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Celtics vs. Knicks Game 3: Boston shoots 50% from 3, never trails while cruising to first win in series

The phrase of the day is "shooting variance."

After shooting 25% on 3-pointers through the first two games against New York, Boston found its rhythm in Game 3 and hit 20-of-40 3-pointers, or 50%.

Everything else in Game 3 flowed out of the Celtics' hot shooting and went their way. After blowing two 20-point third-quarter leads in the first two games, the Celtics got their lead on Saturday up to 31 and that was more than the Knicks were going to overcome.

Boston never trailed, led by double-digits with four minutes left in the first quarter, and it never got closer than that as the Celtics cruised to a 115-93 win in Madison Square Garden.

New York still leads the series 2-1, but it felt like Boston got its identity and groove back in Game 3. Now, Game 4 on Monday becomes critical. If Boston ties up the series, it will have all the momentum heading home for Game 5.

"You gotta beat us four times," Jaylen Brown said. "That's what it comes down to — not twice, not once, not three times. Four games. So it's a lot of basketball to be played."

Boston's spacing was much better and Jayson Tatum took full advantage, having by far his best game of the series, scoring 22 points with nine rebounds and seven assists. Payton Pritchard scored 23 points, Jaylen Brown had 19 and Derrick White 17 for Boston.

For the Knicks, the adjustment is clear: They can't fall behind by 20+ points again and expect to be able to come back. New York again came out a little flat, but this time could not flip the switch and the vibe around the series started to shift.

"I don't think we came with the mindset of being satisfied, but I think it was just subconsciously satisfied being up 2-0," Jalen Brunson said. "Just not the way we need to approach the game."

Brunson led the Knicks with 27 points on 9-of-21 shooting, with seven assists as well. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 21 but the bigger question was about the hand injury he suffered during the game, although he was clearly bothered by it the rest of the game. Some online sleuths doing lip reading thought Towns said he broke something. When asked about this postgame, Towns only said, "It is what it is," and that he will be on the court for his teammates.

New York will need a big Towns' game, a much faster start and a lot of things to go their way Monday night, or this will be a best-of-three series.

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Yankees bullpen gives up lead after five-run sixth inning in 11-7 loss to Athletics

The Yankees put up a five-spot in the sixth inning to take the lead, but their bullpen couldn't make it stick in an 11-7 loss to the Athletics on Saturday.

Here are the takeaways...

-Coming off four straight quality starts, including 6.2 scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres his last time out, Carlos Rodón was hoping to keep the good times rolling. Things got off to a rocky start for the lefty after he allowed a leadoff double to Jacob Wilson in the first inning, but Rodón did well to strand the runner and keep the game scoreless.

He wasn't so lucky in the second, allowing Luis Urias to hit a solo shot on a four-seamer after getting ahead 1-2 and needing just one more strike to record a clean inning. Nevertheless, Rodón's stuff was dealing as he struck out three in the inning and had four strikeouts in two innings. Things got away from him in the third, though.

Following back-to-back singles to start the frame, Brent Rooker, who struck out in his first at-bat, sent a 1-0 slider over the left-field wall for a three-run jack to give the Athletics a 4-0 lead. The long ball was Rooker's 10th home run of the season and his first career hit off Rodón after starting 0-for-10 against the lefty.

The inning could've gone worse after a hit and an error by Anthony Volpe put runners on first and second with one out, but Rodón was able to escape trouble while picking up another strikeout in the process.

-Up until that point, the Yankees offense couldn't get anything going against JP Sears. That is, until Aaron Judge blasted a solo shot leading off the fourth to get New York on the board. Aside from that, Sears finished strong and went five innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out four.

It wasn't until the sixth inning, with Sears out of the game, that the Yanks' bats came alive. For Judge, it was déjà vu as he unloaded on his second solo homer of the day, this time leading off against Justin Sterner. That home run opened the floodgates as New York would score four more times in the inning to put up a five-spot and take a 6-4 lead.

The big hit came via Oswald Peraza who smoked a two-run shot down the left-field line that banged off the foul pole. It was Peraza's only hit of a 1-for-3 game.

