Draymond Green shines as Warriors defeat Trail Blazers 110-99 for 3-0 series lead

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By: Ana Kieu

The Golden State Warriors walked into the Moda Center to take on the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Finals Saturday night. The Warriors entered with a 2-0 series lead, which was commanding, but the series wasn’t over yet. The Warriors still had some work to do.

The Warriors’ starting lineup featured Steph Curry, Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Damian Jones. Andrew Bogut was initially slated to start, but Damian Jones reportedly got the nod just moments before the tip-off.

The Blazers played beautiful basketball in the first half.

The Blazers’ back court of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum hit back-to-back three-pointers early in the first quarter. Also, Meyers Leonard made the most out of his second career postseason start. Leonard was a last-minute replacement for Enes Kanter in the Blazers’ starting lineup.

Steph Curry hit a couple of threes and Shaun Livingston’s mid-range shooting game was on fire. But the Blazers held a 29-27 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The Blazers, however, showed the Warriors how basketball should be played in the second quarter. Zach Collins blocked Klay Thompson’s shot for a potential bucket early in the second quarter. Also, Evan Turner made mid-range shots as well as threes from the corner.

Sure, Dub Nation was thrilled to see Draymond Green make a buzzer-beating layup to end the first half. But it was the Blazers who took a 66-53 lead to the locker room at the break.

Meyers Leonard achieved a playoff career-high 16 points in the third quarter. But it was Draymond Green who stole the show by playing with such great energy. Green made some spiffy layups, despite multiple Blazers defenders all around him.

The Warriors finally took a one-point lead 77-76 with 1:54 left in the third quarter. The explosive play of Draymond Green and the slight leadership of Steph Curry and Jordan Bell contributed to the Warriors’ big run. Green had his seventh career playoff triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Blazers gave the Warriors a hard time and Steph Curry made a pass to Jordan Bell for a two, but the buzzer sounded before the shot was made and the Warriors settled for a 82-79 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Blazers were well-aware that they had 12 minutes to get the lead back.

CJ McCollum slid down the court on an arguable right hand grab and received a pair of free throws, but failed to make one or both of them. McCollum later made a two that pulled the Blazers within six 90-84 with 7:09 left in the fourth quarter. Then, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called a timeout for his team to regroup for a little bit.

It was quite a turnaround for the Warriors, who had an 11-point lead 100-89 with 4:18 left in the fourth quarter. Steph Curry stepped up his game, too. Curry’s efforts helped the Warriors to a 110-99 win and a 3-0 series lead.

Check out the Warriors’ final stats below.

Moreover, Draymond Green became the fifth player in NBA history to tally a triple-double (20 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and four steals) in three straight NBA Playoffs series in a single postseason.

Game 4 will be Monday night at 6:00 pm on ESPN.

War of Will bounces back in the Preakness Stakes

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By: Ana Kieu

After clashing with Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby, War of Will bounced back in the Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. War of Will’s jockey was Tyler Gaffalione.

This year’s Preakness Stakes was rather unusual. It was the first to not include a Kentucky Derby winner in 23 years. Maximum Security was initially this year’s Kentucky Derby winner until the controversial disqualification occurred at the hands of the officials. Maximum Security didn’t race. Country House, the designated winner, also didn’t race. That being said, there was no contender for the Triple Crown.

Among the horses War of Will held off was a jockey-less one, who threw his rider off right out of the gate. Fans in attendance and at home were shocked by that particular moment.

At the 144th Preakness Stakes Winners Party, Horseware provided the coolers for the winning horses, including War of Will. Everyone at the Winners Party toasted to the glorious success achieved Saturday.

Wondo rewrites the history book in Earthquakes’ 4-1 win over Fire

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by Marko Ukalovic

San Jose, Calif- Move over Landon Donovan! The Wondo Watch is finally over thanks to a career game from captain Chris Wondoloski. The Danville native, making his first start since March 30th, scored four goals to become the MLS all-time career goals leader with 148. It paved the way for the San Jose Earthquakes dominating 4-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday afternoon at Avaya Stadium.

San Jose (3-6-2) drew first blood thanks to a great play by Shae Salinas in the 21st minute. Salinas dribbled in from the left wing and sent a low centering pass to a wide open Chris Wondolowski from five yards out and Wondo cashed it in with a one-timer off his right foot into the back post for his first goal of the season tying former Quake Landon Donovan at 145.

“It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work by Wondo”, said Salinas. “He’s been my teammate longer than anybody (I’ve played with) and I’ve been his teammate longer than anybody. It’s an honor to be apart of what he’s done. He’s an incredible goal scorer.”

Chicago (4-4-4) had two good chances to even the score within four minutes of each other. In the 24th minute the ball caromed off a deflection over to Nemanja Nikolic who was wide open in the center of the box but Quakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega made a diving save with his legs to keep Chicago’s leading goal scorer off the scoreboard. Then in the 28th minute, a free kick attempt Aleksandar Katai from just outside the box was stopped by Vega.

History was made in the 48th minute when a centering cross by Christian Espinoza was dropped by Fire goalkeeper David Ousted that landed right on to the foot of Wondo who chipped the ball past Ousted for the record breaking 146th career goal.

“It’s crazy”, said the all-time leading goal scorer in MLS history. “I love visualization. I’d always pictured hitting a 30 yard blast going up the 90. Didn’t really picture the goalie dropping it and tapping it in.”

Wondo scored the hat trick in the 74th minute when Espinoza led a rush down the right slot. He was tripped up but referee Alex Chillowicz allowed the Quakes to play the advantage and the ball found its way to a wide open Wondolowski who fired the ball into the upper left corner for goal #147.

“Honestly I’m just having fun right now”, said Wondo. “It’s really rejuinating and has just reignited this passion (I have playing soccer). I’m really having fun now.”

Wondo wasn’t done as four minutes laters he added to his all-time total when Jackson Yueill centered a ball from the right over to the left to a once again wide open Wondolowski who tapped into the goal into an empty net sending the crowd into a frenzy for goal #148.

Chicago scored a late goal in the 83rd minute when a shot by Katai deflected off a body that changed direction on Vega and into the back of the net for Katai’s third goal of the season.

“I can say it (now) because it’s going to seem odd to you guys”, Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda said jokingly. “But when I was speaking to my coaching staff today (before the game), I said maybe he’ll score four goals today.”

Wondo was substituted in the 90th minute to a standing ovataion from the Avaya Stadium faithful.

GAME NOTES: The Quakes have won four consecutive home games this season.

Forward Danny Hoesen suffered an injury yesterday that prevented him from playing in the game which cleared the way for Wondo to start.

Chicago had their two game winning streak snapped after back-to-back wins for the first time in two years after wins over the New England and Minnesota. It also snapped the Fire’s three game winning streak against the Quakes. San Jose leads the overall series 9-6-5.

A video message from Donovan was played at the 90th minute congratulating Wondolowski’s accomplishment.

Johan Kappelhof was issued a yellow card in the 41st minute on a tackle he made on Magnus Eriksson. Espinoza was issued his own yellow card in the 54th minute. Then Jorge Corrales received a yellow card in the 63rd minute. Katai received a yellow card at the end of the match.

Fire midfielder Nicholas Gaitan did not play due to a thigh injury.

UP NEXT: The Quakes travel north of the border to take on Toronto FC on Sunday 5/26 at 4:30pm at BMO Field.

 

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final podcast with Matt Harrington: How the Bruins would match up against either San Jose or St. Louis in the Finals

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On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt talks about the advantage for the Boston Bruins to have some time off before getting into Game 1 of the Finals against either St. Louis or San Jose.

#2 In the series against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Bruins made it look easy. They have been a very consistent team.

#3 Usually the team that has finished early that meets a team that has either just finished Game 7 or their playoffs or  at a disadvantage because of the lag time.

#4 Looking up and down the roster, the Bruins are loaded they have a team that would be favored in meeting either San Jose and St Louis. Who would you see them in the next round?

#5 Lastly, talk about the year that Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. He has had a great year in net. How do you see him matching up against either the Blues or Sharks’ offensive attacks?

Join Matt for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference podcast at  http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final podcast with Len Shapiro: Despite loss, Sharks have advantage and home ice; series tied at 2-2

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On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final podcast with Len:

#1 As San Jose Sharks’ Justin Braun said after the game in St. Louis on Friday night, the start of the game buried the Sharks.

