Cavs, Spurs Win, Big Coin Flip Today!

Game two of Cavs-Pacers played out similarly to game one. The Cavs mostly controlled the game with their offense, but the Pacers went on a furious run late to make it interesting. They didn’t get quite as close last night as they did when they missed a buzzer beater in game one, however, and the Cavs hung on 117-111. As usual, it was their three stars leading the way, combining for 89 points (including 37 from Kyrie Irving, who was on fire in the second half.) Overall, they shot 55 percent and made 13 threes.

In San Antonio, the Spurs got off to a strong start with their defense, stifling the Grizzlies and holding them to only 37 first half points, by which point they were up 19 and the game was effectively over. Marc Gasol, who was a big factor in game one, managed only 12 on 4-15 from the field, and in the end the Grizz only managed 38 percent shooting, nowhere near enough to beat the Spurs, who won 96-82.

Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Spurs with 37 including 19-19 from the free throw line, and as a team they made 31-32, while the Grizzlies went 13-15. In the least surprising news ever, David Fizdale was upset with the officiating after the game.

Three games are on the slate for tonight: Milwaukee at Toronto, Chicago at Boston, and Utah at Los Angeles. All three home teams will be looking to rebound from game one losses.

In other news, BIG COIN FLIP TODAY! I believe it’s gonna be on NBATV at 2:00 pm. Find out if the Wolves are slotted sixth or seventh heading into the lottery. We’ll report on it when it happens.

Jim Petersen appeared on Kevin Arnovitz’s podcast on ESPN, it’s worth giving a listen. Some Wolves talk, some awards talk.

Today in History

1025: Boleslaw Chrobry crowned first king of Poland. Boleslaw. Chrobry.
1506: Cornerstone of current St. Peter’s in Vatican City is laid.
1521: Diet of Worms: Martin Luther questioned by Cardinals.
1775: Paul Revere rides.
1783: Fighting ends in the American Revolution.
1848: U.S. victorious at battle of Cerro Gordo.
1865: Confederate General Johnson surrenders to General Sherman in North Carolina.
1906: San Francisco earthquake kills 4,000 and destroys much of city.
1912: 705 survivors from the Titanic arrive in New York.
1923: Yankee Stadium opens.
1927: Chiang Kai-shek forms anit-government in China.
1946: Jackie Robinson debuts for the Montreal Royals.
1948: International Court of Justice opens in The Hague.
1949: Republic of Ireland withdraws from British Commonwealth.
1954: Gamel Abdel Nasser seizes power in Egypt.
1958: Federal court orders the release of Ezra Pound from insane asylum.
1966: Bill Russell named head coach of the Boston Celtics; first black head coach in NBA.

Today’s Musical Birthday

Opera singer Catherine Malfitano, born in 1948.