-Two runs to the good all of a sudden, Rodón went back out for the sixth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning to end his outing and be in place to get a win. He struck out his final batter of the day to give him a season-high 10 strikeouts. Rodón allowed four earned runs on eight hits and threw 98 pitches (67 strikes) as his string of quality starts came to an end.

-Rodón took a no-decision, though, after the bullpen immediately coughed up the lead. Fernando Cruz, who pitched the seventh inning and entered the game with a 1.37 ERA, allowed three earned runs on a Shea Langeliers three-run blast to straightaway center that gave the A's a 7-6 lead.

-Ian Hamilton had a rough outing as well, as he couldn't find his control. In 0.2 innings, he allowed a hit, walked two and threw a wild pitch. With the bases loaded, Hamilton struck out Rooker before getting pulled, but the baserunners all belonged to him. Tyler Matzek couldn't strand the inherited runners when he came in and allowed a two-run single to Tyler Soderstrom and a two-run double to Langeliers that blew the game open.

-Aside from Judge, Cody Bellinger was the only other Yankee to have a multi-hit game and finished 2-for-4 with a walk as he continues to climb out of an early season hole.

Game MVP: Shea Langeliers

The designated hitter had himself a fine afternoon, finishing 4-for-5 to go along with five RBI and a run scored.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees play the rubber-game of their three-game set with the A's on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m.

New York has yet to announce a starter, but it will be facing old friend RHP Luis Severino (1-3, 3.62 ERA).

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Kuminga's ‘I'm here' moment comes at perfect time for him, Warriors

Kuminga's ‘I'm here' moment comes at perfect time for him, Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Kuminga checked into Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at the 5:50 mark of the first quarter and immediately knocked down a jump shot.

Moments later, he blocked Jaden McDaniels’ dunk attempt and completed an and-1 driving floater on the other end of the court. He lay on the Chase Center floor for several seconds as the crowd rose to its feet and reached the highest volume of the night at that point.

Both embraced one another.

“I think that got me going,” Kuminga said Saturday night after the Warriors’ 102-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. “Just things like that, trying to involve the crowd, it just gave us this type of boost where we feed off that type of energy. 

“It was just one of those moments. Like: I’m here.”

Here, after the most difficult and adverse month of his four-year NBA career. 

The DNPs (Did Not Play). The chatter. The pressure. The confusion.

That’s a lot for anyone to take on at once, not to mention a 22-year-old. But Kuminga’s patience – as he lay on the Chase Center floor looking up at the twinkling lights with a roar of Warriors fans applauding him – finally paid off.

But it’s not as simple as flipping a switch. Not knowing when you’re going to play or be a part of the rotation. Being thrown into garbage minutes to try and light a spark without any rhythm. Kuminga played a total of 49 minutes in Golden State’s seven-game series against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, including three DNPs.

He played 36 minutes off the bench Saturday night, scoring a career playoff-high 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field and 3 of 4 from 3-point range, with six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

“It’s not easy,” Kuminga said of being in and out of the rotation. “It’s very tough. I think the only thing that kept me ready was watching how we play, working out every other day and just watching film. I think that was the only preparation. … It’s not easy, especially when you don’t get too many opportunities to be out there.

“I can do all that in my workouts and stuff like that, but if you’re not in the game, it’s different and more serious. Just within the time, it keeps getting better. Like I said, I’m just gaining my confidence back.”

Kuminga and Jimmy Butler combined for 63 points.

The numbers during the regular season showed that lineups with the two together on the court simply didn’t work for the Warriors. The past two games have shown otherwise.

Of course, Golden State has been a much different team playing without superstar Steph Curry, which Kerr believes partly is the reason why having the two aggressive forwards on the floor at the same time can work.

Kuminga believes it’s also a comfort thing as the two become more acquainted with each other on the court. That could be a good sign for Game 4 as the Warriors trail the series 2-1 and need to find a way to win without Curry, who will be re-evaluated before Game 5 on Wednesday.

While Kerr and Kuminga’s teammates spoke highly and proudly of the young forward in their postgame comments, Kuminga was the least pleased. Mostly because his career performance didn’t result in a win.

That didn’t stop the praise, however.

