Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 5.11.26
Friday setting up to be one of those “where were you” moments in Minnesota sports. Wolves host Game 6 for sure, and Wild hoping to host one as well.
Big night in the State of Hockey, obviously, as the Frost visits Montreal in a deciding Game 5 at 6 p.m. (YouTube) and the Wild tries to even the series with the Avs at home at 7 p.m.
Loons tie Austin 2-2. James Rodriguez with two assists in his final home game. We hardly knew ya, J-Rod. He goes back to the Colombian national team for the World Cup. Loons host Colorado Wednesday.
See you every day but Thursday this week if I can read a schedule correctly with bleary eyes.
Wolves Even up Series after Wemby Ejection
The Wolves almost let one slip away. Anthony Edwards wouldn’t let that happen.
If you thought this was supposed to be a cakewalk after a second-quarter Victor Wembanyana ejection, think again. The Spurs hung around until late, when Edwards scored 16 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Wolves to a 114-109 win to even the series at 2-2.
Game 5 is in San Antonio on Tuesday. Will Wemby play? A clear flagrant 2 elbow on Naz Reid got him ejected yesterday. He could get extra punishment, although I doubt he will. His coach said it’s “disgusting” how much physical play Wemby has to put up with during games.
Despite playing without Wemby for most of two quarters, the Spurs led by four entering the fourth. But Edwards, dedicating the game to his late mother (he wears No. 5 because his mom and grandma both died on the fifth of the month) had his best game of the playoffs. Fifteen days after suffering the bone bruise on his knee, Ant looked like the Ant of old. Edwards has 18 career 30-point playoff games. The rest of the Wolves FRANCHISE in almost 30 years has just 17.
The Wolves need more from Julius Randle (six turnovers, nearly as many turnovers this series as made field goals).
Minnesota definitely took the foot off the accelerator when Wemby got ejected, but the Spurs are far from a one-trick pony.
A rested Oklahoma City team likely awaits the winner of this series. The Thunder’s up 3-0 and trying to finish off the Lakers tonight
Wild Returns to Form, Wins Game 3 at Home
You’ve got to wonder what this series would look like had the NHL not been in such a hurry to start it.
After a much-needed, three-day break, the Wild was by far the superior team in a 5-1 Game 3 win on Saturday.
Kirill Kaprizov, who didn’t have a great Game 1 or 2, scored the Wild’s first goal and assisted on the next two. Quinn Hughes also looked like a different player, recording a goal and an assist and moving the puck with ease. Jesper Wallstedt returned to the net and made 35 calm, cool and collected saves.
Yeah, maybe Wally needed a break and playing Gus in Game 2 helped that. But the Wild wasted a game there. Now, they really need to win tonight or they’ll be playing for their lives Wednesday in Denver.
Twins Take Two of Three from First-Place Guardians
Let’s face it, no one’s going to run away with the AL Central. The Twins got within 2.5 games of Cleveland after taking two of three games from the Guardians on the road, bringing their record to 18-23.
In a 5-4 win yesterday, Kendry Rojas got his first MLB win with a strong relief outing.
Kody Clemens had three hits, and Brooks Lee knocked in the winning run as the bottom of the lineup did most of the Twins’ damage.
The Twins are just 7-20 in their last 27, one-run games against Cleveland.
Minnesota hosts an extended nine-game homestand beginning tomorrow against the Marlins, followed by the Brewers and Astros. Two of those teams aren’t very good…
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