Both NBA semi-final series (for that matter so do both NHL such) stand at (3-1), with two franchises in their 58th seasons, (’68-2025), the (68-14) Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers leading the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks respectively.
In #4 wins that made the Thunder even more prohibitive and the Pacers now such favorites to reach the final round, “reg” MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander hit for 40 leading “Okl City” while last night Tyrese Haliburton scored 32, as Indy, just (1-8) in previous “semis,” went up (3-1) for a third consecutive series this season.
Jalen Williams, one of three Thunder players with that surname, (alas a tribute to the great Thunder nee SuperSonics player, a member of the franchise’s lone title team as “Sea,” in ’79, Gus Williams) and Pascal Siakam, himself a title winner with 2019 Toronto (Raptors), made big game 4 contributions.
Williams hit for 34 points while Siakam, he who led Indiana’s #2 win, at New York with 37 points, scored 30 last night.
Jalen Williams on the phone after game 4.
Though Carolina (Hurricanes, one more time that area has an NFL team whose nickname is (also) the Panthers) won last night, the defending champion, Florida Panthers still hold a seemingly commanding 3 games to 1 lead in their “semi.”
The “Caro” win snapped an almost incredible 15 games “semis” loss skein, with 7 of those successive defeats, vs the Panthers.
“Fla” was also up (3-0) vs Edmonton (Oilers) (short schrift to “Edm,” which leads Dallas (Stars) (2-1) making a rematch of last year’s final, (it would be the first since Detroit and then Pittsburgh won the respective ’08 and ’09 crowns vs each other) the most likely of the 4 final round matchup possibilities), in last year’s final, before being forced to a #7 at home, (they won it (2-1) to claim their first NHL crown.
If the Oilers do prevail vs the Stars in their semi-final series, a rematch of a previous 7 games Oilers’ final round series loss will manifest, as Carolina with current coach Rod Brind’Amour their captain won their lone title vs “Edm,” in 2006.
There are a paucity of titles won having been achieved by the 4 teams/franchises that are in the NBA semi-final round this time around.
In that round the (68-14) Oklahoma City Thunder, though obliterated last night at Minnesota vs the Timberwolves in game 3 and Indiana Pacers, who are (1-8) in previous “semis,” have respective (2-1) and (2-0) series leads.
Indiana, for a second straight series won the first two games on the road, something I know the 1995 Houston Rockets did on their way to a repeat title, but know of no other NBA team to have done so. (Anyone with the research and knowledge, please write/type in and be cited).
Neither the Pacers, now in their 49th NBA season or Timberwolves (36 previous seasons) have ever won an NBA title while the Thunder in 24 previous “Okl City” seasons also have not won a crown. (In 57 previous cities, the franchise’s lone crown was in ’79 when the team was located in Seattle).
The New York Knicks, the other semi-finalist, playing the Pacers for the 9th time in the ‘offs all since ’93, have 2 titles, none since ’73 and just the two in 78 previous seasons.
Left to right the great Hakeem Olajuwon and 3 time NBA champion and a vital contributor to both Rockets titles, Sam Cassell are pictured above.
Each player was a member of the above cited ’95 Houston Rockets.
Today marks the 45th anniversary of an eventual great and largely forgotten, certainly underpublicized team, the New York Islanders winning the first of 4 consecutive NHL titles in what were 5 straight final round appearances, (titles ’80-’83 and a loss to Edmonton, one note from 2025–“Edm” won (3-0) at Dallas last night to get even (1-1) in their “semi”), a feat few teams in any major this continent sports league has ever managed.
‘Twas a goal by Bob Nystrom at 7:11 of overtime that lifted the Islanders (5-4) over the Philadelphia Flyers and into a 6 game triumph giving the just 8 year old franchise what turned out to be the first of four straight titles.
Only the (’59-’66) Boston Celtics with 8, the (’56-’60) Montreal Canadiens and (’49-’53) New York Yankees, each with 5 have ever attained more consecutive major North American sports league titles than those (’80-’83) Isles. (Another period of greatness and 4 straight titles manifested for both the Yankees (’36-’39) with among others Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig among the players and Canadiens (’76-’79) who were coached by the great Scotty Bowman.
I think the great broadcaster, Dan Kelly makes the call on the historic goal.
The defending Stanley Cup champion (also decent sized, plurality “faves” to repeat as such), Florida Panthers, again eased on the road (4 straight dominant road wins) handing the Carolina Hurricanes an incredible 14th straight semi-final round game loss, winning (5-0) in game 2 last night.
