Boston Takes Charge 🍀, U.S. Open Tees Up, MLB Walk-Off Thrills!

Good Morning Blitzers 👋

Ready to recap a wild Wednesday? The NBA Finals are all but over. Boston, you can start planning the parade, as no team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit, and it’s unlikely to happen against this team.

This morning, the 2024 U.S. Open tees off from one of my favorite golf courses, Pinehurst No. 2. The greens are diabolical, and you’ll soon see why.

MLB’s Walk-Off Week gauntlet continues to deliver, with two more walk-offs on Wednesday night. Additionally, we pay tribute to the man whose silhouette became the NBA trademark.

NOTE: Stay tuned for tomorrow’s edition, where we’ll share an important update about the letter as we enter our first-ever Morning Blitz Offseason.

WTF Stat Of The Day: No team in NBA playoff history has ever rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. Teams that have taken a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series have gone 151-0.

NBA FINALS 🏆 - Game 3: Celtics Can Smell Banner 18

Celtics Nearly Blow 21-Point Lead But Strong-Arm Mavs in Game 3 (106-99), Take Commanding 3-0 Finals Lead.

Print the banner and plan the parade! Game 3 of the NBA Finals was indeed a game of runs (by both teams), but the Celtics are officially one game away from the franchise's 18th championship. Despite not having Kristaps Porzingis (calf injury), Boston used a 30-11 run in the third quarter to mount a 21-point lead after they trailed by as many as 13 in the first half. Dallas fired back with a 22-2 scoring run in the fourth to pull the game within three points (95-92), but Luka Doncic’s foul trouble and a few clamp-down defensive stops from the C’s closed it out. Doncic fouled out with 4:12 left in a three-point game. Brutal. Kyrie Irving (35 pts) tried to carry the load, but the duo of Jayson Tatum (31-6-5) and Jaylen Brown (30-8-8) brought their A-game.

Banner No. 18 Rising: The Celtics are the first team since the 2017 Warriors to reel off a 10-game win streak in the postseason. Golden State went 16-1 in that playoff run, and the Celtics are 15-2. Talk about dominance. The potential Finals-clinching Game 4 takes place Friday (8:30 pm ET, ABC). A win would give the franchise its 18th NBA Championship banner.

Top Scorers (Game 3)

• K. Irving (DAL): 35 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast

• J. Tatum (BOS): 31 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast

• J. Brown (BOS): 30 pts, 8 rebs, 8 ast

• L. Doncic (DAL): 27 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast

• D. White (BOS): 16 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast

• D. Lively II (DAL): 11 pts, 13 reb

Jrue Holiday didn’t have huge numbers, but his defensive effort deserves an honorary nod.

BOS Leads NBA Finals (3-0)

Game 4: Friday (8:30 pm ET, ABC)

GOLF ⛳️ - Perplexing Pinehurst: The 2024 U.S. Open Has Carnage Coming

Scottie Scheffler’s Streak, Tiger Woods’ Return & The Perplexing Test of Pinehurst No. 2 (By Marissa Kasch)

 It’s time to tee up for golf’s third major of the year at the historic Pinehurst No. 2. The field is stacked with the 156 best golfers in the world, minus Jon Rahm (foot injury). Though Scottie Scheffler is the apparent favorite after his win at the Memorial, plenty of other golfers are poised to make a run for the U.S. Open Trophy. Between competitive groupings, defending champions, and one of golf’s most challenging courses, this weekend will be full of drama and tradition. 

⛳️ Pinehurst No. 2’s Perplexing Test

This year will mark Pinehurst’s fourth time hosting the U.S. Open, but that doesn’t mean veteran golfers are in the clear. The course requires accurate tee shots, precise approaches, and pristine putting to be successful. And success is subjective. The domed “turtleback” greens will present a challenge for golfers all weekend. Only four players have ever finished under par at a Pinehurst-hosted U.S. Open — Payne Stewart (1999), Martin Kaymer (2014), Rickie Fowler (2014), and Erik Compton (2014). The latter three were beneficiaries of favorable rain-softened conditions. If you want a sneak peek at just how difficult the greens are, watch this video.

