BOSTON — The Chicago Blackhawks are the NHL champions, their players never quit and they always believe that they will win.
When the Blackhawks needed a goal to get them started in Game 6, their leader Toews scored it. When they needed a late goal to keep their hopes alive, he set it up with a perfect centering feed to Bryan Bickell, starting a stretch of two Chicago goals in 17 seconds.
Toews did it all 48 hours after he was injured enough that team officials wouldn't let him play in the third period, even though Toews insisted he could. Quenneville said Toews had his "bell rung" in Game 5, which is hockey speak for suffering concussion-like symptoms.
Toews scored at 4:24 of the second period to tie the score after Chris Kelly had given Boston a 1-0 lead in the first period.
Late in the third period, the Bruins claimed a 2-1 lead on Milan Lucic's goal. Again it was Toews coming to the rescue, setting up Bickell with a perfect feed across the goalmouth. It was Toews' fifth point in the last three games since he was reunited with his favorite linemate Patrick Kane. Toews was plus 5 in those games.
It was as if the Blackhawks ran the table in this abbreviated 48-game season. They launched the regular season with a league-record 24 consecutive games of not losing in regulation. They finished by winning the President's Trophy as the league's No. 1 team.
Full Story here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2013/06/24/chicago-blackhawks-stanley-cup-champions-defeat-boston-bruins/2454481/
For weeks the circus of the on and off then on again LA Clippers and Boston Celtics trade rumors about Doc Rivers have been dominating sport news, now they have finally agreed in principle on a deal that will send Coach Doc Rivers to Los Angeles Clippers, according to NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the situation.
In return,the Clippers will send the Celtics a first-round pick in 2015. The sticking point had been that the Clippers wanted the draft pick to be lottery protected, but the Celtics ended up getting their wish as the pick will be unprotected.
The Clippers will continue the contract of Doc Rivers with Boston, which has three years and $21 million left on it.
The earlier proposed deal that would send Doc Rivers and forward Kevin Garnett to the Clippers in exchange for center DeAndre Jordan and two first-round picks would have violated the collective-bargaining agreement, which doesn't allow a team to trade players in a deal "involving coaches' contracts."
Other candidates are Byron Scott and Brian Shaw, they both had conversations with the Clippers regarding the parameters of a contract following meetings with Donald Sterling last week. Clippers was pushing for Scott by talking to his representative but, I guess CP3 really like Doc Rivers to be his coach.
Lebron James led the Miami Heat to it's consecutive championships. With 40 seconds to go in the fourth Tim Duncan had the chance to tie the game to 90 but missed the lay up. Then LeBron James makes a 20-foot jumper from the right wing to make it 88-92 with 27.9 seconds to go for a four point Miami lead.
In the dying seconds, Manu Ginobili turned the ball over again and Tim Duncan foul Lebron. Ginobili killed the Spurs chances to come back in the fourth with his sloppy plays and killer turn-overs.
James, 28, is once again the Finals MVP after he scored 37 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and took control of the game during the final minutes before ultimately prevailing over the Spurs in Miami, 95-88. James was the catalyst when it counted the most with the Heat clinging to a two point lead with 30 seconds left.
James nailed a jumper to make it 92-88 with 27.9 seconds left on the clock. Moments later he stole the ball and was fouled in the process. James, often dubbed King James, hit both foul shots to put Miami up six with 23.5 seconds remaining. The sea of Miami Heat fans, all dressed in white, began celebrating as the clock ticked down to zero.
Dwyane Wade scored 23 points and won his third NBA title. Shane Battier had 18 on six 3-pointers.
Duncan had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, but missed a shot and follow attempt right under the basket with about 50 seconds left and the Spurs trailing by two.
Kawhi Leonard hit a 25-foot three point jumper to bring the Spurs to within two, but that's as close they would get in the final two minutes of the game before Battier nailed a three and James took over from there.
Spurs player Tony Parker was just 3-for-12 with 10 points, four assists while Manu Ginobili had 18 points.
It's either a Heat repeat, or a Spurs fifth title. The Spurs after the gut-wrenching loss as a team can have to become just the fourth club to win a Game 7 of the NBA Finals on the road.
The teams trudged back to the arena Wednesday, some 12 hours after the Heat pulled out a 103-100 overtime victory in Game 6 to even the series. The Spurs, five points ahead with 28 seconds left in regulation, had to fight off fatigue and heartbreak, insisting neither would linger into Thursday.
By far the best game of this series, Game 6 immediately took its place among the best finishes in finals history, with everything from James' triple-double to Allen's tying 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left in regulation.
Let the batte begins! Game 7: Jun 20 9:00pm EDT @MIA (TV: ABC)
Lebron James and Ray Allen both connected huge three pointers that kept the Miami Heat Alive in the series beating the San Antonio Spurs 100-103 in overtime.
James and Ray Allen hit consecutive threes in the final 20.3 seconds of the fourth quarter, tying the score at 95-95 and producing the first overtime game of the series.
James' basket with 1:01 left in overtime put Miami ahead 101-100, and Allen made two free throws with 1.9 seconds left, making it 103-101.
"Until time runs out we have an opportunity to win this game," Allen said.
LeBron James scored 32 points 10 rebounds and 11 assists, Mario Chalmers had 20 points, Dwyane Wade chipped in 14 points.
For the Spurs Tim Duncan scored 30 points and pull down 17 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points and Tony Parker had 19 points.
Interesting rumors in the Laker land, with Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin trade. ESPN reported, that the Clippers want to bring Howard to please Chris Paul.
However, a lot of people believes that Blake Griffin is untouchable in trades since he is still young and have an oppurtunity to improve, and he's also a team player. Dwight Howard is still the top center in the NBA despite his poor performance this season.
Once the Clippers and Celtics are done with their negotiations, Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers for DeAndre Jordan and two draft picks, this will be an interesting trade.
Manu Ginobili breaks his slumping ways with 24 points and 10 assists to lead the San Antonio Spurs to beat Miami Heat 114-104 to take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. Tony Parker scored 26 points, Tim Duncan had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Ginobili had his highest-scoring game of the season as the Spurs became the first team to shoot 60 percent in a finals game in four years.
Danny Green broke the NBA Finals record for 3-pointers (23 three point made) by beating Ray Allen's record of 22 and scoring 24 points. Kawhi Leonard finished with 16.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade each scored 25 points for the Heat, who host Game 6 on Tuesday night. They need a victory to force the first Game 7 in the finals since the Lakers beat the Celtics in 2010.
