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🏀 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Within the battle of the NBA’s greatest groups, the Cavaliers stored their good instances going, topping the Thunder, 129-122, in a back-and-forth affair that very a lot lived as much as its historic hype. By no means within the historical past of the league, had there been a recreation between groups getting into with successful streaks of 15 (Thunder) and 10 (Cavaliers) video games.

• Cleveland bought double-digit factors from seven gamers, led by Jarrett Allen‘s 25 factors (in addition to 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals). Cleveland additionally bought 32 mixed factors (on 12 of 14 taking pictures) from Ty Jerome and Max Strus off the bench.
• Main by two with two minutes left, Cleveland scored the ultimate 5 factors of the sport, with Evan Mobley and Darius Garland delivering large buckets.
• Cleveland (32-4) is as much as 11 straight wins after halting Oklahoma Metropolis’s (30-6) 15-game successful streak. These groups meet once more one week from tonight in Oklahoma Metropolis. (And maybe within the NBA Finals after that.)

I really like watching these groups. The Cavaliers are what each staff ought to aspire to be offensively, juggernauts that includes younger gamers working collectively towards a typical aim. They characteristic magnificent ball motion — they lead the league in assist-to-turnover ratio — however that is as a result of they’ve terrific off-ball motion: In addition they lead the league in factors per possession on cuts. Mobley has made “the leap,” offering key stability to Garland and Donovan Mitchell‘s backcourt exploits.

The Thunder, in the meantime, boast the league’s greatest protection (not having Chet Holmgren or Alex Caruso actually harm Wednesday), and a supremely expert scorer in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 factors), who is not probably the most athletic man ever however has excellent footwork, tempo and physique management.

Lengthy story quick, this was a wonderful basketball recreation. It could not characteristic the largest markets or the largest stars, however these are two wonderful, wonderful groups any basketball fan ought to love. Listed below are Sam Quinn’s takeaways.

👍 Honorable mentions

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Orange Bowl preview, picks for Notre Dame-Penn State

It is right here! The primary Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinal will happen tonight with (7) Notre Dame dealing with (6) Penn State within the Orange Bowl. Although each applications have storied pasts and are not removed from each other, that is their first assembly since 2007.

We have already talked about why both of those groups may win all of it, however to even get that chance, they must win tonight. As such, Cameron Salerno broke down each key matchup and who has the sting. At quarterback, he likes Drew Allar over Riley Leonard, and relating to the blokes who get after the quarterback, he says …

• Salerno: “The most effective participant on this recreation — no matter place — is Abdul Carter. Whereas his recreation standing is up within the air after leaving the sport in opposition to Boise State on account of an damage, he is a real game-wrecker when he performs. With Carter lacking many of the recreation in opposition to Boise State, Dani Dennis-Sutton stepped up and recorded 2.5 sacks. Notre Dame’s staff chief in sacks (Rylie Mills) will miss the rest of the season after struggling an damage in opposition to Indiana final month. Penn State has extra depth and the perfect participant on this group, giving them the benefit. Edge: Penn State“

Do these two key benefits imply Penn State is headed to the title recreation? Our professional picks are in, as is Tom Fornelli’s greatest guess.

Dennis Dodd has previewed all angles of the semifinals, and here is his decide:

• Dodd: “Marcus Freeman has low-key developed into the most effective coaches within the nation. That 12-game successful streak has resulted within the largest level differential (338 factors) in program historical past. … Penn State has a greater roster and extra expertise, however Notre Dame is on a roll. It has been some time, however Irish magic will carry Notre Dame to a shot on the nationwide championship. Decide: Notre Dame 26, Penn State 24“

🏈 NFL wild card weekend: Rating quarterback matchups, most probably upsets

Wild card weekend is sort of right here, and it is an absolute dandy. There’s not a single dud on the schedule — a rarity contemplating greater than a 3rd of the NFL’s groups will likely be in motion this weekend — and Vegas agrees: 4 of the six video games have a variety inside 5 factors, and the opposite two are within the single digits.

An enormous a part of that’s high-level quarterback play in every single place. Cody Benjamin ranked all 14 beginning quarterbacks this postseason, and for my cash, I feel 12 of those guys might be completely elite on the suitable day. Here is the highest 5:

1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Lamar Jackson
3. Josh Allen
4. Jared Goff
5. Matthew Stafford

However in keeping with Cody the greatest quarterback matchup of the weekend is between two guys outdoors the highest 5:

• Benjamin: “1. Jalen Hurts (Eagles) vs. Jordan Love (Packers) — Hurts and Love went face to face in an entertaining Week 1 showdown in Brazil, and now they’re confronted with a do-or-die rematch and questions on their very own bodily readiness. Hurts hasn’t performed since earlier than Christmas on account of a concussion, whereas Love misplaced feeling in his arm after taking a shot to the humorous bone in Week 18. In the event that they’re upright, they’ve each bought tantalizing playoff runs below their belt.”

Love and the Packers, nevertheless, do not high Jared Dubin’s rankings of groups most probably to drag an upset. That belongs to …

• Dubin: “1. Commanders (+141) at Buccaneers — Washington largely performed simply in addition to Tampa throughout this season — if not higher. The Buccaneers can rating with anybody… however so can the Commies. The Tampa protection has let nearly all people transfer the ball at will, and the way in which Washington performed over the second half of the season (i.e. as soon as Jayden Daniels bought his rib damage within the rearview mirror), that is a harmful option to stay.”

Sports activities influence of Los Angeles wildfires

Sports activities are clearly the very last thing on the minds of many individuals in Southern California as a number of fires rage throughout Los Angeles County. As of late Wednesday, 5 persons are lifeless because of the fires, per the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division, and hundreds of buildings have been broken — with hundreds extra in hurt’s means. A minimum of 70,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate as of Wednesday morning. There have been 5 separate named fires throughout the county Wednesday alone.

We’re considering of these impacted at the moment. It is an especially unhappy and scary time full of uncertainty for tens of hundreds of individuals within the nation’s most populated county. Lives and livelihoods have been indelibly altered, if not destroyed. Listed below are among the impacts the fires are having on sports activities:

• The NFL introduced a contingency plan for the Vikings-Rams wild card recreation scheduled for Monday. The sport will likely be moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona — dwelling of the Cardinals — if wanted. Rams gamers despatched their ideas to victims and because of first responders.
• The Chargers donated $200,000 to aid efforts.
• Kawhi Leonard left the Clippers to be with relations who evacuated.
• JJ Redick stated his household was pressured to evacuate. The Lakers are scheduled to host the Hornets tonight.
• The NHL postponed final evening’s Los Angeles Kings dwelling recreation in opposition to the Flames.

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

🏀 No. 15 Oregon at Ohio State (M), 6 p.m. on BTN
🏀 Timberwolves at Magic, 7 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 No. 14 Duke at No. 19 North Carolina (W), 7 p.m. on ACC Community
🏈 CFP semifinal — Capital One Orange Bowl: (7) Notre Dame vs. (6) Penn State, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN