Celtics Overcome LeBron, Cavs For 2-0 Series Lead
The Boston Celtics are turning in to the new team that is "trusting the process" despite this being a little more forced, even though it's working for them. The young team kept rolling without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, overcoming LeBron James's triple-double for a 107-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 2-0 Eastern Conference Finals lead on Tuesday night. Jaylen Brown had 23 points to lead the Celtics, as they overcame a double digit deficit in the first half. James finished with 42 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, but did not get much help outside of that on the night. James was even knocked out of the game for a moment after taking a shoulder to the head from Jayson Tatum in the second quarter. "The King" did return, but was diagnosed with a strained neck, and the Cavs were outscored by 19 after he returned. Terry Rozier chipped in with 18 points, while Al Horford had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, as the Celtics improved to 9-0 at the TD Garden in the postseason. They are sitting with all of the momentum on their side, as they have never blown a 2-0 lead in a playoff series. The Cavs got off to a quick start with 27 points in the first quarter, 21 of which was scored by LeBron, which tied a personal playoff career high for points in a quarter, He ended up with his fifth 40-point game this postseason. Despite that, the Celtics outscored the Cavs 59-39 in the second half, as Cleveland got no closer than eight points in the final 24 minutes. The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday night.
Lightning Get on the Board in the ECF
Home-ice advantage just isn't a thing in the Eastern Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the road team improved to 3-0 in the series on Tuesday night. Victor Hedman had a goal and two assists, as the Tampa Bay Lightning cut their series deficit to 2-1 with a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves between the pipes, as the Lightning overcame back to back home losses to begin the series. Both of Hedman's assists came on the power play on goals from Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. Hedman's goal was the first of the playoffs for him, as the defenseman was also a big part of three huge penalty kills to hold the lead. Hedman finished with a team-high of 25:08 of ice time, proving why he is a Norris Trophy finalist this season. Brayden Point also found the back of the net for the Lightning, who overcame goals from Brett Connolly and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Tampa Bay nearly lost two big stars, as Steven Stamkos left after taking a puck to his right knee and Tyler Johnson left after a brutal cross-check. Fortunately, both players returned just minutes later. The series will stay in our nation's capital on Thursday night, as the Lightning will hope to even the series before returning home. Stamkos revealed the Lightning's mindset after the game, saying "we haven't done anything yet."
Mariners' Cano Suspended 80 Games for Drug Violation
Another big Major League Baseball name has been added to the list of those caught in the drug program. Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano was suspended 80 games on Tuesday afternoon after testing positive for a banned substance. Cano reportedly tested positive for diuretic furosemide, which violates the league's drug prevention and treatment program, as it is viewed as a masking agent. Cano will not appeal this ban, just days after suffering a fractured bone in his hand after a hit by pitch on Sunday afternoon. The former Yankee was expected to miss 6-8 weeks following surgery for the injury. What makes it no surprise that Cano will not appeal is the rule that MLB is not allowed to suspend a player for diuretic furosemide unless they can prove that he used it as a masking agent, which was the case in this situation. Cano did deny ever taking a performance-enhancing drug, claiming "I would never do anything to cheat the rules of the game." Cano reportedly tested positive before the season and appealed the test before any punishment was handed out. During that appeal is when the league proved Cano's intent, which led to the second baseman dropping his appeal. Cano claims that he was given diuretic furosemide by a doctor in the Dominican Republic, as the drug is used to "treat various medical conditions." Despite all of that, Cano will still sit out, and is now also ineligible for the postseason, which his Seattle Mariners do expect to fight to be a part of.
The Boston Celtics are turning in to the new team that is "trusting the process" despite this being a little more forced, even though it's working for them. The young team kept rolling without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, overcoming LeBron James's triple-double for a 107-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 2-0 Eastern Conference Finals lead on Tuesday night. Jaylen Brown had 23 points to lead the Celtics, as they overcame a double digit deficit in the first half. James finished with 42 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, but did not get much help outside of that on the night. James was even knocked out of the game for a moment after taking a shoulder to the head from Jayson Tatum in the second quarter. "The King" did return, but was diagnosed with a strained neck, and the Cavs were outscored by 19 after he returned. Terry Rozier chipped in with 18 points, while Al Horford had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, as the Celtics improved to 9-0 at the TD Garden in the postseason. They are sitting with all of the momentum on their side, as they have never blown a 2-0 lead in a playoff series. The Cavs got off to a quick start with 27 points in the first quarter, 21 of which was scored by LeBron, which tied a personal playoff career high for points in a quarter, He ended up with his fifth 40-point game this postseason. Despite that, the Celtics outscored the Cavs 59-39 in the second half, as Cleveland got no closer than eight points in the final 24 minutes. The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday night.
Lightning Get on the Board in the ECF
Home-ice advantage just isn't a thing in the Eastern Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the road team improved to 3-0 in the series on Tuesday night. Victor Hedman had a goal and two assists, as the Tampa Bay Lightning cut their series deficit to 2-1 with a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves between the pipes, as the Lightning overcame back to back home losses to begin the series. Both of Hedman's assists came on the power play on goals from Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. Hedman's goal was the first of the playoffs for him, as the defenseman was also a big part of three huge penalty kills to hold the lead. Hedman finished with a team-high of 25:08 of ice time, proving why he is a Norris Trophy finalist this season. Brayden Point also found the back of the net for the Lightning, who overcame goals from Brett Connolly and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Tampa Bay nearly lost two big stars, as Steven Stamkos left after taking a puck to his right knee and Tyler Johnson left after a brutal cross-check. Fortunately, both players returned just minutes later. The series will stay in our nation's capital on Thursday night, as the Lightning will hope to even the series before returning home. Stamkos revealed the Lightning's mindset after the game, saying "we haven't done anything yet."
Mariners' Cano Suspended 80 Games for Drug Violation
Another big Major League Baseball name has been added to the list of those caught in the drug program. Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano was suspended 80 games on Tuesday afternoon after testing positive for a banned substance. Cano reportedly tested positive for diuretic furosemide, which violates the league's drug prevention and treatment program, as it is viewed as a masking agent. Cano will not appeal this ban, just days after suffering a fractured bone in his hand after a hit by pitch on Sunday afternoon. The former Yankee was expected to miss 6-8 weeks following surgery for the injury. What makes it no surprise that Cano will not appeal is the rule that MLB is not allowed to suspend a player for diuretic furosemide unless they can prove that he used it as a masking agent, which was the case in this situation. Cano did deny ever taking a performance-enhancing drug, claiming "I would never do anything to cheat the rules of the game." Cano reportedly tested positive before the season and appealed the test before any punishment was handed out. During that appeal is when the league proved Cano's intent, which led to the second baseman dropping his appeal. Cano claims that he was given diuretic furosemide by a doctor in the Dominican Republic, as the drug is used to "treat various medical conditions." Despite all of that, Cano will still sit out, and is now also ineligible for the postseason, which his Seattle Mariners do expect to fight to be a part of.
