Happy Friday
Finals weekend is upon us in the NBA, Wimbledon, Euros and Copa America. We’ll crown at least four champions by Monday morning, along with a Saturday night trilogy fight you won’t want to miss. T-minus two weeks to Olympics. The scorching hot summer of sports is just getting started, and the Suns are lighting the fire.
Letter Rip!
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NBA FINALS
Game 2: Suns Catch Fire in Title Chase
Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images
Suns def. Bucks in Game 2 (118-108) & Take 2-0 Lead in Finals Despite Antetokounmpo’s 42 Points
Giannis Antetokounmpo did everything he could in Game 2 to prevent the Suns from taking a commanding lead in the series, but it still wasn’t enough. The reigning MVP poured in 42 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 68 percent from the field, but Phoenix was firing from 3-point range early on. They shot 50 percent from deep (20-for-40) and dominated the second quarter (30-16) to extend the lead. Devin Booker (31 pts) and Chris Paul (23 pts) were sensational once again, but Mikal Bridges (27 pts) was the x-factor in Game 2. It’s Phoenix with a two-game lead heading back to Milwaukee, and the Bucks are up against the ropes.
Watch: Suns-Bucks Game 2 Highlights
NBA Finals Schedule
Gm 3: Suns at Bucks (Sun. 8:00 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
FOX Sports: Suns’ 3-Point Shooting Burns Bucks in Game 2
CBS Sports: Suns Shoot Past Bucks, Hold Off Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 2
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TENNIS
Wimbledon: Women’s Finals Set
Photo: Julian Finney / Getty Images
(1) Ash Barty & (8) Karolina Pliskova Meet for Wimbledon Crown; Men’s Semifinals in Play This Morning
The women’s final is set at Wimbledon. (1) Ash Barty knocked off (25) Angelique Kerber in straight sets Thursday morning shortly after (8) Karolina Pliskova rallied to defeat (2) Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. The finals matchup pits two players on different paths who have never reached the finals at Wimbledon. The 25-year-old Barty — the World No. 1 — is still searching for her second major title. Her first came at the French Open in 2019. Pliskova, on the other hand, has a chance to reclaim her place in the women’s singles heirarchy after a multi-year slump. She was once the No. 1 player in the world, but has yet to win a major championship. Her only major finals appearance came in 2016 (U.S. Open) where she lost to Kerber.
It’s the red-hot Australian eyeing her second major vs. the comeback Czech who’s waited far too long. The women’s final takes Centre Court Saturday morning.
Women’s Semifinal Highlights
(1) A. Barty def. (25) A. Kerber (6-3, 7-6)
(8) K. Pliskova def. (2) A. Sabalenka (5-7, 6-4, 6-4)
Men’s Semifinal Schedule (Today)
(7) M. Berrettini vs. (14) H. Hurkacz (Fri. 8:30 am ET)
(1) N. Djokovic vs. (10) D. Shapovalov (Fri. 10:30 am ET)
Final Schedules
W: (1) A. Barty vs. (8) K. Pliskova (Sat. TBD)
M: TBD (Sun. TBD)
Additional Storylines
ESPN: Ash Barty A Win Away From Realizing Childhood Dream at Wimbledon
Yahoo!: Djokovic Set to Rule Over Wimbledon’s Young Pretenders
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UFC 264
The Trilogy: Poirier vs. McGregor 3
Photo: Jeff Bottari / Getty Images
Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 3: Saturday (10:00 pm ET, PPV)
The lightweight trilogy fight has finally arrived. UFC 264 brings a monumental main event to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas when Conor McGregor (22-5-0) and Dustin Poirier (27-6-0) face off for the third time. McGregor dominated the featherweight bout in 2014 with a TKO in less than two minutes, but it was Poirier — who waited six-plus years for his revenge — who scored a 2nd-round TKO back in January. Following that stunning upset, Poirier pushed for the trilogy fight for a chance at the lightweight title. The third tiebreaking fight is next.
Lightweight Belt in Limbo
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired back in March, leaving the lightweight title belt vacant.