#2 The Blues got scoring help in the first period from Ivan Barbashev for his first postseason goal at 0:35 and the second one coming from Tyler Bozak for his fourth postseason goal at 17:53.

#3 After the game, Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said the series is tied, the Sharks have home ice and DeBoer says he feels good about it.

#4 Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 29 out of 30 shots, shutting out the Sharks in the first and second periods.

#5 Game 5 comes back to San Jose on Sunday night at SAP Center. Despite the loss, the series with home ice for the Sharks looks to be in their favor.

Len Shapiro does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Western Conference podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Diamondbacks blank Giants behind timely hitting

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By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, May 17, 2019

PHOENIX — It was Game of Thrones Night Friday at Chase Field, pitting Team Giant vs. Team Diamondback.

Team Diamondback got timely hits when necessary, while Team Giant did not.

David Peralta’s fourth-inning home run, followed by two extended rallies, gave Arizona a 7-0 NL West win over visiting San Francisco.

The Giants stranded 10 baserunners.

“We just didn’t get that big hit when we had runners out there,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said of his team’s scoring chances in the second, third, sixth, seventh and eighth innings. “We tried to get things rolling and just didn’t get it tonight.”

With one out in the Arizona fourth inning, David Peralta broke up the scoreless deadlock with a home run to left-center, just left of the 413-foot marker. It was Peralta’s seventh homer of the season.

San Francisco loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on consecutive singles by Buster Posey and Brandon Belt and a walk to Pablo Sandoval, but Arizona reliever Yoshihisa Hirano replaced starter Merrill Kelly (4-4), struck out Brandon Crawford, and Kevin Pillar flied out to right.

The Diamondbacks added two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Jarrod Dyson walked and scored two batters later on Adam Jones’ double down the left-field line off San Francisco starter Jeff Samardzija.

“(Samardzija’s) been one of the top pitchers for a long time,” Jones, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI, said. “So, when you get an opportunity to score off of them, you have to. Same thing tomorrow night against (Madison) Bumgarner. They’re very stingy with runs.”

Ketel Marte then greeted Giants reliever Reyes Moronta with a broken-bat infield single, driving in David Peralta, who was intentionally walked prior to the double by Jones.

Samardzija (2-2) gave up three earned runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings, didn’t strike out anybody, and issued three walks.

“Shark threw well,” Bochy said. “He kept us in the game and gave us a chance. He had good command and was doing a nice job. He gave up that walk (to Dyson) right before the big hit by Jones and he’d like to have that one back.”

Arizona tacked on four more runs in the seventh off reliever Derek Holland after loading the bases. After Alex Avila walked, pinch-hitter Wilmer Flores singled and Dyson was hit by a pitch, Eduardo Escobar delivered a three-run triple. Peralta followed with an run batted in when he reached on an error by Belt at first.

In between the Dyson and Peralta at-bats, Bochy was ejected for the third time this season following an argument with home plate umpire Andy Fletcher.

“You can’t argue a check-swing,” Bochy explained about his 77th career ejection. “

Kelly struck out four and walked one while giving up six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

“I’ve been very impressed with him,” Jones said of Kelly, who pitched in the Korean League for four years before joining the D-Backs this season. “He knows how to use his defense, works fast and throws strikes.”

Joe Panik was 2-for-4 with two doubles for San Francisco. Posey and Belt each collected two hits.

Madison Bumgarner (2-4, 4.04 ERA) is on the hill for the Giants on Saturday, while the Diamondbacks have yet to announce their starters for either Saturday or Sunday.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Giants C Buster Posey was activated prior to the game from the concussion injured list. Posey had missed San Francisco’s last six games after taking a foul tip off his mask on May 5 in Cincinnati. … Fox Sports Arizona took a moment to wish a happy 71st birthday to former White Sox 1B Carlos May, the only MLB player in history to wear his birthday on the back of his jersey.

2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Blues Tie Series with 2-1 Win Over Sharks

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

By Mary Walsh

The St. Louis Blues won 2-1 against the San Jose Sharks at the Scottrade Center Friday, tying the Western Conference Final series. Ivan Barbashev and Tyler Bozak scored for St. Louis, while Tomas Hertl got the Sharks’ lone goal. Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington made 29 saves for the win, while Sharks goaltender Martin Jones made 20 saves in a losing effort.

