Sports Update 6-08-23

>>Nuggets Crush Heat, Take 2-1 Lead In NBA Finals

 

(Miami, FL)  — The Nuggets are taking back the lead in the NBA Finals.  Denver crushed the Heat 109-94 in Game Three in Miami.  Nikola Jokic dominated with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists in the victory.  He became the first player to register at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in an NBA Finals game.  Jamal Murray also posted a triple-double with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.  The Nuggets now lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 as they seek their first NBA championship.  Jimmy Butler paced the Heat with 28 points in the losing effort.  The teams will meet for Game Four on Friday in Miami.

 

>>Panthers Look To Get On The Board In Stanley Cup Final

 

(Sunrise, FL)  — The Panthers are looking to get on the board against the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.  Game Three of the best of seven series takes place tonight in Sunrise.  Florida is down 2-0 after losing the first two matchups in Las Vegas.  The Knights have outscored the Panthers 12-4 so far in the series.  The Panthers are also hoping to avoid the wrong side of history.  Only one team in Stanley Cup Final history has come back from being down 3-0 in a series.  The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Detroit Red Wings on home ice in Game Seven to complete the comeback.

 

>>Canadian Fires Force MLB, WNBA Game Postponements

 

(Undated)  — The Canadian wildfires are altering the schedules of several American pro sports teams.  Major League Baseball made the decision to postpone games in New York and Philadelphia on Wednesday night due to the poor air quality throughout the region.  The Yankees will now host the Chicago White Sox for a doubleheader that begins this afternoon, while the Philadelphia Phillies welcome the Detroit Tigers to town today.  The WNBA’s matchup between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx and a National Women’s Soccer League game in New Jersey were also postponed.

 

>>Lionel Messi Chooses Inter Miami

 

(Miami, FL)  — Lionel Messi is coming to America.  The Argentinian confirmed he will sign to play with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF in an interview with Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo and Sport.  The franchise is partially owned by another famous soccer player in David Beckham.  Messi’s decision to leave European soccer mirrors Beckham’s choice to sign with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.  Messi will reportedly earn a portion of the money Apple makes from MLS Season Pass subscriptions and also receive some of the profits Adidas earns from him joining the league.

 

>>NBA Considering Second Challenges If First Is Successful

 

(New York, NY)  — NBA coaches could be receiving a second challenge to use during games.  The league and the competition committee will discuss the idea of giving coaches a second challenge if their first challenge used is successful.  The NBA president of basketball operations Byron Spruell said on Wednesday that the idea would also have to pass through a board of governors vote and testing before it would be implemented by the league.  The NBA introduced the coaches challenge during the 2019-20 season.

 

>>French Open Day Eleven Recap

 

(Paris)  — The Semifinals are set at the French Open.  Fourth-seeded Casper Ruud took down sixth-seeded Holger Rune in four sets to reach the semifinals.  Ruud will play Alexander Zverev, who ousted Tomas Martin Etcheverry in four sets in the quarterfinals.  On the women’s side, top-seeded Iga Swiatek made quick work of sixth-seeded Coco Gauff in a straight set victory.  Gauff was the final American left in the tournament.  Swiatek advanced to face Beatriz Haddad Maia, who upset seventh-seeded Ons Jabeur in a three-set thriller in the quarters.

 

>>Commanders Sale Nearing Approval

 

(Undated)  — The sale of the Washington Commanders is getting closer.  According to Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, a member of the NFL’s finance committee, the sale could be completed in the next “month to two months at the most.”  Irsay reiterated that nothing has been finalized, but progress is being made after a good meeting with Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales.  Harris and Rales met with the eight member finance committee for the first time at NFL headquarters on Wednesday.  Once the finance committee approves the offer, 24 of the league’s 32 owners would need to vote to approve the offer.