“He was brilliant,” Kerr said postgame. “JK played one of the best games of his life. It was fantastic to see, and you can see how necessary he is in this matchup, especially without Steph. We’re having a tough time getting free, and he’s obviously capable of giving us some points, getting to the rim. And I thought he was fantastic.

“I’ve said it a couple times to you guys, I’ve just been impressed with the way he’s handled things the last couple weeks, with the way he stayed ready and put in the work. It paid off tonight.”

Warriors guard Buddy Hield, the team’s human injection of joy on and off the court, called Kuminga “elite” and questioned if he knows anyone who works as hard as he does.

“It’s a beautiful sight to see,” Butler added of Kuminga’s aggressiveness.

Of course, a win would have been the icing on the cake for Kuminga and the Warriors. But after the turbulent road Kuminga has been on the last few weeks, it’s safe to say he isn’t just getting his confidence back — it’s back. Fully. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Warriors entering a pivotal Game 4.

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Without Steph, Warriors' defense unable to offset offensive struggles

Without Steph, Warriors' defense unable to offset offensive struggles originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – When Stephen Curry limped off the floor in the first half of Game 1 in the Warriors’ Western Conference semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the conventional wisdom was that he took with him his team’ best chances for a deep postseason run.

There was no doubt, however, that Golden State’s offense would suffer. And, boy, has it.

After winning Game 1 with 99 points, with Buddy Hield filling the void created by Curry’s departure, the Warriors managed 93 in a 24-point rout by the Wolves in Game 2.

It wasn’t much different Saturday, with the series shifting to Chase Center for Game 3. Golden State played one half of great defense but only one quarter of strong offense in a 102-97 loss that gives Minnesota a 2-1 series lead.

Jimmy Butler III produced a gargantuan performance, with 33 points and seven assists, along with seven rebounds but four turnovers. Jonathan Kuminga was terrific: 30 points, along with two assists and six rebounds.

The other eight Warriors combined for 34 points – on 12-of-37 shooting, including 5 of 15 beyond the arc. With Curry sidelined, Golden State’s offense too easily lapses into dry spells and late-clock shots that rarely go down.

“Jimmy obviously is creating plenty, but it’s different,” coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s not the same level of stretching the defense out like Steph does. So, we’ve got to find ways to score more, to try to generate more shots. And we’ll look at the tape and figure that out.”

The tape will reveal that after Butler’s two free throws gave the Warriors an 82-77 lead with 8:16 remaining, they didn’t make another field goal until a Hield tip-in with 2:58 left ended a 13-2 run. The Warriors got two stops during that stretch, but the Wolves got seven.

That was enough to give Minnesota a four-point lead (90-86). When the Warriors’ next six possessions yielded three points, they were trailing by eight with less than a minute remaining and the uphill battle was too much to overcome.

“Probably just didn’t get the shots we wanted to get, turned the ball over a few times, didn’t contest shots, didn’t take the three out of the game,” Butler said. “And that was it.”

Golden State shot 7 of 20 in the fourth quarter. More astonishing was the failure to a generating a single point off seven Timberwolves’ turnovers in the fourth.

It’s natural that scoring would be harder for the Warriors without Curry. He’s peerless. Kerr has lived lavishly off a system he designed to emphasize Steph’s attributes. His absence has coaches seeking and players scrounging. The defensive rating for Game 3 was 108.2, the offensive rating 103.2.

Aside from a third quarter when the Warriors made their first 3-pointers of the game and totaled 31 points on 50-percent shooting, the Warriors were 24 of 59 (40.7 percent) from the field.

And yet, Butler was surprisingly unconcerned about the difficulty scoring.

“Scoring is never the problem,” he said. “I think 97 [points] can win in the playoffs. It’s us on the other end. We’ve got to stop them from scoring. We have got to not turn the ball over. We’ve got to get back.

“I definitely think we can score with the best of them. But we have got to be able to guard with the best of them as well.”

The Timberwolves shot a pedestrian 43.9 percent from the field but loaded in the second half, scoring 62 points while shooting 55.6 percent. But their 11 turnovers after intermission gave the Warriors only four points.

