It’s Tuesday, my dudes. Whether you are commuting to work on the Subway, reading this with your morning cup of coffee, or catching up on emails during your lunch break, welcome to the best newsletter in sports media. Here you’ll find a recap of everything that happened in sports yesterday. Every Day. Every Morning. Direct from the best part of the stadium.
They always say the series doesn’t start until…
The old adage – at least on the NBA front- is that a postseason series does not begin until the home team loses a game. All three teams on the losing end on Monday can only pray to whatever “basketball god” created Victor Wembanyama that adage holds true. The first team to face the dreaded 2-0 deficit (and probably the least likely of the trio to climb out of it) is the trendiest TikTok squad of the year, the Orlando Magic. The Disney sponsored Magic were the fairytale of the regular season. Unfortunately for them, the fairytale turned into a nightmare during a stay in Cleveland. And that’s not just because they traded sunny Florida for the gloomy “Rock and Roll Capital of the World”. Orlando managed just 169 points in the first two games of the series, including just 86 in Monday’s 96-86 defeat. To make matters worse, guard Jalen Suggs injured his knee in the Game 2 loss. The 22-year-old “3 & D” specialist was able to return later in the game but was clearly bothered on both ends of the floor.
In a much more entertaining game, the Philadelphia 76ers dropped a heartbreaker in Madison Square Garden 104-101. Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 69 points (nice) but were unable to lead Philly to the “W” despite Knicks star Jalen Brunson shooting just 8/26 from the field. I’ll hold the remaining analysis on this game for the podcast on Thursday. I’m sure our guy Matt is going to have A LOT to say when we sit down to record. 39-year-old Lebron James showed he still has the ability to will his squads to playoff victories with a phenomenal second half performance in the Mile High City. He did his best, but Nuggets guard – and known playoff stud- Jamal Murray did him one better. With the game tied in the final two minutes, James and Murray continously traded buckets down the floor until James missed an open 3-point shot with 12 seconds on the clock. From there Murray went to work, ultimately hitting a game-winning, fadeaway shot over the outstretched arm on defensive wizard Anthony Davis.
JAMAL MURRAY… confirmed still him😤
— Views from 400 (@ViewsFrom400) April 23, 2024
How can you not love the fight for the cup?
My Maple Leafs future is officially alive ladies (Who am I kidding?) and gentlemen. Toronto won a thrilling Game 2 of the back of best player Auston Matthews. The MVP-candidate assisted on the first two Leafs goal before scoring the decider in a 3-2 victory to push (ups) the series to a stalemate. Elsewhere in the East, the Stanley Cup favorite Carolina Hurricanes once again brought heavy rain and swirling winds to cool off the hottest team in hockey, the New York Islanders. Carolina’s 5-3 win was never truly in doubt. On the inferior coast, Vegas put on a show with a buffet of goals against the Stars, while the Kings proved they are just happy to be here in an low-spirited loss to Connor McDavid’s Oilers. With the Oilers, Maple Leafs, and Canucks all playing good hockey there is a decent possibility we can see the Stanley Cup “come home” for the first time since 1993.
Ranger(s) own baseball
A year after the Texas Rangers completely obliterated the competition in the MLB Postseason, a different Ranger is over-matching the competition up in the north east. 28-year-old Philadelphia Phillie Ranger Suarez extended his scoreless streak to 25-straight innings on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. The Venezuela born starter now owns a minuscule 1.39 ERA on the season to go along with a perfect 4-0 record. In a rotation already featuring Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola, the left-hander has become the perfect complimentary piece to what could be a lethal three-headed horse.
About 2 hours down I-95, the Baltimore Orioles finally took over first place in the AL East from the Yankees. The season is still SUPER early, but considering the “O’s” young talent is yet to get going, the move in the standings may be more permanent than just a simply April usurping of New York.
What else is happening in the nosebleeds?
- Scottie Scheffler held onto his lead at the RBC Heritage Open, continuing his stretch of dominance as the world’s No. 1 golfer.
- NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay went on the Pardon My Take podcast with some interesting nuggets about how the top 5 could shake out.
- Andy Reid isn’t leaving Kansas City anytime soon.
- Former MVP and Falcons legend Matt Ryan called it quits, announcing his retirement after 15 seasons
Trivia
Yesterday’s Answer: The Heat. Miami reached the Finals in 2023 as an 8-seed after defeating the Bucks, Knicks, and Celtics before falling to the Nuggets in the Finals.
Today’s Question: Ranger Suarez has now thrown 25-straight scoreless innings. Which Philadelphia Phillie has the longest such streak in team history?
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