Mean Green & Him-anaga

05/02/2024

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning!

We’re gearing up for the milestone 150th Kentucky Derby this weekend. You can catch that history-setting preview in tomorrow’s edition, but there was plenty of action in sports last night.

The Celtics eliminated the Heat, and they flexed while doing it. The Oilers also de-throned the Kings for the third consecutive postseason. And Cubs’ lefty Shota Imanaga might just be better (much better) than we initially thought…

Letter Rip!

______________________________________________________________________________________

NBA PLAYOFFS

Mean (Lean) Green

*Photo: MediaNewsGroup / Boston Herald via Getty Images*

Short-Handed Celtics Bury Heat by 34 to Close Out Series (118-84); Mavs Dominate Clippers by 30 in Game 5 (123-93)

If you were a fan of the NBA on Wednesday, there’s a good chance you achieved an early bedtime. If that was the choice, you didn’t miss much. Both NBA games were quickly-settled blowouts by 30-plus, but the results were still significant. Boston blew the doors off Miami in a convincing series closeout despite missing Kristaps Porzingis to a calf injury. Porzingis might be out through most of Round 2. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown (25 pts each) were the catalysts once again, and the Heat are heading home in the first round one year removed from the NBA Finals. For now, the lean-and-mean Celtics advance and await the winner of the Cavs-Magic series.

In the nightcap, another rout was inevitable. Luka Doncic (35-10-7) and the Mavericks outscored the Clippers by double digits in three of four quarters. It was potentially the Clippers’ final game in Crypto.com Arena before moving to Inglewood next season. Game 6 heads back to Dallas.

NBA Playoff Highlights (Round 1)

Gm 5: Celtics def. Heat (118-84)

BOS Wins Series (4-1)

Gm 5: Mavericks def. Clippers (123-93)

DAL Leads Series (3-2)

Updated NBA Playoffs Bracket

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 6: Bucks at Pacers (6:30 pm ET, TNT)

IND Leads Series (3-2)

Gm 6: Knicks at 76ers (9:00 pm ET, TNT)

NYK Leads Series (3-2)

B/R: Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis Likely Out Through 2nd Round With Calf Injury

______________________________________________________________________________________

MLB

He’s Him-anaga: Shota’s Staggering Start

May MLB Trends to Watch: Cubs’ Shota Imanaga Continues Torrid Start, Twins Sweep White Sox for 10th Straight Win

The MLB gave us a two-pack of fun storylines for the second consecutive day. The Twins are now winners of 10 straight after an ugly start to the season, and there’s a star emerging in Chicago. Cubs’ lefty Shota Imanaga might be overwhelmingly better than we all thought. As the kids say: “He’s Him”… Him-anaga. Let’s make that nickname catch on.

Imanaga’s Historic Start

The Chicago Cubs knew they landed a special talent with the acquisition of the left-hander this offseason, but few in baseball expected this. Imanaga blanked the Mets last night (1-0), giving up just three hits and firing seven Ks over seven shutout innings. That box score just about describes Imanaga’s entire first month in the majors. He’s now 5-0 in six starts with a 0.78 ERA — the fourth-lowest ever over a pitcher’s first six starts in MLB history, not to mention the current ERA leader in all of baseball. He’s also the first pitcher to start 5-0 with an ERA below 1.00 since at least 1901 (seriously). He’s likable, too. Imanaga’s introductory press conference in Chicago instantly endeared him to the city. The Cubs got a superstar.

Cubs-Mets Wild Finish (Pete Alonso Called Out at Home Plate to End Game)

Twins Take It To 10 Straight

The Minnesota Twins began the year 7-13, but that rugged start has shifted to the best win streak of the season (10 games). Last night’s 10-5 win over the White Sox featured a three-hit night from Jose Miranda and a home run from Alex Kirilloff. This win streak does include seven games against the underachieving White Sox, a team that’s on pace for historic futility, so there’s that. It’s still the longest win streak in the majors this season and it’s Minnesota’s longest win streak since 2008.

