The Mavericks’ victory will likely determine the duel in the NBA finals, and Acuña’s devastating injury

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Good morning! I hope whatever you grill today tastes delicious.

Sweep? Time for a predictive simulation

The game itself was, like much of this series between the Mavericks and the Timberwolves, exciting. Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving traded blows with Anthony Edwards and Co. The last quarter was characterized by plenty of patented playoff tension.

But after Dallas' 116-107 win Last night we achieved the most boring goal: a 3-0 Mavericks lead. That means we are 3-0 in both of our NBA conference finals. A nap. Two things:

• Tonight Boston has a chance to win away against the Pacers, who could be missing Tyrese Haliburton again. Indiana is actually only a few games away from leading this series and says there is no giving upbut that's probably the end, right? Remember, no NBA team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in a series.
  
• With a home win tomorrow, Dallas can secure its first place in the NBA Finals since 2011. I'm really shocked that this series is 3-0. But Edwards has been mediocre, while Karl-Anthony Towns is shooting 27.8 percent of his field goals and 13.6 percent of his threes in this series. That can't happen. The Mavs' only concern: Dereck Lively II's Health.

However, this final game was certainly not boring. Irving's chance to beat the team he left five years ago. Dončić's first Finals appearance. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown get one last taste of a ring. Should we fast forward?

• In yesterday’s non-surprise news: The New York Rangers lead 2-1 against the Florida Panthers after a dizzying overtime win in Game 3. The Rangers went into the third period up 4-2, went into overtime tied at 4-4 and scored the game-winning goal just over five minutes into overtime. The poor Panthers controlled most of the action in overtime before Alex Wennberg deflected the winning goal into the net. Brutal.

news

Robbery in the last round
Yesterday, Josef Newgarden won the Indianapolis 500 for the second time in a row after a daring overtaking maneuver by Pato O'Ward on the last lapwho was inconsolable after losing a win in the final seconds of the race. It's a new twist in a strange season for Newgarden, who has lost fans due to his cheating scandal. Also: NASCAR driver Kyle Larson finished 18th..

Reigning MVP Acuña is out for a year
Ronald Acuña, Jr. will miss the rest of the season after tests confirmed a torn ACL, a brutal blow for a Braves team that was already falling short of the high expectations of the previous season. It's especially tough for Acuña, who will miss another season with a torn ACL. Acuña was the unanimous MVP of the NL last year.

Family confirms Murray's death as suicide
Former PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray committed suicide, his family confirmed yesterday in a heartbreaking statement. “It's surreal that we have to admit it not only to ourselves, but to the world,” said his parents Eric and Terry Murray. “It's a nightmare.” Murray, only 30, withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge on Friday due to illness. Read our full report here.

More news

In memory of some boys: A vintage car game with a serious twist

On Saturday, a who's who of former MLB players gathered in Cooperstown, NY, wearing old Negro League jerseys and playing a baseball game. Tyler Kepner was there for a friendly match that he described as “extremely important”. I agree and would like to highlight a few things:

• The list of players was breathtaking: Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Jones, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard (who hit a home run), Curtis Granderson, David Price, CC Sabathia, Justin and BJ Upton and Eddie Murray.
  
• These were all black superstars of their time, and yesterday, on a day of both joy and regret, they all spread the same message: Every year fewer and fewer black athletes play baseball. This year, only six percent of all major league players are black; in the 1970s and 1980s, that number was closer to 20 percent.
  
• There are several reasons for this decline, as Tyler detailed in his article, but the importance of this group struck me. These former superstars are putting a lot of effort and money into reversing this trend. MLB is also seeing some positive early results from several related initiatives.

Be sure to read Tyler's full story hereincluding some fascinating details about how the House-NCAA agreement could have a huge impact on black participation in college baseball.

Watch this game

NHL: Stars at the Oilers
8:30 p.m. ET on TNT
It's already a great series, with a 1-1 tie and strong performances from both sides. I'm excited to see what the crowd looks like in Edmonton.

NBA: Celtics at Pacers
8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
We talked about that above. Check out the likely finale.

Get tickets for games like this Here.

Pulse Picks

Always fun: Looking back at really good – and really bad – jerseys. Tim Spiers has a comprehensive look at the best and the worst European football shirts any times.

Do you know who had a bizarre weekend? Manchester United Manager Erik ten Hagwho we thought might be fired after the season. Then he won the FA Cup. And he Despite it could be fired. Dan Sheldon explains everything.

Pete Alonso tried to downplay the rumors of a transfer, but as his Mets drag themselves through May, The questions are unavoidable.

Chris Johnston explores Connor Bedard first appearance at the IIHF World Championship, highlighted by a disappointing ending even though he was the biggest name at the tournament.

Most clicked in yesterday’s newsletter: The hilarious, unbelievable and worth seeing Home plate tag from a high school centerfielder.

Most read on the website yesterday: Jon Greenberg's Column about Angel Reese's performance – fought her way through the stranglehold of Alyssa Thomas – over the weekend and received praise from all sides.

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(Photo: Glenn James / Getty Images)