The Sports Report: Lakers will see some familiar faces against Denver

Howdy, I’m your host, Houston Mitchell. Let’s get right to the news.

From Broderick Turner: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could only laugh when he was asked about having won an NBA championship as a starting guard with the Lakers in 2020. Now as a starting guard with the Denver Nuggets both teams are in the other’s way of trying to reach the NBA Finals.

“That’s crazy, right?” he said after practice Monday on the eve of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals between the Lakers and Nuggets at Ball Arena. “We just talked about it yesterday and had a laugh about it. The crazy thing about it is that the same four teams that were in the bubble in the conference finals are back in the conference finals again. We had a good laugh about it.”

He was referring to how the Lakers and Nuggets met in the Western Conference finals in 2020 on the Walt Disney World campus near Orlando, Fla., and are facing off again while the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat met in the Eastern Conference finals in 2020 and are going at it again in 2023.

Before Caldwell-Pope could finish his thoughts, Denver reserve center DeAndre Jordan interrupted the conversation, joking that the reporter from Los Angeles wanted extra information.

“You know you won a championship with the Lakers. How does it feel?” said Jordan, who played for the Lakers and Clippers. “So, give me some details on the Nuggets.”

Caldwell-Pope shook his head and laughed.

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LAKERS POLL

We asked readers of this newsletter, Who will win the Lakers-Nuggets series? After 1,216 votes, the results:

Lakers in six, 42.1%
Nuggets in six, 21.5%
Lakers in seven, 18.2%
Nuggets in five, 6.7%
Nuggets in seven, 6.2%
Nuggets in four, 2.4%
Lakers in five, 2.4%
Lakers in four, 0.5%

Thanks for voting!

NBA PLAYOFFS
Results, schedule
All times Pacific
Conference finals

Western Conference

No. 1 Denver vs. No. 7 Lakers
Today at Denver, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Thursday at Denver, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Saturday at Lakers, 5:30 p.m., ABC
Monday at Lakers, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
*Wed., May 24 at Denver, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
*Friday, May 26 at Lakers, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
*Sunday, May 28 at Denver, 5:30 p.m., ESPN

Eastern Conference

No. 2 Boston vs. No. 8 Miami
Wednesday at Boston, 5:30 p.m., TNT
Friday at Boston, 5:30 p.m., TNT
Sunday at Miami, 5:30 p.m., TNT
Tuesday, May 23 at Miami, 5:30 p.m., TNT
*Thursday, May 25 at Boston, 5:30 p.m., TNT
*Saturday, May 27 at Miami, 5:30 p.m., TNT
*Monday, May 29 at Boston, 5:30 p.m., TNT

*-if necessary

NHL PLAYOFFS

Results, schedule
All times Pacific

Second round
Western Conference

Vegas [P1] vs. Edmonton [P2]
Game 1: at Vegas 6, Edmonton 4
Game 2: Edmonton 5, at Vegas 1
Game 3: Vegas 5, at Edmonton 1
Game 4: at Edmonton 4, Vegas 1
Game 5: at Vegas 4, Edmonton 3
Game 6: Vegas 5, at Edmonton 2

Dallas [C2] vs. Seattle [WC1]
Game 1: Seattle 5, at Dallas 4 (OT)
Game 2: at Dallas 4, Seattle 2
Game 3: at Seattle 7, Dallas 2
Game 4: Dallas 6, at Seattle 3
Game 5: at Dallas 5, Seattle 2
Game 6: at Seattle 6, Dallas 3
Game 7: at Dallas 2, Seattle 1

Eastern Conference

Carolina [M1] vs. New Jersey [M2]
Game 1: at Carolina 5, New Jersey 1
Game 2: at Carolina 6, New Jersey 1
Game 3: at New Jersey 8, Carolina 4
Game 4: Carolina 6, at New Jersey 1
Game 5: at Carolina 3, New Jersey 2 (OT)

Toronto [A2] vs. Florida [WC2]
Game 1: Florida 4, at Toronto 2
Game 2: Florida 3, at Toronto 2
Game 3: at Florida 3, Toronto 2 (OT)
Game 4: Toronto 2, at Florida 1
Game 5: Florida 3, at Toronto 2 (OT)

Conference finals

Western Conference

Vegas (P1) vs. Dallas Stars (C2)

Friday at Vegas, 5:30 p.m., ESPN

Sunday at Vegas, noon, ABC

Tuesday, May 23 at Dallas, 5 p.m., ESPN

Thursday, May 25 at Dallas, 5 p.m., ESPN

*Saturday, May 27 at Vegas, 5 p.m., ABC

*Monday, May 29 at Dallas, 5 p.m., ESPN

*Wed., May 31 at Vegas, 6 p.m., ESPN

Eastern Conference

Carolina (M1) vs. Florida (WC2)
Thursday at Carolina, 5 p.m., TNT
Saturday at Carolina, 5 p.m., TNT
Monday at Florida, 5 p.m., TNT
Wed., May 24 at Florida, 5 p.m., TNT
*Friday, May 26 at Carolina, 5 p.m., TNT
*Sunday, May 28 at Florida, 5 p.m., TNT
*Tuesday, May 30 at Carolina, 5 p.m., TNT

*-if necessary

DODGERS

From Mike DiGiovanna: What was left of a crowd of 49,749 in Chavez Ravine got to witness some middle-of-May high drama on Monday night when Trayce Thompson, mired in an 0-for-30 slump, drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 12th inning to lift the Dodgers to a 9-8 walk-off win over the Minnesota Twins.

Max Muncy provided some early muscle with home runs in his first two at-bats, and Phil Bickford provided three gutsy innings of relief, throwing 48 pitches and limiting the Twins to one run and one hit to help the Dodgers win for the 14th time in 16 games.

