The 2024 NBA playoffs began with a bang as the Milwaukee Bucks secured a win over the Indiana Pacers, despite the absence of their two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Damian Lillard stepped up in Antetokounmpo’s stead, exploding for a franchise playoff record 35 points in the first half. The Bucks took a commanding 17-point lead into the locker room at intermission, and cruised to an easy victory in the second half.
In other NBA news, road teams struggled mightily in the playoffs over the weekend, going 0-14. The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Sacramento Kings were among the winners, while the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans played competitive but ultimately lost their opening games.
Over in NASCAR, Austin Reddick emerged victorious at Talladega after a chaotic final lap. Reddick capitalized on a crash involving race leader Brad Keselowski and other drivers to secure the win. The race was turned on its head on the final lap when Keselowski tried to block McDowell, causing McDowell to spin out and引发s a crash. Reddick’s car emerged unscathed from the pack, and he blew by Keselowski at the last second to pick up the win.
In baseball, Shohei Ohtani made history by becoming the MLB’s all-time home run leader among Japanese-born players. Ohtani’s fifth homer of the season surpassed Hideki Matsui’s record of 175. Ohtani achieved this feat in just 2,979 plate appearances, compared to Matsui’s 5,066.
Finally, the Cleveland Guardians continue to impress, despite skepticism from some analysts. The Guardians have a 16-6 record and are currently ranked in the top five. However, some analysts question whether the Guardians have faced enough tough competition to warrant their high ranking. With 140 games left in the season, there is still plenty of time for the Guardians to prove their worth.
