Warriors Finish Off Cavs for Second Title in Three Years
Kevin Durant's move to Golden State may have been justified on Monday night with his first NBA title in his career, along with the MVP of the Finals following a 129-120 Game-5 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The victory gives the Warriors their second title in three years over Cleveland, despite LeBron James becoming the first player to average a triple-double in the Finals. Cleveland out-shot Golden State on Monday 53%-51% overall, including 45%-36% from three-point range, but the Warriors' starpower was too much to handle for the defending champs. Durant finished the night with 39 points and became the first player since 2000 to score at least 30 points in every Finals game. Shaquille O'Neal was the last one to do it, as the big man achieved the feat with the Los Angeles Lakers. The former OKC star also became the third player to win Finals MVP in his first season with a team. Steph Curry definitely did his part with 34 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds in Game 5, helping Golden State overcome last year's tough defeat that saw them blow a 3-1 series lead. James had 41 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in another heartbreaking loss that saw him get support from only Kyrie Irving, who had 26 points on the night. This looks to be just the beginning of a very long run of success for the Warriors, led by the two-headed MVP monster of Durant and Curry.
Surging Mets Get Past Struggling Cubs
The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs have both gotten off to disappointing starts after successful 2016 seasons, but only one of them seem to be on the right track. The two teams squared off in Queens on Monday night, as Asdrubal Cabrera's two home runs lifted the Mets to a 6-1 victory over the Cubs. The win is the fourth in a row for New York, who still sits four games under .500. Jacob deGrom led the way on the mound with a complete game five-hitter, helped out by four double plays turned by Cabrera. Jay Bruce also went deep for the Mets, who are in a streak of 14 straight games against teams who made the postseason last year. The one down side for them was the loss of Yoenis Cespedes, who was pulled with a sore left heel after just returning from the disabled list due to a hamstring injury. He went 1-for-3 in the game before exiting. Addison Russell provided the only production for the Cubs with a solo shot. Chicago has now lost five of six overall, and nine in a row on the road, falling to 31-32 on the season. The defending champs will be on the road for 17 of their next 20 games, including on Tuesday night against the same Mets team.
Red Sox Rally for Walk-Off Win Over Phillies
The Boston Red Sox fell behind early at home against the lowly Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night, but kept in mind that there are 27 outs in the game. In fact, they provided even more outs in this one, as Dustin Pedroia's 11th-inning RBI single gave the Red Sox a 6-5 walk-off win on Monday. It is their third win in four home games after taking two of three over the weekend against the Detroit Tigers. Boston fell behind 4-0 in the first inning before the comeback began. Hanley Ramirez tied the game at five with an eighth-inning long ball, as Andrew Benintendi also went deep in the win. Pablo Sandoval began the 11th with a single off of Casey Fien, who suffered his first loss of the year. Devin Marrero scored the winning run as a pinch-runner. Matt Barnes threw two scoreless innings and struck out five to earn his fifth win of the season. Tommy Joseph's two-run single was the big hit for the Phillies offense, which also got three hits from Daniel Nava. Philadelphia has now lost 10 of their past 12 games at Fenway Park, and will close out their two-game series there on Tuesday night.
Kevin Durant's move to Golden State may have been justified on Monday night with his first NBA title in his career, along with the MVP of the Finals following a 129-120 Game-5 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The victory gives the Warriors their second title in three years over Cleveland, despite LeBron James becoming the first player to average a triple-double in the Finals. Cleveland out-shot Golden State on Monday 53%-51% overall, including 45%-36% from three-point range, but the Warriors' starpower was too much to handle for the defending champs. Durant finished the night with 39 points and became the first player since 2000 to score at least 30 points in every Finals game. Shaquille O'Neal was the last one to do it, as the big man achieved the feat with the Los Angeles Lakers. The former OKC star also became the third player to win Finals MVP in his first season with a team. Steph Curry definitely did his part with 34 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds in Game 5, helping Golden State overcome last year's tough defeat that saw them blow a 3-1 series lead. James had 41 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in another heartbreaking loss that saw him get support from only Kyrie Irving, who had 26 points on the night. This looks to be just the beginning of a very long run of success for the Warriors, led by the two-headed MVP monster of Durant and Curry.
Surging Mets Get Past Struggling Cubs
The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs have both gotten off to disappointing starts after successful 2016 seasons, but only one of them seem to be on the right track. The two teams squared off in Queens on Monday night, as Asdrubal Cabrera's two home runs lifted the Mets to a 6-1 victory over the Cubs. The win is the fourth in a row for New York, who still sits four games under .500. Jacob deGrom led the way on the mound with a complete game five-hitter, helped out by four double plays turned by Cabrera. Jay Bruce also went deep for the Mets, who are in a streak of 14 straight games against teams who made the postseason last year. The one down side for them was the loss of Yoenis Cespedes, who was pulled with a sore left heel after just returning from the disabled list due to a hamstring injury. He went 1-for-3 in the game before exiting. Addison Russell provided the only production for the Cubs with a solo shot. Chicago has now lost five of six overall, and nine in a row on the road, falling to 31-32 on the season. The defending champs will be on the road for 17 of their next 20 games, including on Tuesday night against the same Mets team.
Red Sox Rally for Walk-Off Win Over Phillies
The Boston Red Sox fell behind early at home against the lowly Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night, but kept in mind that there are 27 outs in the game. In fact, they provided even more outs in this one, as Dustin Pedroia's 11th-inning RBI single gave the Red Sox a 6-5 walk-off win on Monday. It is their third win in four home games after taking two of three over the weekend against the Detroit Tigers. Boston fell behind 4-0 in the first inning before the comeback began. Hanley Ramirez tied the game at five with an eighth-inning long ball, as Andrew Benintendi also went deep in the win. Pablo Sandoval began the 11th with a single off of Casey Fien, who suffered his first loss of the year. Devin Marrero scored the winning run as a pinch-runner. Matt Barnes threw two scoreless innings and struck out five to earn his fifth win of the season. Tommy Joseph's two-run single was the big hit for the Phillies offense, which also got three hits from Daniel Nava. Philadelphia has now lost 10 of their past 12 games at Fenway Park, and will close out their two-game series there on Tuesday night.
