Survival Mode

05/11/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning.

We’ve got a new design this morning, and the fresh upgrades will keep coming, so keep sticking around. Speaking of sticking around, three NBA/NHL playoff teams staved off elimination on Wednesday. Plus, we’ve got Champions League coverage, MLB history and the NFL schedule reveal.

Letter Rip!

NBA PLAYOFFS

Survival Mode: Knicks & Dubs Stay Alive

Knicks (Heat) & Warriors (Lakers) Take Game 5s at Home to Stay Alive, Force Game 6s

The Knicks and Warriors entered Wednesday on life support, attempting to climb out of a 3-1 series deficit. The stats say teams trailing 3-1 come back to win just 4 percent of the time, but both New York and Golden State were hosting Game 5s at home. The result? Comfortable wins. The Knicks overcame an early double-digit deficit to hold off the Heat behind Jalen Brunson’s 38-point performance. Brunson never left the floor and played a full 48 minutes while New York held Jimmy Butler under 20 points for the first time this postseason. The Warriors were in control of the Lakers from tip to horn, winning three out of four quarters and holding off a late run. Steph Curry (27) and Andrew Wiggins (25) had the hot hands, but Draymond Green (20-10-4-2-1) was the “do-it-all” guy in Game 5. The defending champs are still breathing, but they head back to Los Angeles for Game 6. The Lakers are 8-0 in their last eight home games dating back to the regular season.

Conference Semifinals Highlights

Gm 5: Knicks def. Heat (112-103) | MIA Leads (3-2)

Gm 5: Warriors def. Lakers (121-106) | LAL Leads (3-2)

Top Performers

J. Brunson (NYK): 38 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists

S. Curry (GSW): 27 points, 8 assists

R. Barrett (NYK): 26 points, 7 rebounds

L. James (LAL): 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists

A. Wiggins (GSW): 25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists

NBA Playoffs Bracket

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 6: Celtics at 76ers (7:30 pm ET, ESPN) | PHI Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Nuggets at Suns (10:00 pm ET, ESPN) | DEN Leads (3-2)

USA Today: Warriors Fight Off Elimination to Force Game 6 in L.A.

CBS Sports: League Announces All-NBA 1st, 2nd & 3rd Team Selections

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NHL PLAYOFFS

‘Brick Woll’ Keeps Leafs Alive

Rookie Goalie Joseph Woll Helps Maple Leafs Avoid Sweep; Oilers Fire Back to Even Series With Vegas

With a chance to notch the first sweep of the NHL postseason, at home, no less, the Florida Panthers couldn’t get it done. The Maple Leafs had their backs up against the wall in Game 4 facing elimination on the road, and they turned to 24-year-old rookie goaltender Joseph Woll (24 saves). Mitchell Marner had his fingerprints on both goals (1 goal, 1 assist), and the Leafs are alive. Out west, the Oilers fired back to even the series with the Golden Knights in what appears to be a seven-game dogfight. The Edmonton duo of Leon Draisaitl (1 assist) and Connor McDavid (2 assists) were held scoreless for the second straight game, but they found their teammates in Game 4.

Conference Semifinals Highlights

Gm 4: Maple Leafs def. Panthers (2-1) | FLA Leads (3-1)

Gm 4: Oilers def. Golden Knights (4-1) | Series Tied (2-2)

NHL Playoffs Bracket

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 5: Devils at Hurricanes (7:00 pm ET, TNT) | CAR Leads (3-1)

Gm 5: Kraken at Stars (9:30 pm ET, TNT) | Series Tied (2-2)

SportsNet: Oilers Fire Back at Golden Knights in Game 4, Even Series 2-2

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NFL

NFL Schedule: Christmas Comes Early

NFL Reveals Holiday & International Matchups Before Tonight’s Full 2023 Schedule Reveal (8:00 pm ET, NFL Network & ESPN2)

Football fans are hitting that “dead period” in the calendar between the NFL Draft and training camp surges, unless you’re a diehard XFL fan enjoying the spring slate. Tonight brings a welcome preview to the 2023 NFL season as the league reveals the schedule. We already know the team-by-team matchups, but only seven games were released yesterday (holiday and international). A Giants-Eagles rivalry in Philly on Christmas Day? Seems like a recipe for more snowballs and Santa. Tonight gives every fan a rundown of which Sundays are most important next fall.