The Twins intentionally walked Freddie Freeman with one out and an automatic runner on in the 12th. Minnesota right-hander Jorge Lopez struck out Will Smith for the second out, with Chris Taylor and Freeman pulling off a double steal.

Muncy was walked intentionally to load the bases. Thompson worked the count full before taking a 96-mph fastball that was up and in for ball four.

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ANGELS

From Sarah Valenzuela: Anthony Rendon is going back on the injured list.

The Angels’ star third baseman was put on the 10-day IL for a groin strain, retroactive to May 14, before the team’s four–game series with the Orioles in Baltimore. He played in two of the Angels’ three games against the Guardians in Cleveland over the weekend, getting pulled for left groin tightness in the eighth inning of Saturday’s game.

It’s yet another season in which Rendon will miss time because of injury. Since signing with the Angels in December 2019, Rendon has had just one IL-free season and that was the 60-game season in 2020.

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CHARGERS

From Jeff Miller: A year ago, the Chargers’ defense was rebuilt. Now, the group is thinking more about a reboot.

Sebastian Joseph-Day explained Monday that he believes increased familiarity will lead to increased performance.

“I think this year, that chemistry is built,” the veteran defensive tackle said. “Chemistry is built through trials and tribulations. I really believe that that is going to shape us in a way better way moving forward.”

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PREAKNESS

From John Cherwa: Kentucky Derby champion Mage’s path to becoming the 14th Triple Crown winner got a little easier Monday, not because of his draw for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday but because competitor Disarm was pulled from the race.

Disarm, the fourth-place finisher in the Derby, was not entered in the Preakness and instead will be pointed toward the Jim Dandy Stakes and Travers Stakes, both at Saratoga in upstate New York. No explanation was offered for skipping the Preakness.

Before the draw Monday, assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of Mage’s trainer, said he hoped Mage would draw to the outside. Instead, he got the No. 3 post. It really isn’t a problem with only eight horses in the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

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Preakness Stakes story lines: All eyes on Mage’s Triple Crown quest

BILL PLASCHKE

From Bill Plaschke: Class is in session, and the topic is the beloved LeBron James.

“LeBron is all about LeBron, he always has been, he’s absolutely not a Laker,” says Les Steier, 75.

Several desks down, Jerry Spike, 89, chimes in.

“I love LeBron the player,” he says. “I just don’t like LeBron the G.M.”

From the other side of the sterile room, the roasting continues.

“I don’t mind LeBron wanting to play with his son, I just don’t want him to do it on the Lakers,” says Gary Liebman, 80. “That’s what driveways are for!”

The students laugh and clap and move to the next subject, loud enough to be heard over hearing aids, powerful enough to rattle canes and walkers, a couple of dozen aging sports fanatics coming to life every week to poke at the heart of the Los Angeles sports landscape with unquestioned experience and unvarnished candor.

Meet the Senior Smack Talkers, a gathering of retirees who congregate in Room 1101 in the Birch building on the campus of Woodland Hills’ Pierce College every Tuesday to talk sports.

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THIS DATE IN SPORTS

1884 — Isaac Murphy, a Black jockey and one of the greatest American riders, wins the Kentucky Derby aboard Buchanan. He will win the showcase race two more times.

1916 — Damrosch, ridden by Linus McAtee, takes the early lead, gives it up in the stretch, and comes back to beat Greenwood by 1½ lengths in the Preakness Stakes.

1925 — Flying Ebony, ridden by Earl Sande, becomes the fourth field horse to win the Kentucky Derby, a 1½-length victory over Captain Hal. The first network radio broadcast of the Kentucky Derby airs from WHAS in Louisville.

1955 — Rocky Marciano beats Don Cockell by TKO in the 9th round at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco to retain his world heavyweight boxing title.

1964 — Northern Dancer, ridden by Bill Hartack, wins the Preakness Stakes by 2½ lengths over The Scoundrel.

1973 — AC Milan of Italy win 13th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Leeds of England 1-0 in Saloniki.

1975 — Muhammad Ali TKOs Ron Lyle in 11 for heavyweight boxing title.

1976 — The Montreal Canadiens win their 19th Stanley Cup with a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, capping a four-game sweep.

1979 — FC Barcelona of Spain wins 19th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Fortuna Düsseldorf of West Germany 4-3 in Basel.

1980 — The Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-107 to win the NBA title in six games. Rookie guard Magic Johnson comes up with 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists and is named the Finals MVP. The 42 points are the most scored by a rookie in an NBA Finals game.

1982 — Stanley Cup Final, Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC: 3-peat for NY Islanders; sweep Vancouver Canucks in 4 games with a 3-1 Game 4 win.

1984 — Juventus of Italy win 24th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Porto of Portugal 2-1 in Basel.

1985 — Michael Jordan named NBA Rookie of Year.

1992 — America’s Cup: America Team USA defeats II Moro di Venezia 4-1 in San Diego.

1996 — Sammy Sosa is 1st Chicago Cub to hit 2 HRs in 1 inning.

2009 — Rachel Alexandria, ridden by Calvin Borel wins the 134th Preakness in 1:55:08.

2014 — Paris Saint-Germain F.C. & Manchester City F.C. are each fined €60 million for breaching Fair Play Regulations.

2019 — Brooks Koepka fires tournament record equaling and course record 63 (-7) to lead the PGA Championship by 1 stroke after the 1st round at Bethpage Black, N.Y.

—Compiled by the Associated Press

And finally...

The Lakers beat the 76ers to win the 1979-80 NBA title. Watch and listen here.