A week ago tonight, the Panthers lost game 6 at home to Toronto (Maple Leafs) but since won easily in the decisive 7th game of the “quarters,” at Toronto and by (5-2) and (5-0) scores in the first two tilts at Carolina in the “semis.”
Florida is now a big favorite to advance to a third straight NHL final, which would make it 6 straight final round appearances for the two Florida NHL teams, the other being the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Once it was hockey in Florida?!! — however thanks to people like the great player, Phil Esposito and his constant promoting the sport, with Tampa Bay, (look at the success and for the record the incredibly subjective Lightning commentator “Espo,” ended the Lightning’s past season broadcasts, wishing Florida well, saying he hopes the Cup/NHL Title stays in Florida.
While hockey in Carolina, Raleigh specifically, has been a success, highlighted by a title in ’06 and continued good play (once the Hurricanes nee Hartford Whalers were (1-10) in ‘offs series and they entered this semi (19-18)– but their record in semi-final round play is alarmingly bad.
They have lost an above referenced 14 straight such tilts, 6 to Florida. In ’23 when Florida swept “Caro,” before being 5’d by Las Vegas (Golden Knights) in the final round, Carolina played well, losing 4 straight but each one by one goal (I believe 2 in overtime and another in the last minute of regulation time play).
That is not the situation so far this season, however, I predict unlike ’09 when the Pittsburgh Penguins swept Carolina in the “semis,” before 7 ing defending champion Detroit (Red Wings) to title and ’19 when Boston (Bruins) (4-0’d) them before St. Louis (Blues) 7’d them for their lone crown, that Carolina will not be swept, as they will win at least, probably only one game at Florida, likely if it happens, the next one.
However, it is very likely the Panthers will again be NHL finalists and do not look now, but it could very well be great friends, coaches Paul Maurice of Florida and Peter DeBoer of Dallas (they, the Stars doubled Edmonton (Oilers) (6-3) in a home semis opener) meeting in the final round.
Phil Esposito, pictured above.
“Everybody” loses at home and I believe there was that reminder here before the 31st and last NHL or NBA team did so as that manifested after the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers eased (5-2) at Carolina vs the Hurricanes in their “semis” opener. (The St. Louis Blues lost an all home first round series to the Winnipeg Jets, the latter scoring in the last second to tie #7 before winning, otherwise almost surely the Blues also would have lost at home in these ‘offs.)
A Florida NHL team has reached that league’s final round in each of the last 5 seasons and now “Fla,” the series opening slight “fave” is now an over 2 and a fraction such to make it 6. (The Tampa Bay Lightning made the final and won it in ’20 and ’21 before losing in 6 to the ‘Lanche (Colorado Avalanche) in ’22 while Fla 7’d Edmonton (Oilers) last year to win their first crown after being 5’d by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in ’23).
However, this series is far from over, though I strongly suggest “Caro,” in this series far from any bright, bright lights, however, being contested between 2 fine teams, win game 2 at home and end a 5 game semis loss streak (0-5 all-time as well) vs Florida.
Paul Maurice, the excellent coach of the current champion Florida Panthers, is pictured above.
The N.H.L. semi-final round is set after the defending champion, Florida Panthers advanced to that round for the third straight season, scoring thrice within 6 and change of the 2nd period, in an eventual (6-1) road rout of the Toronto Maple Leafs in game 7 last night.
“Fla” will meet Carolina (Hurricanes), (that area has an NFL team named the Panthers), in a semi in just the team’s second ever ‘offs clash, with the other recent, just 2 years ago when the Panthers won 3 1 goal games, 2 in overtime, one in a 4 OT such, and swept the Hurricanes.
Carolina has home advantage and is a slight game 1 “fave” with Florida a slight series such. The Hurricanes are (5-0) at home in these ‘offs and only they played into at least the second round without losing at home (only prediction in this too close to call series is that “Caro” will lose a home tilt within it).
In the other “semi,” set after the Dallas Stars “motored” to a second straight semi vs the Edmonton Oilers on Harley’s OT goal (first name Thomas and pictured below) in #6, begins Wednesday night with Edmonton, a la Florida (Florida 7’d Edmonton in last year’s final) a sans home advantage, slight series “fave” and #1 underdog.
Thomas Harley, who scored the #6 overtime winner for Dallas, is pictured above.
This will be the 8th ‘offs clash contested between the Stars and Oilers with Dallas having won 5 of the previous 7, 5 of the 6 played between the teams all from (’97-’03), as noted but not directly above, Edmonton “semi’d” Dallas in last season’s semis clash.