Brandin Podziemski and Hield started in the backcourt, with neither making a field goal in the first half and the two combining for 19 points. Hield shot 5 of 11 from the field, including 4 of 8 from distance. Podziemski was 1 of 10 and 1 of 4, and is 14 of 47 and 8 of 30 over his last six games.

Gary Payton II was 1 of 4 from the field, as was Kevon Looney – as was Draymond Green before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

And yet, Kerr was pleased with much of what he witnessed.

“I felt good about the way the game went tonight,” he said. “We just couldn’t close it out. Give them credit. They made all the plays in the fourth and [Julius] Randle and [Anthony] Edwards really got going, and we just couldn’t quite overcome them once we got down.

“But we controlled much of that game, and up six or whatever it was, eight minutes to go, I liked where we were. We just couldn’t finish. The formula looks good. We’ll have some adjustments to make. But I like the matchup. I like what we’re doing.”

There is no doubt Kerr does not like being down two games to one any more than he likes being without his best player.

Unless Kerr and assistant coach Terry Stotts can devise ways to improve the spacing that has become an abstract concept, half-court possessions will be a struggle.

And unless a few more men on the roster can squeeze out more scoring, no matter how well the defense performs, this series will be a labor likely ending in despair.

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Celtics claim vital win over Knicks in game three

Boston Celtic star Jayson Tatum dribbles the ball
Jayson Tatum hit 22 points for the Celtics [Getty Images]

The Boston Celtics dominated the New York Knicks in game three to cut the deficit to 2-1 in their NBA Eastern Conference play-off semi-final.

The Celtics blew 20-point third-quarter leads in the first two games of the best-of-seven series in Boston as the Knicks mounted stunning comebacks against the reigning NBA champions.

But the visitors made no mistake in New York, moving into a 71-46 lead at half-time and remaining ruthless to see out a vital victory.

The Celtics rediscovered their three-point shooting ability that deserted them in the first two games, hitting 50% of their shots from beyond the arc in Madison Square Garden.

Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 23 points, while star Jayson Tatum added 22. Jalen Brunson hit a game-high 27 points for the Knicks.

Game four is in New York on Monday.

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Timberwolves understand they can't relax despite 2-1 series lead over Warriors

Timberwolves understand they can't relax despite 2-1 series lead over Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Holding a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals with a chance to build a commanding advantage on Monday, the Minnesota Timberwolves have no intention of letting off the gas pedal.

Saturday’s 102-97 win over the Warriors at Chase Center put the Wolves in the driver’s seat and came on the heels of their 24-point victory in Game 2 on Thursday night.

Golden State played without superstar and two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry in both games. The results each time were predictable, with the Wolves taking full advantage of Curry’s absence to grab control of the series.

That Minnesota won so handily in Game 2, then followed that up with a solid effort on Saturday, certainly is no surprise. Although the Warriors won the first game of the series when Curry got hurt, trying to sustain life without him for a full game is a completely different story.

While the Timberwolves celebrated after their Game 3 win, the overwhelming sense in their locker room was one of unfinished business.

“There’s no sigh of relief at any point,” Minnesota center Naz Reid said. “This is a playoff series for a reason. Whether you’re up or down, you still got to go take care of business.”

In both Minnesota wins, the Warriors put up a spirited fight to keep things interesting before the Wolves left the court with the W.

The Warriors trailed by 17 at halftime in Game 2 and cut the gap to 62-55 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter before the Wolves finished the quarter with a 20-point advantage. After Minnesota boosted its lead to 22 in the fourth quarter, Golden State made another late push to make the score closer than the game actually was.

For that reason and so many others, the Timberwolves aren’t taking anything for granted at this point, although they do enjoy the look from the perch they’re sitting on currently.

“We’re just more confident now than we have been in the past,” Timberwolves guard Mike Conley said. “We saw it tonight. Being down a couple points in games and we don’t seem to panic. We kind of double down on what we do defensively.”

Given Minnesota’s most recent playoff history, it’s understandable why they don’t want to get into cruise control mode.

During the 2023-24 playoffs, Minnesota won the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals against Denver, lost the next three on the road, then won the final two games to move on to the conference finals.

Two years before that, the Wolves trailed the Grizzlies 2-1 in the opening round of the playoffs but forced the series to go six games.

