Who’s Advancing and Who’s Asleep? 😴
What do you get when you mix pressure-packed hoops, power naps, and playoff hockey?
A perfect recipe for Smallball’s 3 things today.
1️⃣ Flipping the Script in the Garden 🔄
The Pacers are NOT heading to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000! Well… not yet.
What a difference a game makes!
In Game 4, Tyrese Haliburton was setting records, and the Pacers looked like a team with one foot in the Finals.
Back in Madison Square Garden for Game 5, the Knicks flipped the script. They delivered a dominant 111–94 win to stay alive in the series. Jalen Brunson led the way with 32 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 13 rebounds despite playing with a bruised knee. On the other side, Tyrese Haliburton struggled… just 8 points in a quiet night.
🎥 Here’s Jalen on how the Knicks stayed alive… and why they’re taking it one step at a time:
The series now heads back to Indiana for a massive Game 6. The Knicks still need two more wins… but suddenly, that doesn’t feel impossible.
Wonder what they’ll do to rest and recharge…
2️⃣ From Buzzer Beaters to Bedtime 💤
Yesterday we checked in on the Nuggets... and their attempts to paint each other. But not every player is picking up paintbrushes.
Some are grabbing pillows.
That’s right… NBA players take naps. Like, a lot of naps.
🛌 Steph, LeBron, Giannis... they’re not just MVPs. They’re MVZzzzs. From midday snoozes to full sleep routines, many players credit their on-court performance to what they do off the court… especially rest.
🎥 This video breaks down why napping helps you recover, reset, and get your mind right before games:
And hey, we know school’s out for many of you. So if you feel your eyes drifting a little during the day… maybe don’t fight it.
You never know! Your next great game might come after a great nap.
🧐 Speaking of which… has anyone seen Smallball? We need to finish today’s story...
3️⃣ The Stanley Cup Picture Gets Clearer 🏒
Knicks–Pacers wasn’t the only Game 5 last night. Over on the ice, the NHL playoffs brought the action too. Let’s catch up on the Conference Finals…
🌄 In the West:
The Edmonton Oilers are heading back to the Stanley Cup Final!
They closed out the Western Conference Finals with a 6–3 win over the Dallas Stars, taking the series 4–1. That sets up a rematch of last year’s championship clash: Edmonton vs… who? To find out, let’s go…
🌅 Back East:
The Florida Panthers have been waiting. In their own Game 5 a few nights ago, the Panthers rallied from a 2–0 hole to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5–3.
The spark? 💥
A power-play goal that flipped the momentum. (In hockey, a power play means you’ve got more skaters on the ice because the other team committed a penalty.)
The closer? 🚨
An empty-netter… that’s when the losing team pulls their goalie to get an extra attacker, but it leaves the net wide open. A last-minute gamble… and the Panthers made them pay.
🎥 Check out the Game 5 highlights and see if you can spot both of those goals!
This marks the Panthers’ third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
They fell short in 2023 but beat Edmonton in Game 7 in 2024. Now, they’re chasing back-to-back titles.
🎤 If you made it to the championship, would you rather face a team that beat you last year… or a totally new team you've never played before?
Which one would fire you up more: payback, or mystery?
Would you look at that! Smallball finally woke up… just in time to wrap up today’s post.
We’ll be back tomorrow, well-rested and ready for more!
Now I want a nap!!