Stanley Cup Playoffs: Lightning, Bruins, Mammoth Square Respective Series At 1-1; OT Goal Sends Avalanche to 2-0 Series Lead Over Kings

The opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Tuesday with four contests. 

EASTERN CONFERENCE: 

At Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida:  

J.J. Moser scored the winning goal 12:48 into overtime as the Tampa Bay Lightning leveled their conference quarterfinal series with the Montreal at a game apiece after their 4-3 home victory. 

At KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York:

Viktor Arvidsson tallied twice as the Boston Bruins squared their conference quarterfinal series with the Buffalo Sabres at one game apiece with a 4-2 road win. 

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada:

Logan Cooley scored the winning goal with six minutes remaining as the Utah Mammoth picked up their first playoff victory, a 3-2 road triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights as their conference quarterfinal series is deadlocked at one game apiece. 

At Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado: 

At 7:44 into overtime, Nicolas Roy scored the winning goal at the Colorado Avalanche defeated the visiting Los Angeles Kings to take a two-games-to-none lead in their conference quarterfinal series. 

NBA Playoffs: Blazers, 76ers Square Respective Series At 1-1. Lakers Stretch Lead Over Rockets To 2-0.

The NBA Playoffs continued with three games on Tuesday. 

EASTERN CONFERENCE: 

At TD Garden, Boston: 

V.J. Edgecombe scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Tyrese Maxey added 29 and passed out nine assists as the Philadelphia 76ers knocked off the hosts Boston Celtics 111-97 to square their conference quarterfinal series at one game apiece and seized home-court advantage.  

Jaylen Brown paced the Celtics with 36 points. 

WESTERN CONFERENCE:  

At Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas: 

Scoot Henderson scored 31 points as the Portland Trail Blazers overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and knocked off the homestanding San Antonio Spurs 106-103.  

Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 18 points as this conference quarterfinal series is deadlocked at one game apiece with Portland grabbing home-court advantage.

At Crypto.com Arena. Los Angeles:

LeBron James scored 28 points while Marcus Smart added 25 and Luke Kennard 23 as the Los Angeles Lakers took a two-games-to-none conference quarterfinal series lead over the Houston Rockets with a 101-94 home win.

The Rockets are paced by Kevin Durant, who scored 23 points while Alperen Sengun added 20 (to go with 11 rebounds).

 

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Flyers, Hurricanes Take 2-0 Series Leads, Stars Level Series With Wild, Oilers Take Series Opener With Ducks

The Stanley Cup Playoffs resumed on Monday with four games. 

EASTERN CONFERENCE:  

At PPG Arena, Pittsburgh:

Patrick Martone, Garnet Hathaway (shorthanded), and Luke Glendening (empty net) each scored a goal while goaltender Dan Vladar saved all 27 shots for the shutout as the Philadelphia Flyers have now taken a two-games-to-none lead in their conference quarterfinal series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

At Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina:

Jordan Martinook scored the game-winning goal at 13:53 of the second overtime period as the Carolina Hurricanes opened up a conference quarterfinal series two-games-to-none advantage over the Ottawa Senators with their 4-3 victory.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At American Airlines Center, Dallas:

Wyatt Johnston scored twice (once on an empty-netter) as the Dallas Stars squared their conference quarterfinal series with the Minnesota Wild at one game apiece after their 4-2 game-two home win.

At Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta:

Jason Dickinson and Kasperi Kapanen each scored twice as the Edmonton Oilers took the opening game of their conference quarterfinal round series with a 4-3 home triumph over the Anaheim Ducks.

NBA Playoffs: Hawks, Wolves Overcome Double-Digit Deficits To Square Their Respective Series At 1-1; Cavaliers Down Raptors To Go Up 2-0

The NBA Playoffs continued on Monday with three games. 

Eastern Conference: 

At Rocket Arena, Cleveland:  

Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points while James Harden added 28 and Evan Mobley contributed 25 as the Cleveland Cavaliers outdistanced the visiting Toronto Raptors 115-105 to lead their conference quarterfinal series at two games to none.

Scottie Barnes scored 26 points to lead Toronto while R.J. Barrett added 22 (to go with nine rebounds).

At Madison Square Garden, New York:

C.J. McCollum scored 32 points as the Atlanta Hawks came back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to upend the New York Knicks 107-106 to square their conference quarterfinal series at a game apiece.