Odds in UFC 264
D. Poirier (-130) | C. McGregor (+110)
UFC 264 Main Card
Sean O’Malley vs. Kris Moutinho
Irene Aldana vs. Yana Kunitskaya
Tai Tuivasa vs. Greg Hardy
Gilbert Burns vs. Stephen Thompson
Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor
UFC 264: Saturday (10:00 pm ET, PPV)
Additional Storylines
Watch: UFC 264 Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights
CBS Sports: UFC 264 Picks: Fellow Fighters, Celebrities Make Their Predictions for McGregor-Poirier 3
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
️ MLB: Padres Pull Off Improbable Comeback
Brace yourself for this one. The Nationals led the Padres (8-0) in the 4th inning before reliever Daniel Camarena ripped a grand slam — for his first career hit! — to spark a San Diego comeback. The Padres clawed back to tie it at 8-all before Trent Grisham smacked a walk-off single to plate Tommy Pham (9-8). The eight-run comeback is the largest in the majors this season.
TDF: Nils Politt Wins Stage 12 of Tour de France
After a full two weeks of experienced riders winning the stages, a newcomer grabs the spotlight. Germany’s Nils Politt won his first career stage of the Tour de France by breaking away from a 13-rider pack at the front of the stage on Thursday. Politt won the stage by 31 seconds, but it’s Tadej Pogacar who still holds the overall lead.
BEE: Zaila Avant-Garde Wins National Spelling Bee
The Scripps National Spelling Bee took place Thursday night in Orlando, and the winner is nothing short of a superstar. Zaila Avant-Garde, a 14-year-old Louisiana native, became the first African-American winner of the event. She’s also a basketball prodigy with three Guinness World Records related to juggling and dribbling. Amazing.
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THE STORYLINES
️ Before England Could Celebrate, It Had to Suffer
Even victory, even vindication is not free from suffering. For more than half a century, England has known nothing but pain, disappointment and regret. A 55-year wait for a place in a major final was always going to be agonizing. The final step did not disappoint. (NY Times)
Are the Lightning a Modern-Day Dynasty?
The Tampa Bay Lightning have long been the best team in the salary cap era but didn’t have much to show for it until last year. They won the President’s Trophy in 2019 and they regularly went deep into the postseason, including the Cup Final in 2015 and Eastern Conference Final in 2016 and 2018. (Bleacher Report)
Don’t Push Tennis Legends Into Retirement
There is only one sport where a player can still be in the top fraction of the top one percent in the world and be asked every day when they’re going to retire. Tennis is going to regret the ubiquitous notion that it’s time for Roger Federer and Serena Williams to go, just because they stopped winning grand slams. (USA Today)
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THE HEADLINES
(ESPN)
Tokyo Olympics Won’t Have Any Spectators Amid State of Emergency, Prime Minister Says
(Bleacher Report)
Four NBA Teams Interested in Trading Up for No. 1 Pick in NBA Draft
(CBS Sports)
National Association of Black Journalists Calls for Meeting With Disney Over “Toxic ESPN Culture”
(SI)
Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder Fight Reportedly Postponed Due to COVID Outbreak in Fury’s Camp
(Yahoo! Sports)
Paris Saint-Germain Sign Former Real Madrid Captain Sergio Ramos to Two-Year Deal
(Sky Sports)
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WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The Must-Watch List
No stopping now! The July sports sprint stretches into Week 2 with just two weeks until the Olympics. We’ve got more NBA Finals, Wimbledon wrap-ups, and a buffet of international soccer. We’re also watching UFC 264’s highly-anticipated trilogy match between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. We’ll recap the highlights on Monday before the MLB’s All-Star break and the smash-fest that is the Home Run Derby. Enjoy the weekend!
NBA Finals
Gm 3: Suns at Bucks (Sun. 9:00 pm)
UFC 264
McGregor vs. Poirier 3 (Sat. 10:00 pm)
Wimbledon (Men’s Semifinals)
(7) M. Berrettini vs. (14) H. Hurkacz (Fri. 8:30 am ET)
(1) N. Djokovic vs. (10) D. Shapovalov (Fri. 10:30 am ET)
*Men’s Final: TBD (Sun. TBD)
Wimbledon (Women’s Final)
(1) A. Barty vs. (8) K. Pliskova (Sat. TBD)
Euro Final
England vs. Italy (Sun. 3:00 pm)
Copa America Final
Argentina vs. Brazil (Sat. 8:00 pm)
CONCACAF Gold Cup
El Salvador vs. Curacao (Sat. 5:00 pm)
Mexico vs. Trinidad & Tobago (Sat. 10:00 pm)
Canada vs. Martinique (Sun. 6:30 pm)
United States vs. Haiti (Sun. 8:30 pm)
MLB
Yankees-Astros Series
Nationals-Giants Series
Cubs-Cardinals Series
Phillies-Red Sox Series
Tour de France
Stages 13-15 (Friday-Sunday)
*All Times Eastern
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