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Curry, Warriors blaze past Portland and 5 other moments you missed

ByHutton Jackson|
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MAY 14: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half in game one of the NBA Western Conference Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 14, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MAY 14: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half in game one of the NBA Western Conference Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 14, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Steph Curry and the Warriors routed Portland in Game 1, Bruins beat Hurricanes in Game 3, Pelicans win Zion sweepstakes and other highlights.

1. Steph Curry and Golden State blaze past Portland in Game 1

Steph Curry has finally been playing like the Steph Curry we know and love during the past couple of weeks and he further cemented his place in NBA playoff history with his 36 points, nine 3-pointers, seven assists and six rebounds on Tuesday night. His performance helped the Golden State Warriors secure the 116-94 win over the Trail Blazers and take a 1-0 series lead in the 2019 NBA Western Conference Finals. It also gave Curry his 34th playoff game with 30 or more points, tying  James Harden and putting him behind only Kevin Durant (62) and Lebron James (110) among active players.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1128502354695806977

2. Fire Sale: Chris Sale strikes out 17 vs Colorado

Chris Sale’s struggles have been well-documented this season, but the Red Sox are hoping his performance on Tuesday marks a return to form.  The ace struck out 17 batters and became the first to do so in seven innings pitched or fewer. Despite the electric performance, the Red Sox fell to the Colorado Rockies 5-4 in extra innings.

3. Bruins secure crucial Game 3 victory against the Hurricanes

The Canes were 5-0 at home before the NHL 2019 Eastern Conference Finals and they hoped to improve on that record in a critical Game 3. Yet, the Bruins and goaltender Tuukka Rask (35 saves) appeared to be too much for the “Bunch of Jerks” and they fell 2-1 to Boston

The game was another in the 2019 NHL playoffs plagued by a controversial call (a negated Bruins goal in the third). Fortunately, this one didn’t affect the outcome. The Canes will host Game 4 on Thursday, May, 16 and look to rally against Brad “The Rat” Marchand and the Bruins.

4. Pelicans win NBA draft lottery and Zion—uh, first overall pick

Typically the NBA draft lottery results lead to speculation about who will go first overall in the draft. This year, the unanimous top draft selection was essentially decided months before the New Orleans Pelicans received word they would be drafting first in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (we won’t judge), you know Duke’s Zion Williamson is considered the best basketball player to declare for the NBA in the last decade. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it is likely the Pelicans will use the top pick to draft him. Given the Pelicans’ six percent chance to land the number one pick, it must have felt like Mardi Gras all over again in New Orleans last night.

5. Vlad Jr slugs his first two career homers

Uber prospect Vlad Guerrero Jr. sent one deep for the first time since being called up to “The Show” in the top of the first inning of Toronto’s game at San Francisco. He wasn’t done though and knocked another homer in the top of the sixth inning. His 2-home run, 4-RBI night would help give the Blue Jays a 7-3 win in San Francisco.

6. George Springer hits an inside-the-park home run

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer proved he doesn’t need to hit one out of the park for a home run. The Astros leadoff hitter extended Houston’s lead in the fifth inning when he hit a fly ball that took a favorable bounce off the centerfield wall. Springer recognized the opportunity and turned on the jets as he rounded the bases for an inside-the-park home run. The Astros would go on to defeat the Tigers 11-4.

Overtime: Blues fan battling disease learns that she will attend Game 3

Laila Anderson, a ten-year-old girl battling hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) — a rare disease that she and only 15 other children in the world have been diagnosed with — learned that she would be heading to Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Finals. During her fight with HLH, Anderson has been confined to two places: her home and the St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She can now add the Enterprise Center to that list, as she prepares to cheer on the St. Louis Blues in Game 3.