Spurs Lose Leonard, 25-Point Lead Against Warriors
After an unbelievably dominant first half from the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, things took a turn for the worst for them in the second half. Kawhi Leonard re-injured his ankle early in the third quarter and did not return, and the Spurs blew a 25-point lead against the Golden State Warriors in a heartbreaking 113-111 Game-1 loss. Steph Curry had 40 points to lead the rally, which was the largest comeback in the Conference Finals since the Boston Celtics came back from 26 down on the New Jersey Nets in 2002. Curry tied the game with 1:48 left by knocking down a clutch three-pointer, as the Warriors used an 18-0 run after Leonard went down to begin their comeback. Kevin Durant was a key part of that run, scoring 10 straight points en route to a 34-point night for Golden State, who trailed by 20 at the half. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs with 28 points, while Leonard finished with 26 points and eight rebounds before the injury. The Spurs' star missed Game 6 of the second round with the same ankle setback. There is no word on his availability for Tuesday's Game 2 at Oracle Arena.
Ducks Dominate Second Period, Even Series With Predators
The Anaheim Ducks used a big second period where they scored three times to come back and even the Western Conference Finals against the Nashville Predators with a 5-3 win on their home ice. The Ducks suffered a tough Game-1, overtime loss in the Honda Center, but got goals from Jakob Silfverberg, Ondrej Kase, and Nick Ritchie in the middle stanza to pull the Ducks ahead. Ritchie's tally was the official go-ahead goal, while Antoine Vermette added an empty-netter late to seal the win. Before Sunday night, the Predators had not allowed four goals in a game this postseason. Nashville had goals from Ryan Johansen, James Neal, and Filip Forsberg in the loss. Pekka Rinne made 22 saves, but had a rare tough outing, which started off with a first-period goal from Sami Vatanen. Anaheim had plenty of support for John Gibson, who stopped 30 shots after surrendering the game-winning goal in to Neal in Game 1. The series now shifts to Nashville for Game 3, which will take place on Tuesday night.
Yankees Retire Jeter's No. 2, Split DH With Astros
The New York Yankees had an interesting and eventful day on Sunday after Saturday's contest was postponed. The Yankees had to play a doubleheader, while also retiring Derek Jeter's No. 2 before the second game. New York cruised in game 1, highlighted by Chase Headley's bases-clearing triple in a six-run seventh inning, en route to an 11-6 blowout of the Houston Astros. Aaron Judge added a 441-foot home run, while Starlin Castro hit a two-run blast for New York, who once trailed 3-1. The Bronx Bombers then went on to retire their former captain, making no more single-digit numbers available in pinstripes. Although after the ceremony it was the Astros' No. 2 who came through, as Alex Bregman's grand slam led Houston in a 10-7 win on Sunday night. George Springer also homered in a six-run first inning for the Astros, who lit up Masahiro Tanaka early on. Springer went deep again in the second inning, along with Josh Reddick, knocking Tanaka out of the game with an 8-0 lead. The Yankees would make things interesting before the end, rallying from what was as large as a 9-0 deficit. Matt Holliday hit a three-run blast off of Charlie Morton, who had 10 strikeouts in the win. New York stranded the tying runner at the plate in the ninth, as Aaron Hicks grounded out to end the game against closer Ken Giles. New York not only dropped three of four over the weekend to Houston, but also announced that closer Aroldis Chapman will miss at least a month with a shoulder injury.
After an unbelievably dominant first half from the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, things took a turn for the worst for them in the second half. Kawhi Leonard re-injured his ankle early in the third quarter and did not return, and the Spurs blew a 25-point lead against the Golden State Warriors in a heartbreaking 113-111 Game-1 loss. Steph Curry had 40 points to lead the rally, which was the largest comeback in the Conference Finals since the Boston Celtics came back from 26 down on the New Jersey Nets in 2002. Curry tied the game with 1:48 left by knocking down a clutch three-pointer, as the Warriors used an 18-0 run after Leonard went down to begin their comeback. Kevin Durant was a key part of that run, scoring 10 straight points en route to a 34-point night for Golden State, who trailed by 20 at the half. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs with 28 points, while Leonard finished with 26 points and eight rebounds before the injury. The Spurs' star missed Game 6 of the second round with the same ankle setback. There is no word on his availability for Tuesday's Game 2 at Oracle Arena.
Ducks Dominate Second Period, Even Series With Predators
The Anaheim Ducks used a big second period where they scored three times to come back and even the Western Conference Finals against the Nashville Predators with a 5-3 win on their home ice. The Ducks suffered a tough Game-1, overtime loss in the Honda Center, but got goals from Jakob Silfverberg, Ondrej Kase, and Nick Ritchie in the middle stanza to pull the Ducks ahead. Ritchie's tally was the official go-ahead goal, while Antoine Vermette added an empty-netter late to seal the win. Before Sunday night, the Predators had not allowed four goals in a game this postseason. Nashville had goals from Ryan Johansen, James Neal, and Filip Forsberg in the loss. Pekka Rinne made 22 saves, but had a rare tough outing, which started off with a first-period goal from Sami Vatanen. Anaheim had plenty of support for John Gibson, who stopped 30 shots after surrendering the game-winning goal in to Neal in Game 1. The series now shifts to Nashville for Game 3, which will take place on Tuesday night.
Yankees Retire Jeter's No. 2, Split DH With Astros
The New York Yankees had an interesting and eventful day on Sunday after Saturday's contest was postponed. The Yankees had to play a doubleheader, while also retiring Derek Jeter's No. 2 before the second game. New York cruised in game 1, highlighted by Chase Headley's bases-clearing triple in a six-run seventh inning, en route to an 11-6 blowout of the Houston Astros. Aaron Judge added a 441-foot home run, while Starlin Castro hit a two-run blast for New York, who once trailed 3-1. The Bronx Bombers then went on to retire their former captain, making no more single-digit numbers available in pinstripes. Although after the ceremony it was the Astros' No. 2 who came through, as Alex Bregman's grand slam led Houston in a 10-7 win on Sunday night. George Springer also homered in a six-run first inning for the Astros, who lit up Masahiro Tanaka early on. Springer went deep again in the second inning, along with Josh Reddick, knocking Tanaka out of the game with an 8-0 lead. The Yankees would make things interesting before the end, rallying from what was as large as a 9-0 deficit. Matt Holliday hit a three-run blast off of Charlie Morton, who had 10 strikeouts in the win. New York stranded the tying runner at the plate in the ninth, as Aaron Hicks grounded out to end the game against closer Ken Giles. New York not only dropped three of four over the weekend to Houston, but also announced that closer Aroldis Chapman will miss at least a month with a shoulder injury.