Asked whether there was an emotional let down after the Game 3 win, and whether that contributed to the slow start, Sharks captain Joe Pavelski said:

Not really, it really didn’t cross my mind. There’s a lot of emotion throughout the playoffs. You know, we’re in the Conference Finals, we’ve had overtime wins, we’ve had Game Sevens, we’ve had emotional games for sure. You just lace ’em back up for the next game and you get ready to go and you compete.

After the game, Sharks defenseman Justin Braun said: “Our second and third was really good. The start just wasn’t what we needed and kind of buried us for the night.”

Braun then gave more detail: “We started making plays and battling. I didn’t think we were very clean, we were losing a lot of battles in the first period and then we kind of changed our mindset and started going.”

Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer summarized his thoughts on the team’s situation with: “You’re in the Western Conference Final, 2-2, you know, against a really good team. I feel pretty good. We got home ice advantage. Yeah, I mean, you know, I feel good.”

The Blues started the scoring just 35 seconds in. The Blues’ fourth line trapped the Sharks in the defensive zone right off the draw and as Brent Burns tried to clear the puck from behind the net, Alexander Steen came around with a hit. Ivan Barbashev came down the boards and found the puck. He took a shot that went off of Gus Nyquist’s stick and into the net. It was Barbashev’s first of the playoffs.

They added another at 17:43, on the power play. It was the Sharks’ second penalty of the period. The Blues got one shot during their first power play. They had two in the second one. After winning the face-off, the Blues moved the puck around the zone a bit, until Vladimir Tarasenko took a shot from the point. Pat Maroon deflected it and Jones stopped it, but the rebound went right up the slot. Tyler Bozak got credit for the goal, though the puck appeared to go off of Justin Braun’s skate and under Jones. Assists went to Maroon and Tarasenko.

Along with the scoring lead, the Blues led slightly in shots (10-9) while trailing in face-offs (45%) at the end of the first period.

The Sharks had their first power play at 5:41 of the second period, a hooking penalty against Sammy Blais. The Sharks got two shots but no goal. The teams then played four on four after a scrum in the corner at 8:24. Marc-Edouard Vlasic went for slashing Jordan Binnington, and Brayden Schenn went for roughing Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Vlasic’s penalty looked like an attempt to dislodge the puck from under Binnington’s glove, as he poked the end of his stick into the gap at the front of the glove on the ice. Schenn took issue with that, as did the officials.

There was no scoring in the second, but the Sharks mustered a relentless attack in the final minutes of the period, racking up several shots and keeping the Blues trapped in their zone. The Sharks out-shot the Blues 11-8 in the period, but slipped in the face-off circle to 44%. By the end of the second, the Blues had out-hit the Sharks 24-14.

Tomas Hertl and the Sharks’ power play scored at 6:48 of the third period. Brent Burns took a shot from the blue line that trickled under Binnington. Joe Pavelski reached behind the goalie at the same time as Hertl did, and while Hertl was being tackled in the blue paint, the puck went over the line. Assists went to Burns and Erik Karlsson.

The Sharks were back on the power play at 9:52. As the first minute of that wound down, Tyler Bozak chipped the puck past Brent Burns and went for a short-handed attempt. Oskar Sundqvist jumped in to back him up. Bozak got a good shot off, and Sundqvist was there to get a rebound, but Jones did not give him one. The Sharks used their timeout after that. Even so, they did not get any shots during that power play.

At 12:33, the Sharks were called for too many men after the puck was passed to the bench where lines were changing. Joe Thornton swept the puck away before getting off the ice. Evander Kane got away for a short-handed shot, and the Blues had two shots on the power play.

With an offensive zone face-off and 2:02 left, the Sharks pulled Martin Jones for an extra skater. The Blues got a shot at the empty net right away, but missed. The Sharks kept the play in the offensive zone for more than a minute before the Blues found a way to get the puck out. The Sharks outshot the Blues 10-4 in the third, the biggest shot advantage in the game.

Erik Karlsson did not skate in most of the second half of the third period, but stayed on the bench. He was back on the ice for the final two minutes.

