This week's top story lines include the NBA Conference Finals (see more below) and the Cleveland Indians walking off three times in a 4 game stretch. As the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs start to wind down, I will try to get at least one game from those leagues included in my lists each week. When the playoffs are done, I will switch to primarily covering baseball games. The schedule for my summer blog is not certain yet. We will cross that path when we get there. Anyway, here is this week's list.

5. May 24: Oakland Athletics 6, Houston Astros 5
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas


I must say, the Astros are pretty creative. They find creative ways to lose ballgames. Last week, they dropped a pop up in the bottom of the ninth to give the Pirates a win. This week they took a 5-2 lead in the 5th off of home runs by Matt Dominguez and J.D. Martinez. After that, it seemed like they weren't comfortable with a lead of any kind. A solo home run by Seth Smith in the 6th cut it to 5-3, and then a 3 run shot by Chris Young in front of his family in the 9th gave the A's a 6-5 lead which they would hold to secure the win.

4. May 24: Chicago White Sox 4, Miami Marlins 3 (F/11)
US Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois


The Marlins are like the Astros, but aren't creative. They just lose. But in this game, they actually had a shot after Derek Dietrich hit a 2-run home run in the 4th. After the White Sox came back to take a 3-2 lead in the 6th, the Marlins tied it right back up with sacrifice fly by Miguel Olivo in the 7th. Both teams fought hard to get an advantage, but the bullpens for each time were fantastic until the bottom of the 11th. After Ryan Webb loaded up the bases with 2 hits and an intentional walk, Jeff Keppinger grounded one past the third baseman into left to score Tyler Greene and give the Sox a 4-3 win.

3. May 21: NBA Playoffs, Western Conference Finals Game 2 (Spurs lead 1-0): San Antonio Spurs 93, Memphis Grizzlies 89 (F/OT)
AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas


The Grizzlies desperately needed a win in game 2 after Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph were shut down in game 1. The Spurs took 46-31 lead into the half, and a 76-64 into the 4th. But the Grizzlies weren't done. Led by Mike Conley, the Grizzlies out scored the Spurs 21-9 in the fourth and went on a 15-2 run over the final 8 minutes to tie the game. But in overtime, Tim Duncan took over and the Grizzlies just couldn't make the clutch shots they had made in the 4th, so game 2 went to San Antonio.

2. May 23: Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4 (Bruins lead 3-0): New York Rangers 4, Boston Bruins 3 (F/OT)
Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York


The Bruins looked to sweep the Rangers on the road in the rivals' first playoff series since 1972. They got off to a 2-0 start off 2 power play goals in the second, but the game changed when Carl Hagelin got one past Tuukka Rask after Rask tripped on his own skates. The teams traded goals after that, and at the halfway point of the third down 3-2, the Rangers power play finally got a goal. Brian Boyle got one by Rask. No one would score again until Chris Kreider 7 minutes into overtime, to send the series back to Boston for game 5*.

* Of note: Only 1 team in NHL history has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series: The Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 came back against the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

1. May 22: NBA Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals Game 1: Miami Heat 103, Indiana Pacers 102 (F/OT)
American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida


The Pacers controlled the first half of this game, causing havoc in the paint and forcing turnovers. But in the second half, the Heat rallied back and took a 92-89 lead late in the 4th, but Paul George made an off balance three with 0.7 seconds left to tie it. In OT, the Pacers were the one with the lead this time late in the in the period, leading 99-96. After Shane Battier missed a three, Chris Bosh made a rebound tip in while getting fouled to cut it to one, and made the free throw to tie it up. With 10.8 seconds left still tied at 99, LeBron James drove to the hole and made a layup to give the Heat a 101-99 lead, but it wouldn't hold. As Paul George shot a three to take the lead, Dwyane Wade nicked his hand, sending him to the line for three. He made all three, giving Indiana a 102-101 lead.But off the ensuing inbound, LeBron drove to the hole again and made another layup, but this time as time expired to give the Heat a game 1 victory in the best of 7 series.*
* The Heat dropped game 2 97-93, so the series is now tied at 1.