Holiday Games

Black Friday: Dolphins at Jets (Fri. 11/24, 3:00 pm ET)
Christmas Day: Giants at Eagles (Mon. 12/25, 4:30 pm ET)
New Year’s Eve: Bengals at Chiefs (Sun. 12/31, 4:25 pm ET)

International Games

London: Jaguars at Falcons (Sun. 10/1, 9:30 am ET)
London: Bills at Jaguars (Sun. 10/8, 9:30 am ET)
London: Ravens at Titans (Sun. 10/15, 9:30 am ET)
Frankfurt: Chiefs at Dolphins (Sun. 11/5, 9:30 am ET)
Frankfurt: Colts at Patriots (Sun. 11/12, 9:30 am ET)

NFL: Early Matchups Announced for 2023 NFL Schedule

NBC Sports: Everything You Need to Know About the NFL Schedule Release

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Inter in Charge of Italian Rivalry

UCL Leg 1s: Inter Pace Milan in Semifinal (2-0); Real Madrid & Man. City Deadlocked (1-1)

The UEFA Champions League is now 1/2 through the semifinals after Wednesday’s all-Italy clash between Inter and AC Milan — the Derby della Madonnina. The two clubs both use San Siro as their home turf, so there’s no shortage of rivalry reels in this one. Inter used two early strikes from their veteran stars as Edin Dzeko (8’) fired a one-timer off a corner kick and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (11’) smashed one minutes later to put the pressure on their crosstown rivals in Leg 1. Tuesday’s semifinal clash between the holders (Real Madrid) and Manchester City was a 1-1 draw to set up an exciting second leg. A full season of European kicking comes down to the next few next weeks as the upcoming Leg 2s will tee up the Champions League finale on June 10.

Champions League Semifinals (Leg 1s)

Inter def. AC Milan (2-0)

Real Madrid draw Manchester City (1-1)

Leg 2 Schedule

Inter vs. AC Milan (Tues. 5/16, 3:00 pm ET)

Man. City vs. Real Madrid (Wed. 5/17, 3:00 pm ET)

Champions League Final: June 10 (3:00 pm ET)

ESPN: Both Man. City & Real Madrid Held Back. Who’ll Cut Loose in Leg 2?

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MLB

Quick-Hitters: Jansen Gets 400th Save

Jansen Makes History With 400th Save: Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen stepped in to seal the win over the Braves last night, recording his 400th career save and notching a bit of history. The 35-year-old righty becomes just the seventh pitcher in league history with 400 saves, joining a list that’s headlined by Mariano Rivera (652) (Red Sox def. Braves, 5-2).

Volpe’s Slam Helps Yanks Sweep: Yankees’ rookie Anthony Volpe became the youngest player in franchise history to notch a grand slam, and his blast helped the pinstripes complete their first series sweep of the season (Yankees def. A’s, 11-3).

Verlander Beats ‘Em All: Justin Verlander tossed a 7-K, 1-run gem at Great American Ballpark to become the 21st pitcher in league history to beat all 30 teams (Mets def. Reds, 2-1).

O’s Overpower Rays, Again: Not today, Tampa. The Orioles just beat the AL leaders for the second straight game and won this week’s series. Baltimore (24-13) is just five games back of Tampa Bay (29-9) (Orioles def. Rays, 2-1).

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NEWS

Today’s Headlines

NWSL Commissioner Reveals Plans to Expand to 16 Teams by 2026 (USA Today)
Toronto Raptors to Interview J.J. Redick for Head Coaching Job (B/R)
Coach K Lands New Job as Special Advisor to NBA Operations (SI)
Saints Sign TE Foster Moreau to 3-Year, $12 Million Deal Amid Hodgkin Lymphoma Recovery (Yahoo! Sports)
Father of Georgia Football Player Who Died in Car Crash Files Lawsuit Against University (ESPN)
West Virginia Suspends Coach Bob Huggings, Cuts $1 Million in Salary for Homophobic Slur (CBS Sports)
DJ Rodman, Son of NBA Legend Dennis Rodman, Transfers to USC (AP News)

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NFL Schedule Release

Tonight (8:00 pm ET, NFL Network & ESPN2)

NBA Playoffs

Gm 6: Celtics at 76ers (7:30 pm ET, ESPN) | PHI Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Nuggets at Suns (10:00 pm ET, ESPN) | DEN Leads (3-2)

NHL Playoffs

Gm 5: Devils at Hurricanes (7:00 pm ET, TNT) | CAR Leads (3-1)

Gm 5: Kraken at Stars (9:30 pm ET, TNT) | Series Tied (2-2)

MLB

Rays at Yankees (7:05 pm ET, MLBN)

PGA

AT&T Byron Nelson, Round 1 (ESPN+/Paramount+)