Weekend Wrap-Up: NBA’s Playoffs Heat Up, Stars and Jets Skate On, Canelo Wins, & More
Big Wins and Dominant Performances Took Over This Weekend in NBA, NHL, F1, Boxing & More
Nuggets Call Series Against Clippers
Remember when NBA news was all about the Denver Nuggets being en route to an implosion following the firing of head coach Mike Malone eight days before the start of the playoffs?
Following a 120-101 win on Saturday, the Nuggets, led by yet another stellar performance from Nikola Jokic, assisted by Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon, sent the Los Angeles Clippers back home, winning their series 4-3.
SAY IT WITH US: NUGGETS WIN pic.twitter.com/ZnhgV136hm
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 4, 2025
Putting all NBA rumors aside of a potential trainwreck waiting to happen, the Nuggets showed everybody, but especially their haters, that with Jokic leading the pack, stopping this team from trying to go on another title run this season is something easier said than done.
The Denver Nuggets did not get first-roundedpic.twitter.com/JUyFESDjTF
— Ethical Hoops🏆 (only takes Ws) (@EthicalHoopz) May 4, 2025
Now, it’s on to the next round, where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder will be waiting.
A good duel in store pic.twitter.com/37M7ugqpco
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 4, 2025
Are you guys pumped for this SGA vs Joker series? Because God knows I am.
Warriors Send Rockets Packing
Staying on NBA game seven antics, the Golden State Warriors made it five times in a row since 2015 that they’ve gone to knock the Houston Rockets out of title contention following a 103-89 dub at Toyota Center, home of the Rockets.
Steph and the Warriors eliminate the Rockets AGAIN.
Houston has failed to beat Golden State in the playoffs for the fifth time since 2015 😮 pic.twitter.com/mDliYtv8hB
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 5, 2025
Houston, who tried their best at putting up a series comeback taking games five and six of the series, saw Buddy Hield lead GS with 33 points, alongside Steph Curry’s 22, Jimmy Butler’s 20, and Draymond Green’s 16 drain their upset hopes and leaving them to lick their wounds for next season.
On to the next! pic.twitter.com/5gIuRFbFwA
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 5, 2025
Now, it will be up to Steph and the Warriors to take on Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves next round.
WOLVES. WARRIORS. NEXT ROUND 🍿
ANT VS. STEPH 🔥 pic.twitter.com/33VUxS5We5
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 5, 2025
The only question is, can Ant double down on his Randy Ortonesque “legend killer” vibes and knock out Steph?
Stars & Jets Tore off the Roof in NHL Playoffs
It’s baffling that NHL games don’t get as much love as they deserve. Considering what hockey fans were treated to this weekend by the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets, if you are one of those people who are still on the fence about hockey, rethink your stance immediately.
Starting out with Dallas, after seeing the Colorado Avalanche force a game seven in their playoff series, the Stars put on one of the best performances in recent times, beating Colorado by 4-2 at home, led by an all-time performance from Mikko Rantanen.
This moment. Our house. Our Moose. 🫎🧢🧢🧢 pic.twitter.com/flRy3pNSrH
— X – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 4, 2025
Putting up three goals, one assist, and snagging up four points, Rantanen, formerly with the Avalanche went on to smack his name once again in the league’s record books for being the first player to record a third‑period hat trick in a Game 7 as well as doing so against his former team amongst other records.
Mikko Rantanen just rewrote the history books 🤩
He’s now the first NHL player ever to:
🏒 Record a third‑period hat trick in a Game 7
🏒 Net a Game 7 hat trick against his former team
🏒 Have four‑point periods in back‑to‑back games
🏒 Drop a four‑point Game 7 on a former team… pic.twitter.com/87Jfobc1zX— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 4, 2025
If you look for the meaning of “clutch performance,” Mikko Rantanen’s stats from Saturday’s game are the perfect definition.
Not to be outdone by Dallas, on Sunday, the Winnipeg Jets and St Louis Blues gave fans and bettors the kind of game that dreams are made of, with the Jets taking the game by 4-3 in double overtime to win the series.
NOW YOU CAN CALL IT A COMEBACK pic.twitter.com/xFTcn0vG5u
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 5, 2025
To say the vibe at Canada Life Centre, home of the Jets, was something beyond any explanation is cutting it short, with fans all over Winnipeg going berserk following Adam Lowry’s double OT goal at the 16:10 mark.
A men’s league in Winnipeg was watching the Jets LIVE during their game, and their reaction to the game-tying goal was PRICELESS 🤣
Even the ref joined in on the celly 😭
(via Carter.polanski/IG) pic.twitter.com/3BjIpoQZlp
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 5, 2025
Never again doubt the aura that lies in pro hockey.
Can Anybody Stop Piastri?
Another F1 race is in the books, and guess what? Yes, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri put on yet another driving masterclass on his way to winning the Miami Grand Prix race this Sunday.
OSCAR PIASTRI WINS THE MIAMI GRAND PRIX!! 👏🏆
It’s a McLaren 1-2 and Piastri’s third consecutive win!#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/99NFPco8VM
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 4, 2025
Beating fellow McLaren driver Lando Norris by 4.630 seconds, with Mercedes’ George Russell coming in third, trailing Piastri by 37.644 seconds.
Following the win, and continuing to live up to his moment as the top F1 driver this season, there was only one thing left for Piastri to do: hit the grid.
Hitting the griddy! 🕺
A fine celebration by @OscarPiastri 😅#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/bFCb6evuQL
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 4, 2025
With the Emilia Romagna GP coming on May 18, can Piastri make it four in a row?
Canelo Wins But Leaves Fans Wanting More
If any pro boxing fans feel like they were robbed of their time and expectations this weekend, know that you are not alone.
In what was poised to be one of the biggest fights in the first half of 2025, Antonio ‘Canelo’ Alvarez would go on to defeat William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to become the undisputed middleweight champion yesterday.
👑👑👑 #CaneloScull pic.twitter.com/VAPfbXzIZd
— Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) May 4, 2025
Canelo, who was poised to land his first knockout since 2021, saw Scull continue evading him over and over again, leading to the fight having the fewest combined punches in a 12-round fight, 445.
Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull just set the record for fewest combined punches thrown in a 12-round fight with 445 😅
Rough weekend for boxing… pic.twitter.com/z0gVAxcXUr
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) May 4, 2025
Let’s face it, Canelo kept swinging at the air most of the time while Scull managed to land lackluster jabs, leading to a disappointment for pro boxing betting odds fans all around.
Given, Alvarez did go on to show his displeasure about having to chase Scull for the majority of the fight, stating, “They come to just to survive, to go to the 12th round”. But still, when watching the bout, much more could’ve been done on the Mexican’s part.
Hopefully, once September 12 comes around and Alvarez squares off against Terence Crawford, we’ll get a fight everybody will enjoy, not just a 12-round showing of cardio endurance.
Until next week, keep it classy, peeps.