Game 5 will be on Sunday at 12 noon PT at the SAP Center in San Jose.

Montas’ Near Complete Game Still A Feat, A’s Continue Dominance Over Tigers 7-2

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By Matthew Harrington

Frankie Montas came one out away from pitching his first career complete game, finishing the night with 10 strikes on four hits with two earned runs to give the Oakland A’s (21-25) its 14th consecutive win against the Detroit Tigers 7-2 at Comerica Park Friday. Mark Canha and Chad Pinder each hit two-run home runs and Khris Davis went 3-for-4 with an RBI single to hand the Motor City Kitties their fifth loss in as many games. Miguel Cabrera and Josh Harrison knocked in the runs for Detroit (18-25)

Montas and Tigers starter Daniel Norris were trading zeros through the first three innings, but a Matt Olson fielder’s choice with runners on first and third in the top of the fourth plated the A’s first run. Canha added two runs on his fifth homer of the year in the top of the fifth when Norris’ 1-0 fastball caught nothing but the heart of the plate and the head of Canha’s bat for a 3-0 lead.

The Tigers after a pair of doubles from Miguel Cabrera and Josh Harrison manufactured a run in the bottom of the fifth. Montas hit Dewal Lugo with a pitch to put runners on second and first with one out, but consecutive groundouts bailed Montas out of a jam in his best start of the year.

Olson hit a single that, combined with a fielding error by center fielder JaCoby Jones, brought in a run in the top of the sixth. Pinder would knock losing pitcher Norris (2-2, 4.50 ERA) out of the game a batter later, taking him deep on a full-count offering for a 6-1 lead. Davis would single in a run against Sandy Baez in the top of the eighth for the A’s seventh run.

Montas (5-2, 2.67 ERA) came out to start the ninth, the first time he’d done so in his career, but be greeted by a single from Gordon Beckham. He would strikeout Christin Stewart and coax a groundout from Nick Castellanos, but future Hall of Famer Cabrera would not be the last victim of Montas. He doubled off Montas’ 109th pitch of the night, plating Beckham for a 7-2 A’s lead. Lou Trivino would coax a Ronny Rodriguez punchout to end the game.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Belt, Posey expected back in the lineup tonight in Arizona

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On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he kept first baseman Brandon Belt out of the lineup due to his inflamed knee Bochy says Belt is listed as day-to-day.

#2 Belt has had two knee surgeries. He went 0-3 with a walk on Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays. Did his 0-for-3 have something to do with his knee being inflamed?

#3 The bobblehead for Pablo Sandoval reads “Let Pablo pitch” but someday the bobblehead for Giants pitcher Shaun Anderson will read “Let Shaun hit” because two hits in his first MLB game and some solid hitting would make only teammate Madison Bumgarner proud.

#4 Buster Posey is expected to be in the lineup on Friday night to open up the series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was out with a concussion for seven days. How cautious will the Giants and Posey be about his return?

#5 Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto is doing a 40-pitch bullpen session as he catches up with the team in Arizona. Bochy said he’s not sure if Cueto will be back this season after having Tommy John surgery, but he wants to see how and where Cueto is at in these bullpen sessions.

Join Miguel for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Joe Lami: Blues look to even series, but Sharks look to move two games up tonight

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On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Joe Lami:

#1 Joe explain the overtime goal from San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson that got guided in from teammate Timo Meier with the glove hand to teammate Gustav Nyquist, who stick passed it to Karlsson and shot it past St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington.

#2 The Sharks got the Wednesday night comeback win from a 4-3 deficit as the Sharks’ Logan Couture scored the tying goal in the third period at 18:59. The Sharks, again, played like their playoff lives depended on it and made a comeback.

#3 Couture also leads NHL playoff leaders in goals with 13 goals and 19 points. He’s having a fine offensive postseason.

#4 The Boston Bruins swept the Carolina Panthers in four games with a 4-0 shutout Thursday night. The Bruins didn’t show any lows at all in the series and have been very consistent throughout the playoffs.

#5 The Bruins now wait for the winner of the St. Louis and San Jose series. Joe tells us who he thinks the Bruins prefer to play in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Joe Lami does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com