Other MLB Highlights

Dodgers Thrash D-Backs (8-0)

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6 IP, 5 H, 5 Ks) Leads Shutout

Red Sox Roll Giants (6-2)

Boston Has Outscored Teams 32-6 Over 4-Game Streak

A’s Blank Pirates (4-0)

Resurgent Oakland Sweeps Pittsburgh to Win 4th Straight

______________________________________________________________________________________

NHL PLAYOFFS

To The Victors Go The *Oils

McDavid (2 Assists), Draisaitl (2 Goals) & Oilers Send Kings Packing (Again); Stars Win 3rd Straight Game to Flip the Script Against Vegas

Another year, another de-crowning of the Kings at the hands of Edmonton. The Oilers put the Kings out of their playoff misery last night — for the third straight season — thanks to the law firm of McDavid and Draisaitl. Conner McDavid (2A) and Leon Draisaitl (2G) continue to be the most unstoppable 1-2 punch on ice. The Oilers just have the Kings’ number in the playoffs, and Edmonton is rolling into Round 2 after an up-and-down season.

Out West, the Stars won a Game 5 nail-biter (3-2) to take a swift 3-2 lead in their series with Vegas. Dallas dropped the first two games to the defending champs, but they’ve stolen each of the last three games by one- or two-goal margins. Goaltender Jake Oettinger logged a miraculous right pad save late in this one to hold the lead. An overall good night for Dallas sports fans.

NHL Playoff Highlights (Round 1)

Gm 5: Oilers def. Kings (3-2)

EDM Wins Series (4-1)

Gm 5: Stars def. Golden Knights (3-2)

DAL Leads Series (3-2)

Updated Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 6: Bruins at Maple Leafs (8:00 pm ET, TBS)

BOS Leads Series (3-2)

NHL: Stars Edge Golden Knights in Game 5, Push Defending Champs to the Brink

______________________________________________________________________________________

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Champions League (Semis, Leg 1)

Dortmund def. PSG (1-0)

Niclas Füllkrug (36’) Nets Only Goal for Dortmund Off Nico Schlotterbeck’s Precision Pass From Midfield (‘Robin Hood Arrow of a Hit’)

Tennis (Madrid Open)

W: #2 A. Sabalenka def. M. Andreeva (6-1, 6-4)

W: #4 E. Rybakina def. Y. Putintseva (4-6, 7-6, 7-5)

M: #7 A. Rublev def. #2 C. Alcaraz (4-6, 6-3, 6-2)

M: #12 T. Fritz def. #21 F. Cerundolo (6-1, 3-6, 6-3)

______________________________________________________________________________________

STORYLINES

The NBA Mock Lottery

The NBA Lottery is coming on Sunday, May 12. The odds are set, but the ping-pong balls rarely give teams their projected order. (Bleacher Report)

Kentucky Derby FAQs

This year marks the 150th edition of the Run for the Roses. Let’s answer all of your questions about the fastest two minutes in sports. (NBC Sports)

Post-Draft NFL Power Rankings

The NFL Draft is over, so it’s time to revisit the Power Rankings and assess everyone’s progress after their rookie additions. (The Athletic)

______________________________________________________________________________________

NEWS

USMNT’s Sergino Dest to Miss Copa America With Torn ACL (ESPN)

Knicks Lose Bojan Bogdanovic for Remainder of Playoffs With Injuries (SI)

Tiger Woods Appears on Jimmy Fallon to Promote New Clothing Line & Talk Masters (USA Today)

Cleveland Browns Reportedly Asking Taxpayers to Fund Half of $2.4 Billion New Stadium (Yahoo! Sports)

Boxer Ryan Garcia Tests Positive for PEDs Following Devin Haney Victory (Sporting News)

Deion & Shedeur Sanders Go On Offense Against Former Player Who Called Out Coach Prime (NBC Sports)

______________________________________________________________________________________

Today’s Must-Watch List