Warriors Blow Past Spurs for 3-0 Series Lead
Don't worry NBA fans, the NBA Finals are coming very soon, which is where the NBA Playoffs will go back to being competitive. Until then, the Golden State Warriors have tied the 1989 and 2001 Los Angeles Lakers with their 11th straight win to begin the playoffs, taking a 3-0 series lead on the San Antonio Spurs with a 120-108 victory Saturday night. Kevin Durant had 33 points and 10 rebounds, while Steph Curry added 21 in the road victory. With those 21 points, Curry passed Rick Barry for the most postseason points in franchise history. San Antonio was already without Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard, but also lost David Lee to an injury in the first quarter. They were led by Manu Ginobili's 21 points in the loss. Although, the Spurs did put up a postseason-high 33 points in the first quarter, and led by as many as six in the first half, before Golden State outscored them by 18 the rest of the way. The Warriors did that by shooting 55 percent from the field, including 11-for-27 from three-point range. They can complete their third straight series sweep in San Antonio on Monday night, and the Spurs will likely still be without Leonard due to his ankle injury.
Rinne, Predators One Win Away From Stanley Cup Finals
The Nashville Predators' impressive Stanley Cup Playoff run could end them up in the finals if they can record one more home win. This comes after Pontus Aberg scored his first career postseason goal with 8:59 left in the third period, lifting the Predators to a 3-1 road win over the Anaheim Ducks Saturday night. Nashville now holds a 3-2 series lead despite playing without Mike Fisher and Ryan Johansen. Colin Wilson tied the game with a goal in the second period, while Austin Watson added an empty-netter to secure the win. Pekka Rinne got that support behind his 32-save effort, only allowing a goal to Chris Wagner on the night. The Ducks were playing without Rickard Rakell due to a lower-body injury, and lost goaltender John Gibson at the first intermission to a lower-body issue of his own. Jonathan Bernier came in to relieve Gibson, making 16 saves in the loss. Reports say Gibson wants to play in Game 6, but will be re-evaluated before that decision is made. That crucial Game 6 will take place in Nashville on Monday night.
Tigers Use Long Ball to Snap Rangers' Streak
The Detroit Tigers wasted no time on Saturday night to jump ahead of the red-hot Texas Rangers, en route to a 9-3 win, which snapped the Rangers' 10-game win streak. The Tigers hit three straight home runs in the first inning off the bats of Alex Avila, Miguel Cabrera, and J.D. Martinez against Texas starter A.J. Griffin. Nicholas Castellanos added a three-run shot later on, supporting Justin Verlander, who pitched seven impressive innings. Verlander finished the night with five strikeouts and one walk. He allowed all three of the Rangers' runs, which came from a solo shot off the bat of Jonathan Lucroy, and a two-run double from Nomar Mazara. That was all the offense for the Rangers, though, after they scored at least five runs in eight straight games. Avila added to an already big lead later on for Detroit with a two-run double in the fourth and fell a triple shy of the cycle. The Tigers hit three straight home runs for the first time since June of 2013, but did lose second baseman Ian Kinsler to hamstring tightness. The team says he was taken out for precautionary reasons. The rubber match of the series will take place on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.
Don't worry NBA fans, the NBA Finals are coming very soon, which is where the NBA Playoffs will go back to being competitive. Until then, the Golden State Warriors have tied the 1989 and 2001 Los Angeles Lakers with their 11th straight win to begin the playoffs, taking a 3-0 series lead on the San Antonio Spurs with a 120-108 victory Saturday night. Kevin Durant had 33 points and 10 rebounds, while Steph Curry added 21 in the road victory. With those 21 points, Curry passed Rick Barry for the most postseason points in franchise history. San Antonio was already without Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard, but also lost David Lee to an injury in the first quarter. They were led by Manu Ginobili's 21 points in the loss. Although, the Spurs did put up a postseason-high 33 points in the first quarter, and led by as many as six in the first half, before Golden State outscored them by 18 the rest of the way. The Warriors did that by shooting 55 percent from the field, including 11-for-27 from three-point range. They can complete their third straight series sweep in San Antonio on Monday night, and the Spurs will likely still be without Leonard due to his ankle injury.
Rinne, Predators One Win Away From Stanley Cup Finals
The Nashville Predators' impressive Stanley Cup Playoff run could end them up in the finals if they can record one more home win. This comes after Pontus Aberg scored his first career postseason goal with 8:59 left in the third period, lifting the Predators to a 3-1 road win over the Anaheim Ducks Saturday night. Nashville now holds a 3-2 series lead despite playing without Mike Fisher and Ryan Johansen. Colin Wilson tied the game with a goal in the second period, while Austin Watson added an empty-netter to secure the win. Pekka Rinne got that support behind his 32-save effort, only allowing a goal to Chris Wagner on the night. The Ducks were playing without Rickard Rakell due to a lower-body injury, and lost goaltender John Gibson at the first intermission to a lower-body issue of his own. Jonathan Bernier came in to relieve Gibson, making 16 saves in the loss. Reports say Gibson wants to play in Game 6, but will be re-evaluated before that decision is made. That crucial Game 6 will take place in Nashville on Monday night.
Tigers Use Long Ball to Snap Rangers' Streak
The Detroit Tigers wasted no time on Saturday night to jump ahead of the red-hot Texas Rangers, en route to a 9-3 win, which snapped the Rangers' 10-game win streak. The Tigers hit three straight home runs in the first inning off the bats of Alex Avila, Miguel Cabrera, and J.D. Martinez against Texas starter A.J. Griffin. Nicholas Castellanos added a three-run shot later on, supporting Justin Verlander, who pitched seven impressive innings. Verlander finished the night with five strikeouts and one walk. He allowed all three of the Rangers' runs, which came from a solo shot off the bat of Jonathan Lucroy, and a two-run double from Nomar Mazara. That was all the offense for the Rangers, though, after they scored at least five runs in eight straight games. Avila added to an already big lead later on for Detroit with a two-run double in the fourth and fell a triple shy of the cycle. The Tigers hit three straight home runs for the first time since June of 2013, but did lose second baseman Ian Kinsler to hamstring tightness. The team says he was taken out for precautionary reasons. The rubber match of the series will take place on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.