And it’s not like Minnesota has played a grand style of hoop against the Warriors. The Wolves have made enough mistakes that one could make a legitimate argument that Golden State would have won either or both of the previous two games if Curry hadn’t been forced to sit on the sidelines while nursing his hamstring injury.

“We didn’t play the best basketball ourselves,” Reid said, stating the obvious.

As good as the Wolves played, to a man, they all believe they can be even better.

In Game 3, they outscored the Warriors by 13 in the paint, had a bench scoring advantage of 46-41 and held a 42-39 edge in rebounding.

“We’re just winning the possession battle in clutch time now,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Today, we actually were really big on the boards in clutch time, getting some second-shot opportunities. That’s it.

“(The Warriors) made the game ugly. They did a great job of just being super physical and trying to kind of take it into the mud. We could certainly do things better and smarter. But I was proud of our guys because we got right down there in the mud with them.”

If the Warriors can rally and force the series to go at least six games, there’s a chance Curry can get back into the lineup by then. It’s a long shot, no doubt, but one that the Timberwolves aren’t dismissing.

“When he gets back, it’s still going to be the same challenge for us,” Reid said. “We have to take care of business on the offensive and defensive side.”

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How Kuminga's dunk motivated Ant's second-half revival in Game 3

How Kuminga's dunk motivated Ant's second-half revival in Game 3 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

What does it take to motivate Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards at a decisive juncture in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals? 

How about Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga throwing down a dunk over Edwards?

Following the Timberwolves’ 102-97 victory over the Warriors on Saturday night at Chase Center, Edwards credited Kuminga’s high-flying skills for fueling his second-half turnaround. 

“Poster dunk by me? Nah, I feel like when Kuminga dunked on me,” Edwards told reporters after taking a 2-1 series lead. “It got me going more so than anything.” 

Edwards, who contributed just eight points in the first half, finished with a game-high 36 points, helping Minnesota regain control of the series against a Steph Curry-less Golden State.

Kuminga, on the opposite end, erupted for 30 points off the bench for the Warriors. The 22-year-old’s valiant effort was ultimately wasted, with Golden State unable to capitalize as Curry watched on from the bench after being ruled out with a hamstring injury. 

Late in the third quarter, Edwards, known in part for his explosive dunks, drove past Kuminga before elevating to the rim over Warriors big man Kevon Looney. 

That wasn’t the source of motivation for the two-time NBA All-Star, however. Instead, the motivation came after getting humbled to the point where Edwards had to double down on his skills and mentality. 

And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if it leads to a crucial playoff victory. 

“Just trust the work, man,” Edwards added. “I feel like one thing I never lack in confidence. If I got that, I’ll be alright.”

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Maple Leafs, Oilers, Jets Fuel Canadian Hope For First Cup Since 1993

Leon Draisaitl and William Nylander (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

As the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs continue to unfold, the odds of a Canadian team winning it all seem to get better and better.

In Toronto, the Maple Leafs are in a strong position against the defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers, leading their second-round series two games to one. In Winnipeg, the Jets have pushed back against the Dallas Stars, evening up their series at one game apiece. And in Edmonton, the Oilers are in firm control of their series with the Vegas Golden Knights, leading it two games to none. 

For the first time in a long time, there’s a very real sense that multiple Canadian teams can get at least as far as their respective conference final – and maybe, just maybe, one of them can be the first Canadian team to win the Cup since the Montreal Canadiens did so in 1993. And what a time to achieve that goal. 

Indeed, given recent world events, there’s a soaring sense of national pride among Canadians. We have started to put aside our regional differences in the name of seeing Canada rewarded for our tenaciousness and resilience on the ice, and having a Canadian team win hockey’s ultimate trophy would make Canadians ecstatic. Heck, when Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is an old hockey goalie, you can see how the stars could be lining up to make some memorable magic with the country’s favorite game.

You don’t have to take our word for it – just take a look at a recent poll that investigated the degree of national pride among Canadians. You’ll learn that a growing number of Canadians want to see a Canadian Cup-winner, and the closer we get to seeing one crowned, the more of a sense of excitement there is going to be in hockey’s homeland.