📊 The Favorites & Pairings

All eyes will be on the 1:14 PM tee time featuring Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Scottie Scheffler – the top three favorites. Rory looks to avenge last year’s second-place finish. Schauffele has his sights set on back-to-back major wins after his victory at the PGA Championship. As for Scheffler, what’s left to say? He just looks unstoppable right now. This year also marks Tiger Woods’ return to the U.S. Open for the first time since 2020, and he says he’s ready for the hot and humid weather. 

Best Odds: S. Scheffler (+300), X. Schauffele (+1100), R. McIlroy (+1200), C. Morikawa (+1500), B. Koepka (+1600), B. DeChambeau (+1600), V. Hovland (+1700), L. Aberg (+2000) | Full List of Odds

Round 1 Tee Times (Featured Groups)

7:29 AM: W. Zalatoris, M. Fitzpatrick, T. Woods

7:40 AM: J. Thomas, C. Morikawa, B. Koepka

7:51 AM: R. Fowler, A. Hadwin, P. Mickelson

7:51 AM: T. Finau, L. Aberg, D. Johnson

1:14 PM: R. McIlroy, X. Schauffele, S. Scheffler

1:25 PM: B. Harman, N. Dunlap, W. Clark

1:25 PM: B. DeChambeau, V. Hovland, M. Homa

1:36 PM: H. Matsuyama, J. Spieth

*All times ET

Read More

Golfweek: Photos & Stats for Every Hole at Pinehurst No. 2 Course

AP: Tiger Woods Returns to Pinehurst After 19 Years & It’s Not the Same — Neither Is He

Golf Digest: Grandstand Seats are Reportedly Collapsing at Pinehurst Due to Construction Errors

MLB - Walk-Off Week Continues 🚨 - 2 More Walk-Offs Give Baseball 6 Walk-Off Endings This Week

 The bats are going wild! We saw four walk-off winners in the first three nights of the week. This story was earmarked if another occurred on Wednesday. It did. Then another. Two more walk-off winners last night brought this week’s total to six. The Mariners have been party to two walk-off wins, while the White Sox and Astros have lost two via walk-offs. Jackson Merrill also made history last night for the Padres, becoming the youngest player to close a multi-HR game with a walk-off (21 years, 54 days). If you’re a fan of dramatic finishes, this week is fantastic.

A Year for the Bats: As great as some pitchers have been, Astros’ ace Ronel Blanco holds the only no-hitter of the season (Apr. 1). Batters are having a year, and it’s evident by the home run count. We’re on pace to see ten players crack 40-plus home runs by season’s end.

 Rather than pick one walk-off and discredit the others, we figured a highlight reel was in order. Here are this week’s six walk-offs; there's still more time.

 This Week’s MLB Walk-Off Winners

Mitch Haniger’s Walk-Off Single - (Mariners def. White Sox, 2-1)

Jackson Merrill’s Walk-Off Home Run - (Padres def. A’s, 5-4)

Brandon Lowe’s Walk-Off Home Run - (Rays def. Cubs, 5-2)

Austin Slater’s Walk-Off Single - (Giants def. Astros, 4-3)

Cal Raleigh’s Walk-Off Grand Slam - (Mariners def. White Sox, 8-4)

Logan O’Hoppe’s Walk-Off HR - (Angels def. Astros, 9-7)

 Bonus Highlights

Corey Seager Homers in Rangers Return

Twins Hang 17 Runs, 24 Hits on Rockies (17-9)

Orioles Oust Braves (4-2) for 6th Straight Win

NBA - Remembering 'The Logo' 🏀

NBA Legend Jerry West, Undisputed Basketball Royalty, Dies at Age 86

Jerry West, the inspiration for the NBA’s iconic logo, died yesterday in his home at 86. West was one of the best general managers in NBA history, but he was first a founding star of the league in the 1960s. He played 14 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers (1960-1974). He accumulated nine titles as a player, scout, coach, and executive for the Lakers in the 1980s and 2000s before joining the Warriors (as an advisor) for the last decade.

