Both Leagues ‘Offs Update

Both leagues, with current ‘offs being contested, got a second 7th game in its first round last night, as the Houston Rockets upset Golden State on the road, yielding #7 at home tomorrow while the St. Louis Blues eased at home, (all home wins in that series, so far– thus if top ranked Winnipeg wins #7, as a favorite tomorrow an undefeated, albeit in just one round, team emerges—remember almost no teams have gone undefeated at home through the ‘offs in many years), forcing #7 in Winnipeg tomorrow night.

Only the top ranked, in each NBA conference teams, overall top Oklahoma City (Thunder) and East “top” Cleveland (Cavaliers) swept opening round series.

Six teams, three in each league won their best of seven prelim series in 5 games, two the NHL East top seed Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes, to meet in the “quarters.”

The NHL defending champion Florida Panthers, doing so vs the 2020 and 2021 title winners and 2022 finalists, the Tampa Bay Lightning, who now are (1-9) in their last 10 home tilts (that evokes “Arthur Ralph” on free picks), NBA defending champion Boston Celtics, already cited here Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers also 5’d their first round/prelims opponents.

Four teams won in six games, the NBA Knicks riding Ja Brunson’s shot and 40 points at Detroit on Thursday night past, while also that night, 3 NHL teams, the ” reg div” winning Las Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs plus the Edmonton Oilers, who “first rounded” the L.A. Kings for an incredible fourth time in as many seasons (2022-2025).

Tonight it is Denver (Nuggets) hosting the L.A. Clippers in their 7th (L.A.’s Lakers were ousted last Wednesday, their Kings as cited, on Thursday, a night the Clips in their “joint,” forced a 7th, but to be played in Denver’s home.

Speaking of Denver, which houses the baseball worst record, Rockies (6-26), (the White Sox, (41-121) last season are (9-23), tonight their Colorado Avalanche play #7 at Dallas, vs the Stars.

Dallas won the previous three #7’s vs Colorado, reaching the NHL final round each time, the first two “by definition,” as the 7th games occurred in the semi-final round.

An early NBA/BBA great, “Jumpin” Joe Franklin Fulks (ode to TV talk show great/pioneer, Joe Franklin), who was high scorer in the first NBA/BBA 7th game, that for the Philly Warriors at the St. Louis Bombers in a 1948 “semi.”

The Warriors win in #7 at Houston in the 2018 semis on their way to a third crown in four seasons, was their first road #7 win since that above referenced one in ’48.

Since they 7’d the “Sac” Kings at Sacramento in a 2023 first round series.