Canada is a vast country with many different people and lifestyles, but when it comes to Canada’s favorite sport, we’re clearly ready, willing and able to support whatever Canadian team gets to the Cup final.

And really, what could be better for Canada at the moment than an all-Canadian-team Cup final? It would take the Leafs winning the Eastern Conference, and either the Oilers or Jets winning the Western Conference. But as it stands, that’s not a pipe dream by any stretch. A Toronto/Winnipeg or Toronto/Edmonton final would more or less shut down the country as Canadians pick sides, but that type of matchup would be one for the ages.

When you think about it, we’re not far away from such an event coming to pass. The Maple Leafs and Oilers are six wins away from the Cup final, and the Jets are seven wins away. A lot will have to go right for the three teams to get to that point, and all three Canadian teams could still be eliminated in Round 2. But the way Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton have performed thus far, it’s far from a longshot to see two of those three teams getting to the final.

There could come a day, sooner than later, when other Canadian teams get to where the Leafs, Oilers and Jets are today. The Canadiens and Ottawa Senators are up-and-coming teams, and the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames may only need a few additions to put them back into the playoff mix. But it should shock no one that any or many of the aforementioned teams could be thriving soon.

If and when one or two of those teams do arrive in the Cup final, Canadian nationalism may not seem as vigorous and widespread as it is right now. Or who knows – maybe it’ll be just as heightened, if not more heightened than it is at the moment. But in the days and weeks immediately ahead, it seems like a perfect meeting between Canadian pride and Canadian team skill that has Canadian hockey fans so stoked. 

The Cup drought in Canada could be coming to a close. And if that happens, the true north strong and free is going to be an especially exciting place to be.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Spurs are on their way to Bilbao – but no plans to record a new cup final song

  • Postecoglou unmoved by idea of a new ‘Ossie’s Dream’
  • Spurs face Manchester United in Europa League final

Ange Postecoglou has played down the prospect of his Tottenham squad recording a cup final song before their Europa League final with Manchester United.

The record ‘Ossie’s Dream’ by Chas and Dave – in reference to the former midfielder Ossie Ardiles – is synonymous with Spurs’ history after being recorded with the squad to commemorate reaching the 1981 FA Cup final. However, Postecoglou insisted no repeat would occur with the class of ‘25, who secured a place in Bilbao with a 5-1 aggregate victory over Bodø/Glimt.

Continue reading...
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Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. receives death threats aimed at children after tough start

Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. receives death threats aimed at children after tough start originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said he received online death threats directed at his children after his tough start Saturday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

McCullers, who was making just his second start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series, allowed seven runs while getting just one out in Houston’s 13-9 loss.

Afterward, McCullers said he had received the threats on social media.

“I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with,” he said. “So just as a father I think there have been many, many threats over the years aimed at me mostly, and I think actually one or two people from other issues around baseball actually had to go to jail for things like that. But I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public, they’re gonna stab my kids to death, things like that, it’s tough to hear as a dad.”

The Astros said that the Houston Police Department and MLB security had been alerted to the threats.

McCullers and his wife Kara have two young daughters.

A visibly upset manager Joe Espada addressed the threats at his postgame news conference and added that they were also threatening the pitcher’s life.

“There are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance,” Espada said. “It is very unfortunate that we have to deal with this. After all he’s done for this city, for his team, the fact that we have to talk about that in my office — I got kids too and it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this. Very sad, very, very sad.”

McCullers, who has had numerous injuries that have kept him off the field in the last couple of seasons, said it’s difficult to have to deal with threats on top of trying to return to form on the mound.

“If you fail you fail on a very large stage (with) a lot of eyes and there’s nowhere to hide,” he said. “At the end of the day, I just want to do my job. I just want to be a good pitcher for the Astros and I believe I’ll get there, but like I said I just think that having to worry about that, worry about leaving town and leaving them and things like that or dropping her off at school, I just think … there should be some type of decency.”

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Knicks unable to stop Celtics' three-point barrage in 115-93 Game 3 loss

The three-pointer was falling for the Celtics and the Knicks could not respond in their 115-93 Game 3 loss on Saturday afternoon at MSG.