Of course, West’s most notable claim to fame is his silhouette etched in the NBA’s trademark logo since 1969 (and forever more, according to Commissioner Adam Silver). He’ll be inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame this October as a contributor to the game, making him the first enshrined as both a player and contributor. Rest in peace to the logo. 🙏

Read More

NBC Sports: Remembering Jerry West, an Instrumental Architect of Warriors’ Dynasty

CBS Sports: Remembering Jerry West: LeBron James, Pat Riley, Adam Silver & Others Honor the NBA Icon

On June 13th, 2019The Toronto Raptors made history by defeating the defending champion Golden State Warriors 114-110 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. This victory secured the Raptors' first-ever NBA Championship and marked the last game played at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Kawhi Leonard was named the Finals MVP for his outstanding performance throughout the series.

⛳️ U.S. Open

• Round 1 (All Day Coverage, NBC Sports)

🏒 Stanley Cup Finals

• Gm 3: Panthers at Oilers (8:00 pm ET, ABC) - FLA Leads Series (2-0)

⚾️ MLB

• Braves at Orioles (1:05 pm ET, ESPN+)

• Angels at D-Backs (9:40 pm ET, FS1)

• Rangers at Dodgers (10:10 pm ET, MLBTV)

🏀 WNBA

• Dream at Fever (7:00 pm ET, ESPN3)

• Storm at Wings (7:00 pm ET, ESPN)

• Aces at Mercury (10:00 pm ET, PRIME)

Trivia Time Answer

B.  Eddie George

Eddie George, the former running back for the Tennessee Titans, became the first non-quarterback to appear on the Madden NFL video game cover in 2001. His appearance marked a significant shift in the game's cover athlete selection, showcasing the prominence of other positions in the NFL.

STORYLINES

🏈 Super Bowl or Bust - It’s a year-to-year league, and we’d do well to remember it. Every team has cause for optimism every year. But in this parity-driven league, there are levels to this. Here are five teams that need to win big in 2024 or else. (FOX Sports)

⚽️ Euro 2024 Team Previews - Club football? It’s over. Put it out of your mind, at least for the next six weeks. Summer is international soccer season, and that formally begins on Friday when Germany and Scotland kick off Euro 2024. Which nation will be crowned European champs? (ESPN)

⚾️ Potential MLB Trade Chips - Trying to assess how this year’s Trade Deadline might play out can be an exercise in futility, with 24 of the 30 teams in the Majors entering play Tuesday within four games of a postseason spot. That doesn’t mean we can’t give it a shot, right?(MLB.com)

OTHER NEWS

⚾️ Dodgers Acquire Cavan Biggio in Trade With Blue Jays (ESPN)

🎾 Rafael Nadal & Carlos Alcaraz to Team Up for Spain in Olympic Doubles (B/R)

🏈 Southern Miss DB M.J. Daniels Dies in Apartment Shooting (CBS Sports)

🏈 Jason Kelce Would ‘Back Out of TV Deal’ to Become Eagles Minority Owner (Yahoo! Sports)

🏀 WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert Addresses Idea Caitlin Clark is Being ‘Targeted’ (Yardbarker)

⚽️ Argentina’s Lionel Messi Won’t Play in Summer Olympics (B/R)

🏈 Patriots Officially Retire Tom Brady’s No. 12 Jersey (SI)

🌭 Joey Chestnut to Face Rival Takeru Kobayashi for Live 1-on-1 Hot Dog Eating Contest This Labor Day on Netflix (NBC News)