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🏀 Good morning to all however, particularly to …

THE LA CLIPPERS AND THE DETROIT PISTONS

Perhaps we forgot, after years of accidents and disappointments, simply how good Kawhi Leonard will be when his physique cooperates. When you wanted a reminder, I hope you watched Recreation 2. The Clippers beat the Nuggets, 105-102, to even the sequence behind Leonard’s all-timer.

• Listed below are the numbers: 39 factors on 15 for 19 (79%) capturing. It is the second-highest subject objective share in a 35+ level playoff sport in franchise historical past.
• It is also Leonard’s fourth profession 30-point playoff sport on 75% capturing. Solely James Worthy has extra in NBA historical past.
• However the numbers do not do it justice. How he received these numbers — robust shot after robust shot, usually over an elite defender in Aaron Gordon — was an enthralling expertise.

This is Sam Quinn on Leonard’s masterpiece.

The Clippers weren’t the one crew to tie their sequence.

Getting into Monday, the Pistons hadn’t received a playoff sport since Cade Cunningham was six years previous. However now, after a troublesome playoff introduction, Cunningham and his teammates are all grown up. The Pistons beat the Knicks, 100-94, behind a Cunningham bounce again and, lastly, some clutch photographs and defensive stands.

Detroit’s win snaps a 15-game playoff dropping streak, the longest in NBA historical past.

• Cunningham had 33 factors and 12 rebounds, nevertheless it was Dennis Schroder who delivered a 3-pointer with underneath a minute left to place Detroit up 97-94.
• And what a aid it was. In Recreation 1, Detroit led a lot of the manner however fully collapsed, surrendering a 21-0 fourth-quarter run. In Recreation 2, Detroit led by 15 however, once more, New York whittled away, tying issues simply earlier than Schroder’s heroics.
• Total, Detroit, led by Cunningham, realized and grew from its Recreation 1 errors, James Herbert writes.

😁 Honorable mentions

🏀 And never such a great morning for …

THE NEW YORK KNICKS AND THE DENVER NUGGETS

When the Knicks stormed again to win Recreation 1, it was a prime instance of why they are often harmful. However once they could not end their comeback effort in Recreation 2, it confirmed the failings that will forestall them from from reaching their full potential — particularly two flaws:

• Karl-Anthony Cities completed with 10 factors on 11 photographs, and he did not even try a shot during the last 17+ minutes.
• Mikal Bridges had 18 factors — a giant bounce from his eight in Recreation 1 — however went simply 3 for 11 from 3, lacking 4 beauty within the fourth quarter.

Keep in mind, Cities was acquired in a blockbuster commerce with the Timberwolves this summer time, and Bridges got here in alternate for 5 first-round picks despatched to the Nets. Neither lived as much as his price ticket in Recreation 2.

Oh yeah, and Tom Thibodeau complained concerning the officiating. Do not love that.

The Nuggets additionally gave up home-court benefit in painful vogue. Denver made so many errors, together with these in closing minutes:

• Gordon missed a wide-open dunk.
• Michael Porter Jr. threw the ball away after a rebound.
• Nikola Jokić had a turnover with underneath a minute left (he had seven on the evening), and each he and Christian Braun missed potential game-tying 3-pointers within the closing seconds.

Denver additionally went 14 for 22 on free throws. Put it collectively, and that is the way you lose a detailed sport.

😅 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Shedeur Sanders falling out of first spherical? What Jonathan Jones is listening to

Final yr, everybody was shocked when the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. eighth general weeks after signing Kirk Cousins.

Scratch that. Virtually everybody was shocked. Jonathan Jones really predicted that — sure, now we have receipts — in his one and solely mock draft.

His one and solely mock draft for 2025 has arrived, and it is a quarterback not going within the first spherical that is the headline: Jonathan predicts Shedeur Sanders will not go within the prime 32, and just one quarterback — Cam Ward at No. 1 to the Titans — will.