Boston shot 48 percent from the field and 50 percent (20-for-40) from three, while New York shot 40 percent and 20 percent (5-for-25) from three.

Here are the takeaways...

-Celtics entered Game 3 hitting 25-of-100 of their threes, so of course they would hit their first three three-point attempts. But Boston also made it a point to go to the rim -- six of their first nine shots were from two -- especially Jayson Tatum who only shot one three in the first six minutes of the game. On the other side, the Knicks looked tight and were a bit unlucky. Their shots didn't have conviction behind them, and when they did get some open shots, they would rim out. They started just 2-for-11 (1-for-5 from three) before head coach Tom Thibodeau called a timeout.

The Celtics would continue to hit their shots and take advantage of Knicks misses -- and a little bit of hack-a-Mitch to build their lead to 15 points. Payton Pritchard would hit a fadeaway jumper as the clock expired to put the Celtics up 36-20 after one quarter. Boston shot 58 percent (11-for-19) from the field, including 6-of-7 from three in the first. That, plus the Knicks shooting just 35 percent (8-for-23), including 1-for-7 from three, was the difference. What helped the Knicks sort of stay in the game was the offensive glass, which Mitchell Robinson had two of the team's five in that opening frame.

However, Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two first-quarter fouls, which limited the forward's play. KAT and Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with six points each. With KAT on the bench and Robinson out to limit the intentional fouls, Precious Achiuwa played three minutes and picked up four points.

-The second quarter was more of the same. The Celtics kept making their threes, and played incredible defense, denying Knicks cutters to the basket just about every chance they had. Boston had their lead reach 25 points at one point, but a burst from the Knicks cut the deficit to 17 and got the MSG crowd back into it. But Tatum and the rest of the sharpshooters on the Celtics silenced them with threes to keep their lead hovering around the 20-point mark.

Heading into the half, the Celtics were shooting 55 percent (24-for-44), including 12-for-19 from three. They also had three steals and four blocks. Jaylen Brown and Tatum led the scoring for Boston with 17 and 14 points, respectively.

For the Knicks, they shot just 40 percent (17-for-43), including 2-for-12 from three. KAT (13) and Brunson (12) led the scoring for New York who were outrebounded, 24-19, at halftime.

-The Celtics would come out of the break and build a game-high 31-point lead before an 8-0 run by the Knicks gave The Garden crowd something to cheer for. But whenever it felt like New York would shift the momentum, a Derrick White three or an and-one from Tatum would stop the push. Sloppy turnovers and poor transition defense allowed Boston to keep a stranglehold on this game.

-The Knicks would get the three-point shot to fall early in the fourth. Two from Brunson and one from Miles McBride cut the Celtics' lead to 20 points before Boston called a timeout. The Knicks' offense would struggle from then on as the Celtics continued to grind New York's defense with easy shots and back-breaking threes.

Thibodeau would pull his starters with three minutes remaining with the Celtics up 23 points. The Celtics were up by 20-plus since two minutes left in the second quarter until the starters were all benched.

-OG Anunoby had a disappointing game, scoring just two points on 1-for-6 shooting. He only had two rebounds and one assist. Brunson led the team with 27 points on 9-for-19 shooting, but turned the ball over four times -- clearly trying too hard to get the offense going.

Josh Hart finished with 10 points while KAT had 21 and Mikal Bridges added 12 to round out the starters' scoring.

On the other side, Pritchard led the Celtics with 23 points while Tatum (22), Brown (19), Al Horford (15), Jrue Holiday (8) and White (17) accounted for the starters' scoring.

Kristaps Porzingis, who has been dealing with aftereffects from a viral infection, played 19 minutes and scored five points.

Game MVP: Payton Pritchard

The Sixth Man of the Year really took it to the Knicks on Saturday. Whenever the Knicks had a run, Pritchard would hit a three or make a great defensive play.

Highlights

What's next

Game 4 between the Knicks and Celtics will take place Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at The Garden.

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Texas Stars And Abbotsford Canucks Advance To Division Finals

© Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Texas Stars defeated the Grand Rapid Griffins in three game and the Abbotsford Canucks knocked off the defending Western Conference champion Coachella Valley Firebirds in four games.

