Celtics Rally to Hand Cavs First Playoff Loss
The Boston Celtics were playing their first game without Isaiah Thomas on Sunday night, and with it being on the road, they were given just about no chance to come out on top. After falling behind by 21 points, those odds got even smaller, but Marcus Smart took over to help lead the improbable rally. Smart finished with 27 points, including seven three-pointers, while Avery Bradley got the game-winning three to fall late, getting the Celtics on the board in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 111-108 victory. Boston trailed by 21 as late as midway through the third quarter, and 16 at the break, but outscored the Cavs by 18 after halftime. Bradley had 20 points on the night, as the Celtics snapped Cleveland's 13-game postseason win streak, despite not having their star scorer. Thomas will miss the remainder of the season with a nagging hip injury. Kyrie Irving had 29 points, while Kevin Love had 28 in the tough loss for the Cavs, who got no contribution from LeBron James. "The King" had one of his worst postseason performances, finishing with just 11 points and six turnovers, as his team fell in the postseason for the first time since Game 4 of last year's NBA Finals. The defending champs will look to regroup on their home floor in Game 4, taking a 2-1 series lead into the game on Tuesday night.
Penguins Return the Favor, Blow Out Senators in Game 5
The Pittsburgh Penguins have Matt Murray between the pipes after the Ottawa Senators lit up Marc-Andre Fleury for four first-period goals in Game 3. The Penguins did the same to Craig Andersen and the Senators on Sunday night, scoring four times in the first 20 minutes, en route to a 7-0 shutout and a 3-2 series lead. Seven different players scored on the night, while 11 finished with at least one point, as the defending champs knocked out Andersen in the first period. With Sunday's dominance, the Penguins have now outscored Ottawa, 10-2, the series' last six periods. Sidney Crosby scored for a third straight game, while also becoming the 22nd player to reach 100 career playoff assists by helping out Phil Kessel's goal. Pittsburgh's power play was a perfect 3-for-3, while their penalty kill sent the Senators to an 0-for-29 drought with the man advantage. Mike Condon came in to relieve Andersen, but allowed three goals on the night, as the Senators rested stars Erik Karlsson, Derrick Brassard, and Cody Ceci in the third period for Game 6. That game will be on their home ice on Tuesday night.
Bryant Homers Twice, Cubs Rout First-Place Brewers
The Chicago Cubs have been one of the surprises of the young MLB season with their .500 play, but they took care of another surprise in the league on Sunday with a 13-6 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers. Kris Bryant went deep twice to back up Jake Arrieta's six impressive innings, as the Cubs got past the surprising 25-19 Brew-Crew. The win was the Cubs' fourth in five games, moving two games over the .500 mark, 2.5 games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. Bryant's multi-home run game was his second of the season and ninth of his career, while Ben Zobrist and Anthony Rizzo also went deep in the win. The Cubs' third baseman went 3-for-3 on the night, reaching base five times with two hit-by-pitches. Willson Contreras also went 3-for-3 with three RBI, helping Arrieta snap a two-start losing streak and improve to 5-3 on the year. The Brewers one bright spot was a two-run home run from Travis Shaw, as Ryan Braun went 0-for-5 with an RBI in his return from the disabled list. They also lost Eric Thames in the fifth inning due to leg cramps. Chicago will stay home to play host to the San Francisco Giants beginning Monday, while the Brewers head back home to host the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
The Boston Celtics were playing their first game without Isaiah Thomas on Sunday night, and with it being on the road, they were given just about no chance to come out on top. After falling behind by 21 points, those odds got even smaller, but Marcus Smart took over to help lead the improbable rally. Smart finished with 27 points, including seven three-pointers, while Avery Bradley got the game-winning three to fall late, getting the Celtics on the board in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 111-108 victory. Boston trailed by 21 as late as midway through the third quarter, and 16 at the break, but outscored the Cavs by 18 after halftime. Bradley had 20 points on the night, as the Celtics snapped Cleveland's 13-game postseason win streak, despite not having their star scorer. Thomas will miss the remainder of the season with a nagging hip injury. Kyrie Irving had 29 points, while Kevin Love had 28 in the tough loss for the Cavs, who got no contribution from LeBron James. "The King" had one of his worst postseason performances, finishing with just 11 points and six turnovers, as his team fell in the postseason for the first time since Game 4 of last year's NBA Finals. The defending champs will look to regroup on their home floor in Game 4, taking a 2-1 series lead into the game on Tuesday night.
Penguins Return the Favor, Blow Out Senators in Game 5
The Pittsburgh Penguins have Matt Murray between the pipes after the Ottawa Senators lit up Marc-Andre Fleury for four first-period goals in Game 3. The Penguins did the same to Craig Andersen and the Senators on Sunday night, scoring four times in the first 20 minutes, en route to a 7-0 shutout and a 3-2 series lead. Seven different players scored on the night, while 11 finished with at least one point, as the defending champs knocked out Andersen in the first period. With Sunday's dominance, the Penguins have now outscored Ottawa, 10-2, the series' last six periods. Sidney Crosby scored for a third straight game, while also becoming the 22nd player to reach 100 career playoff assists by helping out Phil Kessel's goal. Pittsburgh's power play was a perfect 3-for-3, while their penalty kill sent the Senators to an 0-for-29 drought with the man advantage. Mike Condon came in to relieve Andersen, but allowed three goals on the night, as the Senators rested stars Erik Karlsson, Derrick Brassard, and Cody Ceci in the third period for Game 6. That game will be on their home ice on Tuesday night.
Bryant Homers Twice, Cubs Rout First-Place Brewers
The Chicago Cubs have been one of the surprises of the young MLB season with their .500 play, but they took care of another surprise in the league on Sunday with a 13-6 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers. Kris Bryant went deep twice to back up Jake Arrieta's six impressive innings, as the Cubs got past the surprising 25-19 Brew-Crew. The win was the Cubs' fourth in five games, moving two games over the .500 mark, 2.5 games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. Bryant's multi-home run game was his second of the season and ninth of his career, while Ben Zobrist and Anthony Rizzo also went deep in the win. The Cubs' third baseman went 3-for-3 on the night, reaching base five times with two hit-by-pitches. Willson Contreras also went 3-for-3 with three RBI, helping Arrieta snap a two-start losing streak and improve to 5-3 on the year. The Brewers one bright spot was a two-run home run from Travis Shaw, as Ryan Braun went 0-for-5 with an RBI in his return from the disabled list. They also lost Eric Thames in the fifth inning due to leg cramps. Chicago will stay home to play host to the San Francisco Giants beginning Monday, while the Brewers head back home to host the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
