LeBron Breaks Double-Digit Record in Cavs' Home Win
The comparisons will forever be made and talked about between LeBron James and Michael Jordan, and now those who are pro-LeBron have an argument for "The King." James had 27 points on Friday night to score in double digits for an 867th straight game, breaking Jordan's previous record. He did fall a rebound shy of a triple-double in what was a 107-102 Cleveland Cavaliers win over the New Orleans Pelicans. James's big night helped his team rally from a 10-point halftime deficit, as they have now won seven of their past eight overall. Jordan Clarkson chipped in with 23 points, while Tristan Thompson made a difference down low with 14 rebounds in 21 minutes of playing time. He, along with Larry Nance Jr., also helped keep Anthony Davis 12 points below his season average at just 16 points. Jrue Holiday led New Orleans with 25 points, while the other big man, Nikola Mirotic, added 20 for the Pelicans, who now sit in eighth place in the Western Conference. James officially passed Jordan's record midway through the first quarter, breaking a record that stood since 2001. The Cavaliers move on with their future Hall of Famer to play host to the lowly Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night. The Pelicans will be back home on Sunday to host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Green's Buzzer-Beater Helps Rockets Survive
The Houston Rockets were surprisingly tested on their home floor against the lowly Phoenix Suns on Friday night, They trailed by as many as 21 points in the second half, but rallied, capped off by a Gerald Green three-pointer at the buzzer for a 104-103 victory. James Harden had 28 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds to lead the comeback, and did hit the game-tying three-pointer with 12 seconds left. Josh Jackson gave the Suns the lead back with 1.4 seconds left, before Green took over as the hero on this night. The win for the Rockets was their 11th in a row, as they also sent the Suns to their franchise-record 14th straight defeat. The Rockets, who clinched the top seed on Thursday night with the Golden State Warriors' loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, rested Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, and Nene, as we inch closer to the playoffs. P.J. Tucker stepped up with 18 points, including a career-high five three-pointers. Jackson led the way for the Suns with 27 points, but his team has not won a game since February 28th. They will look to end that skid when they visit the shorthanded Warriors on Sunday night. The Rockets hit the road for a matinee matchup with the recently-hot San Antonio Spurs that same day.
Marlins Top Cubs in 17 Innings
On just the second day of the Major League Baseball regular season, multiple teams played numerous extra innings on Friday. That was headlined by the Miami Marlins taking down the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, in a 17-inning marathon. Miguel Rojas won the game with a walk-off RBI single in the 17th, which scored Brian Anderson as the winning run for the Marlins' first victory of the season. The game lasted 5 hours and 18 minutes, as the teams combined for 14 pitchers, 119 at-bats, 34 strikeouts, and 33 runners left on base. The two lone runs before extras took place in the third inning on a Kris Bryant home run for the Cubs and a Starlin Castro RBI single. Bryant's long ball was his first of the young season, while Castro tied it to haunt his former team. Only one other time in the past 100 years has a team needed this many innings in their first or second game of the year, as the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins needed 17 innings in the second game of the 1969 season, which the Royals won, 4-3. Both starters pitched well in no-decision efforts on Friday, with Kyle Hendricks throwing six innings of one-run baseball, while Caleb Smith lasted 5.1 innings and gave up just one run. These two teams have two more matchups this weekend, including Saturday night and then the finale on Sunday afternoon.
The comparisons will forever be made and talked about between LeBron James and Michael Jordan, and now those who are pro-LeBron have an argument for "The King." James had 27 points on Friday night to score in double digits for an 867th straight game, breaking Jordan's previous record. He did fall a rebound shy of a triple-double in what was a 107-102 Cleveland Cavaliers win over the New Orleans Pelicans. James's big night helped his team rally from a 10-point halftime deficit, as they have now won seven of their past eight overall. Jordan Clarkson chipped in with 23 points, while Tristan Thompson made a difference down low with 14 rebounds in 21 minutes of playing time. He, along with Larry Nance Jr., also helped keep Anthony Davis 12 points below his season average at just 16 points. Jrue Holiday led New Orleans with 25 points, while the other big man, Nikola Mirotic, added 20 for the Pelicans, who now sit in eighth place in the Western Conference. James officially passed Jordan's record midway through the first quarter, breaking a record that stood since 2001. The Cavaliers move on with their future Hall of Famer to play host to the lowly Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night. The Pelicans will be back home on Sunday to host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Green's Buzzer-Beater Helps Rockets Survive
The Houston Rockets were surprisingly tested on their home floor against the lowly Phoenix Suns on Friday night, They trailed by as many as 21 points in the second half, but rallied, capped off by a Gerald Green three-pointer at the buzzer for a 104-103 victory. James Harden had 28 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds to lead the comeback, and did hit the game-tying three-pointer with 12 seconds left. Josh Jackson gave the Suns the lead back with 1.4 seconds left, before Green took over as the hero on this night. The win for the Rockets was their 11th in a row, as they also sent the Suns to their franchise-record 14th straight defeat. The Rockets, who clinched the top seed on Thursday night with the Golden State Warriors' loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, rested Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, and Nene, as we inch closer to the playoffs. P.J. Tucker stepped up with 18 points, including a career-high five three-pointers. Jackson led the way for the Suns with 27 points, but his team has not won a game since February 28th. They will look to end that skid when they visit the shorthanded Warriors on Sunday night. The Rockets hit the road for a matinee matchup with the recently-hot San Antonio Spurs that same day.
Marlins Top Cubs in 17 Innings
On just the second day of the Major League Baseball regular season, multiple teams played numerous extra innings on Friday. That was headlined by the Miami Marlins taking down the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, in a 17-inning marathon. Miguel Rojas won the game with a walk-off RBI single in the 17th, which scored Brian Anderson as the winning run for the Marlins' first victory of the season. The game lasted 5 hours and 18 minutes, as the teams combined for 14 pitchers, 119 at-bats, 34 strikeouts, and 33 runners left on base. The two lone runs before extras took place in the third inning on a Kris Bryant home run for the Cubs and a Starlin Castro RBI single. Bryant's long ball was his first of the young season, while Castro tied it to haunt his former team. Only one other time in the past 100 years has a team needed this many innings in their first or second game of the year, as the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins needed 17 innings in the second game of the 1969 season, which the Royals won, 4-3. Both starters pitched well in no-decision efforts on Friday, with Kyle Hendricks throwing six innings of one-run baseball, while Caleb Smith lasted 5.1 innings and gave up just one run. These two teams have two more matchups this weekend, including Saturday night and then the finale on Sunday afternoon.