The Stars are the first team to advance to the Central Division Finals on the back of six points each from Cameron Hughes and 2025 AHL Rookie of the Year Justin Hryckowian in three games, including an overtime winner in the second overtime of game three from Hughes.

Texas goaltender Remi Poirier stopped 64 of 70 shots against before Magnus Hellberg came in in relief in the third period of game three and stopped all 18 shots against. 

Dallas' AHL affiliate will take on the winner of Milwaukee and Rockford in the next round.

The Canucks eliminated the back-to-back defending Western Conference champion Coachella Valley Firebirds in four games after Arturs Silovs made 29 saves and secure a 2-0 game four victory.

Abbotsford were led by Silovs, who has a 5-1 record, two shutouts, and a .935 SP in seven playoff appearances. 

Veterans Sammy Blais and Phil Di Giuseppe lead the Canucks in scoring with eight and seven points respectively. Kirill Kudryavtsev and Akito Hirose have been essential to Abbotsford's solid defensive play and will need to keep it up in the next round. 

Vancouver's AHL affiliate will take on the Colorado Eagles in the next round, with the series set to begin Friday May 16. 

Check out The Hockey News' Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks team sites for more updates on Texas and Abbotsford. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.    

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Mets Notes: Jose Siri 'progressing a lot quicker' than anticipated, Brett Baty 'huge part' of team's plans

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke to reporters before Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs and gave some updates on the team...

Jose Siri getting closer to return

Mets outfielder Jose Siri, who's on the IL due to a fractured tibia, is making good progress and could be getting closer to starting a rehab.

"Definitely progressing a lot quicker than I was or we were anticipating," Mendoza said. "I didn't think he was going to be able to do some running and already hitting in the cages, tee, toss, playing catch, doing some light sprints there.

"As far as when do we anticipate [him returning], it's hard for me [to say]. But he's moving, he's progressing a lot quicker."

Siri suffered the injury on April 13 against the Athletics after fouling a ball off of his shin. Since he's been out, the Mets have gone with a combination of Tyrone Taylor (26 starts, 31 games total), José Azócar (three games), and more recently, Jeff McNeil (three games) in center field.

Siri played in just 10 games and struggled offensively with just one hit before getting hurt. He did walk four times and stole two bases.

Brett Baty continuing to make positive strides

Baty returned to the bigs this week with Jesse Winker heading to the IL and has been making the most of his playing time.

The 25-year-old went 0-for-4 in his first game on Wednesday, but flipped a switch Friday night with a two-hit performance, including his second home run of the season. Mendoza was asked if he'd like to have Baty play a handful of games consecutively and said he's trying to balance that with getting everybody else involved.

"I definitely wanna continue to get him going, but also my job as a manager is to put guys in a position where we feel they're going to have success," Mendoza said. "If I feel like we're better off playing some of the other guys and giving him a day, it's not so much about Brett Baty, it's putting other guys in a position where we're like, 'Hey, we like that matchup.' Yes, having the understanding that we might benefit from giving this guy a little bit of leeway and letting him play.

"It's a balance and you're trying to keep everyone sharp. I feel like we now have a really good rotation going with the position players, all thirteen of them. And Brett Baty's a huge part of that. It will continue to be a day-to-day thing."

Defensively, Mendoza has all the confidence in the former top prospect who's shown his versatility playing 2B in addition to his natural 3B.

"I thought last year he was really good," Mendoza said. "He's very athletic for a guy his size. I'm very comfortable playing him at second base. And then you watch him take balls at short, just BP right, and he's very athletic. That goes to show you that not only the footwork, he's got good hands, he's got the ability to throw on the run from different angles. But he's got the ability to adjust, too. Defensively, he's pretty good."

He added on how to help Baty continue his development: "Don't let him get comfortable. We want him comfortable with the environment, but not comfortable playing a big league game. There's always challenges. You got to bring your A-game. I think that's part of our job, not only as manager but as coaches, it's not as easy as you're making it look right now.

"It's just finding the consistency, don't get too high, don't get too low. I think that's the next step when you're talking about development. Not only just the result, but how you're going to go about your business day in and day out. That's what we're trying to do here."