The NBA semi-final round is set after the (68-14) Oklahoma City Thunder restored form to some degree, routing the more than series respectable Denver Nuggets in #7 this afternoon.
They (“City”) will now face the Minnesota Timberwolves in one semi while the New York Knicks, in their first semi-final in 25 years, meet the Indiana Pacers for the 9th time in the ‘offs and fourth time in the semi-final round in the other series.
Both Minnesota and Indiana, series underdogs without home advantage at least at the start, lost in their semis last year.
Oklahoma City is in just their 5th semi as the Thunder and first since 2016.
Last night was not a good one for the defending champions, (much worse for the Celtics as the Knicks advanced to the semis for the first time in 25 years, ripping the Tatum-less Celts (119-81) as the Leafs of Toronto, routed in a home 5th, forced a 7th in Toronto tomorrow night with a (2-0) win at Florida vs the defending champion Panthers in #6).
The winner of tomorrow night’s #7 will face the Carolina Hurricanes in one NHL semi-final round while the Edmonton Oilers await the winner of the Dallas Stars vs Winnipeg Jets “Qtr,” which Dallas leads 3 games to 2, with #6 in Dallas tonight.
In the NBA, the Knicks and Indiana Pacers will be meeting in the “semis” for the fourth time while Minnesota (Timberwolves) will journey either to Oklahoma City or Denver for the NBA Western Conference Final opener Tuesday, depending on the outcome of tomorrow afternoon’s deciding game between the homestanding (68-14) Oklahoma Thunder (that record did not help the ’73 Celts) and the 2023 NBA champion, Denver Nuggets.
Dikembe Mutombo, gone too young at age 57, was a vital member of the ’94 Denver Nuggets, who pulled a shocking best of 5 prelims upset over the then Seattle SuperSonics, who became the Thunder of “Ok” in ’01.
Then ’twas (42-40) Denver winning the last 3 to oust the top ranked (63-19) SuperSonics. this time there is almost as big a discrepancy and already in these quarters, two by far lower ranked teams, the Pacers and Knicks pulled upsets, the former vs (64-18) Cleveland (Cavaliers), with Oklahoma City an aforementioned (68-14) and West 4 seed Denver at (50-32).
By the way the Knicks were (51-31) while “Indy” was (50-32).
Among the “else” who would have home advantage in an unlikely, but possible all ex ABA teams final between Indy and Denver? Maybe I will “Dick Tracy” it and get on it, however, not right away.
I could post regarding that, at least yesterday, the new Pope ( a Chi-sox rooter) could not overcome the slump (I am being kind and not sure why, regarding both quantity and quality even /morality in this assessment) of someone named, “Arthur Ralph” on his “free picks” or some incredible “down (3-2) Celtics history,” however, choose to recall a better time, that of Earvin’s 42 and Silk’s 37, when the Lakers sans the great Kareem, went to Philadelphia and won at the time, just their second L.A. title. That occurred 45 years ago tonight.
Earvin is the certainly well known Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who scored 42 points that night and his overall performance remains minimum one of, arguably the greatest big game, certainly title clinching upset win of all-time, in any sports situation.
“Silk” is the great player, Jamaal Wilkes, whose 37 (points) that night is often forgotten.
Not by me, as to see it live (remember the first two years of Earvin “Magic” and Larry (Bird) with each of their teams winning crowns, but not vs the other–that would manifest down the road — the title clinching games were TV’d on delayed tape save in the finalist’s cities) I was alone in room 302 of an L.A. Howard Johnson’s and fondly remember, legendary L.A. broadcaster “Chick” Hearn calling Jamaal’s 20 foot shots, “the layup,” as they were launched in his unique shooting style and that night more profoundly than others for “Silk,” they went in.
Included in the above video, the fine broadcaster Buddy Blattner interviews the great player Bob Pettit after his, a la above cited Magic 22 years later, all-time type performance in an NBA title clinching game, that in ’58 #6/final round vs the Celtics.
Boston has won some road 6th games down (3-2) and lost some. Tonight they are slight underdogs in another, 52 years after another at New York vs the Knicks.
Then Boston won #6 but lost #7 at home to the Knicks, who went on to win their last crown to date. Boston “reg’d” (68-14), the Knicks (51-31) this season were (57-25).
(68-14) “Ok” City now faces a 7th, albeit at home, vs Denver Sunday afternoon as I add to the nostalgia with updates from the “3” ridden modern NBA.
Andy B Sports 