Well the Los Angeles Clippers have won their third postseason series in 41 years – their second since relocating from Buffalo…
On the hardwood yesterday in Memphis, Chris Paul shook off a strained hip flexor to score a team-high 19 points, as the Clippers knocked out the Grizzlies in Game 7 82-72. Los Angeles advances to take on San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals.
To the Eastern Conference semis, Game 1 yesterday in Miami, Lebron James poured in a game-high 32 points, as the Heat took the series opener from the Indiana Pacers 95-86. James collected his third league MVP trophy in four years during a pre-game ceremony.
To the ice, yesterday in Phoenix, Dwight King scored his second goal of the game into an empty net, as the Los Angeles Kings opened the Western Conference finals with a 4-2 win over the Coyotes.
Tonight, the puck drops in the Eastern Conference finals… the New York Rangers host the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden in the series opener.
To baseball, yesterday in the Bronx, Andy Pettitte made his first major league start for the Yankees in nearly a year and a-half… The veteran lefthander surrendered four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3, as the Mariners spoiled Pettitte’s return by beating the Yankees 6-2.
Elsewhere in the American League, Texas routed the Angels 13-6, Tampa Bay held off Baltimore 9-8, Detroit dumped Oakland 3-1, Minnesota fought off Toronto 4-3, Kansas City blasted the White Sox 9-1, and the Red Sox used a six-run seventh to complete a three-game sweep of Cleveland 12-1.
Over to the NL, Giancarlo Stanton’s walk-off grand slam capped a six-run ninth, as the Marlins’ rally stunned the Mets 8-4, Joey Votto hit three home runs, including a walk-off grand slam, as the Reds rallied to beat Washington 9-6, the Dodgers cruised past Colorado 11-5, Atlanta swept St. Louis 7-4, Pittsburgh downed Houston 3-2 in 12, the Cubs dropped Milwaukee 8-2, Philadelphia got past San Diego 3-2, and San Francisco beat Arizona 7-3.
In other baseball news, Roger Clemens' chief accuser is expected to testify today against the former pitcher. Brian McNamee, Clemens' former strength coach, takes the stand as the trial moves into its fifth week. McNamee says he injected the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with steroids and human growth hormone in 1998, 2000 and 2001. It’ll be a make-or-break moment for the prosecution as it seeks to convict Clemens of perjury.
And in golf, Matt Kuchar fired a 2-under-70, good for a two-shot victory over Martin Laird, Rickie Fowler, Ben Curtis, and Zach Johnson at the Players Championship.
I’m Tristan O’Neill, WAMC News.