The Rush: Pelicans, Hawks both win big to advance in NBA Play-In Tourney
The Hawks will take on the Cavaliers for the 8th seed in the East after beating the Hornets badly in the NBA Play-In Tournament, while the Pelicans hammered the Spurs earning New Orleans a date in L.A. to play the Clippers for the 8th seed out West. On the baseball diamond, the Blue Jays got a big win over the Yankees thanks to a stellar 3-home run performance by Vlad Guerrero Jr. and controversy is brewing after Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was pulled seven innings into a perfect game. Plus, check out the video to see why the Hornets seemed to be doomed before ever hitting the hardwood in Atlanta and why the Blazers must be feeling heartbroken.
Video Transcript
- Quick report, Cassidy, first of all, and boy, you only think about the potential that sits on the bench right now for this franchise and a major-- oh, a major body cut by Brandon Ingram!
JARED QUAY: The NBA play-in tourney continued last night with the Pelicans hosting the Spurs in New Orleans. The home team dropped the hammer on San Antonio with the recent trade acquisition, CJ McCollum, scoring 27 points in the first half.
- Oh, he got moves. That's what he's got, Doris. McCollum, unstoppable, undeniable.
JARED QUAY: You know the Blazers have got to be hurting, watching their ex be all successful and all.
- Of course it's true and it hurts so bad.
JARED QUAY: New Orleans got the win, and as a reward, will fly to LA where they will face the Clippers. Winner gets the eighth playoff seed out West.
- Whatever it takes!
JARED QUAY: In the Eastern Conference play-in game, things were ominous for the Hornets before they even hit the hardwood in Atlanta to take on the Hawks.
- This one for the books right here. I ain't never seen this, pregame, oh man.
JARED QUAY: Montrezl Harrell and the rest of the Charlotte squad ran into trouble when a train blocked their bus on the way to State Farm Arena. So the Hornets had to get out and walk.
- Doing us dirty, bro.
- On game day!
- On game day--
- It's cool. We'll be pissed off by the time we got to the arena.
JARED QUAY: The Hornets were understandably salty. And it only got worse as they got their asses ran out the gym by the home team.
- :05 on the shot clock, Young on the drive. Nice feet, hit soft off on a gorgeous pass, Hunter finishes it off.
JARED QUAY: On the walk of shame to the arena before the game, Hornets' forward Miles Bridges complain about being done dirty. Well, it takes one to know one, because Bridges was ejected for going after a ref. And on his way out, he threw his mouth guard into the stands hitting a young girl. Unsanitary, bro. And Miles knows it. But at least he's got the entire offseason to cool down as the Hornets are out and the Hawks will take on the Cavs for a chance to make the playoffs as the eighth seed in the East.
- Last but not least.
JARED QUAY: Unlike the Hornets, Vlad Guerrero Jr. did a lot of walking last night and was happy as hell about it. The Blue Jays star hit three home runs in the win against the Yankees for his second career three-home run game. Pretty perfect if you ask me. Meanwhile, Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw was seven innings into a perfect game against the Twins yesterday when manager Dave Roberts decided to pull him.
- What the [BLEEP] did you just say?
JARED QUAY: After seven innings, Kershaw had thrown 80 pitches and LA led Minnesota 3-0. So as you can imagine, baseball Twitter went fricking nuts when Clayton got yanked. I think former Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood summed up my feelings in this situation.
- Why? Why?
[SOBS]
JARED QUAY: There are a bunch of reasons why, not wanting Clayton to wear out his arm, the fact that he's no stranger to late-game collapses. But none of that matters. You do not deny a man the opportunity to pitch onto the 24th perfect game in MLB history. Damn, I'm upset. Kershaw must have been ready to pop off, right?
- Those are individual things. Those are selfish goals and we're trying to win, you know? And that's really all we're here for.
JARED QUAY: He's joking, right?
- Sure, I would have loved to have do it but maybe we get another chance, who knows.
JARED QUAY: I admire Kershaw's optimism, I really do. But he's 33 years old and obviously on the downside of his career. Is it possible he gets another chance to pitch a perfect game? I mean, sure. Just like I'm 32 and I probably got another chance at being in the NFL, right? I've been working out, so who knows? How about this, you get me, you trade for Baker Mayfield, we make it a good package. I can balance him out. He'll be throwing interceptions to me in practice so I can help the defense know what not to do.
