Cavaliers Bounce Back for 3-1 Series Lead
After blowing a 21-point lead in Game 3, the Cleveland Cavaliers were stunned with their first loss of this postseason. Although, they bounced back with ease in Tuesday's Game 4, as Kyrie Irving put up 42 points in a 112-99 win over the Boston Celtics. The win gives them a 3-1 series lead and puts them one victory away from another matchup with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. LeBron James also bounced back himself after a dismal Game-3 performance, scoring 34 points in Tuesday's win. Teammate Richard Jefferson states that James was battling an illness during Game 3, which could have caused possibly his worst playoff game at 11 points and six turnovers. LeBron did deal with foul trouble on Tuesday night, but Irving took over, scoring 19 points in less than five minutes, and 33 in a 19-minute span of the game. Boston did keep it close for most of the game despite not having star Isaiah Thomas, but the Cavs shot a red-hot 71 percent from the floor in the second half to help them pull away. The defending champs will hit the road looking to end the series in Game 5 on Thursday night in Boston.
Senators Force Game 7 With Penguins
The Ottawa Senators did some bouncing back as well on Tuesday, as they recovered from an embarrassing 7-0 shutout loss to force Game 7 with a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Craig Andersen made 45 saves on the night, while Mike Hoffman broke the tie with the game-winner early on in the third period to lift Ottawa at home. That go-ahead goal came just 1:34 into the final period and was assisted by Fredrick Claesson. Bobby Ryan also added a power-play goal in the win. Matt Murray made 28 saves and Evgeni Malkin netted the lone goal for the Penguins in the loss. They are looking to enter their second straight Stanley Cup Finals, where the Nashville Predators are already waiting. Pittsburgh will host Game 7 on Thursday night. The winner of that game will advance to face the Predators, with that series beginning on Monday night.
Lester Goes the Distance in Cubs' Win
Jon Lester was involved in an NLDS rematch with Johnny Cueto on Tuesday night, and just like in last year's postseason matchup, he came out on top. Lester allowed just four hits in a complete game effort to lift the Chicago Cubs over the San Francisco Giants 4-1. Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, and Kyle Schwarber went deep in the win as the Cubs improved to 5-2 on their current nine-game homestand. Schwarber's big fly went an impressive 462 feet in the first inning to open the scoring. Brandon Crawford knocked in the Giants' only run with a double in the fifth inning. Cueto suffered the loss to fall to 4-4 despite striking out eight batters over six innings. Lester moved above .500 with his record at 3-2 following his 15th career complete game, which included 10 strikeouts and no walks. San Francisco had won eight of 10 overall coming into play, but fell to 3-2 on their current seven-game road trip. They did take the first game on Monday night, 6-4, which makes Wednesday night's contest the rubber match of the series.
After blowing a 21-point lead in Game 3, the Cleveland Cavaliers were stunned with their first loss of this postseason. Although, they bounced back with ease in Tuesday's Game 4, as Kyrie Irving put up 42 points in a 112-99 win over the Boston Celtics. The win gives them a 3-1 series lead and puts them one victory away from another matchup with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. LeBron James also bounced back himself after a dismal Game-3 performance, scoring 34 points in Tuesday's win. Teammate Richard Jefferson states that James was battling an illness during Game 3, which could have caused possibly his worst playoff game at 11 points and six turnovers. LeBron did deal with foul trouble on Tuesday night, but Irving took over, scoring 19 points in less than five minutes, and 33 in a 19-minute span of the game. Boston did keep it close for most of the game despite not having star Isaiah Thomas, but the Cavs shot a red-hot 71 percent from the floor in the second half to help them pull away. The defending champs will hit the road looking to end the series in Game 5 on Thursday night in Boston.
Senators Force Game 7 With Penguins
The Ottawa Senators did some bouncing back as well on Tuesday, as they recovered from an embarrassing 7-0 shutout loss to force Game 7 with a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Craig Andersen made 45 saves on the night, while Mike Hoffman broke the tie with the game-winner early on in the third period to lift Ottawa at home. That go-ahead goal came just 1:34 into the final period and was assisted by Fredrick Claesson. Bobby Ryan also added a power-play goal in the win. Matt Murray made 28 saves and Evgeni Malkin netted the lone goal for the Penguins in the loss. They are looking to enter their second straight Stanley Cup Finals, where the Nashville Predators are already waiting. Pittsburgh will host Game 7 on Thursday night. The winner of that game will advance to face the Predators, with that series beginning on Monday night.
Lester Goes the Distance in Cubs' Win
Jon Lester was involved in an NLDS rematch with Johnny Cueto on Tuesday night, and just like in last year's postseason matchup, he came out on top. Lester allowed just four hits in a complete game effort to lift the Chicago Cubs over the San Francisco Giants 4-1. Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, and Kyle Schwarber went deep in the win as the Cubs improved to 5-2 on their current nine-game homestand. Schwarber's big fly went an impressive 462 feet in the first inning to open the scoring. Brandon Crawford knocked in the Giants' only run with a double in the fifth inning. Cueto suffered the loss to fall to 4-4 despite striking out eight batters over six innings. Lester moved above .500 with his record at 3-2 following his 15th career complete game, which included 10 strikeouts and no walks. San Francisco had won eight of 10 overall coming into play, but fell to 3-2 on their current seven-game road trip. They did take the first game on Monday night, 6-4, which makes Wednesday night's contest the rubber match of the series.
