Astros Win First World Series Title in Franchise History
Not many people gave the Houston Astros a chance to win Wednesday night's Game 7 after they threw Justin Verlander to the mound for Game 6, but Sports Illustrated gave the Astros' the best chance to win it all before the season even began. The reasoning behind that early prediction is what came through at Dodger Stadium, as eventual MVP George Springer hit his fifth home run of the World Series, leading the Astros to a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The win gives Houston their first World Series title in its 55 years of existence, as they overcame a Game-6 loss on Tuesday. After the Astros started Lance McCullers Jr., it was Charlie Morton who came in to shut things down with four innings of one-run baseball in relief. Los Angeles got themselves in to an early 5-1 deficit and did all they could to stay in the game, including putting in Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen. The Dodgers' ace threw four innings and struck out four without allowing a run. Yu Darvish struggled for the second time this series, allowing all five runs in just 1.2 innings. Springer's long ball ended Darvish's night, as he tied Chase Utley's 2009 and Reggie Jackson's 1977 World Series record for long balls in the Fall Classic. The night got even better with Carlos Correa proposing to his girlfriend during the on-field celebration, while Justin Verlander announced that he and Kate Upton are getting married this weekend following his first World Series title. All of that gives the city of Houston plenty to celebrate over, and the best part is, they could just be getting started.
Warren Goes Off For 40, Suns Get Back to .500
The Phoenix Suns got off to a struggling start to their season, both on and off the court, but somehow they have turned things around after an early coaching change. T.J. Warren went off for 40 points and 10 rebounds in the Suns' 122-116 shootout win over the Washington Wizards. Warren scored 28 of his points in the fourth quarter, as his total set a career high for himself. The win for Phoenix gets them back to .500 at 4-4 after beginning the year 0-3, as the were able to overcome a 22-point deficit. On the other hand, the loss was tough for the Wizards on their home floor, as Bradley Beal had 40 points of his own, but the Suns out-shot the Wizards 49 percent to 44 percent. Warren helped that out by going 16 of 22 from the floor, as he has now posted two of the top four scoring games on the young season. The night before he put up 20 points in the fourth quarter of another road win over the Brooklyn Nets. Devin Booker added 22 to help the Suns improve to 4-1 under new head coach Jay Triano. Washington got 21 points from John Wall, but were without Otto Porter Jr. and Markieff Morris in their third loss of the year. Phoenix will look to stay hot when they continue their road trip in New York against the Knicks on Friday. The Wizards look to bounce back on Friday night at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cavs Struggles Continue With Fourth Straight Loss
Speaking of the defending two-time Eastern Conference Champions, the Kyrie Irving-less Cleveland Cavaliers continued to struggle on Thursday with a 124-107 loss on their home floor against the Indiana Pacers. The loss is their fourth in a row, a streak that sees them losing by a combined 58 points, which is the worst skid in LeBron James's career. Thaddeus Young led the way for the Pacers with 26 points, while Darren Collison contributed 25, as both teams finished with at least 50 percent shooting from the floor. The difference was the three-point shooting, as the Pacers shot 61 percent from beyond the arc, while the Cavs shot just 21 percent from downtown. James did post his numbers, finishing with 33 points and 11 assists, but his team lost for the fifth time in six games, falling to 3-5 on the young season. This follows a 19-point loss at home to the New York Knicks, as the skid also features a double-digit loss to the Orlando Magic. The Pacers took advantage of the Cavs allowing the second-most three-pointers in the league, as they finished 16-for-26 in that category. Indiana improved to 5-3 on the season, as recent addition Victor Oladipo had 23 points, while another, Domantas Sabonis, recorded another double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Cavs now hit the road for a tough matchup with the Washington Wizards on Friday, while the Pacers head to Philadelphia for a game with the young 76ers.
Not many people gave the Houston Astros a chance to win Wednesday night's Game 7 after they threw Justin Verlander to the mound for Game 6, but Sports Illustrated gave the Astros' the best chance to win it all before the season even began. The reasoning behind that early prediction is what came through at Dodger Stadium, as eventual MVP George Springer hit his fifth home run of the World Series, leading the Astros to a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The win gives Houston their first World Series title in its 55 years of existence, as they overcame a Game-6 loss on Tuesday. After the Astros started Lance McCullers Jr., it was Charlie Morton who came in to shut things down with four innings of one-run baseball in relief. Los Angeles got themselves in to an early 5-1 deficit and did all they could to stay in the game, including putting in Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen. The Dodgers' ace threw four innings and struck out four without allowing a run. Yu Darvish struggled for the second time this series, allowing all five runs in just 1.2 innings. Springer's long ball ended Darvish's night, as he tied Chase Utley's 2009 and Reggie Jackson's 1977 World Series record for long balls in the Fall Classic. The night got even better with Carlos Correa proposing to his girlfriend during the on-field celebration, while Justin Verlander announced that he and Kate Upton are getting married this weekend following his first World Series title. All of that gives the city of Houston plenty to celebrate over, and the best part is, they could just be getting started.
Warren Goes Off For 40, Suns Get Back to .500
The Phoenix Suns got off to a struggling start to their season, both on and off the court, but somehow they have turned things around after an early coaching change. T.J. Warren went off for 40 points and 10 rebounds in the Suns' 122-116 shootout win over the Washington Wizards. Warren scored 28 of his points in the fourth quarter, as his total set a career high for himself. The win for Phoenix gets them back to .500 at 4-4 after beginning the year 0-3, as the were able to overcome a 22-point deficit. On the other hand, the loss was tough for the Wizards on their home floor, as Bradley Beal had 40 points of his own, but the Suns out-shot the Wizards 49 percent to 44 percent. Warren helped that out by going 16 of 22 from the floor, as he has now posted two of the top four scoring games on the young season. The night before he put up 20 points in the fourth quarter of another road win over the Brooklyn Nets. Devin Booker added 22 to help the Suns improve to 4-1 under new head coach Jay Triano. Washington got 21 points from John Wall, but were without Otto Porter Jr. and Markieff Morris in their third loss of the year. Phoenix will look to stay hot when they continue their road trip in New York against the Knicks on Friday. The Wizards look to bounce back on Friday night at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cavs Struggles Continue With Fourth Straight Loss
Speaking of the defending two-time Eastern Conference Champions, the Kyrie Irving-less Cleveland Cavaliers continued to struggle on Thursday with a 124-107 loss on their home floor against the Indiana Pacers. The loss is their fourth in a row, a streak that sees them losing by a combined 58 points, which is the worst skid in LeBron James's career. Thaddeus Young led the way for the Pacers with 26 points, while Darren Collison contributed 25, as both teams finished with at least 50 percent shooting from the floor. The difference was the three-point shooting, as the Pacers shot 61 percent from beyond the arc, while the Cavs shot just 21 percent from downtown. James did post his numbers, finishing with 33 points and 11 assists, but his team lost for the fifth time in six games, falling to 3-5 on the young season. This follows a 19-point loss at home to the New York Knicks, as the skid also features a double-digit loss to the Orlando Magic. The Pacers took advantage of the Cavs allowing the second-most three-pointers in the league, as they finished 16-for-26 in that category. Indiana improved to 5-3 on the season, as recent addition Victor Oladipo had 23 points, while another, Domantas Sabonis, recorded another double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Cavs now hit the road for a tough matchup with the Washington Wizards on Friday, while the Pacers head to Philadelphia for a game with the young 76ers.
