBA Players React to Damian Lillard’s 55-Point Performance

Clutch Points: Devin Booker, Suns Hand LeBron James Embarrassing Loss in Game 5

ESPN: What Happens Next in These Wild West Playoffs?

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NFL

When Will the Stars Move?

Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images

Now That June 1 Has Passed, How Long Will We Wait Before Aaron Rodgers & Julio Jones Get Traded?

Yesterday was the day NFL fans were waiting for… One month after the NFL Draft and two months before training camps, the offseason seemed to hit a dry spell, but June 1 was a key date that opens up more possibilities. Teams can now trade or cut players for the 2021 season and spread salary cap hits to future years when the cap number grows significantly. That means the biggest names on everyone’s radar — Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Falcons WR Julio Jones — are now officially in play. The Packers and Falcons can move their high-priced trade targets and avoid eating dead-cap charges of $38 million and $15 million, respectively.

So Now What?

The waiting game. The Packers remain adamant that they’re not trading Rodgers, but the Falcons know they’ll have to ship Jones in the coming weeks. Who knows? Maybe the Packers will do the unthinkable and trade for Jones to try and keep Rodgers in Green Bay. Either way, it’s June, and the stars can finally move.

Additional Storylines

Forbes: Trading Aaron Rodgers is Much Easier for the Green Bay Packers Now

Sporting News: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport Outlines Timeline for Falcons to Move Julio Jones

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NHL

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 2

Photo: Grant Halverson / Getty Images

Here’s Where the Remaining 8 Teams Stand in the NHL Playoffs

After a busy weekend around the sports world, it’s time to get caught up on the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Three of the four 2nd-round series are already underway with the Canadiens and Jets dropping the puck tonight. The Lightning and Avalanche are off to hot starts in Round 2. Here’s where they stand heading into June.

West

#1 Avalanche vs. #2 Golden Knights

COL Leads Series (1-0)

North

#3 Jets vs. #4 Canadiens

Series Tied (0-0)

East

#3 Bruins vs. #4 Islanders

Series Tied (1-1)

Central

#1 Hurricanes vs. #3 Lightning

TBL Leads Series (2-0)

Tonight’s Schedule

Canadiens at Jets (7:30 pm ET)

Golden Knights at Avalanche (10:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

NHL: Fleury, Grubauer and Vasilevskiy Named Finalists for Vezina Trophy

USA Today: Defending Champion Lightning Put Hurricanes in 2-0 Series Hole

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TENNIS

French Open: Round 1 Highlights

Men’s Singles

(1) N. Djokovic def. T. Sandgren (6-2, 6-4, 6-2)

(3) R. Nadal def. A. Popyrin (6-3, 6-2, 7-6)

Women’s Singles

(1) A. Barty def. B. Pera (6-4, 3-6, 6-2)

(24) C. Gauff def. A. Krunic (7-6, 6-4)

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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

️ MLB: Phillies Bash 7 HRs in 17-Run Thrashing

Holy homers! The Philadelphia Phillies smashed seven home runs in Tuesday’s blowout against the Reds. Odubel Herrera and Andrew McCutchen smacked two bombs apiece as the Phillies scored a season-high 17 runs (17-3). Pitcher Aaron Nola got the win and reached the 1,000-strikeout milestone on a night with epic run support.

WNBA: Kia Nurse Hits a Logo Game-Winner!

The shot of the year in the WNBA now belongs to Kia Nurse. Nurse hit five 3s in the Mercury’s win on Tuesday against the Sky (84-83), but none bigger than the game-winner… from the logo! Nurse took a rebound with three seconds left, dribbled to half-court and sunk a miraculous shot to cap a double-digit Mercury comeback.

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THE STORYLINES

Everything to Know About the 2021 Tokyo Olympics

Here’s everything you need to know about when the Olympics will start, the schedule for this year’s premier events and how you can watch Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky and the rest of Team USA’s stars compete for gold. (USA Today)

️ Helio Castroneves’ Indy 500 Legend

With hundreds of fans surging against the metal barriers surrounding Victory Circle, wildly chanting his name, Helio Castroneves played the crowd with the same virtuosity as behind the wheel… “Let me tell you, it’s not the end of it, it’s the beginning.” (NBC Sports)

🥊 3 Storylines: Mayweather vs. Paul

Floyd Mayweather will return to the boxing ring on Sunday night, battling YouTube star Logan Paul in an exhibition match from Miami Gardens, Florida. The fight between 44-year-old Mayweather and Paul, 18 years Mayweather’s junior and likely 50 pounds bigger on fight night, is drawing big attention as a unique spectacle. (CBS Sports)

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THE HEADLINES