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SALT LAKE CITY — The NBA playoffs are nearing the end of the second round, and game four between Chicago and Miami may be the "tipping" point for the series.
Chicago upset Miami in game one, but have lost three straight as the Heat have taken a 3-1 series lead, and will be favored to close out the series at home in game five.
While I'm sure the Bulls players are trying hard, they have just been overwhelmed by the Heat. Game four was a blowout, but the Bulls don't have enough healthy bodies to even bring in bench players. That leaves Marquis Teague playing in the third quarter when the team needs a stop.
I'm sure Teague is a fine player, but he sure has poor luck.
He makes the correct play and tries to cut off Chris Andersen, who is diving towards the hoop. Chris Bosh fires a pass towards his teammate, and Andersen gets a little contact before Teague knocks the ball up and away from him.
What's that, the basket? Oh no.
Now we're just left wondering who gets credit for the assist - Bosh, who passed to Andersen, or Andersen, for touching the ball last before Teague "scores."
Harper crushes face into wall
Nevada native and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is an aggressive young player. The 20-year-old right fielder doesn't play passively. Although he's been in the major leagues for just 174 games, he has already shown reckless abandon in the outfield and on the base paths, charging after fly balls and legging singles into doubles.
I will keep playing this game hard for the rest of my life even if it kills me! Ill never stop! #RespectTheGame — Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) May 14, 2013
If he's going to keep "playing this game" hard, baseball fans are likely going to continue to see plays like this.
The Nationals are playing the Dodgers down in Los Angeles, and the hitters are being helped by a friendly breeze, pushing fly balls out towards the right field bleachers. Mark Ellis lofts a fly ball to right, and Harper sets after it. The wind pushes the ball back, back, back, all the way to the wall ... where Harper meets it.
That's probably going to leave a mark - an 11 stitch mark, to be precise. Also, out of respect for brain injuries, the young ballplayer did not suffer a concussion on the play.
Maple Leafs suffer epic collapse
Leafs haven't sunk this low in New England since the Boston patriots threw tea leaves to the bottom of the harbor 240 years ago.
Toronto had a comfortable 4-1 lead against the Bruins, and were on track to win game seven on the road and advance to the second round of the NHL playoffs. But, as the ghost of Yogi Berra would say, "It ain't over 'til it's over."
With 14:52 left on the clock, the 2011 Finals champions started a comeback that would send fans celebrating into the streets after the win.
Patrice Bergeron wound up scoring the final two goals, with the first sending the game into overtime, and the second sending his teammates off the bench with arms raised in victory.
It was a fantastic finish to what had been a fantastic series. The Bruins advance to play the Rangers on Thursday, May 16, in the second round. The Maple Leafs go home to contemplate what went wrong and watch the playoffs on television.
