The Celtics’ miracle in Miami, DeAndre Hopkins fits and the team on a 48-game win streak
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Programming note: We’re off tomorrow. Chris will be back Tuesday.
Comebacks
Miracle in Miami
The Celtics are impossible to figure out. For most of three quarters Saturday, they appeared to be in control — just like they were in games 4 and 5 as they climbed back from a 3-0 series deficit.
Yet they took their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter and — for 2.9 seconds — it looked like the Heat would pull a series-clinching win out of thin air. Al Horford fouled Jimmy Butler on a 3-pointer, and Butler’s three free throws gave Miami a one-point lead with three seconds to play.
Then Derrick White happened.
If the Celtics complete the first 3-0 comeback in NBA history — and they can do it at home Monday — White’s tip-in with one tenth of a second on the clock will be immortalized. It gave the Celtics a 104-103 win in a game they both deserved to win and fought to lose. Three takeaways as the series moves to seven:
- Jayson Tatum scored 25 first-half points and looked to be on his way to a signature performance … and then stopped scoring. He had six points on 1-of-9 shooting in the second half.
- It’s a good sign for Boston they found a way to win despite shooting 7-of-35 (20 percent) from 3-point range. The Celtics were 0-6 in the postseason when making less than 15 3s coming in.
- Miami must get more from Butler and Bam Adebayo to have a chance in Game 7. The Heat’s two stars shot a combined 9-of-37 (24.3 percent) from the field. Butler in particular didn’t look like himself until late in the game. He admitted as much: “I told the guys in the locker room, that if I play better, we’re not even in this position, honestly speaking.”
Can’t wait for Game 7. The Boston and Miami markets have given us the two most interesting series of the NBA and NHL playoffs. No Bruins allowed at TD Garden on Monday.
GO DEEPER
Derrick White hustled his way into Celtics history in Game 6: ‘All we could say was, ‘Oh my God’
Speaking of the NHL … there’s a 3-0 story developing in the West, too. The Stars picked off a second consecutive win Saturday, defeating the Golden Knights 4-2 and forcing a Game 6 back in Dallas. Stars captain Jamie Benn will return after serving a two-game suspension.
Only four teams have come back from 3-0 deficits in the NHL playoffs, including the Kings (over the Sharks) most recently in 2014.
GO DEEPER
Jake Oettinger ‘money’ for the Stars when they needed him most: ‘He’s our rock’
Help Wanted
Hopkins hits free agency
We expected wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins might change teams this offseason, but not quite like this. In a mild surprise, the Cardinals released the five-time Pro Bowler on Friday after they were unable to find a trade partner.
Hopkins, who turns 31 next week, immediately becomes the most intriguing player available and could help a number of Super Bowl contenders. A few landing spots that make sense:
- Bills: Hopkins could be the missing piece to a receiving corps led by Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. He’d likely need to sign at a discount in hopes of winning a championship.
- Patriots: New England needs a No. 1 receiver and Bill Belichick has been an open fan. But would Hopkins want to reunite with Bill O’Brien, his old coach in Houston?
- Chiefs: Like with Buffalo, cap space would be an issue, but there’s a natural need/fit here — Hopkins could be an upgrade over Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore.
No matter where he signs, though, temper expectations slightly. Hopkins is two years removed from his last All-Pro season and played in only 19 of 34 regular-season games over the past two seasons because of injuries and a suspension. Receivers at his age have struggled to recapture their early career successes; the last 31-plus first-team All-Pro receiver was Reggie Wayne … in 2010. There’s a reason the Cardinals couldn’t find a deal.
Introductions
Welcome to Luton
The English Championship playoff is unlike any event in sports — 90 minutes to award a Premier League promotion that can change the trajectory of a club and its players’ careers.
Saturday’s edition was an absolute treat. Luton Town, a club that plays home games in a 10,000-seat stadium and hasn’t played in England’s top tier since 1992, survived on penalties to defeat Coventry City and secure promotion.
It’s the story Wrexham dreams about. Luton — which sounds like a luxury brand, but is actually a town an hour north of London — was playing in the fifth tier of the English pyramid just nine years ago but slowly climbed the ladder. Our staff put together a terrific guide to the Premier League newcomers. Some highlights:
Luton Town will be heavily favored to go back down after one season in the Premier League. But staying up won’t be impossible — all three teams that rose from the Championship this year (Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest) — managed to avoid relegation this year.
Phenoms
Golf’s next big thing
Rose Zhang is 20 years old and already owns a record once held by Tiger Woods. Not a bad note to have on the resume on your way out of college.
The Stanford golfer, the world No. 1 amateur since September 2020, turned professional Friday and will make her pro debut next weekend at the Mizuho Americas Open in Jersey City, N.J. Brendan Quinn writes it will be “one of the most anticipated (debuts) in women’s professional golf history.”
Here’s why:
- Zhang won 12 of 20 collegiate tournaments in two years at Stanford, breaking Woods’ school record in six fewer events. She won the NCAA individual championship in 2022 and 2023.
- She set an NCAA single-season scoring record (69.68) as a freshman, then shaved nearly a full stroke off it to average 68.70 in 27 rounds as a sophomore. She finished in the top 10 in 18 of 20 collegiate events. Absurd!
Circle the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach (June 22-25), her first major as a professional. She’s expected to play in all five majors this summer.
Briefs
Bucks land a head coach
There’s one major head-coaching vacancy off the board: The Bucks are hiring Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as Mike Budenholzer’s replacement, league sources tell The Athletic. The hire comes after a process that involved a one-on-one meeting with Giannis Antetokounmpo at his home. Interestingly, Griffin’s former boss, Nick Nurse, was a finalist before pulling out of the search.
The 76ers, Suns, Raptors and Pistons all still have vacancies.
Oklahoma makes it 48 in a row
The most dominant team in sports right now must be Oklahoma softball. The Sooners set an NCAA record with their 48th consecutive win Saturday, coming from behind to defeat Clemson 8-7 and advance to the Women’s College World Series. Oklahoma, chasing a third consecutive national championship, is an unfathomable 56-1 this season, outscoring opponents 478-56, and is 171-8 over the last three seasons.
A’s release Vegas stadium renderings
On the field, the 10-44 Oakland A’s are playing at a 132-loss pace — with what would be the worst win percentage (.185) of the modern era.
Off the field, Las Vegas developments continue. The team released its first renderings of what a stadium on The Strip will look like. The 30,000-seat stadium would feature a retractable roof and sit on nine acres at the Tropicana Las Vegas resort site. Just don’t let Danny Ocean see the blueprints.
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Brewers shortstop Willy Adames suffered a concussion after he was struck by a foul ball during Friday’s game against the Giants.
Iowa athletic director Gary Barta is retiring after 17 years. His legacy is filled with both triumphs and disarray, Scott Dochterman writes.
(Top photo: Issac Baldizon / NBAE via Getty Images)