Jalen Brunson paced the Knicks with 29 points.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Ball Arena, Denver:

Anthony Edwards scored 30 points (while pulling in ten rebounds) while Julius Randle added 24 as the Minnesota Timberwolves came back from a 19-point deficit to stun the hosts Denver Nuggets 119-114 to level their conference quarterfinal series at one game apiece.

Jalen Murray led the Nuggets with 30 points while Nikola Jokic added 24 (to go with his 15 rebounds).

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Avalanche, Habs, Sabres, Golden Knights Take Series Openers

 Four games were played on Sunday as the Stanley Cup Playoffs continued.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida:

Juraj Slafkovsky produced a hat trick (two of them on the power play), including the game winner with a one-man advantage at 82 seconds of overtime as the Montreal Canadiens knocked off the homestanding Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in the opening contest of their conference quarterfinal series.

At Key Bank Center, Buffalo, New York:

Tage Thompson scored twice in the third period as the Buffalo Sabres won their first playoff game since 2011 by knocking off the visiting Boston Bruins 4-3 in game one of their conference quarterfinal series.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Ball Arena, Denver:

Arturi Lehkonnen, Logan O'Connor, and Artemi Panarin (PP) each scored once as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the visiting Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in their conference quarterfinal series opener.

At T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada:

Colton Sissons, Mark Stone (power play), Nick Dowd, and Ivan Barbashev (empty net) each scored a goal as the Vegas Golden Knights spoiled the visiting Utah Mammoth's playoff debut with a conference quarterfinal series-opening 4-2 victory.

NBA Playoffs: Celtics, Thunder, Magic, Spurs Take Conference Quarterfinal Series Openers

The NBA Playoffs continued on Sunday with four games.

EASTERN CONFERENCE: 

At TD Garden, Boston:  

Jaylen Brown scored 26 points while Jayson Tatum added 25 as the Boston Celtics, with six players (including all five starters) scoring in double-digits, manhandled the visiting Philadelphia 76 123-91 in the opening game of their conference quarterfinal series.

Tyrese Maxey paced the Sixers with 21 points.

At Little Caesars Arena, Detroit:

Paolo Banchero scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Orlando Magic with all five starters scoring in double-figures upended the homestanding Detroit Pistons 112-101 in their conference quarterfinal series opener and seized home-court advantage as a result.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 39 points.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At the Paycom Center, Oklahoma City:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points while Jalen Williams added 24 as the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their NBA Title defense with a 119-84 home fistbeating of the Phoenix Suns in game one of their conference quarterfinal series.

The Suns were led by Devin Booker's 23 points.

At Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas:

Victor Wembanyama scored 36 points as the San Antonio Spurs got the measure of the visiting Portland Trail Blazers in their conference quarterfinal series opener, 111-99.

Deni Avdija paced the Blazers with 30 points plus ten rebounds.

NBA Playoffs: Cavaliers, Nuggets, Knicks, Lakers Take Series Openers

The conference quarterfinals of the NBA Playoffs opened on Saturday with all series at best-of-seven.  Four games were contested.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Rocket Arena, Cleveland:

Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points while Max Strus added 24 (off the bench) and James Harden 22 (to go with 10 assists) as the Cleveland Cavaliers took the opening game of their conference quarterfinal series with a 126-113 home victory over the Toronto Raptors.

R.J. Barrett and Scottie Barnes paced Toronto with 24 and 21 points, respectively.

At Madison Square Garden, New York:

Jalen Brunson scored 28 points while Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 (while converting all ten of his free throws) as the New York Knickerbockers held off the visiting Atlanta Hawks 113-102 in game one of their conference quarterfinal series.

C.J. McCallum paced the Hawks with 26 points while Jalen Johnson added 23.

The Hawks last reached the NBA Finals in 1961 when the franchise was still based in St. Louis.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Ball Arena, Denver:

Jamal Murray scored 30 points (making all 16 free throw attempts) while Nikola Jokic added 25 points to go with 13 rebounds and 11 assists for a triple-double as the Denver Nuggets downed the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening game of their conference quarterfinal series.

Anthony Edwards paced the Wolves with 22 points.

At Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles:

Luke Kennard scored 27 points as the Los Angeles Lakers took the measure of the visiting Houston Rockets 107-98 in game one of their conference quarterfinal series.

Alperen Sengun paced the Rockets with 19 points.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Canes, Flyers, Wild Take Conference Quarterfinal Openers As Playoffs Start

 The National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs opened on Saturday with three games, with all series up to the final at best-of-seven.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina:

Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall each scored once while Frederik Andersen saved all 22 shots for the shutout as the Carolina Hurricanes blanked the visiting Ottawa Senators 2-0 in the opening game of their conference quarterfinal series.

At PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh:

In the battle of The Keystone State, Jimmy Drysdale, Travis Sanheim, and Brian Rust each scored once with Mr. Rust scoring with 1:01 remaining in regulation as the Philadelphia Flyers seized home-ice advantage in their 3-2 game-one opening-round road win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At American Airlines Center, Dallas:

Joel Eriksson scored twice (both on the power play) while Matt Boldy also scored twice (once on an empty-netter) as the Minnesota Wild ambushed the home-standing Dallas Stars 6-1 in their conference quarterfinal series opener.

NBA Playoffs: Magic, Clippers Advance To Face Conference Top Seeds

 The NBA Playoffs concluded their "Play-In Tournament" with two games on Friday.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At the Kia Center, Orlando, Florida:

Paolo Banchero scored 25 points as the Orlando Magic, with all five starters scoring in double-digits, smothered the visiting Charlotte Hornets 121-90 to advance to the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, where they will take on the top-seeded Detroit Pistons beginning in The Motor City on Sunday.

LaMelo Ball paced the now-eliminated Hornets with 23 points.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona:

Jalen Green scored 36 points while Devin Booker added 20 points before he was ejected as the Phoenix Suns topped the visiting Golden State Warriors 111-96 to advance to the Western Conference quarterfinals where they will face the top-seeded and defending NBA titlists Oklahoma City Thunder, starting in the Sooner State's Capital city on Sunday.

Brandin Podziemski paced the low-eliminated Warriors with 23 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.

NBA Playoffs: 76ers Advance To Battle Celtics, Warriors End Clips' Season

 The NBA Playoffs continued on Wednesday with two "Play-in" games.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

At Xfinity Mobile Center, Philadelphia:

Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the visiting Orlando Magic 109-97 to advance to the Eastern Conference quarterfinal round and a best-of-seven encounter with the Boston Celtics beginning this coming Sunday.

Desmond Bane paced the Magic with 34 points.

The Magic will take on the Charlotte Hornet at home on Friday for the right to battle the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

At the Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California:

Stephen Curry scored 35 points while Gui Santos and Kristaps Porzingas each added 20 as the Golden State Warriors came from behind to knock off the host Los Angeles Clippers 126-121.

Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench to pace the Clippers with 23 points while Kahli Leonard and Darius Garland each contributed 21 as the Clips' season ended.

The Warriors will visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday for the right to take on the top Western Conference seed----the defending NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

NBA Playoffs: Blazers Advance To Face Spurs; Hornets End Heat's Season

 I don't care what the NBA thinks----those play-in games are still playoff games.

With that said, the National Basketball Association Playoffs opened with two games on Tuesday.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At the Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina:

LaMelo Ball (30 points, 10 assists), Miles Bridges (28 points), and Brandon Miller (23 points) led the Charlotte Hornets to a 127-126 overtime victory over the visiting Miami Heat.

Davion Mitchell (28 points), Andrew Wiggins (27), and Tyler Hero (23 points) for Miami as the Heat's season ended with the defeat.

The Hornets will next play the loser of Wednesday' s Orlando-Philadelphia game for the right to face the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona:

Deni Avdija scored 41 points and dished out 12 assists as the Portland Trail Blazers upended the host Phoenix Suns 114-110.  Jrue Holiday added 23 points for the Blazers.

Jalen Green topped the Suns with 35 points while Devin Booker added 22 and Dillon Brooks with 20.

The Blazers will open their Western Conference quarterfinal best-of-seven series with the San Antonio Spurs on the road this coming Saturday.

The Suns will play the winner of the Golden State Warriors-Los Angeles Clippers game for the right to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.

UCLA, MICHIGAN WIN NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona:

Gabriela Jaquez scored 21 points on Sunday as the UCLA Bruins won their first women's national championship by winning the NCAA Division I Women's Tournament title game by defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 79-51.

The Bruins' Lauren Betts, who scored 14 points, was named the tournament' s Most Outstanding Player.

Tessa Johnson led the Gamecocks with 14 points.

At Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis:

Elliot Candeau, named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, scored 19 points on Monday as the Michigan Wolverines outdistanced the Connecticut Huskies 69-63 to win  their first NCAA Division I Men's Tournament championship since 1989.

Alex Karaban paced the Huskies with 17 points.