Listed below are another choices that caught my eye:

• Patriots take OT Will Campbell fourth general — The draft is anticipated to begin right here, after Ward first, Travis Hunter second and Abdul Carter third. “Even when Carter is accessible right here, I nonetheless suppose the Pats take an offensive deal with right here,” Jonathan writes.
• Cowboys take WR Matthew Golden twelfth general — “The Cowboys may go any variety of instructions right here, together with move rusher, however I am unsure they’re going to have the option to withstand including a receiver with their first choose.”
• Seahawks commerce up, take WR Tetairoa McMillan sixteenth general — “Seattle is aware of Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort likes to commerce again, and Seattle has the capital to maneuver up a pair picks with the division rival to get a much-needed receiver.”
• Rams take LB Jihaad Campbell twenty sixth general — Perhaps my favourite match right here. “It is doable Campbell goes to Cincy or Tampa within the teenagers, and I believe the Rams can be fairly happy to get the Alabama backer proper right here,” Jonathan writes.

Ryan Wilson has the identical prime 4 picks however then a giant curveball at No. 5 in his newest mock, and this is our good seven-round mock for each crew.

This is extra:

🏀 Cooper Flagg declares for NBA Draft: Newest mock, up to date draft order

Keep in mind when Cooper Flagg half-teased a return to school? It was all the time simply that: a tease. Flagg, the shoo-in No. 1 choose on this summer time’s NBA Draft, formally declared for the draft Monday after an incredible season at Duke.

The scouting report is fairly easy. Flagg led the Blue Devils in factors, rebounds, assists and steals and — regardless of a troublesome Last 4 collapse — received just about each nationwide participant of the yr award there may be, together with ours. He was simply the fourth freshman to win AP Participant of the Yr, becoming a member of Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant.

Cameron Salerno explains what makes Flagg so good and what the Blue Devils’ roster seems like.

We’ll have to attend a number of extra weeks to be taught the place Flagg will go. The Jazz, Wizards and Hornets every have a 14% likelihood for the coveted prime choose, and the Pelicans (12.5%) and the 76ers (10.5%) aren’t far behind. Listed below are the total odds for the lottery, which is Could 12, now lower than three weeks away.

This is Cameron’s newest mock draft:

1. Jazz: SF Cooper Flagg, Duke
2. Wizards: PG Dylan Harper, Rutgers
3. Hornets: SG VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
4. Pelicans: SF Ace Bailey, Rutgers
5. 76ers: SG Tre Johnson, Texas

⚽ Might controversial membership be headed to Premier League?

I like the promotion/relegation system that European soccer makes use of. The truth that groups can transfer up/down leagues is admittedly enjoyable and gives thrilling end-of-season races whereas many major-sport American groups are merely enjoying out the string.

Premier League groups will likely be decidedly much less enthused concerning the system’s existence if Millwall will get promoted. The controversial membership, with ruthless dwelling supporters which have typically required police intervention, nonetheless has a solution to go, however they’re inching towards promotion to the world’s prime league, James Benge notes.

Leeds United and Burnley have already clinched promotion to the Premiership, and Wrexham AFC is near promotion to the Championship, the extent under the Premier League.

📺 What we’re watching Tuesday

🏒 Devils at Hurricanes (Hurricanes lead 1-0), 6 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Bucks at Pacers (Pacers lead 1-0), 7 p.m. on NBA TV
⚾ Phillies at Mets, 7:10 p.m. on TBS
🏀 Grizzlies at Thunder (Thunder lead 1-0), 7:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🏒 Senators at Maple Leafs (Maple Leafs lead 1-0), 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2
🏒 Panthers at Lightning, 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
⚾ Rays at Diamondbacks or Rangers at Athletics, 9:40 p.m. on MLB Community
🏀 Timberwolves at Lakers (Lakers lead 1-0), 10 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🏒 Wild at Golden Knights (Golden Knights lead 1-0), 11 p.m. on ESPN