Underdogs and Overachievers š¾
Last night was packed with action, and today promises even moreā¦ we've got a huge playoff result, a team facing a tough climb, and a lesson in keeping your head up even when the season isn't going your way.
Welcome to the weekend, Smallball-ers, and 3 things you need to know! š
1ļøā£ Pacers Take Commanding Lead š
Last night, Indiana pulled off a 114ā109 victory over the Knicks, taking a 2ā0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with a playoff career-high 39 points, while Tyrese Haliburton had a double-double: 14 points and 11 assists. Despite Jalen Brunson's 36 points and 11 assists for the Knicks, the Pacers' strong fourth-quarter performance sealed the win.
š„ Check out how the Pacers held on at the end.
The Knicks arenāt the only ones in a deep playoff hole. Letās go over to the Western Conference Finals.
2ļøā£ Can Ant Have a GOAT Moment? šš
The Thunder have looked powerful in the first two games, taking a 2ā0 series lead behind their MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Tonight, the series shifts to Minnesota for Game 3. The Wolves need to protect their home court, but theyāre facing a steep climb. How steep?
Think about it like this: In the long history of the NBA playoffs, only about 7% of teams that are behind 0ā2 come back to win the series.
It's so rare that even the GOAT, Michael Jordan, only managed it onceā¦ digging his Chicago Bulls out of an 0ā2 hole against the Knicks way back in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals. It takes a truly historic effort!
And how did MJ start that comeback? In Game 3, he actually had a tough shooting night, making only 3 of his 18 shots! But he found other ways to win, hitting 16 free throws, dishing out 11 assists, grabbing 8 rebounds, and playing amazing defense.
How will Ant respond tonight? Can he do all the little things MJ did to lift his team? We canāt wait to watch!
šÆ Experts sayā¦ 67% chance Thunder win again.
3ļøā£ The Rocky Road Continues ā¾ļø
We're finishing today with Major League Baseballā¦ and itās tough news for the Colorado Rockies. Heading into the weekend, their record stood at 8 wins and 42 losses.
Thatās not just bad, itās historically bad. The worst 50-game start for any MLB team in 130 years. Yep, you have to go all the way back to the 1895 Louisville Colonels to find a team that started worse.
Theyāre currently on pace to lose 136 games, which would be the most losses by any MLB team, ever. Wow.
But while the Rockies are digging deep just to find a single win, other teams are flying high. Letās look at the 5 squads that experts say are playing the best right now:
Detroit Tigers (33ā19): The surprise of the season! Detroit hasnāt made the playoffs since 2014 and wasnāt expected to be this good.
Los Angeles Dodgers (31ā19): No team has more comeback wins. Thatās a sign of serious confidence and teamwork.
Philadelphia Phillies (33ā18): Hot streak alert! The Phillies just jumped into first place in their division and look ready for another strong playoff push.
New York Yankees (30ā20): Their defense has been sharp, and their bats are heating up just in time for summer.
New York Mets (30ā20): The Mets had a few hiccups recently, but overall theyāre still one of the best teams with good hitting, good pitching, and a good shot to keep climbing.
But waitā¦ didnāt the Rockies play the Yankees on Friday night? So the Yankees won, right?
Not so fast. The Rockies won, 3ā2.
Thatās rightā¦ the team with the worst start in 130 years beat one of the hottest teams in the league.
Even on the rockiest road, one great night can change the story.
š¤ When your team is having a tough game, what's something you can do to help lift everyone's spirits?
Whether youāre fighting to even a series, facing near-impossible odds, or just trying to get one win on the board, sports always give you a chance to show your heart.
Believing in yourself and your team, especially when itās tough, is what itās all about.
See you tomorrow for our special Sunday story!